Protecting Your Rights After a Trucking Accident
Truck crashes in Tampa are often devastating due to the sheer size and weight of these vehicles. If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, navigating the legal process can be overwhelming.
At Kinney, Fernandez, and Boire, P.A., we are dedicated to assisting victims in securing compensation for injuries sustained in accidents involving semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and other commercial vehicles. Our experienced team of Tampa truck accident and personal injury lawyers will fight to protect your rights and advocate for the emotional and financial compensation you deserve so you can recover and get back to your everyday life.
Table of Contents
- Involved in a Truck Accident? Seek Help Immediately.
- Common Causes of Truck Accidents
- Catastrophic Injuries From Truck Accidents
- Economic vs Non-Economic Considerations
- Steps to Take after a Truck Accident
- What to Bring to Your Free Truck Accident Lawyer Consultation
- Get a Free Review of Your Truck Accident Case Today
Are You or Someone You Love the Victim of a Truck Accident?
Seek Counsel From a Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer Immediately
Accidents involving large commercial trucks are far more complicated than standard car accidents. Due to the weight and impact of trucks, the injuries sustained can be catastrophic or even fatal. Furthermore, federal and state trucking regulations add layers of complexity to a truck accident claim.
If you or a family member has been injured because of a careless or negligent act of a Tampa truck driver, seek the advice of an experienced Tampa truck accident lawyer from KFB Law as early as possible. An experienced Tampa personal injury lawyer from KFB Law can guide you through these legal claims and help maximize your potential settlement.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are often caused by negligence, whether on the part of the truck driver, the trucking company, or another party. Some common causes of why truck accidents occur include:
Driver Fatigue
Truck drivers often work long hours with insufficient rest, increasing the risk of accidents. Federal regulations limit driving hours, but violations still occur.
Distracted Driving
Truck drivers can be distracted by mobile phones, eating, or adjusting vehicle controls and are at higher risk than other vehicles of causing accidents.
Speeding
Trucks require more time and distance to stop than cars. Speeding or driving too fast for road conditions can lead to devastating crashes.
Improper Loading of Cargo
Overloaded or improperly balanced cargo can shift and cause a truck to lose control, leading to rollovers or jackknife accidents.
Mechanical Failures
Poor vehicle maintenance, including brake failures or tire blowouts, is common in truck accidents.
Impaired Driving
A truck driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol, including prescription medications, has impaired judgment and reaction times.
Inadequate training, weather conditions, and aggressive driving can also cause trucking accidents. It’s critical for victims of truck accidents to seek the expertise of an attorney experienced in truck accident claims to build a strong case against negligent truck drivers or companies.
Catastrophic Injuries From Truck Accidents Can Change Your Life Forever
The personal injuries sustained in truck crashes are often severe due to the enormous size and force of these vehicles. This is why you need legal guidance such as ours to protect your rights. Unfortunately, after an accident involving a truck, in many cases, you’re lucky to even be alive.
Severe injuries may also alter the course of your life, so it will never be the same again. You might be facing many of these common truck accident injuries:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Head injuries are common in truck accidents, often resulting in long-term cognitive impairments, memory loss, and other neurological issues.
Neck and Spine Injuries
Damage to the spinal cord or neck injuries can result in partial or total paralysis, significantly altering a victim’s quality of life.
Broken Bones and Internal Injuries
The high impact of truck accidents often leads to fractures in the arms, legs, ribs, or pelvis, requiring extensive medical treatment and recovery time. Internal bleeding or organ damage may not be immediately apparent after an accident, but these injuries can be life-threatening if left untreated.
Burns
Fires or explosions resulting from truck accidents can cause severe burn injuries, requiring long-term medical care and rehabilitation.
Amputations
Sadly, in extreme cases, the force of the impact may result in the loss of limbs, leading to significant medical, emotional, and financial challenges.
Seeking legal advice from a commercial truck accident attorney is crucial to ensuring that you receive compensation for the full impact your injuries have on your life.
Long-term effects on your life, like chronic pain, loss of mobility, and an inability to work, can result from a commercial truck crash due to catastrophic injuries. These are things that a truck accident settlement should also take into account when it comes to compensation.
Economic and Non-Economic Damages in Truck Accident Cases
Truck accident victims are often entitled to compensation for a wide range of damages.
Economic damages are tangible costs such as medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and rehabilitation expenses.
Non-economic damages are intangible losses such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and the loss of enjoyment of life.
In some cases, punitive damages may also be available if the responsible party’s behavior was particularly egregious, such as drunk driving or gross negligence by a trucking company.
Our law firm of experienced truck accident attorneys can help determine the types of damages you are eligible to pursue and build a compelling truck accident case to support your claim.
Florida Law On Tampa Truck Accident Cases
Commercial truck accidents often involve additional legal complexities, including state and federal trucking regulations governing trucking company negligence and operations. Tampa truck drivers and trucking companies must comply with certain laws.
Federal Hours-of-Service Regulations
Truck drivers must adhere to strict driving hours limits to prevent fatigue. Violations of these regulations can be a key factor in proving negligence.
Cargo Regulations
Improperly loaded cargo can shift during transit, causing accidents. Trucking companies must follow strict rules regarding cargo weight and balance.
Maintenance Records
Trucking companies are required to keep detailed maintenance records. Failure to maintain vehicles properly can be evidence of negligence.
Steps to Take After a Truck Accident
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, it’s important to seek medical attention, even if your injuries are not immediately apparent. Contact law enforcement and gather evidence, but do not admit fault, or this could affect your compensation.
Importantly, consult a Tampa truck accident lawyer from KFB Law right away.
We will help you navigate the complexities of filing a personal injury claim, including negotiating with your insurance company and gathering evidence to build a strong case.
What to Bring to Your Free Consultation with a Truck Accident Lawyer From KFB Law
To make the most of your initial consultation with us, bring the following items:
- Documentation of the Accident: Police reports, photos, and witness contact information can help the lawyer understand the circumstances of the accident.
- Medical Records: Bring any medical bills, records of treatment, and documentation of lost wages to demonstrate the extent of your injuries and economic damages.
- Personal Notes: Write down your recollections of the accident, including any factors that contributed to the crash, road conditions, and the events leading up to and following the accident.
During your consultation, we will assess the viability of your case, advise on your legal options, and discuss potential compensation.
Keeping all of these aspects in mind, including any evidence, notes, and questions to bring to a consultation, it’s important to schedule a consultation as soon as possible. Every Tampa truck accident case has a statute of limitations that will depend on where the accident took place, so it’s best to build a claim as soon as you can to avoid reaching the statute of limitations.
How KFB Law Can Help You as Your Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer
At KFB Law, we have over 50 years of combined experience handling complex, commercial truck accident cases. Our team of Tampa truck accident lawyers will investigate the accident and gather the necessary evidence, negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, and represent you in court if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
We understand the devastating impact a truck accident can have on your life and are committed to fighting for your rights.
Get a Free Review of Your Truck Accident Case Today
If you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent truck driver, contact KFB Law today for a free consultation. Our experienced personal injury lawyers will review your case and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
With offices in Tampa, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, and other convenient locations, our law firm is here to help our local community.
Don’t prolong your recovery. Schedule your free consultation with us today.
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.
Additional Resources
Click Here: Semi-Truck Accident Statistics Resource
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