What Is the Average Truck Accident Settlement Amount?

If you’ve been hit by a truck driver, you may be wondering how much you could recover for your injuries through an out-of-court settlement. It’s important to understand that there is no average truck accident settlement amount. The amount of compensation you might recover in a settlement will depend on your case’s specific circumstances, such as the severity of your injuries and whether fault is clear.

Contact Spiva Law Group for a free initial case review with a Savannah truck accident attorney to discuss what kinds of compensation you may have the right to recover.

What Factors Can Affect the Amount of the Settlement?

The value of your settlement may depend on various factors in your truck accident case, such as:

• The type of injuries you suffered and the severity of those injuries
• Whether your injuries resulted in prolonged or permanent disabilities or disfigurement
• The types of medical treatment and rehabilitation you must undergo and the cost of your medical recovery
• Whether you need long-term or home healthcare or services like housekeeping
• Whether you missed time from work or have become permanently disabled from returning to your job or other kinds of work
• The number of potentially liable parties in your case
• The number of other people who also suffered injuries in the crash
• Whether you share any responsibility for causing the truck accident
• The extent of any at-fault parties’ financial resources and insurance coverage, including policy limits
• How long it takes the insurance company to investigate and process your claim
• Whether you choose to take your case to trial

What Compensation Can I Get in a Truck Accident Settlement?

Any settlement you accept after a truck accident should reflect the many different ways your physical, emotional, and financial well-being have been affected by the crash. Your financial recovery can include money for your:

• Medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses, including emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, prescriptions, doctor’s appointments, medical equipment purchases, and physical or occupational therapy
• Lost wages and other income if you miss time from work or need to transfer to a part-time or modified-duty position
• Lost future earning capacity if you become disabled from your job or other work
• Pain and suffering, both physically and emotionally
• Lost enjoyment and quality of life, including from prolonged or permanent disabilities and visible scarring or disfigurement
• Car repair expenses or reimbursement for your car’s value if the collision totaled it

When Should I Accept a Truck Accident Settlement?

Insurance companies favor quick settlements because they are usually cheap settlements. Think twice before accepting an initial settlement offer, even if you’re worried about how you’ll pay for critical expenses. Once you’ve accepted a settlement, you cannot demand more compensation from the trucking company or insurer. They won’t care if you incur additional losses due to your injuries. And if the insurer is pressing you to take the money now, there’s a good chance that you might be entitled to more than they’re offering.

Instead, wait until you’ve talked to a truck accident attorney about your case before accepting a settlement. An attorney can review your injuries and losses and evaluate the strength of your legal claim to help you determine what a fair settlement may look like. Your attorney may advise you to wait until your injuries have fully stabilized before you accept a truck accident settlement. That way, you better understand your future expenses or needs. As a skilled negotiator with experience handling insurance claims, your attorney is better equipped than you are to play hardball with the insurer for maximum compensation.

How Long Will a Truck Accident Settlement Take in Georgia?

Settling your truck accident case can take as little as a few months or as long as a few years. Some of the circumstances that can influence the duration and timeline of your truck accident claims include:

• How long your medical treatment and rehabilitation take
• The complexity of the evidence in your case
• The number of potential defendants in the case
• The number of other accident victims seeking compensation
• Whether the trucking or insurance company contests liability for the crash or argues that you share some of the blame
• The duration of the insurance company’s investigation
• The speed of the insurance adjuster’s responses to your communications
• Whether you file a lawsuit in your case

Truck accident victims should also remember that the statute of limitations sets a deadline for filing lawsuits against liable parties. In Georgia, you typically have two years after a truck crash to file a lawsuit against negligent truck drivers or trucking companies. Otherwise, you may lose your right to recover compensation. Don’t put your future at risk – get in touch with an experienced truck accident lawyer today.

How Can I Maximize My Truck Accident Settlement?

Taking the following steps can help you and your attorney pursue maximum compensation in your settlement:

• Report the collision to the authorities if law enforcement officers do not respond to the accident scene. Remember to get a copy of any police crash reports.
• Seek prompt medical attention and follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations and recovery instructions. Do not put off medical procedures or physical rehab.
• Secure copies of medical records of your injury treatment and rehabilitation.
• Keep copies of all bills, invoices, or receipts for your car repairs, medical treatment, and other expenses you incur during your recovery.
• Gather copies of your pay stubs or income statements from before the accident if you need to take time off work or transfer to a modified-duty or part-time job.
• Notify your car insurance provider about the accident.

Finally, contact a Savannah truck accident lawyer from Spiva Law Group as soon as possible after the crash to start preparing your legal case.

Contact a Savannah Truck Accident Lawyer

If you’ve suffered catastrophic injuries in a semi-truck accident that wasn’t your fault, get the legal help you need to maximize your financial recovery. Contact Spiva Law Group today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn how our legal team can fight for a settlement that compensates you for your medical bills, car repairs, lost income, and pain and suffering.