In many truck accident cases, victims suffer serious injuries, life-changing trauma, and long-term losses with low-limit truck crashes. Yet when it comes time to settle the claim, they discover that the insurance policy limits carried by the at-fault party—often the truck driver or trucking company—are too low to cover the full scope of damages.
This is where the evidence needed to pursue extra compensation in low policy limit truck crashes becomes absolutely critical.
With the right documentation and legal strategy, victims may still be able to obtain additional compensation, either through other liable parties, underinsured motorist coverage, or the discovery of significant assets beyond policy limits.
In this guide, we’ll explain how accident victims can collect and present strong evidence to establish liability, support settlement demands, and push for a fair settlement that truly reflects the injury severity and associated losses.
Why Policy Limits Are a Barrier to Full Recovery
Not all insurance policies are created equal. In truck accident claims, the responsible party’s insurance company may have a coverage ceiling that doesn’t reflect the actual damages caused by the crash. These are known as low insurance policy limits, and they’re a major obstacle for those seeking maximum compensation.
For example, if your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages total $500,000—but the at-fault driver’s policy only covers $100,000—you’ll need a way to pursue extra compensation beyond that cap. Even the average settlement amount for the Colorado truck accident on ice may shock you.
Without a solid foundation of evidence and expert guidance, your final settlement amount may fall far short of what you truly need.
The Legal Process: How Claims Are Affected by Policy Limits
In a standard truck accident claim, once the policy limits are met, the insurance company has no obligation to pay more—even if the victim’s losses continue. This is why knowing how much compensation you are legally entitled to and documenting it accurately is vital.
To pursue higher compensation, you must:
- Investigate all possible liable parties
- Leverage your own insurance company’s underinsured motorist coverage
- Uncover significant assets that the at-fault party may hold personally
- Show that the final settlement offered doesn’t reflect the true settlement value
But before any of that is possible, you must gather evidence—and lots of it.
Essential Evidence Needed to Maximize Truck Accident Compensation
The more severe your injuries, the more likely it is that your damages exceed the available insurance coverage. To build a strong case for additional compensation, your legal team must collect the following types of evidence:
1. Detailed Medical Records and Expenses
Thorough medical records are the backbone of any personal injury case. These documents should outline all your medical treatment, diagnosis, test results, procedures, and prognosis. Include:
- Medical bills and long-term medical expenses
- Treatment notes from physicians, specialists, and therapists
- Records of psychological impacts like post-traumatic stress disorder
- Documentation of traumatic brain injuries or other catastrophic harm
Accurate and complete records help show the true cost of care, making it easier to fight for higher compensation when policy limits fall short.
2. Police Reports and Witness Statements
Police reports from when the accident occurred provide objective documentation of the accident scene, preliminary fault assessments, and contributing factors like distracted driving. These are supported by witness statements, which reinforce your version of events.
Together, these documents help establish liability, laying the groundwork for holding the at-fault party accountable—and possibly identifying multiple liable parties beyond the initial insurance policy limits.
3. Accident Reconstruction Reports
If your crash involved severe injuries or disputed liability, accident reconstruction reports are crucial. These are prepared by accident reconstruction specialists, who analyze:
- Road markings and debris patterns
- Vehicle damage and crash dynamics
- Surveillance footage and dash cam video
- Impact speeds and force calculations
These findings can uncover the role of a commercial vehicle, equipment failure, or violations by the trucking company—providing grounds for a truck accident settlement beyond a single driver’s insurance.
4. Documentation of Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
Your legal team should collect evidence of:
- Pay stubs and employment records
- Tax returns
- Employer statements
This information shows both immediate and future economic damages due to your injury severity. If your ability to earn has been permanently reduced, it significantly affects the settlement value and supports a claim for additional compensation.
5. Proof of Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic losses like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life are harder to quantify but are incredibly important in truck accident cases. Evidence may include:
- Personal journals describing day-to-day struggles
- Testimony from family or caretakers
- Psychological evaluations
- Photos and videos showing the impact on your daily routine
These help support your right to fair compensation, even if the insurance company tries to minimize payouts by focusing only on physical damages.
The Role of Comparative Negligence Laws
In some states, comparative negligence laws affect how much compensation you can receive if you’re partially at fault for the car accident or truck crash. If the at-fault party argues that you contributed to the accident, your settlement amount may be reduced accordingly.
This is why it’s essential to work with an experienced attorney who can dispute any exaggerated claims of shared fault and protect your right to a reasonable settlement. The better your evidence, the less likely you are to have your damages unfairly reduced.
Legal Representation: The Key to Fair Compensation
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident with low insurance policy limits, pursuing additional compensation is not a DIY job. You’ll need:
- A proven truck accident personal injury lawyer or experienced legal team
- Strategic insight into the settlement process
- Experience with car accident claims and truck accident settlements
- Confidence negotiating with the insurance company and legal defense teams
A strong legal advocate can evaluate your car accident case, identify every possible path to recovery, and help you receive fair compensation—even if that means going beyond the insurance policy limits. So, it’s best to hire them than to worry about how much the truck accident lawyer will cost.
When Wrongful Death Is Involved
If the truck accident resulted in wrongful death, the case becomes even more complex—and emotionally charged. Surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim, which may include:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of companionship
- Medical bills incurred before death
Because these damages can be extensive, it’s especially important to investigate the at-fault driver, trucking company, and other parties for significant assets or additional sources of compensation.
How Much Compensation Can You Receive in Low Policy Limit Truck Crashes?
The truck accidents that lead to compensation vary greatly, depending on the particular case. Their compensation also differs, depending on the particular case at hand. Ideally, the amount you can recover depends on:
- The extent of your bodily injury
- Your total medical costs and property damage
- Proven emotional distress and quality-of-life impacts
- Available insurance coverage
- How well does your evidence support your settlement demands
A well-documented case could make a significant difference between a limited payout and a final settlement that genuinely reflects your losses. A skilled attorney can help ensure your settlement reflects the full range of damages, not just what the insurance provider wants to pay.
Start With a Free Consultation At BLG
The first step to securing maximum compensation in low policy limit truck crashes is a comprehensive legal evaluation. A free consultation with a truck accident personal injury lawyer allows you to understand your legal options, evaluate the strength of your evidence, and begin the path toward a fair settlement.
Time is critical in these cases. Evidence may disappear, witnesses may forget, and insurance deadlines can pass quickly. Early action gives your lawyer more time to build your case and increase your chances of a reasonable settlement or even a trial verdict in your favor.
Get Legal Help From Bourassa Law Group
If you’re facing severe injuries after a truck accident, and the insurance policy limits don’t begin to cover your losses, you need more than just hope—you need results. At Bourassa Law Group, our experienced legal team has helped countless clients fight for fair compensation when other firms settle for less.
We gather the evidence needed to pursue extra compensation in low policy limit truck crashes—and we don’t back down from complex cases. Let us help you seek compensation that reflects the full impact of your injuries, losses, and future needs.
Contact Bourassa Law Group today for a free consultation. You only get one shot at a car accident settlement or truck accident settlement. Let’s make sure it counts.
1-800-870-8910