How Much Is My Bozeman Truck Accident Case Worth?
The value of your recoverable damages after a Bozeman truck accident depends on the severity of your injury and the extent of your financial damages.
It’s common to feel a pang of anxiety when sharing the road with large commercial trucks that far outsize and outweigh a standard family vehicle, but what if the worst happens and truck driver’s or trucking company’s negligence causes you to have an accident involving a truck that may weigh up to 80,000 pounds? How much is a Bozeman truck accident case worth?
Under Montana 27-1-202, the law states the following:
“Every person who suffers detriment from the unlawful act or omission of another may recover from the person in fault a compensation for it in money, which is called damages. The measure of the damages recoverable from the person in fault for the reasonable value of medical services or treatment in actions arising from bodily injury or death …”
Recoverable Damages In a Bozeman Truck Accident Claim
Common damages recovered in truck accident claims include the following:
- Reimbursement for your medical expenses
- Projected future medical expenses related to the injury
- Out-of-pocket costs, such as for traveling to a specialist, and temporary or permanent adaptive equipment or mobility equipment
- Lost earnings
- Future income loss or reduced earning capacity if the injury caused permanent disability
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for catastrophic injury expenses for any permanent harm suffered, such as loss of limb, loss of vision, hearing loss, loss of one of the senses, or disfigurement
If the injury was catastrophic, with life-altering permanent effects, additional compensation may be available for life care planning for the future.
How Does a Truck Accident Attorney Calculate Damages?
An experienced Bozeman truck accident lawyer investigates the accident to determine the negligence that caused the crash, pinpoints the liable party, and files a claim against the responsible party’s insurance. Then, they carefully calculate damages by doing the following:
- Reviewing the injury victim’s medical bills, invoices, and receipts
- Consulting with medical experts to determine future medical needs and injury-related expenses
- Consulting with occupational therapists about how the injury affects the ability to work and accomplish normal daily tasks
- Totaling lost earnings from missed workdays
- Estimating future income loss or reduced ability to earn
- Using a formula to determine a monetary amount for pain and suffering
Truck accident attorneys typically use one of two formulas to assign a monetary amount for pain and suffering. The multiplier method totals the injury victim’s medical costs and multiplies the amount by a number based on the injury victim’s pain level. The per diem method assigns a daily amount for pain and multiplies it by the number of days the pain is likely to continue based on medical expert testimony.
Maximizing Your Compensation After a Truck Accident In Bozeman
As an injury victim in a Montana truck accident case, you can maximize the compensation in your claim by obtaining a detailed medical report listing your injuries, the medical provider’s treatment recommendations, and the prognosis for recovery. Then, it’s important to follow the doctor’s recommendations and attend every appointment.
Finally, hiring a Bozeman personal injury lawyer to protect your best interests from the start safeguards your case against potential pitfalls that could undermine your claim.