What is the Average Texas Truck and 18-Wheeler Accident Settlement?
Undefeated Texas Truck and 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers
The truth is, there really is no “average” truck accident settlement.
The total damages recovered by truck accident victims depends on the circumstances of the crash, including the extent of their injuries, whether or not their own actions contributed to the accident, and the amount of available insurance coverage.
If you have been in a trucking accident in Texas, contact our Houston truck accident injury lawyers near you today.
18-Wheeler Accident Settlements Can Break Records
Because any crash involving an 18-wheeler or other large commercial truck is more likely to result in catastrophic injuries than a typical car crash, truck accident verdicts and settlements tend to be much larger as well. It’s not unusual for 18 wheeler accident victims and their families to recover hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars.
In some cases, truck and 18-wheeler settlements can be even larger and break records.
The #1 Largest Truck Accident Settlement in Texas
For example, our Truck Accident Lawyers won a record-setting $23.5 million settlement – the # Largest Settlement in Texas and the largest in the defendant’s corporate history – on behalf of a client who was seriously injured after being hit head-on by a commercial truck.
As a result, our client is able to receive the best medical care available and provide for himself and his family for the rest of his life.
$32 Million Oilfield Truck Accident Settlement
Our Oilfield Truck Accident Lawyers recently won a record $32 million truck accident settlement for a client who was seriously injured when an overworked truck driver fell asleep at the wheel, crossed the center median, and hit our client and his family head-on.
Our 18 wheeler accident attorneys finalized our record-setting $32 million truck accident settlement less than nine months after filing the truck accident lawsuit on behalf of our client and his family.
Record Wrongful Death Settlement for Family of Man Killed by 18 Wheeler
We also recently reached a record-setting (and confidential) settlement for another wrongful death truck accident victim after her husband was tragically killed by an 18-wheeler in Jefferson County, Texas, while on his way to work.
The trucking company initially refused to take responsibility, claiming her husband had been distracted by his cell phone. By working with law enforcement officers, our truck accident attorneys not only proved that he had never used his cell phone that morning but also uncovered evidence that the 18-wheeler driver had been on the road for more than 14 hours, a violation of federal trucking regulations.
The trucking company agreed to settle just weeks later, and our confidential settlement remains the largest in the company’s corporate history.
Largest Settlement in the History of Oakley Trucking
Our Undefeated Truck Accident Lawyers also obtained the #1 Largest Settlement in Oakley Trucking Company’s corporate history on behalf of a client rear-ended by a distracted truck driver on Christmas Eve.
While Oakley initially refused to offer more than $125,000, our attorneys were able to prove that the trucker had been using his cell phone at the time of the crash. The case settled just six months later for more than 25-times Oakley’s initial offer.
Factors that Effect Truck and 18-Wheeler Settlement Amounts
While it’s impossible to cite an “average” truck or 18-wheeler settlement, we can identify the common factors that determine damage awards in Truck, Big Rig and other large commercial vehicle crashes:
Who is at Fault for the Crash
Sometimes, more than one party – including the injured victim – shares fault for a truck accident. In these cases, the degree of responsibility attributed to the truck driver, the trucking company, and other parties involved could significantly impact any resulting verdict or settlement. Most states, for example, have established “comparative negligence” laws that allow injured victims to recover damages even if they contributed to causing the crash.
Texas and some other states follow “modified comparative negligence” laws that reduce an injured party’s damages by their degree of fault.
The Severity of Your Physical Injuries
A truck accident victim’s physical injuries are a major determining factor in 18-wheeler accident settlements and verdicts. The nature and extent of the injuries must be confirmed by a medical professional, which is why getting checked out at the ER or by EMTs at the scene is so important after a trucking crash, even if you don’t think you were seriously hurt.
While you’re recovering, be sure to follow all of your doctors’ advice and attend all medical and therapy appointments. Otherwise, you’ll give the trucking company and its insurer the excuse they need to question the severity of your injuries and cast doubt on your pain and suffering.
The Amount of Your Medical Bills
The medical bills you incurred after your truck accident, as well as the amount of medical expenses you are expected to need in the future, will also factor into the calculation of your damages. The expenses must be related to the crash, and it’s important to show that you’ve actually been going to your doctors and receiving the medical care that they have recommended for your injuries.
Keeping records of co-pays and other accident-related medical expenses will help your truck accident attorneys calculate an accurate damage model and show that you are making a good-faith effort to recover.
The Amount of Your Lost Wages and Income
If your injuries prevent you from being able to work for any amount of time, your “past lost wages” will also be factored into your damages. You are also entitled to compensation if you had to miss work for doctor’s visits or therapy appointments following the truck accident.
If your injuries prevent you from working in the future or required you to take a lower paying job, you can also recover your “future lost wages” in a truck accident lawsuit.
The Trucking Company’s Insurance Limits
The amount of insurance the trucking company has will also effect the amount of your settlement or verdict.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires interstate truck drivers to carry the following minimum insurance coverage, depending on the type of freight they haul, but trucking companies often carry much more than the minimum limits required by federal law:
- Non-hazardous goods moved in vehicles <10,001 lbs.: $300,000
- Non-hazardous goods moved in vehicles >10,001 lbs.: $750,000
- Oil moved by private carriers: $1,000,000
- Hazardous materials moved by private carriers: $5,000,000
An experienced truck accident attorney can help you determine what type of insurance the trucking company or the truck driver carried and how that might impact your potential settlement or verdict.
Were Others Involved in the Truck Accident?
After an 18-wheeler accident, the focus is usually on the at-fault truck driver. However, in many cases, multiple parties are to blame for a crash, and each may be liable for a portion of your settlement:
- Trucking Companies: the trucking company that employs the truck driver will be responsible for the driver’s conduct and driving. After a crash, the company could face claims for hiring an unqualified driver, setting an unrealistic delivery schedule that caused its driver to speed and violate other traffic laws and trucking regulations, or allowing its driver to violate state or federal safety laws, like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
- Shippers and Brokers: Companies that load trucks and trailers or that arrange for a specific trucking company to transport a load (i.e., a broker) can also be held liable for certain crashes and be forced to contribute to your settlement or verdict.
- Truck and Vehicle Component Manufacturers: If a defective truck or parts caused the crash, you might be able to bring claims against the manufacturer, distributor, and/or retailer.
While identifying the responsible parties is often complicated, doing so is absolutely crucial if you hope to obtain maximum compensation for all of your injuries and losses. An experienced 18-wheeler accident attorney will have the experience needed to identify and pursue claims against all liable third parties on your behalf.
What if a Truck or 18-Wheeler Accident Results in a Wrongful Death?
When someone is tragically killed in a truck accident, their surviving family members are entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit and pursue compensation for:
- Loss of past and future earnings
- Loss of past and future household services and assistance
- Loss of society, companionship, and consortium
- Loss of inheritance
- Mental anguish and emotional distress suffered by family members
- Punitive or Exemplary Damages
Our Undefeated Truck Accident Lawyers have recovered the #1 largest verdicts and settlements in history in connection with fatal truck, big rig, and 18 wheeler accidents and will do everything possible to ensure that you and your family recover the maximum compensation possible for your losses.
An Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer Makes the Difference Between a $500,000 and a $5 Million Recovery
When faced with a potential multi-million-dollar payout, trucking companies and their insurance adjusters will do just about anything to avoid paying you and your family all that you are owed, even to the point of trivializing your injuries, blaming you for the crash, and “misplacing” or destroying evidence proving the company and its driver were at fault.
You can’t afford to fight them on your own.
It’s critical that you have a Truck Accident Lawyer who has a history recovering substantial verdicts and settlements in truck accident cases and who the trucking company knows won’t hesitate to take them to trial in the event they refuse to offer you a settlement that FULLY compensates you for all your injuries and losses.
Our Undefeated Semi Truck Accident Lawyers have a proven history of success against the largest trucking and transportation companies in the country and have repeatedly recovered the #1 largest truck and 18 wheeler accident verdicts and settlements in history for our clients and their families.
Contact our Undefeated Truck Accident Lawyers at 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here for a Free Consultation
While just about every personal injury attorney will tell you they represent truck and 18-wheeler accident victims, very few have actually taken on the biggest trucking companies in the country, and less than a handful have repeatedly won the largest truck accident verdicts and settlements in history for their clients.
Having successfully represented thousands of truck and commercial vehicle accident victims in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and throughout the United States, our Undefeated Houston 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers have won Billions for our clients and consistently recovered record-breaking verdicts and settlements on their behalf, including:
- #1 Largest Truck Accident Settlement in Texas
- #1 Largest Accident Verdict in Texas
- #2 Largest Accident Verdict in Texas
- Billions in Total Damages for Our Clients
If you or a loved one were injured or tragically killed because of a negligent trucking company or truck driver, our Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys will hold the trucking company accountable and ensure that you and your family receive the maximum compensation possible for all of your injuries and losses.
Call 1-888-603-3636, click the “live chat” button or send us a confidential email through our Contact Form by Clicking Here.
All consultations are free, and you won’t pay a dime unless we win your case.