What are the types of compensation for victims of a serious truck accident?

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, or your loved one has been killed as a result of the negligence of a truck driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Unfortunately, the legal system cannot bring back health or restore property back to the way it was before the accident. Instead it must rely on pecuniary compensation – money – as a substitute to both compensate victims for financial and also for emotional losses.

Of course, every case is unique and those unique facts and circumstances will determine whether you may be eligible for some or all of these types of compensation listed below. In addition, there are some differences in the types of compensations truck accident victims may receive, depending on whether you were injured or your loved one passed away as a result of the accident.

Types of Personal Injury Compensation

When a person is injured in a trucking accident they can suffer from several types of injuries. Here are some of the most common:

• Medical bills and expenses related to injuries caused by the accident, including those already incurred and for future medical bills if ongoing medical treatment is required. See “How do I recover medical expenses for a truck accident?“
• Loss of income, for inability to work while recovering from injuries related to the accident, and also future lost wages and income if the injuries sustained will continue to prevent you from working, or working as much as you previously could
• Property damage, most typically car repair or replacement costs
• Pain and suffering

Types of Wrongful Death Compensation

The focus in wrongful death cases is to compensate the surviving family for the loss of their loved one. This compensation can take basically two main forms, economic losses from the victim no longer being able to help out the family financially, and emotional losses because the victim is no longer able to care for his or her family.

The types of compensation sought may include:

• Lost future earning capacity
• Medical and funeral expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of companionship (also known as loss of consortium)

There are many factors taken into consideration when determining how much compensation may be awarded for each of these categories. For example, in determining the lost future earning capacity of the deceased, relevant evidence about the victim may include such things as their earning potential, life expectancy, assets, and health at the time of his or her death. Further, in assessing the compensation for loss of companionship factors taken into account may include such things as affection between the loved ones, and parental influence over children. For more information, see “How much is my truck accident case worth?“.

Not only are many factors and facts taken into account when determining potential compensation for those injured or killed in truck accidents, but it can also be very emotionally taxing to consider and discuss these issues. Experienced attorneys can help you get fair compensation for your losses while also helping you through the process.

Starr Austen and Miller, an Indiana truck accident law firm,  focuses on representing individuals and their family members in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases, such as those often involved in trucking accidents. If you or a loved one have been in a truck accident you can contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case.

[Source: Truck Accident Lawyer.com]