Carrollton Truck Accident Damages
In a truck accident lawsuit, the money awarded to victims is known as damages. Calculating these damages takes into account the loss and injuries they suffered, including but not limited to property damage, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Carrollton truck accident damages fall into three categories: economic, non-economic, and punitive.
For help calculating the Carrollton truck accident damages you deserve, contact an experienced truck accident attorney today. A personal injury attorney could handle the details of your case so you can focus on healing.
Types of Damages
Carrollton truck accident damages fall into three categories: economic, non-economic, and punitive.
Economic Damages
As defined by Carrollton law, economic damages are things that are suffered by the plaintiff that can be quantified by a number. For example, if someone is in a car wreck, their economic damages could include the cost of their medical treatment and their medical bills to treat their injuries related to the accident. If their injuries are severe, and they require long-term treatment, a life care planner can be brought in to offer a projection of their future medical expenses.
Another example of economic damages would be the cost of repairing or replacing the car involved in the accident. Lost wages are another common economic damage that is recoverable in Georgia. If, as a result of the accident, the victim’s injuries are such that they cannot earn the same living that they did prior to the accident, their total estimated loss of future earning capacity is another quantifiable economic damage.
Non-Economic Damages
As defined by Carrollton law, non-economic damages are losses that cannot be quantified. There is no specific number that could used to value non-economic damages. The most common forms of non-economic damages in the State of Georgia are pain and suffering.
Another type of non-economic damage is a loss of consortium claim, otherwise known as loss of companionship. This is a difficult concept for a lawyer to define. It ranges from holding hands to kissing to making babies.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are damages that are meant to punish a defendant if there is any willful, wanton, or malicious conduct that is the cause of the accident. Punitive damages may not be awarded unless a jury awards economic or non-economic damages. There are cases in which a jury awards economic or non-economic damages for one dollar, and then on top of that, awards punitive damages in a millions of dollars.
Calculating Damages
It may be that the ultimate trial effect is tasked with calculating non-economic damages. The ultimate trial effect in civil law is a jury of 12 people. Prior to any lawsuit being filed, an insurance company calculates the value of the victim’s pain and suffering. That calculation is commonly made by a computer and not a person.
It is the job of a personal injury lawyer to convey and humanize the pain and suffering of truck wreck victims. Lawyers often ask the victims to keep a daily journal and write down exactly how they feel during periods of the day from the date of the accident. If there are catastrophic injuries involved, there would be significant medical records documenting the pain and suffering.
The ultimate judge in a civil jury trial is the jury, but hiring a professional, experienced lawyer could help to provide the jury and the insurance adjuster with an outlook and an outline as to what non-economic damages are and how they were calculated.
Role of a Truck Crash Attorney
The attorney plays a role in helping to recover damages, and there is a well-defined process. From the very moment a phone call is received asking for help for an injured party, attorneys have boots on the ground taking photos and preserving evidence. This helps them get the clearest picture possible of what happened that caused their injuries. Seasoned attorneys cross all the T’s and dot all the I’s to get out there and start fighting for just compensation.
They begin retrieving insurance policies and putting the insurance companies of the at-fault parties on notice. No contact is to be made to the injured parties unless it is through the law firm. By speaking to insurance companies on the victim’s behalf, a skilled truck accident attorney can best protect the victim’s rights.
Discuss your Damages With a Carrollton Truck Accident Attorney
If you were injured in a truck wreck, Carrollton truck accident damages may be available. With the help of a veteran personal injury lawyer, you could fight for your right to compensation for your injuries. Call today to schedule a consultation and begin working towards a positive outcome to your case.
