You can receive several types of damages after a truck accident caused by a drunk driver. What you can get depends on the nature of your injury, the extent of your injuries, and how the intoxicated person’s actions and condition contributed to your wreck. After being involved in a wreck with a drunk driver and suffering damages, consulting a truck accident lawyer could help you understand your legal options. Unfortunately, truck accidents arising from drunk driving are a common occurrence.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the number of large trucks involved in injury crashes increased six percent to 119,000 from 2018 to 2019. Furthermore, over 5,000 trucks were involved in fatal accidents in the year 2019. Car accidents often lead to expensive medical bills and vehicle repairs. Fortunately, there are several types of compensation you can receive after an accident with a drunk truck driver. Let’s discuss some of these damages.
Medical Bills
If you were involved in an accident with a drunk truck driver, your medical bills could be enormous. You may have received treatment at an emergency room, undergone surgery, and had to visit physical therapists or other medical professionals. You may also face additional medical expenses in the future due to your injuries.
Compensation for all of your medical expenses might include:
- Initial emergency room visits or ambulance services
- Rehabilitative care costs
- Hospital stays
- Surgeries
- Medications
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Lost Wages
The injuries you suffered in the accident may have prevented you from returning to work right away, or they could have prevented you from working at all. You can receive compensation for lost wages, including any future lost wages if your injuries prevent you from returning to work (or performing your job at total capacity).
Pain and Suffering
Unless you have been injured in a truck accident, you might not understand how painful it can be. The amount of money you can receive as compensation for your pain and suffering depends on the severity of your injuries. It’s entirely subjective, which is why it is often difficult to determine its value.
Many factors are considered when determining the value of compensation for pain and suffering. These factors include the nature of your injuries, their severity, permanent damage, if any, and how they will affect your life in the future.
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Loss of Consortium
Loss of consortium refers to the loss of services typically provided by someone who was injured or killed in an accident. This generally applies to spouses and children of the victim who are dependent on the person for emotional support and companionship.
If your relationship with your spouse or child is affected by the injuries sustained in the accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation for loss of consortium. In such a case, your loved one can be compensated for the loss of companionship and support.
Damage caps or parties eligible to pursue a wrongful death case can vary by state.
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Property Damage
After being injured by a drunk truck driver, one type of compensation that you might receive is property damage. The majority of people involved in drunk driving accidents suffer significant and expensive vehicle damage
If your vehicle was damaged in the accident, you can file a property damage claim against the at-fault party’s insurance company to cover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle.
Wrongful Death
In some cases, the victim may not survive the injuries caused by a drunk truck driver. In this situation, surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party to recover compensation for funeral expenses and loss of companionship.
Punitive Damages
In rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded as well. Punitive damages are intended to punish someone for their behavior, such as a drunk driver causing an accident with another vehicle and injuring others in the process. They may also be awarded if someone was found guilty of reckless driving or driving under the influence (DUI).
Let Our Truck Accident Attorneys Help With Legal Counsel
While it’s devastating to realize how many victims suffer injuries or die due to drunk drivers, it’s comforting to know that you can receive compensation from the at-fault party. If you’re in this situation, consult Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers before pursuing your claim.
Our team is ready to get started working on your case. Call us today for a free case review and responsive legal counsel. We charge no upfront fees and costs.
Call or text 800-333-9999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
