When truck accidents happen, the consequences are devastating. It is not unusual for truck accidents to result in the destruction of property as well as grievous injuries to every person unlucky enough to be involved. The cost of treating these injuries can easily balloon into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even with good insurance coverage, this may be too much for some people, and they may start to consider the prospect of going to court.
If you are looking to go to court after a truck accident, our lawyers are ready to help you. We can collect evidence while you focus on your recovery, talk to lawyers and insurance companies who do not want the best for you, and fight hard for you in court so that you can get the financial compensation you deserve.
To have us analyze your case for free, call Rice Law’s truck accident lawyers at (410) 694-7291.
Injuries from Landover, MD Truck Accidents
It is almost certain that people involved in truck accidents will get injured. The disparity between the size and weight of big-rig trucks and vehicles ordinary people drive means that safety features are often not very effective at preventing injury. Below are some of the injuries that can be sustained in Landover, MD Truck accidents.
Blunt Trauma
“Blunt force trauma” refers to a wide variety of injuries that do not involve penetrating the body. Blunt trauma is caused by forceful impacts on objects that are not sharp. Here, that “object” would be an oncoming truck. Fractures, bruises, lacerations, and traumatic brain injuries all fall under the umbrella of “blunt trauma.”
All of those injuries are quite painful and dangerous and will require medical care to recover from. In extreme cases, excessive blunt trauma can result in death.
Puncture Wounds and Lacerations
Cuts and puncture wounds are probably not the first things that come to mind when someone hears the term “truck accident.” However, these injuries indeed can and do occur in truck accidents. Metal bits of a truck or other vehicle can warp and become sharp objects that can go through a person without much issue, and there is always the danger of flying shards of glass upon impact.
Puncture wounds are very dangerous and very hard to treat. “Stabs” (even though that term is not necessarily correct here) are much more dangerous than cuts because they are more likely to damage vital organs. A wound that penetrates only a couple of inches can hit vital organs and put a person in critical condition.
That being said, do not think that puncture wounds are the only dangerous wounds.. Deep cuts will almost always require stitching or sutures to heal properly, and there is a good chance that you may receive scarring or permanent disfigurement. Additionally, cuts can also cause traumatic amputation, especially to fingers and toes.
Burns
Like most vehicles on the road today, trucks have gas tanks that can ignite and burn individuals involved in truck accidents. Burns are incredibly painful and often require skin grafts and surgery to heal properly. Additionally, a person can get burned in a truck accident if the trailer is transporting a volatile or flammable substance.
Damages in Landover, MD Truck Accident Lawsuits
When you file your lawsuit, you will ask the court to compel the defendant to award you damages. Plaintiffs get compensated for their injuries through damages. Usually, this is in the form of required payments to the plaintiff by the defendant, although damages can sometimes include compelling the defendant to take a certain course of action.
You have to base your damages on your circumstances when you ask for them. Thus, it is a good idea to have a grasp on the kinds of things you can request damages for in a truck accident lawsuit. Our truck accident lawyers have compiled and explained some of the things you can include as damages in your truck accident lawsuit.
Medical Expenses
Compensation for the cost of life-saving treatment and continuing medical care is one of the most frequent damages plaintiffs ask for in truck accident lawsuits. In fact, it can be argued that damages for medical expenses are nearly universal in truck accident lawsuits.
Lost Wages and Income
You can also get compensated for income you did not receive when you were recovering from your injuries. After a truck accident, the chances are that you are going to focus more on recovering from your injuries and less on earning a living. Had you not been injured, you would have been receiving income, so you can get damages for that lost income in your truck accident lawsuit. Additionally, you can get compensated for future income you may not be able to earn any longer because of your injuries.
Pain and Suffering
“Pain and suffering” is another common damage item in truck accident lawsuits. This refers to the physical pain that was inflicted on you in the truck accident. Unlike something concrete like “surgery” or “a hospital stay,” “pain” is not something that you are billed for. Therefore, there is less evidence supporting its value. Accordingly, you and our lawyers will have to form an argument that convinces the court of the worth of the pain and suffering you went through as a result of your truck accident.
Punitive Damages
There is also a special kind of damages called “punitive damages.” These damages are meant to punish defendants who act in an especially bad way, so they are not awarded in every case. If you are seeking punitive damages, you need to ask for them in your initial filing and have our lawyers keep those damages in mind from the start of working on your case.
Speak to Our Landover, MD Truck Accident Lawyers Now
Our truck accident lawyers with Rice Law are awaiting your calls at the number (410) 694-7291.