People who sustain injuries in Florida motor vehicle accidents often face significant medical and financial challenges. Every collision has the potential for serious injuries, but the risk is even higher when the crash involves a commercial truck. While the first course of action for Florida drivers is always to file a claim with their own insurance company, accidents involving large trucks tend to result in higher medical expenses and the need to file a lawsuit to recover fair compensation from the responsible parties
Hurt in a truck crash? A Tampa truck accident lawyer from Paul Knopf Bigger can explain the differences between car and truck crashes and how they can impact your personal injury case.
Key Differences Between Truck Accidents and Car Accidents
Truck accident cases are often more complex than car accident claims. Some of the key differences between car and truck accidents include:
- Severity of the injuries – A fully loaded semi-truck is larger and heavier than the average passenger vehicle. For this reason, the driver and occupants of smaller cars are more likely to suffer severe injuries in truck accidents, such as spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries
- Complexity of the investigation – While car accidents usually involve one or more drivers, the causes of truck accidents may be harder to determine right away. Truck accidents can result from truck driver negligence, trucking company negligence, improperly loaded cargo, mechanical problems, and roadway issues. Determining what went wrong requires a thorough investigation of the entire trucking industry. It also requires obtaining evidence that truck companies and other businesses possess, such as the truck’s black box recorder or cargo loading manifests
- Potentially liable parties – Multiple parties can be liable for a truck collision. Examples include truck drivers, trucking companies, cargo loaders, the government or other private entities responsible for road maintenance, property owners, and auto parts manufacturers. Vicarious liability may also apply, which allows accident victims to hold an employer financially accountable for injuries caused by an employee’s negligent actions
- Commercial motor vehicle regulations – Florida has specific laws governing trucking operations in the state. In addition, drivers and companies who operate across state lines must also follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. To build a compelling personal injury claim, you need an experienced truck accident attorney familiar with how these state laws and federal trucking regulations intersect
- Available compensation – Because truck accidents can be more severe than car accidents, Florida law mandates higher auto liability insurance minimums for commercial drivers. Therefore, you may be able to seek a higher insurance settlement in a truck accident claim
How Our Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help
At Paul Knopf Bigger, we fight for maximum financial compensation for commercial truck accident victims. If you were hurt in a tractor-trailer collision, you need an attorney who understands the complexities of these challenging cases.
Our knowledge and skills have resulted in multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts for injured people. Our personal injury lawyers will:
- Investigate the truck accident, identify liable parties, and prove negligence
- Identify and calculate your losses, including medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and more
- Draft and file your insurance claims or legal paperwork and communicate with the involved parties
- Aggressively negotiate for the maximum compensation possible
- Represent you at trial if necessary
Contact Our Truck Accident Law Firm Today
If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident, the aftermath can be overwhelming. Navigating the complexities of legal claims while recovering from injuries is challenging. That’s where we come in. Our experienced truck accident lawyers are dedicated to helping victims secure the compensation they deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and suffering.
Paul Knopf Bigger can help you start on your Florida truck accident case today. Call now or contact us now for a free consultation
