St. Louis County Truck Accident Damages

Suffering injuries as a result of a truck accident could cause you to incur massive injuries, expensive medical bills, and extensive property damages. Fortunately, you may be able to recoup compensation for your St. Louis County truck accident damages by filing an injury claim. However, in order to increase the likelihood of submitting a convincing claim, be sure to schedule an appointment with a trusted injury attorney today.

Commonly Obtained Damages in a Truck Accident Claim

After experiencing a truck accident in St. Louis County, victims are entitled to receive compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, loss of earning capacity and, in some instances, punitive damages. The trucking company or its insurance company may also be responsible to pay for any property damage a person may sustain.

In Missouri, economic damages are those awarded as a direct result of actual financial loss. This includes medical bills, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity. Noneconomic damages are less well-defined than economic damages and are subjectively evaluated by a jury. Noneconomic damages may include pain, suffering, emotional anguish, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of activities, or worsening of prior injury.

Collecting Compensation for Non-Economic Damages

When trying to obtain noneconomic damages in a truck accident case, the plaintiff should be prepared to present an estimate of the noneconomic damages they should be owed. In order to accurately calculate noneconomic damages, the plaintiff would have to analyze how their daily lives have changed after their injury. An attorney could assist with the analysis of the worth of hobbies, family, activities, work activities, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Calculation of Punitive Damages

When evaluating punitive damages for a St. Louis County trucking accident case, the calculation of noneconomic and economic damage is not used. Punitive damages are calculated by the jury and are awarded as a form of punishment towards the defendant. This is treated completely separate in St. Louis County trucking accident cases.

It is important to note that in Missouri, the injured party does not get to keep all of the punitive damages that have been awarded by a jury. Missouri law requires that 50% of punitive damages paid by the defendant be turned over to the state of Missouri.

What is a Damage Cap?

Missouri does not place any caps on damages caused by trucking accidents. Other states place caps on damages, meaning an injured party cannot obtain a verdict over a specific amount. That has no effect on a St. Louis County trucking accident case.

However, what might affect recovery in a St. Louis County truck accident case are insurance policy limits. For example, if an insurance policy is for $1 million but a verdict is for $2 million and the trucking company does not have the funds to pay that, the highest amount of compensation available is $1 million.

Contact an Experienced Attorney

If you have sustained injuries as a result of a trucking accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation with the help of an attorney. A lawyer could review the details of your accident and advise you on the most effective route towards obtaining St. Louis County truck accident damages. For more information regarding the claims process, or if you wish to get started on a case, reach out to a St. Louis County attorney today to schedule a consultation.