Truck Accident Damages

The totality of damage in truck accident cases can be enormous and sometimes difficult to prove. That’s why you need to know who to call for an estimate on truck damages from car accident issues. The best attorneys to handle special damages for truck accident cases in New Jersey are at RAM Law. Don’t let insurance companies try to settle for less than you deserve. Call the experienced team at RAM Law to receive fair compensation for all your damages, both physical and emotional, that you may incur now and in the future.

What Types of Damages Can I Recover after a Truck Accident?

A truck accident can completely change your life. You may end up with serious injuries and overwhelming financial problems through no fault of your own.

You may feel exhausted and confused as you try to figure out things like:

• What needs to be done first
• Who to call for an estimate on truck damages from a car accident
• How you’re going to deal with your financial stress

There are different types of damages that may be recovered after a truck accident in NJ, including economic, non-economic and punitive damages. There’s a good chance that the devastation you experienced is much worse than it would have been if you had been hit by a smaller vehicle.

Damages in truck accident cases can occur with any number of types of trucks, including:

• Tow trucks
• Fire trucks
• Flatbed trucks
• Delivery trucks
• Big rigs
• Tractor trailers
• Box trucks

If you make the mistake of assuming your insurance company automatically provides compensation, you may be sadly mistaken. Talk to a lawyer experienced in truck accident damages as soon as possible after your collision. In New Jersey, the accident attorneys with the experience needed for top notch representation are at RAM Law. Contact the firm for the best representation.

How Are Economic Damages Calculated in Truck Accident Cases?

The sheer size of trucks can cause great bodily harm in an accident and sometimes even death. Economic damages, also called special damages, are based on losses that can be clearly documented.

Special damages in truck accident cases make up the biggest part of personal injury claims, including:

• Past and future medical expenses. If you’ve been physically injured, medical expenses can add up quickly after an accident with a truck. You may end up with bills for multiple doctor visits, medications, physical therapy, ambulance transportation, hospital stays, surgery and more. Catastrophic physical injuries can lead to the need for long-term medical care.
• Lost wages or lost earning capacity. While you’re trying to recover from an accident caused by a truck, there’s a good chance you can’t return to work for some time. The loss of current wages creates financial problems right away, and permanent injuries can lead to lost earning power and loss of employer-paid benefits.
• Property damage. Property damaged in a truck accident includes your vehicle and any property you may have had in your vehicle, such as a bicycle, musical instrument or camping equipment. You may have suffered damage to a building. When a truck driver runs into a building or other property, it causes extensive damage, especially from an 18-wheeler, and this damage can be costly to repair.

Courts use a variety of factors to calculate the amount that you’re awarded as compensation when you’re injured in a truck accident.

Some factors considered include:

• The severity of your injury
• How long it takes to recover
• Whether the injury is permanent
• The amount of insurance coverage available
• The availability of evidence proving the truck driver was at fault

Whatever type of economic damage you experience, make sure you keep records of all the expenses that you’ve incurred from the accident. An experienced NJ personal injury attorney with expertise in truck driving accidents helps you gather evidence to support your claim.

What Are Non-Economic Truck Accident Damages?

Damages in truck accident cases aren’t limited to things that are easily documented. Non-economic damages in truck accident cases can be more difficult to calculate because no bills provide a concrete record of this type of damage.

Examples of non-economic damages include:

• Loss of consortium. When you’ve sustained severe injuries in a truck accident, the relationships you have with others are severely tested, since you may not be able to provide the same affection, comfort, companionship or sexual relations that you could before the accident.
• Pain and suffering. Some accident victims may live with intense pain on a long-term basis or for the rest of their lives.
• Reduced enjoyment in life. If your accident led to disability, disfigurement or other injuries that won’t heal, your quality of life is greatly impacted.

Non-economic damages are also called general damages. Other types of damages that aren’t based on actual bills are known as punitive damages, which may be sought only if the damages were caused by reckless or willful conduct. The complexity of determining fair compensation for these damages after a truck accident requires the expertise of a highly trained, experienced attorney who’s familiar with the truck accident settlement process.

Can I Recover Damages for Emotional Distress after a Truck Accident?

When your life has been impacted by the carelessness or negligence of a truck driver, you may suffer a great deal of emotional distress. It can be difficult to demonstrate the amount of mental and emotional anguish you go through as the result of these accidents.

Examples of emotional distress you may experience include:

• Anxiety
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Depression

Emotional distress can impact your ability to work while greatly reducing how much pleasure you get out of life. You may be entitled to compensation for emotional distress after a truck accident even if you had no physical injuries. This is an area you shouldn’t attempt to pursue on your own. A reputable trucking accident attorney knows what compensation you deserve and how to present your case.

What Are the Time Limits for Filing a Claim for Damages after a Truck Accident?

Many types of lawsuits have a statute of limitations, which specifies the amount of time you have to file a claim. The statute of limitations for filing a claim after a truck accident varies from state to state. In New Jersey, a claim must be filed within two years of a vehicle accident.

If you miss this deadline, the truck driver’s attorney may claim that:

• You can’t start a new personal injury claim.
• The defendant can file a motion to dismiss since too much time has passed.

Since time is of the essence after a truck accident, don’t delay getting started in filing a claim for the damages you’ve experienced. After any vehicle accident, the driver’s insurance company may try to rush you into settling for a settlement that’s much lower than you deserve, but don’t accept this offer without talking to a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer. The best truck accident lawyers in New Jersey can be found at RAM Law. Contact them today to schedule a consultation.