Truck accidents cause more than their fair share of injuries and fatalities. Trucking companies typically employ teams of professionals whose job is to limit the company’s liability for these incidents. If you were hurt in a wreck involving a truck, you need to work with a skilled and experienced injury attorney who can level the playing field and ensure you receive fair compensation.
Contact a Daytona Beach truck accident lawyer at The Florida Firm Injury and Accident Lawyers. We have a well-earned reputation for compassionate care of our clients and a long record of achieving excellent results. Our reputation for handling complex injury claims and securing substantial results has made us a trusted resource for lawyers throughout Florida and across the country.
Negligence Causes of Truck Accidents
Truckers are well-trained and highly skilled. Even so, they face enormous pressure to complete deliveries on time, which might lead them to cut corners in some cases. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, truck driver error is a factor in most truck crashes that cause injuries or death.
Truck drivers are subject to strict work hours rules, but they may drive longer than allowed if they are behind schedule or trying to avoid anticipated delays. That can cause truck driver fatigue, which can lead to accidents. Our Daytona Beach truck accident attorneys will check the trucker’s schedule and electronic log to determine whether fatigue may have been a factor in the crash.
Other common causes of truck accidents include overweight or overloaded trailers, speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence. Whenever a truck driver’s conduct can be tied to an accident, the driver’s employer is liable for the harm the crash caused. If the driver is an independent contractor, the trucking company might be liable if it did not screen or train the driver properly.
Why Do You Need an Attorney After a Crash With a Semi?
If you suffer injuries in a truck crash, getting legal representation immediately is essential. Trucking companies defend these cases aggressively and do not hesitate to exploit any advantage.
Gather Evidence
Trucks have electronic data recorders that can provide useful information about how and why an accident happened. Truckers must keep electronic logs of their working hours. This information can help you prove a truck driver or trucking company was negligent, but the data can be lost if you do not secure it right away.
If you engage our Daytona Beach tractor-trailer collision lawyer soon after the accident, we can send a letter to the trucking company demanding that it preserve this evidence. We can also interview witnesses and other involved parties, review the driver’s background and training, and look for any other form of evidence that might support your case.
Conduct Settlement Negotiations
If the trucker’s liability is clear, the insurance company for the transportation company may approach you soon after the crash to offer a quick cash settlement. Many injured people, anticipating months of financial struggle, are tempted to accept these lowball offers.
If you work with a Daytona Beach truck crash attorney from The Florida Firm Injury and Accident Lawyers, we handle communication with all other parties. We do not negotiate a resolution to your case until you reach the point of maximum medical improvement, and we know your long-term needs. At that point, we will engage in settlement negotiations and bring the case to court if the trucking company does not make a reasonable offer.
What Damages May be Available in a Truck Accident Lawsuit?
When you can prove a party’s negligence caused an accident that harmed you, the negligent party is liable for financial damages. Truckers have a heightened responsibility to be cautious on the roads, so any deviation from best safety practices could lead to liability for the accident.
Damages should cover all the tangible and intangible losses the accident caused. These could include:
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses
- Future injury-related medical care
- Lost income and reduced future earning capacity
- Necessary incidental expenses
- Mental health support
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Disability
You may also claim damages for disfigurement, lost enjoyment of life, and the impact the injury has on your personal relationships.
Florida Statutes § 768.81 limits your damages if you were partially at fault for the accident or the severity of your injuries. The amount you can collect is reduced by your percentage of fault, and you cannot collect any damages if your portion of responsibility exceeds 50 percent. If your conduct contributed to your accident, our Daytona Beach truck wreck lawyers will aggressively defend any attempts to allocate an unfair portion of the blame to you.
Consult A Daytona Beach Attorney to Pursue Damages for Truck Accident Injuries
If you were injured in a truck accident, contact Colling Gilbert Wright immediately. Our Daytona Beach truck accident lawyer has handled numerous cases that resulted in high-dollar settlements or verdicts for the injured party. We work on contingency, so you pay nothing until we win money for you. Get in touch with a member of our truck accident intake team today.