No one wants to become involved in a vehicle accident, especially with a delivery truck. If it happens to you, collision victims have rights. Namely, you can take the driver who caused the accident to court for damages and compensation.
The United States already has millions of cars on the road. Now, the economy has added thousands of delivery trucks too. FedEx and UPS were the most common delivery truck fleets. Amazon has entered the market with a fleet seeking to rival them and continue growing.
In some ways, delivery trucks function like school buses. For example, they both stop frequently. Although these trucks don’t transport several humans, they can cause significant damage to a passenger vehicle.
Keep in mind that if you need help figuring out the potential compensation damages, legal professionals remain at your disposal.
Let’s look at seven factors to consider for delivery truck accident case compensation, economic and non-economic.
Economic Factors
After an accident, individuals must keep track of the money that comes out of their pockets. The documentation allows you and your legal team to make a better case for your compensation request.
1. Vehicle Damage Costs
The most common damage included in a case compensation award is vehicle repair and replacement costs.
You’ll work in conjunction with your insurance company that may place a limit on their payout. Nonetheless, keep track of estimates from body repair shops and the amount the insurance is willing to pay.
Typical repair costs range from $1,000 to $2,000, depending on severity. Others estimate that the costs range from $1,500 to $2,500
2. Medical Costs
Whether or not you feel pain after a collision, see a doctor. Doctors can spot potential injuries by completing a physical. Plus, it sets a paper trail as the medical staff will document wounds and bruises.
A visit to the emergency room averages $3,000. The bill increases with tests and consulting with the doctor. Therefore, medical costs will add up quickly, even if you don’t incur severe injuries.
3. Lost Wages
If the aftermath of a collision causes you to miss work, factor lost wages into the compensation request. In some cases, individuals may lose their job altogether.
Amid the chaos, document that lost wages too. Courts need to see the accurate amount before they render awards. More importantly, the documentation solidifies your case.
4. Ongoing Medical Care Costs
The severity of the collision will dictate how often you need to obtain medical care post-accident.
Some individuals can return to their lives without requiring recurring checkups. Others must receive physical therapy. That’s why seeing a doctor shortly after the collision is vital for your case.
Costs for physical therapy vary. For example, each session could run between $50 to $150 an hour. However, the costs start accumulating when patients must see a physical therapist three times a week for six weeks.
Non-Economic Factors
You can’t put a price on human lives.
How do you put a price on emotional distress or the loss of life enjoyment?
It’s almost impossible. However, you can position non-economic factors as extensions of the economic ones.
5. Pain and Suffering
Medicine is not a perfect science. Every human body reacts differently to the same injury. Some will recover fully while others will turn into chronic pain.
The most common chronic pain are:
- Joint
- Back
- Neck
The most common vehicle accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Back
- Spinal cord
Chronic pain causes lifelong pain and suffering. Although medical treatments such as physical therapy can lessen it, the pain never fully goes away
6. Emotional Distress
Some people experience emotional distress after an accident. They find it difficult to drive again or ride in a car.
When emotional distress leads to the loss of income, you can put an economic figure on it.
If the distress also takes a toll on daily responsibilities, it’s possible to monetize it too.
7. Loss of Life Enjoyment
In dire situations, the combination of chronic pain and emotional distress causes the loss of life enjoyment. These cases require ongoing counseling and therapy.
The professional help it takes to prevent the individual from falling into a deeper black hole has a cost. Therefore, it’s possible to factor it into the damages claim.
Conclusion
An accident with a delivery truck is no small issue. When coming up with a case compensation package amount, start with the economic factors. Back them up with documentation to solidify your case. Then, factor in non-economic ones such as pain, suffering, and emotional distress.
