Recoverable Damages in a Sandy Springs Truck Accident Case

Truck accidents tend to involve large compensation awards due to the often severe damage incurred as a result. As a result, victims should make sure to provide an accurate estimate as to what they are owed in order to ensure that they are compensated for their damages in total.

Schedule a consultation today if you or a loved one suffered an accident. With the help of an attorney, you can calculate the recoverable damages in a Sandy Springs truck accident case.

What is the Difference Between Economic and Non-Economic Damages?

Economic damages are considered monetary losses incurred as a result of an accident. Common examples of these types of damages include medical bills and lost wages. Medical bills can include prescription medication and expenses for medical treatment. Victims can recover compensation for lost wages if they were unable to go to work and missed out on paychecks. Lost wages are often a large part of the damages owed to the victim.

On the other hand, non-economic damages are intangible injuries that are difficult to calculate. Common examples include pain and suffering that a person feels as they navigate treatment after an accident, the impact the accident may have on personal relationships, and loss of enjoyment of life. These types of damages are often determined by a jury.

Common Damages Recoverable in a Truck Accident Claim

Common recoverable damages after a truck accident usually include medical expenses, property damage, loss of income or loss wages, pain and suffering. If the accident resulted in a wrongful death, the estate of the deceased could recover damages on their behalf. In addition, they are allowed to seek punitive damages in certain cases when the truck driver or the trucking company acted egregiously negligent and should be punished for their conduct in order to deter them, or anyone else, from behaving in a similar fashion in the future.

How Does an Attorney Help with Calculating Damages?

An attorney would first try to calculate economic damages by collecting the bills incurred by the victim from their medical providers and their pharmacy. An attorney may also contact their employer in order to get information regarding missed time from work. Sometimes attorneys will hire an economist if a person is completely unable to work after an accident to testify as to what that person would have been making for the rest of their life.

What are Punitive Damages?

Punitive damages are awarded if the conduct of the defense is considered egregious. These damages are paid by the defense as a form of punishment by the court. The plaintiff of a case can ask the court to consider awarding punitive damages, but they do not have a say as to how much those damages should be worth. It is ultimately up to the court to decide how much the at-fault party should pay in punitive damages and whether punitive damages would deter the defendant from behaving the same in the future.

How Does an Attorney Work to Maximize Compensation Owed?

One of the things that an attorney can do to maximize the recoverable damages in a Sandy Springs truck accident case is to launch a full investigation regarding the driver and the trucking company. For example, an attorney will look at social media and see if that particular driver is posting while he is driving, which is fairly common. There is also certain information that could be acquired from the federal government to find out how many accidents the driver and the company have been involved in and whether they have a satisfactory rating with the federal government.

To learn more about what an attorney can do for you, reach out to schedule a consultation today.