Settlement valuations for truck accident catastrophic injuries in Anchorage Alaska?
Alaska – June 20, 2022
Accident victims who suffer catastrophic injury after a truck accident may wonder “Where can I find attorneys near me?” to assist with guidance and necessary actions for timely access to insurance funds and other compensation to pay medical bills and cover the negative and drastic change to a truck accident victim’s life.
Negligence and fault.
If a catastrophic injury is the result of a tractor trailer accident, multiple insurance policies will need to be reviewed for coverages and capped amounts, then legal action can be taken for amounts above insurance policy limits. Monetary values for settlements are based on who was found at fault for the accident, the truck driver, the truck owner, a trucking company, or a parts or truck manufacturer. Other factors that play a part in the award amount include:
- How old the injured party is: younger person would be higher settlement amount due to longer life expectancy and associated costs of living and care.
- The earning capacity of the injured: A person who is an attorney earning $200,000 per year may see a higher settlement amount someone who makes $45,000 per year.
- The health of the injured party apart from the accident injury: A person in good health would be expected to live longer.
- The income of the person at their time of the accident.
- Age and circumstances of dependents: A person who has children could realize a larger settlement than a single person with no dependents because of need.
- Education and training of the injured party: Higher trained and paid professionals usually see higher catastrophic injury settlements than a person with only a high school education.
- Medical bills incurred.
- Transformations made to living spaces to adjust to catastrophic injury.
In any successful catastrophic accident settlement, the damages must be supported by convincing evidence gathered by a professional team of economists and financial professionals and negligence proven by truck accident lawyers.
Value of legal counsel.
An Anchorage truck accident lawyer may help victims file insurance claims and provide guidance on Alaska State thresholds, time limitations to file legal action, and information from insurance carriers that they communicate with on behalf of the accident victims. They will be instrumental in 1) Accessing necessary funds to cover immediate medical expenses for care, 2) Independent investigations to ascertain the reason for the crash, 3) Filing appropriate documents with insurance companies and the court, and 4) In many cases will work on a contingency basis where money is not needed up front.
Negligence and insurance.
Accident victims should consult with an Anchorage accident lawyer because compensation will vary depending on insurance coverages and determined degrees of fault, because Alaska follows a “pure comparative fault” rule when both parties are found to share blame for an accident. There is a two-year time-period to file a suit after an accident.
Damages.
Total awards can include:
- Economic damages include present and future loss of earnings, medical bills, future medical care, household expenses and
- Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of consortium or companionship.
- In the rare occasions that punitive damages are considered, the likelihood of harm, the knowledge of the harm, the actions taken, and damages awarded in similar situations, also addressing any criminal component are considered.
Hire an attorney.
Contact an experienced attorney for a consultation, as they can research specific case facts and interpret the law to support an accident case’s best outcome toward compensation for catastrophic injuries caused by the truck accident.
Sources:
- Alaska Statutes: AS 09.17.020. Punitive Damages. (touchngo.com)
- Traffic Safety Statistics, Alaska Highway Safety Office, Transportation & Public Facilities, State of Alaska
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