Of the various types of auto accidents, truck accidents are typically the worst.
Because trucks are so long and heavy, they can cause severe property damage and bodily injury.
What are compensatory damages?
Compensatory damages refer to the financial recovery of losses incurred from a personal injury. They can be economic or non-economic. For example, some common economic damages from truck accidents include:
- Medical care bills for treatment of injuries, including future treatments
- Lost wages from missing work due to injury
- Repair of damaged property or replacement of irreparable property
- Any other costs related directly to the injury, such as transportation to medical visits
Non-economic damages refer to the mental and emotional pain and suffering inflicted on the victim of a personal injury accident. Examples include mental anguish, emotional distress, disfigurement, disability, post-traumatic stress disorder, and loss of enjoyment in life.
If you lost a loved one as a result of an accident, you may also recover damages for medical care, funeral costs, burial costs, loss of companionship, loss of inheritance, and loss of consortium. The types of damages available depend on the severity of the accident.
What are punitive damages?
Not all truck accident cases warrant an order of punitive damages because this type of damage does not compensate for anything you lost. The court only orders the defendant to pay punitive damages when their behavior displays gross negligence, such as driving a truck while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
As in any personal injury case, the negligent party involved in a truck accident is liable for damages.