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Tampa Trucking Accident Lawyer
Vehicle collisions can come without warning. They’re stressful and expensive, cause property damages and physical injuries, and sometimes bring permanent consequences.
We understand how stressful it is to have a truck accident turn your life upside down within moments. And whether it’s a minor incident or a major accident, now you are stuck dealing with it, even if it is 100% someone else’s fault.
Our Tampa Trucking Accident Lawyers Can Help
You probably have dozens of questions and need answers quickly. How do we determine liability? What if I’m seriously injured? What if more than one party is involved? How do I recover compensation?
Some of the many concerns that may arise for you are:
- Do I need a semi-truck accident lawyer?
- What should I look for in hiring a truck accident lawyer?
- How much is hiring a Tampa trucking accident lawyer going to cost?
- Who is going to help me get better?
- Who will fix my truck?
- What happens if I miss work?
- Who is going to pay for my medical bills?
- Am I entitled to compensation?
Truck Accident? Seek Legal Advice Immediately
If you or a family member has been injured because of a careless or negligent act of someone driving a truck, semi-truck, or 18-wheeler, seek the advice of an experienced Tampa truck accident lawyer as early as possible.
KFB Law has the experience and desire to provide legal representation that puts your interests first, protects your rights, and seeks to resolve the problems that come with being involved in a trucking accident. Issues related to personal injury law, insurance coverage, negligence claims, and damages are often complicated. Your actions in a truck crash can impact your future compensation claim.
Do’s and don’ts for the accident scene
- Do not sign anything when you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident
- Do not negotiate with anyone
- Do not admit fault or wrongdoing
- Do take immediate action on any serious injuries
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can have devastating consequences due to the sheer size and weight of these vehicles. Understanding the common causes of truck accidents can help in preventing them and raising awareness about road safety. Here are some typical causes:
Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers often work long hours and may not get adequate rest, leading to fatigue. Drowsy driving significantly reduces reaction times and increases the likelihood of accidents.
Speeding: Trucks require more time and distance to stop than smaller vehicles. When truck drivers exceed speed limits or drive too fast for road conditions, they risk losing control and causing serious accidents.
Distracted Driving: Using mobile phones, eating, adjusting the radio, or other distractions can divert a truck driver’s attention from the road, leading to collisions.
Impaired Driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs impairs a driver’s judgment and reaction times. Even prescription or over-the-counter medications can cause drowsiness or slow reflexes, contributing to accidents.
Inadequate Training: Truck drivers require specialized training to handle their vehicles safely. Inadequate training can result in improper handling of the truck, especially in adverse weather conditions or during emergencies.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance: Regular maintenance is crucial for the safe operation of trucks. Brake failures, tire blowouts, and other mechanical issues can lead to accidents if not properly addressed.
Overloaded or Improperly Loaded Cargo: Overloading a truck or not securing the cargo properly can affect the vehicle’s balance and control. Shifting cargo can cause the truck to tip over or jackknife.
Weather Conditions: Adverse weather conditions like rain, snow, fog, or ice can make roads slippery and reduce visibility, increasing the risk of accidents. Truck drivers must adjust their driving to accommodate these conditions.
Aggressive Driving: Tailgating, changing lanes abruptly, and other aggressive driving behaviors can lead to accidents. Trucks have larger blind spots and require more room to maneuver, making aggressive driving particularly dangerous.
Negligence of Other Drivers: Sometimes, accidents are caused by the actions of other drivers on the road. Cutting off trucks, driving in their blind spots, or not yielding can create hazardous situations.
Common Injuries Sustained from Truck Accidents
Truck accidents often result in severe injuries due to the significant size and weight of these vehicles compared to smaller passenger cars. Here are some of the most common injuries sustained in truck accidents:
Head and Brain Injuries: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common in truck accidents due to the high impact. These injuries can range from concussions to severe brain damage, leading to cognitive impairments, memory loss, and long-term neurological issues.
Spinal Cord Injuries: The force of a truck collision can cause damage to the spinal cord, resulting in partial or complete paralysis. These injuries can have a profound impact on a victim’s quality of life and may require lifelong medical care and rehabilitation.
Fractures and Broken Bones: The impact of a truck accident can lead to fractures in various parts of the body, including the arms, legs, ribs, and pelvis. These injuries often require extensive medical treatment, including surgeries, and long recovery periods.
Internal Injuries: Internal bleeding and damage to organs such as the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs are common in truck accidents. These injuries can be life-threatening and may not be immediately apparent, requiring prompt medical attention.
Whiplash and Neck Injuries: The sudden jolt from a truck collision can cause whiplash, leading to neck pain and stiffness. In more severe cases, it can result in damage to the cervical spine, requiring extensive treatment and physical therapy.
Back Injuries: Herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, and other back injuries are common in truck accidents. These injuries can cause chronic pain and mobility issues, significantly affecting a victim’s ability to perform daily activities.
Burns: Truck accidents can lead to fires or explosions, causing severe burn injuries. Burns can range from first-degree to third-degree, requiring specialized medical treatment and potentially resulting in permanent scarring and disfigurement.
Lacerations and Contusions: Cuts and bruises are common in truck accidents due to broken glass, debris, and the impact of the collision. Severe lacerations may require stitches and can lead to significant blood loss.
Amputations: In extreme cases, the force of a truck accident can result in the loss of limbs. Amputations require extensive medical care, rehabilitation, and the use of prosthetics, profoundly impacting a victim’s life.
Psychological Injuries: The trauma of a truck accident can leave victims with psychological injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. These mental health issues can be as debilitating as physical injuries and often require ongoing therapy and support.
Special legal considerations for a Tampa truck accident
There are also special considerations when dealing with trucking accident cases – these are just a few to be aware of:
- State and Federal Regulations
- Size and weight requirements for the truck
- Special driver’s licenses that are required to drive a commercial truck
- Health standards that the truck driver must meet
- Drowsy driving or driver fatigue
Economic Damages and Non-Economic Damages
The amount and kind of damages you may be entitled to depend on the facts of your case. There are two types in Florida: economic and non-economic.
- Economic damages consist of past and future medical care costs and past and future lost wages.
- Non-economic damages consist of past and future pain, suffering, mental anguish, loss of the capacity to enjoy life, and inconvenience.
A note about punitive damages for truck accident victims
In some truck accident cases, people can claim punitive damages, which the judge may award if the responsible driver showed indignation for someone’s life or welfare. Wrongful death is another area where you can seek compensation.
Help with Your Medical Care Costs
Many factors come into play when determining who will pay for your medical care costs and when. But rest assured, your personal injury attorney will fully advise you on this matter, as we know how important it is.
First, we look to the driver’s insurance company policy and use your PIP (personal injury protection) benefits. It’s important to get medical care within 14 days of a car accident. If you don’t, you could risk losing up to $7,500 in medical benefits.
Next, if you have health insurance, we could use that to help pay for your care.
We also look to the person or corporation who is at fault or caused your traumatic accident or serious injuries.
Why Choose Our Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers?
Our law firm understands that hiring a truck accident attorney is a big deal. Not all are created equal. If you can’t get your lawyer on the phone or feel like you’re getting the run around on the first call, how do you think the rest of the relationship will go?
We’re here to help
We offer you legal assistance to help you recoup lost wages and medical fees, avoid fines and penalties, and give you what you need to make a successful health recovery from serious injuries. Victims should never have to face fighting insurance companies to get what they need. At our first attorney-client meeting, you will:
- Meet the personal injury attorney who will handle your trucking accident case from start to finish
- Get a breakdown of what to expect and how our firm is going to help you
Get a Free Consultation with a Tampa Truck Accident Attorney
We work on a contingency fee, which means we only collect a percentage of what we recover for you. If you need help finding medical care, your truck accident lawyer can point you in the right direction by helping you find a medical provider suited for the injuries you suffered.
We know how important your transportation is. Getting to and from work is how you support yourself and your family. The truck accident attorney handling your case will help resolve the damage done to your car at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the most common truck accident injury?
Larger commercial trucks weigh up to 80,000 pounds, resulting in serious injuries that take months of recovery and cost thousands of dollars in medical bills – or worse, wrongful death and fatal crashes.
More importantly, when accidents involve semis and big trucks, the injuries are often more serious than in car accidents, and the resulting property damage is typically also greater. According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle (FHSMV) report, there were nearly 32,000 accidents that involved a truck in 2017. Every year, almost 140,000 individuals are seriously injured in accidents that involve semi-tractor-trailer rigs, causing 700 deaths.
What is the cause of most trucking accidents?
Violations of federal trucking regulations and driver negligence cause most truck accident cases. The Large Truck Crash Causation Study revealed nearly 87% of crashes involving trucks were due in part to faulty equipment.
Truck drivers are also more susceptible to dangerous fatigue and may breach federal hours requirements to meet deadlines. Additionally, a trailer requires an extended stop distance, fewer turns, and larger blind spots. Not leaving enough room, poor visibility, and being unable to maneuver quickly may increase the risk of an accident.
Something else to consider is the alteration of a truck during a sale. The manufacturer or vehicle owner who completed the alteration may also be responsible in this circumstance.
What financial compensation am I entitled to as a truck accident victim?
A serious injury is costly and requires a large investment of thousands of dollars in medical costs. Our Tampa semi-truck accident attorneys can help you obtain a fair settlement for the injuries you suffered. Your financial loss will have an enormous impact on your future, so don’t let insurance companies fool you into accepting low settlements. Also, in some instances, your insurance limits will not cover the entire amount that you actually need. We can help protect your financial rights in personal injury cases.
How long can it take to file a lawsuit for a truck accident in Tampa?
Florida statutes of limitation provide you with four years to file a lawsuit based on your truck injury claim. If the deceased was killed in a commercial truck collision, you have up to two years. Take care to investigate your accident correctly. If a lawsuit is filed, an attorney should immediately review the circumstances to help you defend it.
Your First Meeting with Our Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers is Free
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck or car accident due to the negligent act of another, you should hire an attorney. The initial meeting with a Tampa personal injury lawyer at KFB Law is free. We work on a contingency fee, which means we only collect a percentage of what we recover for you. Contact us today!
Contact One of Our Offices
We would be glad to meet you in person at our Tampa, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Plant City, or Riverview offices or at any location that is convenient for you.
Additional Resources
Click Here: Semi-Truck Accident Statistics Resource
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Addison Hobbs2023-11-09This office assisted me in pursuing a case after a car accident and helped answer all of my questions. From start to end of the case (which was completed in 6 months!), I felt like Marcus had my back and truly was there to represent and advocate for me. 10/10 would recommend to anyone in need of legal support.
O C2023-11-09Marcus Fernandez is the MAN with the plan…Kinney, Fernandez &Boire,P.A and the GANG Was A Miracle Blessings Too ME!!!!!I would recommend them to anyone…Special Thanks To Mrs.DEE She kept me Encouraged &Motivated the whole way through definitely GREAT PEOPLE TOO HANDLE BUSINESS WITH
Mark Ziegler2023-10-09Thank you, Rob Roy and Kinney, Fernandez & Boire, P.A.! I could not have received any better legal services. From the beginning, Mr. Roy explained the process very clearly. He answered all my questions and could not have been any more responsive when I reached out to him. At a time when dealing with legal issues was the last thing we wanted to worry about, everything was handled very professionally, thoroughly, and timely. My wife and I could not be more pleased with the service we were provided by Rob Roy and Kinney, Fernandez & Boire, P.A. and would highly recommend Rob Roy as your personal injury attorney.
Bobby Lennon2023-10-08I would definitely use them again they helped me out alot thanx Mr. Roy u did your job
Ashley Bunch2023-09-26They handled my case very quickly, I am very satisfied with Rob and his staff.
Marlen Capatides2023-09-15THEY HAVE GREAT FOOD AND BISCUITS AND CORNBREAD!!! THEY ATTEND TO CUSTOMER PRETTY FAST AND COURTEOUS!!!
Michael Taylor2023-08-08Best law firm
Melissa Brown2023-08-07Kinney,Fernandez & Boir is so professional and also they work quickly I was injured in a automobile accident including my 9 yr old son Rob Roy was excellent patient and caring we felt relief knowing he was there every step of the way and that we were in good hands I will definitely recommend Rob Roy of Kinney, Fernandez & Boir.
