truck accident scene in Frederick MD | Maryland truck accident attorneyThe damages you can recover after an accident caused by a commercial truck fall into different categories. For truck accident damages, the categories are economic, non-economic, and punitive. Below, our Frederick truck crash lawyer explains the differences. 

Types of Recoverable Damages in a Frederick Truck Crash

A truck crash can be devastating for the injured victim and affect their life in many ways. While dealing with critical injuries, they will usually face expensive medical bills and property damage. Because each truck accident in Frederick is different, recoverable damages in a personal injury case depend on the type of losses the victim has suffered. 

Economic Damages

Economic damages, which are fairly easy to calculate because they have a fixed value, compensate truck accident victims for present and future financial losses resulting directly from an accident:

  • Current and future medical bills including all doctor visits, hospital stays, emergency room care, prescriptions, assistive equipment, home care, physical therapy, and help with daily activities that you can no longer perform for yourself
  • Current and ongoing lost income consisting not only of wages or salary lost during your physical recovery but also the loss of future earning potential if you’re not able to work for the same salary you received before your accident and injury
  • Damage to your vehicle and any other property damaged or destroyed in the accident

In Frederick, and in Maryland as a whole, there is no cap on economic damages.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are more difficult to calculate because they compensate the victim for damages that do not necessarily have a fixed financial value:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional trauma
  • Mental anguish
  • Decreased quality of life
  • Disfigurement
  • Ongoing impairment or disability
  • Loss of services and consortium by family members

If you’ve lost a loved one in a truck accident, your non-economic damages for wrongful death would also include your loss of the society, comfort, protection, guidance, attention, education, and marital or parental care you would have received if the deceased were still living. The cap on non-economic damages in Maryland is currently $905,000 and is adjusted annually.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages, which are very rarely awarded, are neither economic nor non-economic. Instead, they are meant to punish the at-fault party and are intended to deter others from acting in the same manner. These damages cannot be recovered through the insurance settlement process but must be set by the court. While there is no cap on punitive damages in Maryland, jurors are instructed to tie punitive damages to compensatory damages in any given case. However, the standard for punitive damages is much more difficult to meet in Maryland than in most states. Early, detailed analysis by your attorney will be critical as this may affect your litigation strategy dramatically.

More Than One Liable Party in Maryland Truck Accidents

In an accident between two private vehicles, a victim generally has a claim for damages against the driver of the at-fault vehicle, only. In a crash caused by a commercial truck, however, the responsibility for your damages might be spread among several defendants: the truck driver; the driver’s employer/trucking company; the truck owner or a leasing agency; a mechanic or repair service that maintains the truck; the truck’s manufacturer or a replacement parts manufacturer if defective equipment causes the crash; and/or the cargo loading personnel if the truck is incorrectly loaded or overweight. This means, your truck accident claim is more complicated than a car crash claim.

Because truck accidents often have multiple defendants, you’re more likely to recover fair compensation, especially if your claim is an expensive one. Multiple defendants mean multiple insurance policies from which to seek compensation. But it’s critical that you work with a truck accident lawyer to ensure that you obtain compensation from the right at-fault parties.

form for recovering truck accident damages in Frederick | MD truck accident lawyerHow to Help Ensure Fair Compensation

When you’re injured in a Maryland truck accident, you are likely to face a complex case and many defense attorneys. It’s important that you have an experienced truck accident lawyer working with you to help ensure your best chance for a full financial recovery.

How Our Frederick Truck Accident Attorney Can Help

  • Determine all at-fault parties through a detailed investigation and accident reconstruction
  • Examine the truck’s maintenance records and the trucker’s driving record, drug/alcohol tests results, and logbooks or electronic logging device (ELD)
  • Access data from the truck’s “black box” recorder and/or dash cam
  • Interview witnesses
  • Obtain a police report of the crash and check it for accuracy
  • Communicate with insurance companies
  • Make sure you meet all procedural requirements and filing deadlines of the court

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Have You or a Loved One Been Injured in a Maryland Truck Accident?

Truck accidents are not like other types of motor vehicle accidents; they often involve commercial defendants, multiple insurance policies, and significant damages. If you have been injured in a truck accident, you need a dedicated truck accident attorney to help resolve your claim for its full, fair value.

Our seasoned staff of truck accident experts stand ready to help you with your case. We have offices in Hagerstown and Frederick, and we serve clients in Baltimore, Catonsville, Lutherville-Timonium, Towson, Hunt Valley, Potomac, Columbia, Germantown, Waldorf, Silver Spring, Ellicott City, Glen Burnie, Gaithersburg, Bethesda, Rockville, Dundalk, Severn, and Annapolis. Call truck accident attorney Bruce Poole, at the Poole Law Group at 301-790-3600 for your free consultation.