Every dollar a
jury would award.

Medical bills. Lost wages. Pain. Punitive damages where conduct was reckless. Here is the full inventory of recoverable losses after a commercial truck crash.

A// ECONOMIC

Economic Damages

Calculable losses with documented dollar value.

Emergency medical treatment and hospitalisation
Surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing physical therapy
Prescription medications and medical equipment
Future medical care for permanent injuries
Lost wages from time off work during recovery
Reduced future earning capacity if you cannot return to the same role
Cost of hiring help for domestic tasks you can no longer perform
Vehicle repair or replacement
Out-of-pocket travel costs for medical appointments

B// NON-ECONOMIC

Non-Economic Damages

The human cost the receipts can't show.

Physical pain and suffering during recovery
Ongoing chronic pain from permanent injuries
Emotional distress and psychological trauma
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Loss of enjoyment of activities you could do before the accident
Permanent scarring or disfigurement
Loss of consortium — impact on your relationship with a spouse or partner

// SECTION C / EXEMPLARY DAMAGES

Punitive damages.

In cases where the defendant's conduct was reckless or deliberately dangerous — such as a driver who falsified logbooks to hide hours-of-service violations, or a trucking company that knowingly operated an unsafe vehicle — courts may award punitive damages on top of compensatory damages. These are designed to punish wrongdoing and deter others.

// SECTION D / WRONGFUL DEATH

When a family member is killed.

Surviving spouses, children, and dependants may claim for: funeral and burial expenses, loss of the deceased's financial support, loss of companionship and care, and the pain and suffering experienced by the deceased before death. Wrongful death claims are time-limited and state-specific — see our state guide.

// SECTION E / VALUATION

What moves the
number.

01
Severity of injuries
Catastrophic injuries (TBI, spinal cord, amputation) produce higher settlements than soft-tissue injuries.
02
Clarity of fault
Clear FMCSA violations or ELD data showing hours-of-service breaches strengthen the claim significantly.
03
Number of defendants
More liable parties means more insurance coverage potentially available.
04
State fault rules
Contributory negligence states (AL, MD, NC, VA, DC) can bar recovery entirely if you share any fault.
05
Medical documentation
Strong, consistent medical records directly impact compensation. Gaps in treatment hurt claims.
06
Speed of action
Preserving black box data and witness statements early is critical. Evidence degrades fast.