Most commercial vehicles far surpass the average passenger vehicle in both size and weight. Because of this and the fact that these vehicles sometimes carry dangerous cargo, the threat they pose to others on the road is significant. If you were involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle, you are likely dealing with severe injuries and expensive medical bills.
At Vaughan & Vaughan, our truck accident lawyers in Indianapolis understand the difficulties victims face after a commercial vehicle accident. Our law firm has been helping injury victims recover compensation after accidents for more than 100 years. Reach out to us today by phone or through our contact form to schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team.
Damages Available Following a Commercial Vehicle Accident
If you suffered an injury in a commercial vehicle accident, there are many damages you will be eligible to claim. Determining all the specific damages that apply to your case is essential for recovering the compensation you need from the liable party. Fortunately, an experienced attorney can help you identify all of the damages you are able to claim after a crash.
These damages are all divided among three main categories.
Economic Damages
Any monetary losses resulting from your accident belong in this category. Because these damages affect your finances directly, putting a dollar figure to these losses tends to be simple. Some of the economic damages most frequently available following a commercial vehicle accident include:
- Lost income
- Lessened earning ability
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Money used to hire someone to help with daily tasks that your injuries prevent you from completing yourself
- Property damage
Non-Economic Damages
Any other accident-related loss you suffered is part of the varied category of non-economic damages. Since these losses are not monetary in nature, calculating how much they are worth can be very difficult. Some of the non-economic damages most frequently available following a commercial vehicle accident include:
- Emotional distress
- Decreased quality of life
- Permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are far different from the compensatory damages in the previous sections. Instead of replacing losses suffered by a commercial vehicle accident victim, these damages are all about punishing the liable party for their role in the collision, with hopes of diminishing this type of behavior in the future.
A judge will only grant punitive damages in extreme cases. For your situation to qualify, the responsible party must have acted with criminal negligence or the purpose of causing harm.
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Determining Fault Is Essential for Recovering Damages
When looking to recover compensation after a commercial vehicle accident, you must first determine who is liable for your damages. Unfortunately, this task is rarely easy, even when the fault seems clear.
Establishing who is to blame is one of the many areas in which an experienced Indianapolis commercial vehicle lawyer can help. When you hire an attorney, they will know exactly what to look for and can help uncover and prove who is responsible for your damages.
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Actions a Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney Will Take in Your Case
Once you have hired an attorney to help with your case, there are a variety of actions they will take to help you recover the money you need. One of the first things your lawyer will do will be to investigate your accident with the aim of establishing liability and collecting evidence that supports your claim against the at-fault party.
Once this investigation is complete, your lawyer will evaluate the damages you incurred and calculate the full worth of your claim. Their next step will depend on the avenue through which you are pursuing compensation. They will likely either submit a lawsuit against the liable party with the court or file an insurance claim with the at-fault party’s provider.
When pursuing damages through a lawsuit, the next thing your attorney will do will be to go through the steps of the pretrial process. Finally, they will represent you at trial if necessary. However, many cases don’t make it this far. That’s because your lawyer will also be in negotiation with opposing counsel, attempting to come to terms on a settlement deal.
Don’t Delay When Filing a Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawsuit
It is essential that you know how long you have to file a lawsuit when pursuing compensation after an accident. Indiana typically grants accident victims up to two years to file the paperwork necessary to sue the at-fault party. If you let this deadline pass without taking action, you could find yourself out of options for recovering damages.
In most cases, the statute of limitations is unbending. However, there are circumstances under which an exception can allow you to file outside of this time frame. In some cases, you may be able to file long after the standard deadline has expired.
However, the deadline can shift the other way as well. Instead of two years, you may only have a matter of months to submit the required paperwork. Fortunately, by hiring an experienced commercial vehicle accident lawyer early, you can avoid the surprise of an unexpected deadline.
Reach Out to an Indianapolis Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer Today
Hiring an experienced commercial vehicle accident attorney in Indianapolis will give you the best chance of recovering the compensation you require after a crash. At the law firm of Vaughan and Vaughan, our team has a long track record of securing sizable settlements and court-ordered payouts for our clients.
Contact us by giving us a call or completing our online contact form and schedule a free case evaluation with a member of our team. We are ready and waiting to fight for your rights.
