When you are involved in a semi-truck accident, you may suffer serious injuries. In some cases, semi-truck accidents are fatal, leaving devastated loved ones behind. The size and weight of these vehicles mean crashes involving semi-trucks are usually much more dangerous than collisions involving passenger cars.
If a semi-truck driver was responsible for an accident that caused you harm or killed your loved one, you have legal rights. You should be able to pursue a claim for compensation and recover payment from the driver and, in some cases, the trucking company, the truck manufacturer, or those responsible for truck maintenance.
Because these are high-stakes claims, you need to understand how much your case is worth so you do not leave money on the table. However, in Virginia, the corporate defense teams for trucking lines immediately try to leverage the state’s harsh “pure contributory negligence” standard, meaning if they can prove you were even 1% at fault for the crash, you could be completely barred from recovering any financial compensation.
To protect your rights and learn your case’s true value, consulting an experienced Richmond personal injury lawyer is critical. Call Monge & Associates today for a free consultation to find out what your claim is worth.
What Is The Average Settlement For A Semi-Truck Accident In Richmond?
Answering the question of what the average settlement is can be very complicated, because there is not one single average amount of compensation that truck crash victims can collect.
In fact, compensation could range from a few thousand dollars for minor injuries in a small fender bender to over $1 million in compensation when a semi-truck kills or permanently harms someone. To better understand what a typical case is worth, it is helpful to look at the factors that determine the compensation you collect.
Specifically, your settlement should be determined by:
- How severely you were hurt: The more serious your injuries, the more compensation you will generally recover
- The amount of financial and non-financial loss you experienced: If you can never work again due to your severe injuries, or if you need lifelong medical care, then you will recover much more compensation than someone who was less seriously hurt. Wrongful death claims resulting in the permanent loss of a loved one can also result in more compensation.
- The strength of your case: The stronger your case, and the clearer the proof that the defendant was to blame, the more compensation you should collect.
- The insurance policy limits: Trucking companies may need as much as $5 million in liability insurance under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, depending on what is being transported and whether it is hazardous. Since insurance only pays up to policy limits, the amount of insurance coverage matters.
These are some of the key factors that will affect the compensation you can collect. Monge & Associates has spent decades representing accident victims, and we have recovered more than $1 billion since 1993. We understand how to build a strong case to maximize the money you recover when you have been harmed.
Contact a Richmond semi truck accident lawyer today
An experienced attorney can also help you recover more compensation for your losses by building a stronger case, identifying all potentially liable defendants, and negotiating effectively with an insurer. Your attorney is also prepared to go to court and fight for you.
Do not sign any papers or agree to any settlement until you speak with a Richmond semi-truck accident lawyer so you can avoid leaving money on the table. Call Monge & Associates today for a free case evaluation so we can provide the help and support you need to get the money you deserve.