When a semi-truck crashes, the impact can be catastrophic, especially for people in smaller vehicles. Unfortunately, these crashes are all too common, including in the Volunteer State. In 2022, the Tennessee Highway Patrol reported 14,130 truck crashes, or 1 in 13 traffic accidents.

With major commercial routes like I-24 and I-75 running through Chattanooga, the city is a constant hub for freight traffic involving semi-trucks. And when something goes wrong, the results can be devastating. These massive vehicles can cause far more destruction than a typical car crash, often leaving victims with serious injuries, totaled cars, lost wages, and long-term trauma.

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. Learn about the compensation you may be entitled to and how a skilled Chattanooga truck accident lawyer can fight for the recovery you need.

Types of Damages in a Truck Accident Case

In most truck accident cases, victims can pursue compensation for two types of damages: economic and non-economic. A third category, punitive damages, may only be awarded by a judge or a jury if the case goes to trial.

  • Economic Damages: This category includes all the financial losses you can put a dollar amount on. This covers medical bills, lost income, property damage, and any costs you’ve had to pay or will have to pay because of the accident.
  • Non-Economic Damages: This type of damage covers personal, intangible losses without a price tag. This includes pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
  • Punitive Damages: If your truck accident case goes to trial and ends with a court verdict, rather than a settlement, you may be awarded punitive damages.

Economic Damages

Tennessee law has no cap on economic damages, which means you can pursue full compensation for your financial losses. You can claim the entire amount if you have evidence, like bills, receipts, or other documentation.

 

A skilled Chattanooga truck accident lawyer can review your case and gather the evidence needed to help you recover compensation for:

  • Medical Expenses: You can recover the cost of all accident-related medical care, including emergency treatment, hospital stays, doctor visits, prescriptions, and physical therapy.
  • Lost Wages or Future Earning Capacity: If the truck accident caused you to lose your job or take a lower-paying position, you may be entitled to compensation for lost income.

Pay stubs, tax returns, and client invoices can help show your pre-accident earnings, while employer letters or accounting records can document the time you missed from work.

  • Property Damage: Large trucks often severely damage or total the vehicles they hit because of their size and weight. The damage is likely significant if your car was struck by a semi-truck or its trailer.

You may also have lost or damaged personal items inside the vehicle, like phones, laptops, eyeglasses, or jewelry. A qualified truck accident lawyer can help you document these losses and get accurate estimates for repairs or replacements.

Non-Economic Damages

Tennessee law caps all non-economic damages per victim in a personal injury case, including large truck accidents, at $750,000.

The cap may be increased to $1 million if your case is determined to involve catastrophic injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, amputation of at least two limbs, third-degree burns covering more than 40% of the body or face, or wrongful death of a parent.

Your truck accident lawyer can help you calculate the value of your losses and pursue compensation for:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Mental anguish
  • Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental disorders
  • Scarring and disfigurement

Just like with economic damages, non-economic damages require solid evidence. Your attorney can help gather medical diagnoses and coordinate with mental health professionals for expert testimony. Personal records like pain journals or daily logs can also strengthen your case by documenting how the accident has affected your life.

Punitive Damages

In Tennessee, punitive damages may be awarded only if your case meets the following conditions:

  • Your case went to trial.
  • The judge or jury has issued a verdict.
  • There is enough evidence to prove with “clear and convincing evidence” that the parties at fault have acted maliciously, fraudulently, recklessly, or intentionally.

Not all truck accident cases go to trial, and punitive damages are only available in rare cases. To qualify, you must prove extreme negligence, willful misconduct, or intentional harm, such as a trucking company knowingly ignoring federal safety rules or skipping mandatory maintenance.

In Tennessee, punitive damages are typically capped at twice the total compensatory damages or $500,000, whichever is greater.

Contact an Experienced Truck Crash Lawyer in Chattanooga Today

Truck accident claims often involve multiple layers of liability, including the truck driver, their employer, the cargo company, or even a parts manufacturer. Add in federal safety regulations and complex commercial insurance policies, and you’ve got a much more complicated case than a standard car crash.

If you were injured in a truck accident, you need legal representation you can count on. The Chattanooga truck accident lawyers at Gary Massey Injury Lawyers can help you understand your legal options, determine who’s liable, and calculate the compensation amount you deserve.

Contact us for a free case consultation. We are ready to protect your rights and help you avoid lowball offers from insurance companies that only care about their bottom line.