Kenny Habetz Injury Law | August 17, 2025 | Truck Accidents
Truck accident victims often suffer severe injuries. Semi trucks can weigh up to 40 times more than an automobile. When they strike smaller vehicles, the sheer force can fracture bones and tear soft tissues. Worse yet, the impact can cause the body to whip so violently that victims suffer brain damage and spinal cord injuries.
Faced with these catastrophic injuries, accident victims may require substantial compensation to pay for medical treatment and long-term care. Additionally, they may lose their ability to earn a living. Fortunately, a truck accident settlement can provide the resources necessary to meet the victim’s needs.
Average Truck Accident Settlement Factors
There is no average truck accident settlement because a crash victim’s payout will depend on many of the following factors unique to the accident:
Severity of the Injuries
The severity of your injuries will play a significant role in determining the settlement you can seek. Specifically, more severe injuries will often require more expensive medical treatment and lengthier physical therapy. Moreover, they may have a greater impact on your ability to perform your work activities.
For example, a brain injury can cause permanent disabilities, including confusion, motor impairment, and memory loss. By contrast, minor trauma, such as lacerations and bruises, can eventually heal without any long-term effects. As a result, you may seek a greater settlement after a brain injury than a black eye.
Proof of Liability
Truck accident settlements happen when the trucking company’s insurers and sureties resolve a case before it can reach trial. You agree to waive your claims and dismiss any lawsuits you brought in exchange for a payout.
These businesses know that jurors are usually unsympathetic toward them. As a result, they fear jurors who may hit them with large court verdicts. Thus, insurers and sureties are more likely to make an attractive settlement offer when you have strong evidence of liability.
On the other hand, these companies have experienced teams of lawyers. When you have a weak case, the insurer may only make a minimal offer to settle it because its lawyers are unafraid of going to trial.
Liable Parties
Truck accidents can have many causes. A trucking company may be liable for an accident caused by its driver’s negligence under a doctrine called vicarious liability. It may also be liable for its own acts, such as scheduling fatigued drivers to drive.
Truck crashes can also happen due to mechanical failures, like defective brakes or broken tie-downs. In these cases, the responsibility for the crash might fall on a vehicle part manufacturer.
Finally, shippers may bear the liability for crashes caused by improper loading. Thus, a shipper might be liable when a load is unbalanced, causing the cargo to shift so the trailer rolls over.
Impact of the Liable Party on Settlement
The identity of the liable party could determine your settlement. Trucking companies are required to carry a certain amount of liability insurance and surety bonds. As a result, you know that the company will have the resources to pay your claims.
By contrast, manufacturers and shippers are not required to carry liability insurance. As a result, there is no guarantee that they will have the resources to pay a large settlement if you suffer serious injuries.
Contact the Lafayette Truck Accident Lawyers at Kenny Habetz Injury Law for Help Today
Unfortunately, there is no average settlement for all truck accidents. Instead, settlements depend on the unique factors in a victim’s case. Thus, you should consider speaking to a truck accident lawyer to determine the settlement you can pursue based on your accident.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Lafayette, please call Kenny Habetz Injury Law for a free case evaluation with a Louisiana personal injury lawyer or contact us online. We have offices in Lafayette and Crowley, LA.
Kenny Habetz Injury Law – Lafayette
110 E Kaliste Saloom Rd Ste 101 Lafayette, LA 70508
(337) 399-9000
Kenny Habetz Injury Law – Crowley
604 S Parkerson Ave. Crowley, LA 70526
(337) 329-8883
