How a Lawyer Can Help After a Truck Accident in Florida

The days and weeks after a commercial truck accident can be confusing. That’s why working closely with a local truck crash lawyer is important to know how to move forward with a claim.

An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you gather important evidence, determine who is at fault in the crash, obtain information about the trucking company’s liability insurance, communicate with insurance carriers, and determine the extent of your injuries and other damages.

After a truck accident in Tampa, you deserve to get full and fair compensation to cover all your losses.

Areas in Florida We Serve

Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore is based in Tampa, but we have a winning record throughout the state of Florida. We also serve the following cities:

  • Clearwater
  • St. Petersburg
  • Ft. Lauderdale
  • Bradenton
  • Key West
  • Brandon
  • Orlando
  • Sarasota
  • Boca Raton
  • Lakeland
  • Naples
  • Fort Myers
  • Cape Coral
  • Miami
  • West Palm Beach
  • Jacksonville

18-Wheeler Accident Case Settlements

Many personal injury cases settle before trial. However, the insurance company will do anything possible to pay you as little as they can. They may offer you a low-ball settlement offer, which you should never accept.

Instead, allow your semi-truck accident lawyer to negotiate with the other parties so you can get the maximum amount of compensation possible.

Calculating Damages in a Florida Truck Accident

Since trucking companies typically carry much more insurance than a personal motor vehicle, it is possible to get a higher settlement from a truck accident claim than from a car accident claim. However, the value of your claim ultimately depends on the extent of your damages.

Economic Damages

You can get all your economic damages covered after a truck accident. Economic damages include those that are directly related to your out of pocket costs, including, but not limited to:

  • Past, present, and future medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Home health care services
  • Property damage
  • Cost to modify your home due to your disabilities
  • Travel expenses
  • Nursing care
  • Lost profits from your business
  • The wrongful death of a loved one

Non-Economic Damages

In Florida, you must have permanent injuries in order to recover non-economic losses. Non-economic damages include losses like disfigurement, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental anguish. Permanent injuries include:

  • Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function
  • Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability
  • Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement
  • Death

If your loved one is injured or died in a trucking accident caused by the trucker’s negligence, then you are entitled to compensation to cover the economic and non-economic damages you have suffered because of the negligent truck driver’s actions.

Understanding Florida Personal Injury Lawsuits

When you file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida, you must prove multiple elements. You need to prove that the trucker was negligent, the negligence caused the accident, and that your injuries were caused by negligence.  You must also show the extent of your losses, including your injuries.

Proving Negligence in Trucking Accident Cases

To obtain compensation in a trucking accident claim, you must show that the trucker was negligent, and that negligence caused the crash and your subsequent injuries. Negligence is the failure of reasonable care, which is the care that a reasonable individual would use under similar circumstances.

Some examples of negligence include, but are not limited to:

  • Speeding
  • Fatigued driving
  • Failure to take required breaks
  • Driving under the influence
  • Failing to yield
  • Running a red light or stop sign
  • Distracted driving
  • Following too closely
  • Making an illegal turn
  • Failure to properly maintain the truck

Gathering Evidence in a Tampa Truck Accident Case

Your truck accident attorneys will work to gather evidence to support your case regarding the truck driver’s negligence and your injuries. Some crucial evidence may include:

  • The truck’s black box
  • Traffic camera footage
  • Witness statements
  • Photos and videos of the scene
  • Expert testimony, including accident reconstructionists, medical experts, and human factor experts
  • Medical bills and future treatment documentation
  • Documents about lost earnings

Injured in a Truck Accident in Tampa? Call WMW Today.

Recovering physically after a truck wreck in Tampa can be overwhelming. You shouldn’t have to deal with legal issues, too. Let WMW handle your trucking accident claim while you focus on getting better.

At WMW, our experienced Tampa truck accident lawyers will stand by your side and help you get the compensation you deserve after a crash.

We’re Available — Call Today

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