With all the wonderful things that the holiday season brings with it, increased semi-truck accidents are not one of the ones we are thankful for. It’s the busiest time of year for highways across the country, and Tampa is no exception. With roads bustling with travelers, holiday-party-goers, and commercial semi-trucks carrying loads of deliveries and products, accidents are inevitable, and unfortunately, often catastrophic. The last thing anyone wants during the holidays is to come face to face with several hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of hospital bills, but unfortunately, that is a sad reality for many. If you or a loved one have been involved in a semi-truck accident in Tampa or the greater Florida area, you may be wondering if it is worth pursuing a lawsuit in addition to filing a claim with the driver’s insurance. You may be wondering if it’s even worth the hassle of hiring a lawyer, or if the insurance companies will sort everything out on their own. If this is you, then it’s a good thing that you are reading this post.
Understanding Your Semi-Truck Settlement
The first thing that it is important to understand is that insurance claims adjusters are not on your side. Unlike a lawyer, they are not representing your best interest or advocating for you. Rather, they are representing the insurance company’s interests and attempting to settle your claim for as little as possible, even if it means your expenses will not be sufficiently covered. It’s also important to understand that there’s rarely any such thing as a “minor” semi-truck accident. The weight and size disparities alone almost guarantee serious injuries and expensive medical bills. For many, the crash may even result in permanent life changes or the inability to continue their current job. The Department of Transportation estimates that the average settlement for a semi-truck accident involving a non-fatal injury is $195,258. On the other hand, a fatal semi-truck accident is estimated to result in a settlement of $3,604,518. These are not insignificant amounts of money. It is unlikely that most people have several hundred thousand dollars–let alone several million–lying around in case of emergency. You can see how accepting a sum that initially sounds high, such as $150,000, may soon reveal itself to cover only a small fraction of your total expenses, and then you are out of options. As a general rule, the higher the potential damages, or the higher the stakes, the more critical it is to retain a lawyer, and that is certainly the case when it comes to commercial trucking accidents. Of course, there are many factors that go into calculating an exact personal injury settlement. The age of the victim, their health and occupation, and the liable parties, can all be considered, as well as the anticipated cost of future care and the seriousness and permanency of the injury. The best way to get an accurate idea of what your settlement would be worth is to talk to an experienced Tampa personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Schedule a Consultation with Durham Law Group
If you or a loved one have suffered serious injuries as a result of a semi-truck accident, the experienced Tampa truck accident attorneys at the Durham Law Group are ready to help. Contact the Durham Law Group today to schedule a consultation.
Resource:
fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/UnitCostsTruck%20Crashes2007.pdf
