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Accidents involving tractor-trailers are among the most serious we see on the highways of Virginia. They may leave the victim with critical injuries and are more likely to result in a death. We are often asked about damages in a Virginia trucking accident.
If you have been injured on I-64, I-81 or any of the roads with heavy trucking traffic around the ports of Norfolk, Newport News, and Portsmouth, your first concern will be in getting serious injuries treated.
However, an accident with a big rig can leave you facing a financial nightmare. The trucking companies are well aware that these cases often lead to big pay-outs and their lawyers will fight you hard. The first step is to establish the liability of the truck driver. A trucking firm can usually be held liable for the actions of its drivers.
It certainly makes sense to hire a lawyer with a long track record of litigating trucking cases, rather than your family lawyer who handled a will or a divorce.
The extent of financial damages you are entitled to after a Virginia trucking accident depends on a host of factors including the extent of a bodily injury, pain and suffering, inconvenience, disfigurement, the extent of medical bills, and lost earnings.
There are also a number of types of damages you can claim after a Virginia trucking accident. They are:
The types of damages you can recover after a trucking accident are similar to those in a car crash. Punitive damages are additional damages meant to punish a driver. They are associated with drunk drivers and are seldom claimed in truck accident cases.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are fairly easy to quantify. They cover things you have lost because of the wreck like wages. They include medical bills as well as a projection of future medical costs. For this reason, injury lawyers seek the highest amounts for permanent injuries like brain and spinal cord injuries.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are anything not economic. Pain and suffering is not as straightforward to calculate as medical bills. The monetary award should reflect how your life has changed.
If you break your leg in a trucking wreck and you are an avid marathon runner, your loss is likely to be more severe than someone who lives a sedentary lifestyle.
There are many calculations that go into the calculation of damages and we hire experts to work on these complex issues and to present evidence.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are intended to punish a defendant. This additional money may be awarded after a DUI accident in certain circumstances
We also see punitive damages in big mass tort cases where a jury may want to send a message to a drug manufacturer which produced a dangerous drug.
An experienced Virginia truck accident lawyer will advise you of the damages you are entitled to and fight your corner against the big trucking companies. Some cases involving injuries from big rigs cross state lines because a trucking company may be outside Virginia.
At Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, our attorneys are also licensed in states including North Carolina, West Virginia, and Florida. Please call us at (757) 455-0077 or contact us via our website today.