Shopping online is a convenient way to buy what you need without ever leaving the house. But the trucks used to deliver our purchases, just like every other vehicle on the road, sometimes get into accidents. These accidents can have painful and expensive consequences for any other vehicle occupants or pedestrians they run into.
If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a delivery truck accident, call the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC. An Alexandria truck accident lawyer may be able to help you fight for your rights and for fair compensation. Call our office at (571) 229-1800 to get a free case evaluation. We work on a contingency-fee-basis, so you do not have to pay us anything unless and until you get compensation.
Truck Accidents Versus Car Accidents
Any traffic accident can have devastating consequences. Truck accidents, however, come with additional risks. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, most cars weigh less than 6,000 pounds. When carrying cargo, a delivery truck can weigh anywhere from 14,000 to 26,000 pounds. You do not need to be a math whiz to realize that, if a car and a delivery truck collide, the car will likely get the worst of it.
Because trucks are so much bigger and heavier than cars, they have the potential to do far more damage if they are involved in a crash. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that 23 percent of all large truck accidents reported to the police in 2017 involved a personal injury. That means 344,000 truck accidents that year resulted in someone getting hurt.
Economic and Non-Economic Damages
You already know that truck accidents can impact your health, your property, your career, and more. For the purpose of a lawsuit, you will have to categorize these injuries according to whether they are economic in nature (i.e., you lost money) or non-economic (i.e., you suffered physically or mentally).
Economic Damages
Examples of economic damages include but are not limited to:
- Medical expenses: e.g., doctors’ visits, surgery, therapy, physical therapy, prescription medication, and home nursing
- Repair expenses: e.g., getting your car towed or repaired, replacing your car, renting a car, or using other alternative modes of transportation while your car was in the shop
- Loss of wages: e.g., the income you would have earned had you not taken time off to recover from your injuries
- Loss of employment: e.g., you had to quit your job because your injuries prevent you from performing your job duties
Non-Economic Damages
Examples of non-economic damages include but are not limited to:
- “Pain and suffering” and inconvenience: e.g., you experienced physical or mental distress because of your injuries. This may also apply to mental distress caused by the crash itself if you, for example, suffer frequent flashbacks to the accident.
- Disability: e.g., your ability to function will always be impaired by your injuries or residuals from them
- Disfigurement: e.g., your injuries left scars that are painful and easily noticeable
How to Calculate Damages
For each type of damages you wish to claim, you will need to decide on an exact dollar amount to ask for and collect convincing evidence to show why you qualify for that amount. This may be easier with economic damages than with noneconomic damages. It takes much less effort to pull out a bill and ask an insurance company to compensate you for that amount than it does to put a price tag on your physical and emotional suffering.
In both cases, you may wish to consult with a legal professional to make sure you are asking for recoverable amounts.
Alexandria Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me 571-229-1800
What to Do Now
Not sure what your options are? Start by calling us at (571) 229-1800. The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC will tell you what your next steps should be and how much compensation you may be entitled to. Our case review service is completely free and places you under no obligation whatsoever.
If you do decide to sue, you can go it alone, or you can hire the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC to take on the insurance company and their lawyers on your behalf. An Alexandria delivery truck accident lawyer may be able to:
- Investigate: you and the liable party were likely not the only ones who witnessed the crash and its consequences. We will collect maintenance records, police records, and more to potentially help prove your case.
- Negotiate for fair compensation: you do not have to talk with the liable party, their insurance company, or their lawyers. The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC may serve as an intermediary during all communications and negotiations.
- Schedule a trial and represent you at court: if the insurance company will not offer what you deserve, we are more than willing to take the case to trial.
- Answer all of your questions: at no point will you be left in the dark. We always keep you updated about what is happening in your case. And if you think of a question in between updates, you are welcome to call us at any time.
The prospect of suing for compensation can seem daunting or even scary, especially when you are still dealing with the fallout of a truck accident. Let an Alexandria delivery truck accident lawyer take that weight off your shoulders.
The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC is run by Jim Parrish, whose years of experience in the insurance industry have given him unique insight into how the industry works and how to get ordinary people like you the compensation they deserve. Call us at (571) 229-1800 for your free case evaluation.
Call or Text 571-229-1800 or Complete a Free Case Evaluation form