Being hit by an 18-wheeler is a life-altering event. These massive trucks cause catastrophic injuries, overwhelming medical bills, and long-term financial strain. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in California, you’re likely wondering, “How much compensation can I recover?” While every case is unique, settlements often range from $100,000 to millions, depending on the severity of your injuries and the trucking company’s negligence. To maximize your payout, partnering with experienced truck accident lawyers in Los Angeles like Bojat Law Group is critical. Here’s what you need to know.

What Factors Determine Your Settlement Amount?

California law allows accident victims to seek compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Key factors that influence your payout include:

1. Severity of Injuries: Broken bones, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), or amputations result in higher payouts due to lifelong medical needs.
2. Medical Expenses: This includes ER bills, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, and future care costs (e.g., physical therapy).
3. Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: If injuries prevent you from returning to work, you can claim lost income and reduced future earnings.
4. Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life.
5. Property Damage: Repairs or replacement costs for your vehicle.
6. Punitive Damages: If the truck driver or company acted recklessly (e.g., driving under the influence, violating hours-of-service rules), courts may award punitive damages to punish wrongdoing.

For example, a victim with a fractured leg might settle for 150,000,while someone paralyzed in a crash could receive 5 million or more.

Why Truck Accident Claims Are Complex

Truck accidents involve multiple liable parties, complex evidence, and aggressive insurance tactics. Unlike standard car crashes, you may need to sue:

• The truck driver (for speeding, fatigue, or distracted driving)
• The trucking company (for poor maintenance, overloading, or pressuring drivers to violate safety laws)
• A third-party contractor (for improperly secured cargo)
• Government agencies (if poor road design contributed)

Trucking companies often fight claims to protect their profits. They might destroy evidence (like driver logs or maintenance records), blame you for the crash, or delay settlements. Without a skilled attorney, you risk accepting a lowball offer that ignores your long-term needs.

How California’s Comparative Negligence Law Affects Your Case

California follows a pure comparative negligence rule. If you’re found partially at fault (e.g., speeding), your compensation is reduced by your percentage of blame. For example, if you’re awarded $500,000 but are deemed 20% at fault, your compensation reduces to $400,000. Our skilled attorney can challenge these unfair blame-shifting tactics and ensure your rights—and your recovery—are fully protected.

Steps to Maximize Your Settlement After an 18-Wheeler Crash

1. Seek Medical Help Immediately: Delaying treatment lets insurers argue your injuries aren’t serious.
2. Document the Scene: Take photos of vehicle damage, skid marks, road conditions, and your injuries. Collect witness contact details.
3. Report the Accident: File a police report and notify the trucking company’s insurer—but avoid giving recorded statements without a lawyer.
4. Don’t Admit Fault: Even saying “I’m sorry” could be twisted into an admission of guilt.
5. Contact a Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer: Attorneys gather evidence (black box data, driver logs, maintenance records), calculate fair compensation, and negotiate while you heal.

Why Hire Truck Accident Lawyers in Los Angeles?

Insurance adjusters know victims without legal representation often settle for less. At Bojat Law Group, we level the playing field by:

• Investigating the crash thoroughly to prove liability
• Consulting accident reconstruction experts and medical professionals
• Identifying all sources of compensation (e.g., trucking company liability, uninsured motorist coverage)
• Negotiating fiercely or taking your case to trial

In one case, we secured a $2.3 million settlement for a client who suffered a TBI when a drowsy truck driver ran a red light.

Don’t Wait—Call Bojat Law Group Today

California’s statute of limitations gives you just two years to file a truck accident lawsuit (California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). But critical evidence (like electronic logging device data) can disappear in weeks. The sooner you act, the stronger your case.

At Bojat Law Group, we’ve dedicated our careers to fighting for truck accident victims. We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win. Let us handle the legal battles while you focus on recovery.

Call us now for a free case review. Our truck accident lawyers in Los Angeles will explain your rights and fight for every dollar you deserve.