Auto collisions typically result in losses. These could be in the form of financial debt from piling medical bills, property damage, permanent injuries, a loss of enjoyment of life, or a diminished ability to perform daily tasks. When these crashes involve large commercial vehicles, the losses can be even more significant.
Fortunately, if your incident was the result of negligence, you can pursue compensation to help you recover for these losses and more with the help of an experienced truck accident attorney. This compensation is also referred to as damages. At Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law, we have extensive experience standing up for injured individuals against large corporations and are not afraid to advocate tenaciously on your behalf. Call our firm today to learn more about damages in Melbourne truck accident cases and what your circumstance might entitle you to recover.
Economic damages are meant to reimburse injured individuals for the financial losses they incur because of a crash. This typically involves medical bills for current and future treatment and includes hospital visits, follow-up treatment, surgeries, prescription medications, medical devices, and other necessary health-related expenses. Other economic damages in a Melbourne semi-crash claim could include lost wages if someone misses time from work or is unable to continue working at their current job due to their injuries.
Non-economic damages are related to more subjective losses and are usually the greater damages in a case. They include things such as pain and suffering, inconvenience, and mental anguish. While these are all things that are not specifically quantified, like a medical bill, they are typically issues that someone will deal with daily. If injuries are catastrophic, this could mean a lifetime of missing out on activities they once loved, such as playing with their children or participating in sports. This can lead to many different problems, including a negative impact on mental health, and relationships with family and friends.
Punitive damages in Melbourne commercial vehicle wreck claims are meant to punish the negligent party. To obtain punitive damages in Florida, a truck driver must have committed a willful and wanton act that was especially harmful and would account to gross negligence. A common example might be a trucker drinking and driving and then operating a tractor-trailer on the roadway and, due to their intoxication, being involved in a crash.
Punitive damages are awarded as a multiplier of up to three times the amount of the standard economic and non-economic damages. If the compensatory damages total $1 million, punitive damages could be up to $3 million. However, there are exceptions to this cap that could increase these amounts, such as instances where the at-fault truck driver’s intentional actions were for the purpose of financial gain.
Florida law requires that every motorist have their own personal injury protection benefits. Through this insurance, individuals are covered up to $10,000 for emergent medical treatment related to a crash as long as they get treated within 14 days of the crash. The at-fault party’s liability insurance in a Melbourne truck accident case will then cover the economic and non-economic forms of loss.
Typically, insurance policies do not cover punitive damages. This compensation is something that comes directly from the at-fault party because it is deemed as a punishment. Liable truckers or trucking companies are also responsible for paying for property damage.
Damages in Melbourne truck accident cases are meant to help restore you to the position you were in before your collision. For more information about the types of losses you can recover compensation for, or to begin reviewing your case details, reach out to our attorneys today. Because our firm operates on a contingency fee, you will not incur any additional financial hardship by retaining our services. We only collect payment if we successfully recover damages on your behalf.
