Truck accidents can be extremely serious. They can affect you or your loved ones for the rest of your life. These crashes involve large vehicles that are hard to control and maneuver. These huge trucks can easily crush someone in a car under the right circumstances. Because damages are so severe, costs related to a truck accident can be high. The actual cost will depend on the unique circumstances of your situation. In many cases, an experienced trucking accident attorney will be able to estimate the overall cost of your trucking accident—and the total may surprise you.
How much will damages cost in a trucking accident case?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) keeps statistics on costs relating to trucking accidents. It does this to determine the cost of trucking accidents on various parties, including the trucking company, individuals, and insurance companies. In 2008, the Agency did an estimate of costs for trucking accidents that included:
- Property damage
- Medical treatment
- Rehabilitation
- Loss of quality of life
They determined that certain types of crashes and specific kinds of trucks had higher costs involved from an accident. For example, if a truck that did not have a trailer attached got into a crash, the average price of that accident would be roughly $98,000. In contrast, if the truck has a fully loaded trailer, then the costs may end up being more like $172,000. If the truck as more than one trailer, then the costs increase significantly—roughly $511,000.
These numbers include property damage to the truck as well. In serious accidents, the truck’s property damage may be significant. But, as a truck accident victim, you don’t have to worry about paying for property damage if the accident isn’t your fault.
These numbers also do not include an amount for pain and suffering, which could be high in severe truck accident cases.
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How much are damages for pain and suffering in truck accident cases?
The short answer to this question is that we can’t say without reviewing your case. Every case is unique, and predicting how much pain and suffering could be for one person could be very different compared to someone else. Generally, the more serious the injuries and damages, the higher dollar amount you may be entitled to receive for pain and suffering.
Some attorneys, and even insurance companies, will tell you that you should use the rule of three to determine what pain and suffering damages should be. That is, you start with the total amount of your medical bills, and you multiply that number by three to get a value for your overall claim. But, this basic formula is just a starting point, and it doesn’t work for every case.
Talk to a Truck Accident Lawyer for Free
If you or a loved one has been involved in a trucking accident, you may have legal options—and John Foy & Associates can help you. Don’t wait to make the call to an experienced trucking attorney in Georgia. Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
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