A collision with a commercial truck often leaves victims facing steep medical bills, lost income, and injuries that reshape daily life for months or years. Texas law allows injured people to pursue compensation for these losses by filing an insurance claim or an McAllen personal injury lawsuit. Recoverable damages generally fall into economic, non-economic, and, in certain cases, punitive categories.
Economic Damages: Medical Bills, Lost Wages, and More
Economic damages cover the measurable financial losses tied to a truck accident. These are the costs you can document with receipts, invoices, pay stubs, and similar records. Common economic damages in a truck accident claim in McAllen include:
- Past and future medical expenses, including surgery, hospital stays, medication, and rehabilitation
- Lost wages for time missed at work during recovery
- Reduced future earning capacity if your injuries limit your ability to work
- Property damage to your vehicle and personal belongings
- Out-of-pocket costs tied to the truck accident, such as transportation to appointments or in-home care
Because many of these losses continue well beyond the date of the crash, an attorney may work with medical and financial professionals to project their long-term cost.
Non-Economic Damages: Pain, Suffering, and Loss of Quality of Life
Not every loss comes with a price tag. Non-economic damages compensate for the personal toll an injury takes on your life, which can weigh just as heavily as the financial impact. These damages often include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Disfigurement or permanent scarring
- Physical impairment or disability
- Loss of enjoyment of the activities you once valued
Insurance companies and personal injury lawyers use one of two common methods to calculate the value of non-economic damages. The multiplier method takes your total economic damages and multiplies them by a number, often between 1.5 and 5, based on how severe your injuries are. The per diem method instead assigns a set dollar amount for each day you live with the effects of the injury, from the date of the crash until you reach maximum recovery.
When Are Punitive Damages Recoverable in a Truck Accident Claim?
Punitive damages, called exemplary damages in Texas, are not awarded in most truck accident cases. They apply when the at-fault party acted with gross negligence, malice, or fraud rather than ordinary carelessness. In a truck accident, this might involve a driver operating under the influence or a trucking company that deliberately ignored safety regulations. An attorney can assess your situation and determine whether the misconduct involved meets the standard of proof these damages require.
Find Out What Your Texas Truck Accident Claim Is Worth
Placing an accurate value on a truck accident claim takes a close look at your records and close coordination with medical and financial professionals. De La Garza Law Firm knows how to build a claim that reflects the full extent of what you have lost. From calculating your future medical costs to negotiating with the trucking company’s insurer, we will not rest until we have recovered the compensation you are owed. Contact us today to discuss your truck accident claim and find out what it may be worth.
