Settlement Value in Truck Cases: What Really Drives It?

Authored by Bradley A. Pistotnik — well-known and highly experienced Wichita truck accident lawyer; author of the book “Truck Accidents Kill,” and an authoritative speaker on trucking safety.

Coverage: Wichita Metro (Sedgwick County & surrounding communities) and Western Kansas — defined here as any county west of a north–south line that runs ~10 miles east of Topeka, bounded by Nebraska (north), Oklahoma (south), and Colorado (west).

The Big Four Value Drivers

• Liability clarity (violation-anchored narrative using FMCSR regulations like §392.2, §392.3, §392.6, §395.3 & facts).
• Injury severity and documentation, including future care and impairment.
• Venue/jury history and the credibility of parties and experts.
• Defense posture, policy limits (federal minimums under 49 CFR §387.9), and excess exposure analysis.

Evidence that Moves Numbers

• ECM/ELD/telematics (49 CFR §395.8(k), §395.11 retention) aligned with reconstruction and scene physics.
• Doctor-driven records, life-care plans, and wage loss/economic reports.
• Witness credibility, training/policy documents, and maintenance history (Part 396).

Why Averages Mislead

Public “average settlement” figures rarely map to your facts. Valuation depends on the interplay of liability, damages, and coverage—not generic databases.

For more on process and timing, see Timeline of a Truck Accident Case in Kansas. On insurer tactics, see How Trucking Insurers Try to Devalue Your Claim. For immediate steps, see What to Do After a Truck Accident in Wichita.

Injured in a truck crash in Wichita or Western Kansas? Call Bull Attorneys for a free, confidential consultation. 24/7. We move fast to preserve ELD/telematics and black-box evidence. 316-684-4400.