After a collision with a commercial truck, you might wonder, “How much is a truck accident claim worth in Tennessee?” The fact is, every case is different, and there is no true average truck accident settlement in Tennessee. How much your claim might be worth depends on facts specific to the accident and how it’s affected you.
The truck accident attorneys at The Terry Law Firm handle truck accident cases for injured people across East Tennessee. We are ready to review the facts of your unique Tennessee truck accident case and explain how much your claim might be worth.
What Affects the Value of a Tennessee Truck Accident Claim?
A variety of factors go into answering the question, “What is my Tennessee truck accident claim worth?” Some key elements that can influence the value of a claim include:
- The nature and severity of the injuries
- The future medical care the injured party needs and the associated costs
- The total medical expenses involved
- Whether the injury is expected to have long-term effects
- Any scarring or disfigurement the injury caused
- The prospect of making a full physical recovery
- Whether the injury affects the person’s ability to work
- The loss of enjoyment of life the injury caused
A truck accident victim may recover compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses are compensatory damages with clear dollar amounts attached, such as medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic losses are intangible losses like physical pain and emotional suffering, which lack clear dollar values but still have real effects on a victim’s life.
Commercial Trucks Are More Heavily Insured
The amount of available insurance coverage can affect how much Tennessee truck accident compensation may be available to a victim. The good news is that commercial trucks must carry much more liability coverage than ordinary passenger vehicles.
Federal rules require for-hire interstate carriers operating trucks weighing at least 10,001 pounds and hauling nonhazardous property to maintain at least $750,000 in financial responsibility. Certain hazardous-material carriers must carry even higher insurance policy limits.
By comparison, Tennessee law requires a passenger vehicle liability policy to provide at least $25,000 for injury or death to one person, $50,000 for all injuries and deaths in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
Additionally, a truck accident may involve separate parties with their own insurance coverage. Depending on who contributed to the crash, potentially responsible parties could include:
- The motor carrier or trucking company
- A separate owner of the truck or trailer
- A company responsible for loading or securing the freight
- Other contractors involved in the shipment
Our experienced Tennessee truck accident lawyers can identify all potentially liable parties and pursue the compensation available to you.
Tennessee’s Limit on Pain and Suffering
Tennessee truck accident settlement amounts can also be affected by state-imposed limits on compensation for non-economic losses. Under Tennessee Code § 29-39-102, non-economic damages are capped at $750,000, or $1 million in cases involving catastrophic injuries. However, the cap doesn’t apply in some cases, including when an impaired driver causes the crash, or a defendant intentionally destroys, falsifies, or conceals material evidence to evade liability.
Find Out What Your Truck Accident Claim Is Worth from The Terry Law Firm
Are you not sure how much your claim might be worth? Turn to The Terry Law Firm for clarity and the legal representation you need. Since 1960, our firm has provided quality legal services to injured people in East Tennessee.
Contact us now to get started with a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
