Truck accidents happen in Missouri every day. Unfortunately, many of these crashes could have been prevented had the trucker or trucking company followed Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations or behaved in a reasonably prudent way.
The law protects victims of these accidents and entitles them to hold truck drivers and trucking companies legally liable for the harm they cause. However, victims must understand their rights and pursue a claim to get the compensation they deserve — and trucking companies often fight to pay as little as possible.
If you or someone you love was hurt or killed in a collision with a commercial motor vehicle, it’s critical that you understand the potential recoverable damages in a Missouri truck accident. Drafahl Law Firm can help you determine what damage you’re entitled to and can fight for you to get the full compensation the law says you’re entitled to based on the harm you endured.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Missouri Truck Accident Claim?
When you pursue a truck accident claim, the law says you should be “made whole,” or fully compensated for the damage that you suffered. This means you should be repaid for economic and non-financial loss.
Some of the different kinds of damages you should receive payment for include:
- Medical bills: Any medical bills paid to date should be covered by those responsible for your truck crash. If you have ongoing future medical expenses, those should be paid for. Your attorney can work with you to find witnesses to testify on your behalf about the ongoing costs of medical care you’ll need throughout the rest of your life.
- Lost wages: If you missed work time, you should be compensated for the wages you did not earn. In many cases, the injuries you suffer will also affect your ability to work in the future. You should be compensated for all the money you won’t earn over the rest of your lifetime as a result of how your truck crash limited your earning potential.
- Pain and suffering: When you suffer injuries that cause you pain, you should be compensated for the discomfort you endured. Often, pain and suffering damages are calculated as a multiple of the economic losses you experienced. You should keep a pain journal to fully document your pain so you can prove the extent and duration of it and maximize your compensation.
- Emotional distress or mental anguish: A truck crash and resulting injuries can cause many emotional issues, from anxiety to depression to post-traumatic stress disorder. You should be compensated for the emotional damage you endured as well.
- Loss of consortium/loss of companionship: If your relationship with loved ones changes, you should be compensated for the resulting loss. For example, if a truck crash left you paralyzed and you can no longer be intimate with your spouse, you deserve compensation for this great loss.
- Wrongful death damages. When your loved one has passed, you miss a lifetime of their companionship and the income they would have earned. You should be compensated for these damages, as well as for any medical bills paid before death.
Because the injuries caused by truck accidents are often so serious, it’s very common for these damages to be very substantial.
Drafahl Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of clients injured in motor vehicle collisions and understands how to properly value claims. We’ll do our best to get you the full amount of compensation you deserve for your own accident, so you have the money to rebuild.
Getting help from a Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer
Recovering fair compensation in a truck crash case is difficult for many reasons. For example, insurers may try to get you to settle quickly and for a smaller sum than you deserve — especially if the extent of your injuries is unknown. That’s why it’s critical to understand potential recoverable damages in a Missouri truck accident.
Your attorney can help you determine what your case is worth, identify all parties responsible for compensating you, and work with you to prove the extent of your loss to maximize your recovery. Call Drafahl Law Firm today to learn more about how our firm can get you the maximum damage award possible, given the nature of your claim.