Trucking is an important component of the economy, but also poses an additional danger on the roads. Because of their sheer size and weight, accidents involving trucks tend to cause more damage than motor vehicle accidents. Truck accidents are not uncommon; it is estimated that they cause over 130,000 injuries per year and approximately 5,000 deaths. If you have been injured in a truck accident, contact an experienced New York City truck accident lawyer from Stephen Bilkis and Associates. You could be entitled to compensation for your injuries, including reimbursement for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.
Interestingly, large trucks (tractor-trailers) account for only 3% of the registered vehicles on the road, but account for 25% of all traffic related deaths. Because of this, stiff regulations have been put on the trucking industry to increase safety.
Federal Motor Safety Regulations have been created to make our roads safer and hold the industry to a higher standard. Truck drivers are required to account for their time on the road and create time logs, to avoid driver fatigue. Mandatory safety checks are also required.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, you may be wondering about the value of a truck accident case. It is important to find a qualified attorney to help you answer this question what the value of a truck accident case is. Stephen Bilkis and Associates has been handling these types of cases for decades, and have received some of the biggest settlements and jury verdicts of their time. To date, these successful outcomes total over one half billion dollars ($500,000,000). Our results speak for themselves.
The Value of a Truck Accident CaseIn order to assess the value of your case, a New York City attorney experienced in truck accident law will need to determine the amount of damages. Damages are the losses you have suffered as a result of your accident. There are many different types of damages, but the following are particularly important.
Medical CostsMedical losses are the total amount of your medical bills, past, present and future. That means that all of the expenses you have incurred to date as a result of your injury are to be accounted for, as well as any potential medical expenses in the future. Depending on the type of injuries you sustained,this could run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. Injuries commonly seen with truck accidents include head injuries, spinal injuries, broken bones, paralysis and more.
Pain and SufferingThe law allows for you to be compensated for the pain and suffering you have endured as a result of your injuries. This amount is calculated by using a formula to help arrive at a dollar figure that makes sense.
Loss of Wages/IncomeIf you have been injured, you have probably missed time from work. Just when you need it most, you are without a paycheck. All the while the medical bills keep piling up. You are entitled to compensation for your missed time from work. Depending on the severity of your injuries and your profession, this amount alone can potentially run into millions of dollars.
InsuranceEvery insurance company operates differently and has unique policies and procedures to contend with. Insurance policy limits are important to your case and can affect its' outcome. If the defendant's policy limit is $500,000 for instance, it will be difficult to get an award higher than that amount. There may be other legal avenues to pursue however.
Your New York City truck accident lawyer will take these and other factors into account when assessing the value of your case. Some recent verdicts in New York have had the following results:
Kings County, New York - $5,000,000 Verdict: Plaintiff struck by negligent driver.
Orange County, New York - $2,350,000 Verdict: Snow plow truck strikes plaintiff.
Kings County, New York – $2,225,000 Verdict: Negligent driver strikes plaintiff.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, you may be healing from your injury, contending with sky high medical bills and at a loss as to what to do next. You may want to discuss the value of a truck accident case, and learn about your legal rights. Speak to one our truck accident lawyers in our New York City offices for assistance. We have locations in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, as well as Nassau County, Suffolk County and Westchester County. Call us today at 800.696.9529.