Few types of accidents have the potential to be as destructive and traumatic as a truck accident. Collisions involving these massive vehicles can cause catastrophic damage, leaving victims facing serious injuries and mounting medical bills. A reputable law firm and Florida truck accident lawyer can provide quality legal representation that is integral in these cases to ensure that victims receive the compensation they deserve.
If you’ve been involved in an accident with a large truck, don’t hesitate to reach out to the team at Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia. We know the impact that these injuries can have on your life, and we’re ready to help you seek justice. Whether you’re looking for a truck accident attorney in Boca Raton or a Coral Gables truck accident lawyer, our team is ready to assist you. We proudly serve clients in West Palm Beach and South Florida. Call us at 800-320-4537 or contact us online to get started.
What You Need to Know About Florida Truck Accidents
Not all accidents are created equal. While car accidents can be frightening and cause serious injury, collisions involving large commercial trucks and other large commercial vehicles pose a far greater threat.
- Devastating force: Trucks’ immense size and weight create a much higher impact in crashes, causing severe injuries to car occupants involved in even seemingly minor collisions.
- Limited maneuvering: Due to their size and weight, trucks are less maneuverable than cars. This makes it harder for them to avoid obstacles or sudden traffic changes, increasing the risk of accidents. Driver negligence, such as fatigue or improper vehicle maintenance, can further exacerbate these risks.
- Extra hazards: Truck accidents can involve additional dangers like cargo spillage or hazardous chemicals that wouldn’t be involved in a passenger car accident.
Trucking is a huge industry, and trucking companies often do whatever it takes to protect their bottom line. For instance, fatigued truck drivers are pushed towards unsafe driving practices that may leave other drivers on the road at risk, like driving under severe fatigue. Large truck crashes often have severe consequences, including significant injuries and complex legal issues.
Read more: 5 Causes of Truck Accidents
Common Injuries After a Truck Accident
The sheer force of a truck accident can cause far more severe injuries than a typical car accident. Even at low speeds, the enormous size of a truck can crush regular passenger vehicles. It’s important to seek medical treatment immediately after a truck accident, as injuries may not be immediately apparent and timely medical care is essential for both health and legal claims.
Common injuries suffered in truck accidents can include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): The violent impact of a truck accident can cause serious head injuries, including concussions, bleeding in the brain, and long-term cognitive problems.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: These devastating spinal injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis, permanently impacting mobility and quality of life.
- Neck and Back Injuries: The force of the crash can cause whiplash, herniated discs, and other severe neck and back injuries.
- Broken Bones: The impact of a collision can cause fractures in various parts of the body, requiring extensive surgery and rehabilitation.
- Internal Injuries: These hidden injuries can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
Florida law defines a “serious injury” as one that results in permanent scarring, significant disfigurement, permanent loss of a bodily function, or death. This is common in truck accidents caused by a negligent truck driver. An experienced truck accident attorney in Florida can help you pursue additional compensation to reflect the severity of your injuries. In cases of fatal truck accidents, the victim’s family may have the right to seek compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit.
Read more: Truck Accident Statistics in the U.S.
Truck Accident Claims Are Often Complicated
Car accident claims are often very straightforward to pursue, with only a few involved drivers and their insurance companies. Due to the nature of the trucking industry, truck accident claims are usually much more complicated to untangle. These are some of the key differences between car and truck accident lawsuits.
- Number of Parties Involved: Truck accidents often involve more than just two drivers. Besides the truck driver, the trucking company, mechanics who serviced the truck, or even the company that loaded the cargo could potentially share liability. Identifying all liable parties requires a thorough investigation. Proving negligence is essential in these cases to establish liability.
- Average Severity of Injuries: The type of truck accident can impact the severity of the resulting injuries, but all truck accidents are capable of causing serious and catastrophic harm. Treatment and compensation for these injuries can be much more complicated, involving additional laws and regulations.
- Complex Regulations: As mentioned earlier, truck drivers and trucking companies must adhere to federal and state regulations regarding driving hours, vehicle maintenance, and cargo securement. Understanding these regulations and proving their violation is crucial for building a strong case. Federal regulations play a significant role in determining liability and ensuring safety standards are met.
- Powerful Insurance Companies: Trucking companies typically carry higher insurance policies than regular drivers. This means insurance companies may have more resources to fight claims aggressively. Negotiating a fair settlement can be more challenging. Victims often face significant hurdles when dealing with insurance companies, making legal representation crucial.
These additional complexities can make truck accident claims more time-consuming and require specialized legal expertise to handle effectively.
Compensation for Victims of Truck Accidents in Florida
Truck accidents can cause devastating injuries and significant financial burdens. Florida law allows victims of a devastating truck accident to seek compensation for various losses to help them recover. It is intgeral for truck accident victims to recover compensation to cover these extensive costs. Here’s a breakdown of the recoverable damages in a personal injury lawsuit:
- Medical Expenses: Covers all past, present, and future medical bills related to your injuries. This includes ambulance rides, hospital stays, doctor visits, medications, rehabilitation, and therapy. Since truck accidents often cause severe injuries, these medical care expenses can be substantial.
- Lost Wages: Compensates you for income lost due to missing work because of your injuries or attending medical appointments. This can also include future lost wages if your injuries impact your ability to work permanently.
- Pain and Suffering: Truck accidents can inflict immense physical pain and emotional distress. This compensation aims to address both the present and long-term suffering caused by the accident.
- Property Damage: Reimburses you for repairs or replacement of your damaged vehicle.
- Loss of Consortium: Compensates a spouse for the loss of companionship, intimacy, or love due to the accident and your injuries.
- Scarring and Disfigurement: Compensates for emotional distress caused by permanent scars or other physical disfigurement resulting from the accident.
The amount of compensation you receive depends on the severity of your injuries, the extent of your losses, the impact on your daily life, and the degree of fault attributed to the parties involved. In cases of fatal truck accidents, families may also have the right to file a wrongful death claim to seek justice and financial recovery for their loss.
You Need an Experienced Florida Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accidents are far more complex than car accidents, and the stakes are much higher. Here are a few reasons to hire a Florida truck accident lawyer to represent your claim. Florida truck accident lawyers play an integral role in handling the complexities of a truck accident case, ensuring that victims receive the compensation they deserve.
Quality legal representation by experienced truck accident attorneys is essential in truck accident cases to handle legal issues and secure the best possible outcome for the victims.
They Have the Organizational and Investigate Resources to Support Your Claim
- Severity of Truck Accident Injuries: Truck accidents often cause catastrophic injuries, leading to extensive medical bills and long-term rehabilitation needs. An experienced accident injury lawyer can fight to ensure you receive the full compensation needed to cover these costs. They also understand how to document these injuries and connect them to negligent actions. Accidents involving other large commercial vehicles can add to the complexity and severity of the injuries sustained.
- Multiple Parties Potentially Involved: Unlike car accidents, truck accidents may involve multiple parties who could be liable, such as the truck driver, the trucking company, the mechanics who serviced the vehicle, or the company that loaded the cargo. An experienced Florida truck accident lawyer can investigate the accident thoroughly, identify all liable parties, and hold them accountable. Proving negligence is crucial in these cases to establish liability and secure compensation.
- Complex Trucking Regulations: Truck drivers and trucking companies must follow strict federal and state regulations regarding driving hours, vehicle maintenance, and cargo securement. A lawyer can analyze these regulations and determine if any violations contributed to the accident, strengthening your case.
The Provide Expertise in the Dynamics, Components, and Laws Involved in the Claims Process
A Florida truck accident attorney’s prior knowledge of how to handle the parties, elements, and legalities of a claim is an asset.
- Negotiating with Insurance Companies: Trucking companies typically carry high insurance policies, but their insurance companies may have vast resources to fight claims aggressively. An experienced lawyer knows how to negotiate with insurance companies to secure the maximum compensation you deserve.
- Understanding Long-Term Impacts: Truck accident injuries can have long-term effects on your ability to work and your quality of life. An experienced Florida truck accident lawyer can consider these long-term impacts when calculating your damages and ensure your compensation reflects the full scope of your losses.
- Experience with Truck Accident Law: The legal nuances of truck accident cases are distinct from car accidents. A Florida truck attorney specializing in truck accidents has the necessary knowledge, experience, and resources to handle your case effectively. Federal regulations play a crucial role in these claims, especially regarding the legal limits on the number of hours truck drivers are permitted to work.
Quality legal representation is essential in truck accident cases to handle complex legal issues and ensure victims receive the individualized, high-quality legal services they deserve.
Call Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia to Schedule a Case Review for Your Florida Truck Accident Claim
The physical, emotional, and financial burdens of a truck accident can be overwhelming. An experienced Florida personal injury lawyer with Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia can take the legal weight off your shoulders, allowing you to focus on healing. Our law firm will advocate for your rights, fight for the compensation you deserve, and ensure you have the resources needed to move forward after this life-altering event. It is important to seek medical treatment immediately after a truck accident, as injuries may not be immediately apparent and timely medical care can strengthen your legal claim.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our experienced team of truck accident lawyers in Florida will fight for the compensation you deserve. Truck accident attorneys play a vital role in handling complex legal systems and taking on powerful insurance companies to ensure you receive the justice and compensation you deserve. Speak with our team by contacting us online or calling us at 800-320-4537.