Wait for law enforcement to arrive and complete an accident report. You should also wait for emergency medical personnel to assess your injuries and seek appropriate follow-up care. Document the accident and your injuries as you are able, including capturing names and contact information for witnesses, taking photographs and videos of the scene, your injuries and damaged personal property. This information can be invaluable in helping your attorney advocate for your rights.
Truck Accident Injuries
Florida Truck Accident Attorneys
The Importance Of Getting A Legal AdvocateFor Your South Florida Truck Accident Injury
We’ve all seen semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles on highways across the state of Florida. They are large and intimidating. When we approach these massive vehicles on the roadway, it’s no surprise we simply want to pass and drive as far away as possible. And It’s understandable. These vehicles are huge. They can and do cause serious damage and injury.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious injury involving an 18-wheeler truck or other commercial motor vehicle, you are likely facing an uphill battle. But there’s hope. Consulting with Florida truck accident lawyers who have knowledge and experience handling South Florida truck accidents is recommended. Here’s why:
Liability Could Extend to Different Parties
In a typical accident involving two passenger cars, liability may just extend to the drivers and their insurance companies. However, when commercial vehicles are involved, there could be multiple parties involved in the lawsuit.
- The driver: A Commercial Motor Vehicle (truck) driver has a duty to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. Any driver found driving while intoxicated, distracted, or driving beyond the allowable driving limits and causing an accident as a result, could be responsible for your injuries.
- The trucking company: In some situations, the trucking company could be responsible. If the company has failed to perform routine maintenance on the truck, allowed the driver to skirt rules, or failed to conduct an adequate background check during the hiring process, the entity could be liable for injuries as a result.
- The truck’s manufacturer: In other situations, liability could lie with the truck’s manufacturer if a defect in an engine part or other truck component is found to be a cause of the accident. Given how various parties could be involved in getting you compensation, it is vital to seek legal advocacy from experienced truck injury attorneys.
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Reasons To HireA Truck Accident Attorney
After becoming injured in a truck accident, your primary focus should be on obtaining all appropriate medical treatments so you can recover from your injuries. As soon as you feel up to doing so, consult with knowledgeable truck accident attorneys who can help you understand your rights — and your options for pursuing those rights. It can be intimidating to try to pursue a personal injury claim against a major trucking company, truck driver, or manufacturer on your own. Their insurance companies have one goal: to settle your claim quickly and inexpensively. Unfortunately, accepting an initial insurance offer typically means signing away your right to pursue any additional compensation for your injuries.
When you work with skilled Florida truck accident lawyers at Scott Marshall Injury Attorneys, you will have a powerful advocate in your corner, fighting for the compensation you deserve.
Help From Scott MarshallInjury Attorneys
With principal offices in Tampa and Clearwater, attorneys Scott Marshall has years of experience litigating matters in court for those injured in all types of truck accidents.
They know the law and have the resources needed to truly investigate the accident and all parties involved in order to seek the compensation you and your family need today and in the years to come.
Common CausesOf Truck Accidents
While any number of things can cause a truck accident, some of the leading reasons include:
- Driver fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Improperly loaded/overloaded cargo
- Driving under the influence
- Inexperienced drivers
- Improperly maintained trucks
- Poorly maintained roadways
- Defective/malfunctioning truck components
- Equipment failure
- Aggressive driving
- Reckless driving
- Failure to yield
- Blind spots/unsafe passing
- Illegal turns
- Tailgating
Common Types Of InjuriesCaused By Truck Accidents
Injuries sustained by truck accident victims are often devastating, due in large part to the size and weight of trucks relative to other vehicles on the road. Some of the most common truck accident injuries we see include:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns
- Lacerations
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Internal injuries
- Wrongful death
Types Of Truck AccidentCases We Handle
The truck injury lawyers at Scott Marshall Injury Attorneys handle a range of truck accident claims.
Impaired drivers. We have worked with victims of crashes involving truck drivers who were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident, helping them recover monetary compensation for their direct and indirect losses.
Inattentive drivers. We also handle cases involving truck drivers who were speeding, driving recklessly, or who otherwise failed to obey the law while operating their trucks.
Cargo overload. When a truck is carrying more cargo than intended and crashes, it could result in catastrophic injuries. We represent victims who were injured, and the families of people killed, due to overloaded trucks.
Mechanical failure. Our clients also include victims injured because one or more truck components failed to operate as it was designed. Sometimes this is due to a failure to maintain the vehicle; in other cases, it is a defect for which the manufacturer or others should be held responsible.
Personal Service. Unlike many modern-day truck crash attorneys who often use non-lawyer case managers to handle cases, Scott is very hands-on. They do not use assistants or case managers. Each handles their own cases from beginning to end. When you have a question or issue, you speak to an attorney.
At Scott Marshall Injury Attorneys, we are committed to helping our clients through the aftermath of truck accidents. The process can seem overwhelming at first as you may be asked to provide statements and answer inquiries from the responsible parties and their insurance companies. You can be confident that your truck crash lawyers will work hard to make this process as easy as possible.
We handle all communication with the other party, their insurers, and their attorneys on your behalf. We will also work to gather as much evidence as we can to support your claim and help you obtain the best possible outcome under the circumstances. We will work closely with you to help you understand each step and to ensure timelines are met so you do not inadvertently lose the opportunity to pursue the justice you deserve.
FAQ
Q.What do I do immediately after a truck accident?
Q.How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Florida?
Personal injury claims are subject to time limits, called the “statute of limitations.” In Florida, most truck accident claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations, starting on the date of the accident. This includes if a loved one was killed as the result of a truck accident; the time limit for pursuing a wrongful death claim is also two years from the date of the accident.
Q.Can I pursue compensation if I am partially at fault for the truck accident?
Yes! Even if you are partially at fault for the accident (up to 49% responsible), you may be entitled to damages for your injuries. Florida follows a “comparative fault” rule. This means that if the other party was deemed to be 75% at fault and you were 25% at fault, the damage award would be reduced proportionately.
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