AT&T’s white trucks with their blue and black logos are a familiar site in most neighborhoods. In most cases, the presence of an AT&T truck is nothing to worry about. But these trucks pose a serious risk of injury in the event of an accident. The AT&T driver is usually safe in these cases because of the extra weight of their vehicles. But the other driver may not be so lucky, considering that the average sedan is half the weight of an AT&T truck. The resulting injuries can be extremely serious, even life-threatening. This is why commercial drivers are required to take extra precautions when they’re out on the road. These duties fall on the employer as well, meaning AT&T can be responsible for an accident caused by one of their drivers.
Deciding who is responsible for your accident makes a huge difference in the amount of compensation you can ask for. An individual driver, for example, has limited resources to pay you in the event of a lawsuit. AT&T, on the other hand, can be sued for the full value of your damages since they are a major corporation. This is particularly important with truck accident cases, where victims are typically awarded 6-7 figures in damages.
Have you or a loved been harmed in a truck accident involving an AT&T driver? If so, contact Normandie Law Firm right away. Maybe you’re working with a lawyer already, but still have questions about your case. Either way, our personal injury attorneys will be happy to speak with you and advise you of your rights and legal options.
Can I Sue AT&T for My Injuries?
A lot of clients ask us this question when they come in the first time, and we don’t blame them for being confused. After all, most car accidents are directly caused by the driver, so it stands to reason that the driver is responsible for your injuries. This would certainly be the case if your car accident was between two private citizens. But the rules are different when it comes to truck drivers. These drivers are employed by a specific company and were driving the vehicle as a part of their job duties. In such cases, liability is transferred to the employer under the laws of vicarious liability. Thus, if an AT&T driver causes a car accident, AT&T can be sued for compensation by the victim.
AT&T’s insurance company is well aware of this, but they will do everything they can to deny your claim, or make you an offer that’s much lower than what you’re entitled to. That’s their job as AT&T’s insurer, and it goes to show you the value of having an expert on your side. An experienced truck accident lawyer can represent your rights and fight to get you a fair settlement amount.
To learn more about suing AT&T as a truck accident victim, please give us a call and speak with one of our attorneys.
Average Settlement Value of an AT&T Truck Accident Lawsuit
So now we come to the question that’s on every client’s mind:
“How much does AT&T pay out in an accident claim against their drivers?”
There are many things we would need to know in order to answer this question. Certainly, we would need to know the details of your accident and the types of injuries you sustained. We would also need to know the extent of your injuries and how they will affect you throughout your life. Additionally, we would need to calculate the full value of your losses, like the income you’ve lost and your level of pain and suffering. These factors are different for each victim, which is why we cannot give you the average value of an AT&T truck accident case.
But there is some general information we can provide you based on settlements we’ve recovered for previous clients. Please refer to the examples below:
Caleb, a 34-year-old ER nurse, was driving home from work when he was rear-ended by an AT&T truck driver. The accident caused multiple injuries for Caleb, including broken bones, deep lacerations, and a herniated disc. As a result, he has chronic back pain even after surgery and months of physical therapy, and is no longer able to work as a nurse. Additionally, the lacerations from the crash have left him with permanent scars on his face and neck.
Medical bills: $210,000
Physical therapy: $40,000
Lifetime prescription costs: $65,000
Loss of income: $87,000 per year for 30 years = $2,610,000
Pain and suffering: $500,000
Total approximate case value: $3,425,000
Zara, a 38-year old preschool teacher, was crossing at an intersection when she was T-boned by an AT&T truck driver. The side impact left her with permanent nerve damage and partial paralysis in her left arm. Her paralysis means she can no longer perform her job duties at the preschool. She will also need extensive physical therapy to do basic tasks that normally require two arms.
Medical costs: $34,000
Physical therapy: $25,000
Future rehabilitation costs: $75,000
Loss of income: $32,000 per year times 30 years = $960,000
Pain and suffering: $300,000
Total approximate case value: $1,394,000
You can the variations in case values based on types of injuries, as well as the client’s financial and emotional losses. Some cases have additional amount we can request, like punitive damages. This payment is awarded by the court in cases of extreme negligence and harm by the responsible parties. A knowledgeable lawyer can explain this to you in detail and verify if your claim is eligible for punitive damages.
To find out what your case may be worth in a lawsuit against AT&T, speak with the truck accident lawyers of Normandie.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$1.5 Million
$1.5 Million
$2 Million
$1.5 Million
$734,851
$600,000
Can I Switch My Lawyer?
Yes, you can switch your lawyer at any point in your case according to California laws.
You may be reading this article because you are unsure about the settlement value that’s been calculated by your attorney. Maybe you believe your case is worth more, but your lawyer insists that it’s a fair amount. You’re not sure what to do and that’s why you’re researching information on the average value of an AT&T truck accident case.
It’s impossible to say if your suspicions are correct without knowing the details of your case. But we’ve certainly had clients come to us from other law firm that they were unhappy with. Mainly, they were unhappy with the numbers game being played by their lawyer – come up with an amount the insurer will agree to, pressure the client to settle, and move on to the next one. Normandie Law Firm is against such practices, which can leave clients with insufficient funds for their injuries. That’s why we’re happy to offer free second opinions, where we can review your case file and give you an estimate of what we think your case is worth. We can also address any concerns you have regarding your attorney’s experience, or questions about why your case is taking so long to settle.
If you decide to transfer your case to us, we can take care of notifying the court and working out a payment agreement with your current attorney. However, the decision to switch counsel is always yours, and we are happy to advise you either way.
Contact our office and schedule a free second opinion with one of our attorneys.
No Upfront Payments – Ever
Here at Normandie, we believe that all victims have the right to free legal advice. If anyone should pay, it’s the party that’s responsible for your accident. That’s exactly what you’ll get under our Zero fee guarantee, which makes all our services free from the moment you walk through our doors. The only way we get paid is if you get paid, so if we lose your case, you walk away without having spent a penny.
Our no upfront payment policy applies to second opinions as well if you’re unhappy with your current lawyer. Switching lawyers is a big decision that should not be made on a whim, so please come in and see us if you have concerns about your case.
We look forward to meeting you and helping you recover the compensation you deserve.
