On average, half a million 18 wheeler accidents occur each year in the United States. Injuries from these accidents can be severe, and many end in fatalities—indeed, more than 100,000 involve a serious injury, and around 5,000 are fatal.

After a semi-truck accident, it can feel like there’s nothing that can be done. But injured parties or family members may be able to pursue litigation against the truck driver, insurance company, and trucking company for compensation through 18 wheeler accident settlements.

18 Wheeler Accident Settlements

In many cases, 18 wheeler accidents can be extremely severe. There’s usually a substantial difference between the size and mass of the truck and the other vehicle involved, which mean that the driver and passenger in the smaller vehicle often face substantial injuries, and may even end in fatalities.

Pursuing 18 wheeler accident settlements can help obtain compensation for injuries, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, loss of companionship (that is, after the death of a loved one) and more.

There are a few areas of focus that will help determine how much compensation 18 wheeler accident settlements can provide. The first factor is liability, which is determined differently from state to state. Essentially, the less fault that is attributed to the injured party, the more compensation. (At the least, the other party should demonstrably be 51 percent or more at fault.) Another factor is the severity of injuries—more severe injuries will increase the chances of a higher settlement amount.

Truck accidents contributed to 1 in 10 fatalities on the road in America. Wrongful death claims in a lawsuit are a substantial contributing factor to the size of 18 wheeler accident settlements.

A last, more technical factor is the size of the policies you’re claiming against. U.S. commercial truck companies generally have around $1 million dollars of liability coverage.

To most effectively handle truck accident litigation, it may help to consult a truck accident lawyer with experience in this area. They’ll be able to help you determine the scope of your claims and the best way to move forward.

In many cases, 18 wheeler accident settlements can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars or, in some cases, even in the millions.

The Role of Evidence in Truck Accident Settlements

Meeting with a personal injury lawyer for the first time means that you need to be prepared with evidence supporting the grounds of your claim. As a seriously injured victim, you might not have been able to collect this evidence at the scene of the accident. Instead, you might need a truck accident lawyer to help you pull together these details from the accident.

Evidence is crucial in truck accident settlements, often because the trucking company uses its own accident investigation team. This team is dispatched to the scene as soon as possible after the crash occurs, and their primary goal is to look for any material that could protect the trucking company and the driver from liability.

As an accident victim, you were probably taken to the hospital immediately and did not have the chance to stay on the scene to take pictures or collect videos. That being said, it is still important for you to have evidence that helps to retell the story of how the accident occurred.

Statements from eyewitnesses, a copy of the police report, and a report from professionals who reconstruct the scene of the accident can all help to illustrate how it’s most likely that the accident occurred, according to one accident reconstruction service. This can become very important information in settlement talks.

When you have evidence with you, this can show the other side the possible uncertainty of going through litigation. Insurance and trucking companies can often be encouraged to settle outside of court if you have sustained severe injuries and have a lot of evidence to support your claim.

Pursuing 18 Wheeler Accident Settlements

If you or someone you love was injured or died in an accident with a semi-truck, you may be able to pursue one of these 18 wheeler accident settlements. While filing a semi-truck accident lawsuit cannot undo the pain and suffering caused by an accident like this, or bring a loved one back to life, it can offer some substantial compensation to help with medical expenses, lost wages, loss of companionship, and vehicle or property damage, as well as hold the truck company and driver responsible.

Consulting an attorney who has experience with 18 wheeler accident settlements can help your claims be as successful as possible.