Large trucks play a crucial role in various industries, but their size and weight make them a significant hazard to other drivers on the road. Due to their considerable mass, the damage they cause in collisions can be severe. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, consulting a Lafayette truck accident lawyer can help you seek the compensation needed to cover your expenses and address the impact on your life.
At the law firm of Vaughan and Vaughan, our team of truck accident attorneys serving clients in Lafayette has a long history of obtaining favorable results. We have been serving the community for over 100 years and know what it takes to build a strong case. Get in touch with our Lafayette personal injury lawyer for your free case review today by either using the online contact form on this site or giving us a call.
Take Legal Action with a Lafayette Truck Accident Lawyer Before It’s Too Late
In Indiana, accident victims typically have a two-year window to initiate a lawsuit against the at-fault party, in accordance with the state’s personal injury statute of limitations. Failing to meet this deadline could lead to a forfeiture of your right to seek damages, making it crucial to seek timely legal guidance from an experienced Indiana Personal Injury Lawyer.
While the statute of limitations is usually unforgiving, there are a number of exceptions that could potentially apply to your case. The particulars of your accident could allow you to file a lawsuit even if the standard deadline has already passed. In some cases, this could permit you to take legal action years after your accident.
Conversely, you could find that an exception to the statute of limitations further limits how much time you have to submit the required paperwork for pursuing compensation. A common example is when you are suing a government entity. In these situations, you will likely only have months to work with rather than the typical two years.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
Establishing Who Is Liable After a Truck Accident
In order to recover compensation after a truck accident, you will first need to establish who is to blame for your damages. If you are lucky, this process will be fairly straightforward. However, this is not typically the case. More often than not, proving fault is a complicated process, with many parties potentially responsible.
Fortunately, you can get help proving fault from an experienced truck accident attorney in Lafayette. Your lawyer will investigate your case and help establish who is liable for your damages.
There is no fee
unless you win
Damages You Can Claim Following a Truck Accident
After getting injured in a truck accident, there are many damages you will likely be able to pursue. However, not all damages are immediately evident, and you may not even realize you can claim compensation for others.
Fortunately, an experienced truck accident attorney in Lafayette can help you identify the damages you are eligible to seek. All recoverable damages fall into one of three categories.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the most easily quantifiable losses. That’s because these damages cover losses you suffered that were financial in nature. The most commonly claimed economic damages include:
- Property damage
- Medical bills
- Future medical costs
- Any money spent to carry out daily tasks that your injuries prevent you from performing yourself
- Lost income
- Lessened earning ability
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are far more difficult to evaluate. This category of damages is broad, making up all the losses not covered by economic damages. The most commonly claimed non-economic damages include:
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages vary drastically from the compensatory damages already discussed. In contrast to economic and non-economic damages, the focus of punitive damages is not upon the losses endured by accident victims but rather on the actions taken by the at-fault party.
Punitive damages are meant to punish the liable party and discourage similar behavior from taking place in the future. A judge will only award these damages in extreme cases where the at-fault party was either criminally negligent or carried out their actions with the express purpose of causing harm.
Steps a Truck Accident Lawyer in Lafayette Will Take on Your Behalf
After hiring a truck accident lawyer, they will perform many actions to help get you fair compensation. One of the first things your attorney is likely to do is launch an independent investigation into your case aimed at proving who is to blame for your accident and gathering evidence that supports your compensation claim.
Once your lawyer has finished their investigation, they will determine which damages you are eligible to pursue and calculate the full value of your claim. After that, your attorney will likely either submit an insurance claim to the insurer of the at-fault party or file a lawsuit against the liable party directly.
If you are suing the responsible party, your lawyer will then go through all the steps of the pretrial process and then argue your case at trial if necessary. Throughout the entire process, your attorney will be in negotiations with opposing counsel attempting to secure a favorable settlement deal on your behalf.
Contact Us Today to Schedule a Free Consultation With a Lafayette Truck Accident Lawyer
When attempting to recover compensation after a truck accident, it is essential that you hire an attorney with experience handling cases similar to yours. You want to make sure that your attorney also has a history of securing sizable compensation for their clients. At Vaughan & Vaughan, our team of truck accident lawyers in Lafayette can help.
We have over 100 years of experience helping accident victims just like you. Contact us today by giving us a call or completing the contact form on this site. We offer free consultations, so don’t hesitate to get started.
