According to the Centers for Disease Control, fatal truck accidents cost the U.S. economy an estimated $40 billion in 2012 alone. Truck accidents can be deadly for truck drivers, but when these crashes occur, the people who are most often hurt are the drivers and passengers who share the road with these large vehicles. According to the CDC, for every large truck driver who is killed in an accident, another 6 people die as a result. These are other drivers, their passengers, bikers, and pedestrians who share the road. These crashes can have a significant impact on victims and their families. Because these vehicles are so large, victims may suffer more serious injuries, may face higher medical expenses, and may suffer more pain and suffering damages.
Ballard Law, PLLC are truck accident lawyers in Jackson, MS who work closely with victims and their families to help them seek justice for their losses and injuries. The days and weeks following a truck crash can be confusing and stressful, but you don’t have to navigate the legal process alone. The trucking industry is big business. Large truck companies may have teams of lawyers protecting their interests. Insurance adjusters understand the recovery process and may do everything they can to protect their bottom lines. If you’ve been hurt, you need Ballard Law, PLLC, an 18-wheeler accident lawyer in Jackson, MS on your side.
What is My Truck Accident Case Worth in Jackson, MS?
If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, you may have many questions. You may be facing a long road to recovery. You and your family may be struggling to make ends meet if you have had to take time away from work to heal. You may also wonder what your truck crash case is worth. Because every wreck is unique, it is often wise to speak to a qualified truck accident attorney in Jackson, MS, like Ballard Law, PLLC. Our firm can review the facts of your case and fight to help you get the maximum recovery permitted under the law. What factors can influence your recovery? Here are some things the 18 wheeler lawyers in Jackson, MS at Ballard Law, PLLC will consider:
- Negligence of the truck driver and company: Under Mississippi law, victims are able to recover damages whether they are 99% at fault, or not at fault at all. Victims can collect damages relative to the other driver’s degree of fault. This means that if the other driver is 80% at fault and you are found to be 20% at fault, you will be permitted to collect 80% of the total damages for the accident. What if you are only 20% at fault? Why would anyone want to collect damages in this case? Consider a situation where a person is seriously injured in a truck accident. The courts find that the truck driver was only 20% at fault. However, when crash victims suffer serious injuries, like spinal cord injuries, the cost of medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages can be as high as $1 million or more. 20% of $1 million, is still $200,000—quite a significant recovery. Determining negligence can also be complicated in truck accident cases. Negligence may be based on many factors, from the driver’s actions behind the wheel, to how long he or she spent on the road, to whether the driver and his or her company was in violation of state or federal trucking laws. If you’ve been in crash, don’t ever accept blame. Truck accident law can be complex. The truck accident attorneys in Jackson, MS at Ballard Law, PLLC can review the truck company and driver’s compliance with state and federal law, review police reports, and interview witnesses to determine the degree of fault the other driver may have. Our firm’s understanding of trucking law can protect your rights.
- Cost of Medical Expenses and Rehabilitation Services. The cost of medical expenses must also be factored when determining the value of your claim. The value of your claim, however, may be much higher than medical bills alone. Your lawyer may also be able to consider future medical expenses and rehabilitative needs in your recovery amount.
- Cost of Lost Wages. Similar to medical expenses, the wages you have already lost due to missed time at work may only be a small portion of the amount of money you may be entitled to recover under the law. If you have suffered a serious disabling injury where you may miss more time at work in the future, you may also be able to collect future lost wages. A qualified 18 wheeler accident lawyer like Ballard Law, PLLC in Jackson, MS can consider your future earning potential and help you seek the maximum recovery permitted under the law.
- Pain and Suffering Damages. Pain and suffering damages are typically based on the cost of medical expenses multiplied by another number (usually between 1.5 and 5). This number—known as the multiplier, gets higher the more serious your injuries. Pain and suffering damages are among the more subjective claims you’ll make after an accident, but they can be among the most important. A victim paralyzed after a crash may struggle with lifestyle changes and new needs. Pain and suffering damages compensate victims and families for these sometimes intangible losses. However, the amount of money you’ll be able to recover often depends on the strength of your lawyer’s case and his or her reasoning and evidence. At Ballard Law, PLLC we work hard to help Jackson, MS truck accident victims. Our experienced Jackson MS truck accident attorneys take the time to understand your life before and after your accident to build the strongest possible case under the law.
You may only have a limited amount of time to seek a recovery for your crash. The 18 wheeler accident lawyer at Ballard Law, PLLC is here for crash victims in Jackson, MS. Contact our firm today to learn more about your rights and to seek justice.
Protect Your Rights – Contact a Jackson Mississippi Truck Accident Attorney Today!
The truck industry is big business in the U.S. Truck companies make billions every year. When truck accidents happen, these companies may have lawyers and adjusters protecting their bottom lines. Victims and families can suffer immensely when truck companies and drivers don’t follow the law. If you’ve been in a car accident involving a big truck, you need to call William E. Ballard, the truck accident attorney in Jackson, MS at Ballard Law, PLLC at 769-572-5111. Our firm fights to raise awareness of truck wrecks and fights to hold companies accountable.
For information on truck accident law in Madison MS, click here.
