Truck Accident Settlement Calculator
Estimate truck accident settlement value based on injury severity, medical expenses, lost wages, trucking company liability, and insurance policy limits.
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About This Calculator
"How much is my truck accident case worth?" This critical question demands a thorough answer because truck accident settlements are fundamentally different from typical car accident claims - and typically worth significantly more.
Commercial truck accidents involving 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, and tractor-trailers cause devastatingly more severe injuries than standard vehicle collisions. The physics are stark: a fully loaded commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while the average passenger car weighs around 4,000 pounds. This 20:1 weight ratio means occupants of passenger vehicles absorb catastrophic force in collisions, resulting in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, internal organ damage, and fatalities at alarming rates.
Fortunately, truck accident victims have access to substantially higher compensation than car accident victims. Federal law requires commercial trucks to carry minimum liability insurance of $750,000 to $1 million (compared to state minimums of $25,000-$50,000 for cars), and many large trucking companies maintain policies of $5 million to $10 million or more. Additionally, multiple parties may share liability - the driver, trucking company, cargo loaders, maintenance contractors, and even truck or parts manufacturers.
This calculator estimates your potential truck accident settlement based on injury severity, economic damages, trucking company liability factors, FMCSA regulatory violations, and insurance policy limits. While no calculator can predict exact outcomes, understanding typical settlement ranges helps you evaluate offers and make informed decisions about your legal options.
Critical Warning: Evidence in truck accidents disappears rapidly. Electronic logging devices (ELDs), black box data, and driver records can be destroyed or overwritten. Contact a truck accident attorney within days of your accident to preserve crucial evidence.
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How to Use the Truck Accident Settlement Calculator
- 1**Select your injury severity**: Choose the category that best matches your injuries. Catastrophic injuries (TBI, spinal cord, amputation) warrant the highest settlements.
- 2**Enter current medical bills**: Input total medical expenses incurred to date, including emergency room, surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and medications.
- 3**Estimate future medical costs**: Project ongoing treatment costs with help from your medical providers. Include future surgeries, therapy, and long-term care needs.
- 4**Add lost income**: Enter wages lost due to the accident plus any reduction in future earning capacity if injuries affect your ability to work.
- 5**Assess liability strength**: Indicate how clearly the truck driver/company is at fault. Clear liability with minimal comparative fault strengthens your claim significantly.
- 6**Select insurance policy limits**: Federal minimums require $750K-$1M for most trucks. Large carriers often have $5M-$10M policies - research the specific trucking company.
- 7**Enable Advanced mode**: For more accurate estimates, add trucking-specific factors like driver fatigue violations, maintenance issues, and FMCSA violation history.
- 8**Review settlement ranges**: The calculator shows low, mid, and high estimates, plus your net recovery after attorney fees (33-40%).
Formula
Settlement = [(Current Medical + Future Medical + Lost Wages + Future Lost Earnings) + (Medical Expenses x Injury Multiplier)] x Liability Factor x State Adjustment, capped by Policy LimitsThe calculator estimates truck accident settlements by adding economic damages (medical bills, lost income) to non-economic damages (pain and suffering, calculated using an injury severity multiplier of 2-7x medical expenses). This total is then adjusted by the strength of liability (how clearly the truck driver/company was at fault), aggravating factors (fatigue violations, maintenance issues, FMCSA violations), and state-specific factors. The result is capped by available insurance policy limits. Attorney fees (33-40%) are then calculated to show your net recovery.
Why Truck Accident Settlements Are Higher Than Car Accidents
Truck accident settlements consistently exceed car accident settlements for several structural reasons:
| Factor | Car Accidents | Truck Accidents |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance Minimums | $25K - $50K (state) | $750K - $1M (federal) |
| Typical Policy Limits | $100K - $300K | $1M - $10M+ |
| Injury Severity | Moderate injuries common | Catastrophic injuries common |
| Potential Defendants | Usually 1-2 | Often 3-5+ |
| Regulatory Evidence | Limited | Extensive (ELD, inspections) |
| Average Settlement | $15,000 - $100,000 | $100,000 - $1,000,000+ |
Multiple Defendants: Unlike car accidents, truck crashes often involve multiple liable parties:
- The truck driver (negligence, fatigue, impairment)
- The trucking company (hiring, training, supervision)
- The cargo loader (improper loading causing instability)
- The maintenance contractor (brake or tire failures)
- The truck or parts manufacturer (defective components)
Each defendant typically has separate insurance, potentially multiplying available compensation.
Federal Trucking Regulations That Strengthen Your Case
The trucking industry is heavily regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Violations of these regulations create strong evidence of negligence:
Hours of Service (HOS) Regulations:
- Maximum 11 hours driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty
- Maximum 14-hour on-duty window after coming on duty
- Required 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving
- Weekly limits of 60/70 hours over 7/8 consecutive days
Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Requirements:
- All commercial trucks must have ELDs recording driving time
- ELD data can prove HOS violations at time of crash
- Data may only be stored for 6 months - act fast to preserve it
Driver Qualification Requirements:
- Valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
- Drug and alcohol testing compliance
- Medical certification and physical examinations
- Background checks and driving record reviews
Vehicle Maintenance Requirements:
- Regular inspections and documentation
- Brake system maintenance and testing
- Tire condition and pressure monitoring
- Lighting and reflector requirements
Any violation of these regulations at the time of your accident significantly strengthens your negligence claim.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Understanding why your accident happened helps identify all liable parties:
Driver-Related Causes:
- Fatigue: Leading cause of truck accidents. Drivers push past HOS limits for delivery deadlines.
- Distraction: Cell phone use, dispatching systems, eating while driving.
- Impairment: Alcohol, drugs (including prescription medications that cause drowsiness).
- Speeding: Large trucks require 40% more stopping distance than cars.
- Inexperience: Inadequate training on vehicle handling and safety procedures.
Company-Related Causes:
- Unrealistic schedules: Pressure to meet delivery deadlines encourages speeding and HOS violations.
- Negligent hiring: Failing to properly vet drivers with poor records.
- Inadequate training: Insufficient instruction on safety procedures.
- Poor maintenance: Cutting costs on vehicle upkeep.
Vehicle and Cargo Causes:
- Brake failure: Most common mechanical cause of truck accidents.
- Tire blowouts: From worn tires, improper inflation, or overloading.
- Improper loading: Shifting cargo causes loss of control, overweight trucks have longer stopping distances.
- Equipment defects: Manufacturing defects in brakes, steering, tires, or other components.
Your attorney should investigate all potential causes to maximize your recovery.
Critical Evidence to Preserve After a Truck Accident
Time-sensitive evidence disappears quickly in truck accident cases. Here is what to secure immediately:
Electronic Evidence (may be overwritten in days/weeks):
- Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data showing hours driven
- Engine Control Module (ECM) / black box data (speed, braking, etc.)
- GPS tracking data showing route and stops
- Dashcam footage (if equipped)
- Dispatch communications and delivery instructions
Driver Records (must be preserved via legal hold):
- Driver's hours of service logs
- Drug and alcohol test results
- Medical certification and qualification files
- Training records
- Employment history and driving record
Vehicle Records:
- Maintenance and inspection records
- Pre-trip and post-trip inspection reports
- Repair history
- Cargo loading documentation
- Weight tickets
Accident Scene Evidence:
- Police report and investigation files
- Photographs of vehicles, road conditions, skid marks
- Witness statements and contact information
- Traffic camera or surveillance footage
Your attorney should send a spoliation letter immediately demanding the trucking company preserve all evidence. Without this, companies routinely destroy evidence or repair vehicles.
Insurance Coverage and Policy Limits in Truck Accidents
Understanding insurance coverage helps you evaluate what compensation is realistically available:
Federal Minimum Insurance Requirements:
| Cargo Type | Minimum Required Coverage |
|---|---|
| General freight | $750,000 |
| Household goods | $750,000 |
| Oil hazmat | $1,000,000 |
| Other hazmat | $5,000,000 |
| Passenger carriers | $1,500,000 - $5,000,000 |
Typical Actual Coverage:
- Small/regional carriers: $1,000,000 - $2,000,000
- Mid-size carriers: $2,000,000 - $5,000,000
- Large carriers (Werner, J.B. Hunt, etc.): $5,000,000 - $10,000,000+
- Major corporations with truck fleets: Often self-insured with high limits
Multiple Coverage Sources:
- Primary liability policy (trucking company)
- Excess/umbrella coverage (additional layers)
- Cargo insurance (if cargo caused injury)
- Product liability insurance (if defect involved)
- Driver's personal policy (in some cases)
Important: Your settlement is typically capped by available insurance unless the defendant has substantial assets. For catastrophic injuries, it is crucial to identify all insurance policies and potentially liable parties.
The Truck Accident Settlement Process
Understanding the timeline helps with financial planning:
| Phase | Duration | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence Preservation | Immediate | Attorney sends spoliation letters, obtains ELD/black box data |
| Investigation | 1-3 months | Accident reconstruction, witness interviews, record gathering |
| Medical Treatment | Ongoing | Reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) before settling |
| Demand Package | 1-2 months | Attorney prepares detailed demand with evidence |
| Negotiations | 2-6 months | Settlement discussions with insurance companies |
| Litigation (if needed) | 12-24 months | Filing lawsuit, discovery, depositions, trial |
Key Considerations:
Do not settle too early. You need to understand the full extent of your injuries and future medical needs. Settling before reaching maximum medical improvement often leaves money on the table.
Most cases settle before trial. Approximately 95% of truck accident cases settle during negotiations or after litigation begins but before trial. Trucking companies and their insurers prefer to avoid unpredictable jury verdicts.
Litigation may be necessary. If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, filing a lawsuit often produces better settlement offers. Jury verdicts in truck accident cases frequently exceed $1 million for serious injuries.
Pro Tips
- 💡Document everything at the accident scene if physically able - photographs of all vehicles, road conditions, skid marks, traffic signals, and your visible injuries.
- 💡Call 911 and ensure a police report is filed. Request the truck driver's CDL, insurance information, trucking company name, and DOT number.
- 💡Seek medical attention immediately, even if injuries seem minor. Some serious injuries like internal bleeding or traumatic brain injury have delayed symptoms.
- 💡Do not give recorded statements to the trucking company's insurance adjuster without consulting an attorney first. These statements can be used against you.
- 💡Contact a truck accident attorney within days of your accident - critical electronic evidence (ELD, black box data) can be destroyed or overwritten quickly.
- 💡Keep all medical appointments and follow your doctor's treatment plan. Gaps in treatment can be used to argue your injuries aren't serious.
- 💡Document your injuries and recovery with a journal noting pain levels, limitations, emotional impact, and how injuries affect daily activities.
- 💡Save all receipts and records related to the accident: medical bills, pharmacy costs, transportation to appointments, home modifications, and any other expenses.
- 💡Do not post about your accident, injuries, or activities on social media. Insurance companies monitor social media for evidence to use against you.
- 💡Request your complete medical records and any imaging (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans) - these are crucial evidence for your claim.
- 💡Do not accept any settlement offer without consulting an attorney. Initial offers are almost always far below fair value.
- 💡Consider future damages carefully. Your settlement must cover not just current expenses but future medical care, lost earning capacity, and ongoing pain and suffering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Average truck accident settlements range from $100,000 to over $1 million depending on injury severity. Minor injuries (soft tissue, whiplash) typically settle for $50,000-$100,000. Moderate injuries (fractures, herniated discs) settle for $100,000-$500,000. Severe and catastrophic injuries (traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, amputation) regularly settle for $1 million to $10 million or more. Wrongful death cases often exceed $1 million. These figures are significantly higher than car accident settlements due to higher insurance limits and more severe injuries.