A successful personal injury claim entitles a plaintiff to receive damages from a defendant and their liability insurance carrier. Damages in Gainesville truck accidents can provide financial relief and a sense of justice to injured parties. Unfortunately, many people underestimate the value of their claims. After the jury decides on a verdict, there is no legal mechanism to increase or receive more compensation.
For this reason, it is essential to retain seasoned legal counsel as soon as possible to pursue a favorable outcome. A determined truck wreck attorney at Smith Hulsey Law could work tirelessly to pursue the maximum possible compensation for your damages.
In Gainesville truck accident cases, when a plaintiff and their attorney successfully prove the defendant’s negligence, they can pursue payments for several categories of damages.
Economic damages provide compensation for the financial losses associated with an injury. Plaintiffs typically pursue payments for their past and future medical bills, as well as to recover any lost wages from time taken off work. In cases involving catastrophic injuries with lasting consequences, economic damages can also include the costs of vocational rehabilitation and household services. There is no cap on monetary damages.
Non-economic damages are more subjective and compensate truck accident victims for any harm that may not come with a receipt or other objective documentation. This typically includes pursuing payments for someone’s pain, emotional distress, and suffering. In addition, if a person’s injury leads to disfigurement or disability, they could also seek non-economic damages for these losses. There are no caps on non-economic damages, and a fair and impartial jury ultimately decides their value. However, an attorney could play an important role in presenting a compelling case to the jury that demonstrates how an injured party suffered non-economic losses.
In some cases, punitive damages might be available to punish the defendant and dissuade against similar egregious behavior. These damages involve a separate trial process once the jury has made their verdict on the liability of the defendant. State law generally caps punitive damages at $250,000. However, this cap does not apply if there is evidence the defendant was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A seasoned attorney could review the circumstances of a tractor-trailer crash to determine if punitive damages could be available in a particular case.
One of the primary services a Gainesville attorney provides for injured parties in 18-wheeler collision cases is verifying and evaluating all applicable damages. To achieve the maximum possible compensation, a plaintiff must provide evidence of their losses and how a negligent trucker or motorist caused them. For this reason, an experienced lawyer ensures that anyone injured in a semi-truck accident receives prompt medical care and that medical professionals document this treatment and its costs. A proactive legal professional could also work with medical professionals to determine an approximate value for covering anticipated future treatment costs.
An attorney with experience handling truck wreck claims will also understand the types of compensation available and could determine what damages apply to a particular case. A skilled lawyer could also investigate whether there are any aggravating factors in the case that could provide a basis for punitive damages to increase the total financial award.
Finally, insurance policy limits could lead to circumstances where a defendant’s liability insurance does not cover the total value of a injured party’s losses. When a defendant’s insurance does not provide enough to cover a plaintiff’s damages, the plaintiff may have to look to their own insured motorist coverage. A proactive legal professional could investigate all possible sources of liability to ensure there is no other option before resorting to an injured person’s own coverage in this scenario.
While compensation may not be able to return you to the same state you enjoyed before your accident, it could help alleviate financial burdens and hold the liable party accountable. A diligent attorney could evaluate how an 18-wheeler crash has impacted your life and file a claim seeking the relevant damages on your behalf.
During an initial consultation, your dedicated lawyer could review available damages in Gainesville truck accidents and help you understand the possible value of your case. Call Smith Hulsey Law today to get started.
Smith Hulsey Law