Truck Accident Settlement Calculator

Three reasons: (1) catastrophic injuries - semis weigh 20–30x more than cars, causing severe trauma; (2) federal minimum insurance - FMCSA requires $750K (non-hazmat) to $5M (hazmat) commercial liability coverage, vs $25–50K state minimums for cars; (3) multiple defendants - driver, trucking company, cargo loader, manufacturer, and maintenance contractor can all be liable. Average settlements run $500K–$3M, median around $400K.

Often multiple parties: (1) the driver, (2) the trucking company (vicarious liability + negligent hiring/training), (3) the cargo loader (if shifting cargo caused the crash), (4) the truck/parts manufacturer (defects), (5) the maintenance contractor, and (6) the broker/shipper in some cases. Each defendant has separate insurance coverage, multiplying potential recovery.

Electronic logging device (ELD) data - federal law requires 11-hour driving limits and rest periods. Black-box data, dashcam footage, post-crash drug/alcohol tests (federally mandated), driver qualification file, maintenance records, cargo loading documents, and FMCSA inspection history. Evidence must be preserved immediately via "spoliation letter" - trucking companies routinely destroy logs after 6 months.

Truck cases involve federal regulations (FMCSA, Title 49 CFR), commercial insurance, multi-defendant litigation, and specialized accident reconstruction. General PI attorneys often lack the expertise. Specialized firms typically recover 3–5x more than general practitioners. Contingency fees standard at 33–40%, often higher (40%) due to case complexity.