Severe injuries and fatalities are common in accidents involving semi-trucks. These vehicles pose a severe risk to others on the roadways due to their extreme size and weight and the dangerous cargo they are sometimes hauling. After losing a loved one in a fatal truck accident, your whole world can feel like it is collapsing around you.
At BDIW Law, our team of Ponca City Truck Accident Lawyer has helped countless family members of fatal truck accident victims recover compensation from the liable party. While recovering money likely isn’t at the top of your priorities list, it can be essential, especially if the deceased was the primary earner for your family.
Reach out to us today by giving us a call or filling out our online contact form to get started with a free case evaluation.
Check the Statute of Limitations to Make Sure You File Your Lawsuit on Time
If you are planning to sue the liable party for damages after a fatal truck accident, you need to ensure that you are aware of all deadlines that apply to your case. In Oklahoma, family members of wrongful death victims typically have two years to file the appropriate paperwork. Missing this deadline most often means the loss of your right to recover damages.
However, even if the usual deadline has passed, that should not prevent you from consulting a Ponca City fatal truck accident lawyer. An experienced attorney may be able to identify an exception that applies to your case, allowing you to file a lawsuit against the liable party long after the normal cut-off date.
You also need to realize that the details of your case could mean that you actually have far less than two years to file. Hiring an attorney early can help you avoid running into an unexpected deadline.
Our Team Is Here To Assist You Every Step Of The Way.
SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY TODAYDamages You May Qualify to Pursue After a Fatal Truck Accident
After losing a loved one in a fatal truck accident, there are many damages you will likely be able to pursue. You need to identify all of the damages that apply to your case in order to recover the full value of your claim. Determining what damages you can claim will depend upon the details of the accident.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are all losses caused by your loved one’s death that impact you financially. Commonly claimed economic damages after a fatal truck accident include:
- Funeral costs
- Burial expenses
- Expenses for medical treatment your loved one received before they passed
- Lost future earnings of the deceased
- Property damage
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are every other loss related to the death of your loved one. Commonly claimed non-economic damages after a fatal truck accident include:
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
- Diminished quality of life
Punitive Damages
While the compensatory damages reviewed in the previous sections focus on repaying the losses suffered by accident victims, punitive damages are used to punish the at-fault party. Punitive damages are reserved for cases where the actions or inaction of the liable party were particularly egregious.
How Hiring a Fatal Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You After the Death of a Loved One
Hiring a fatal truck accident lawyer will give you the best chance of recovering fair compensation after the death of your loved one. However, this is only one of the benefits of obtaining experienced legal counsel. After this type of tragic loss, your focus should be on the emotional and mental health of you and your family.
Taking the time you need to heal can be challenging when you are attempting to recover compensation through a lawsuit or insurance claim. Hiring a lawyer to handle your case and ensure you collect the money you need can give you the time and space to worry about the more important thing during this trying time.
The Insurance Company doesn’t Want to Pay Your Claim
When you have lost a loved one due to a fatal truck accident, you need to be prepared for a battle with the insurance company. While the insurer may pretend to be on your side, this is simply a trick to get you to take a lowball settlement deal that only covers a fraction of your losses. Insurers will resort to all sorts of dirty tricks to avoid paying the full value of your claim.
The best defense you can use against these tactics is to decline to speak with the insurance company until you have hired an attorney. After obtaining legal representation, the insurer will be forced to work with your lawyer rather than contact you directly. This setup will hinder their efforts to avoid paying you the money you deserve.
Fatal Truck Accident Lawyers Are Paid Based on Results
The most common reason for family members of wrongful death victims failing to hire legal representation is worry about costs. However, this should never prevent you from securing the services of a lawyer after the loss of a loved one in a fatal truck accident. Our Ponca City fatal truck accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis.
What this means is that we don’t charge a retainer fee or a high hourly rate and will never send you an invoice. Instead, our lawyers are paid a single fee at the end of your case. This fee is in the form of a set percentage of the money recovered from the liable party and comes directly out of the payout. If you don’t receive compensation, our lawyers don’t get paid.
Schedule a Free Case Review With a Member of Our Team Today
When attempting to recover compensation after the wrongful death of a loved one, it is critical that you hire an experienced attorney. At BDIW Law, our team of fatal truck accident lawyers serving Ponca City has a reputation for staying on the offensive to help ensure our clients recover the money they need.
Reach out to us today by phone or through our website to schedule your free case consultation.
