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Being in a traffic accident with any kind of commercial vehicle can be a traumatic experience, even if you are fortunate enough to avoid suffering any significant physical injuries from the wreck. Crashes of this nature often cause long-lasting physical, psychological, and financial losses for the people involved, and the process of seeking civil recovery for those losses can be difficult.
Having support from a seasoned truck accident attorney will virtually always be the key difference-maker in whether you are able to recover fairly for the full value of your compensable damages in a Philadelphia truck accident case. It can also be helpful to know what kinds of things you can seek recovery for through this type of claim. Below is a brief overview of the types of losses that most commonly factor into truck crash litigation.
Recovering for Short-Term and Long-Term Economic Losses
Compensation in Philadelphia truck crash cases can be categorized as either “economic” or “non-economic,” depending on whether their financial values can be defined objectively with quantitative evidence like bills and receipts or must be defined subjectively through qualitative evidence like personal testimony, respectively.
Recovery for economic damages stemming from truck wrecks typically centers around the costs of medical treatment needed for accident-related injuries, but it can also include things such as:
- Lost work income
- Expenses stemming from personal property damage
- Disability management costs for wheelchairs
- Home/vehicle modifications
In a truck accident claim, it is also possible to demand compensation in advance for economic losses that have not happened yet but can be expected to happen in the future, after the legal process concludes. For example, if someone becomes permanently paralyzed due to a truck driver’s negligence, they can seek civil compensation for the costs of:
- Specialized medical care
- Lost working and earning capacity
- Other expenses they will have to deal with in the years and decades to come because of their permanent injury
How Are Non-Economic Damages Valued in Truck Crash Claims?
Non-economic damages in civil claims built around Philadelphia truck wrecks tend to center mainly on physical pain and suffering that accident-related injuries caused, but it is also possible to recover for things like:
- Emotional anguish
- Psychological trauma
- A decline in overall quality and enjoyment of life
Once again, it is possible to recover in advance for expected future non-economic losses during a truck crash claim, which can be especially important in cases built around permanent and debilitating injuries.
Typically, the financial value of non-economic losses is calculated in relation to the value of economic losses stemming from the same accident—for instance, by multiplying the sum total of economic damages by a specific factor or by equating one day’s worth of pain and suffering to one normal day of work income for the injured person. Because these damages are inherently subjective, though, there is often a lot of room for negotiation about exactly how they should be valued for a particular claimant.
Contact a Philadelphia Attorney Who Can Help Maximize Damages in a Truck Wreck Case
There is only so much that financial restitution can do by itself to make up for the immense pain and trauma that a high-speed truck wreck can cause. Nevertheless, it is the best remedy available to truck crash victims under Pennsylvania civil law, and obtaining comprehensive compensation for specific crash-related losses can still be key to preserving your long-term best interests in the aftermath of a wreck like this.
If you have further questions about damages in Philadelphia truck accident cases, a skilled truck accident lawyer can provide the answers and information you need. Call today to set up a free initial consultation with one of our knowledgeable legal professionals.
