A semi-truck wreck can cause serious injuries, disfigurement, and even death. If you’re recovering from an accident like this, contact a Cape Coral truck accident lawyer.
Truck accidents are among the most severe types of vehicular crashes. The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine have been assisting accident victims in and around Cape Coral for many years. We help you file injury claims, receive compensation, and get back on your feet.
The Dangers of Cape Coral Truck Accidents
While trucks are restricted in most parts of Cape Coral, US 41 and Interstate 75 are close to the city, so truck accidents still happen. The accidents also occur in the surrounding areas like Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers, Palmona Park, Burnt State Marina, and Suncoast Estates.
Although there are many causes of semi-truck accidents in Cape Coral, one of the most common causes is negligence from truck drivers. A semi-truck driver can be considered negligent if they:
- Drive while under the influence
- Fail to yield
- Drive through a red light
- Drive over the speed limit
- Text while driving
- Fail to signal or follow traffic rules
- Fall asleep behind the wheel
Apart from driver negligence, Cape Coral semi-truck accidents can also be caused by poor truck maintenance, bad weather, improper cargo loading, and equipment failure.
Common Injuries in Semi-Truck Accidents
Because of their size and weight, semi-trucks are a powerful, destructive force in a serious accident. Unfortunately, occupants in other vehicles are frequently killed. And if they do survive, they often sustain life-changing injuries. Some of these injuries include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Most semi-truck accidents cause sudden damage to both vehicles. If the airbags don’t deploy fast enough, the victims might bang their heads on the dashboard, front seats, or steering wheel. This can cause a traumatic brain injury or long-term brain damage.
Amputation
Semi-truck accident victims sometimes lose their limbs in the accident. This can be caused by metal or glass from the compressed car, especially in a T-bone accident. Emergency response workers may also amputate in an attempt to save lives when victims are stuck in the totaled vehicle.
Internal Organ Damage
Sometimes, semi-truck accident victims might walk away feeling perfectly fine—at first. But internal injuries can result from the sudden impact. If not treated fast enough, these injuries could be fatal. As a result, it’s important to see a doctor after a semi-truck accident regardless of how you feel.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
Due to their size, victims involved in semi-truck accidents often suffer from multiple fractures and broken bones. Sometimes the spinal cord might also be injured, leading to paralysis or mobility disorders.
Burns and Disfiguration
Semi-truck accidents sometimes end in an explosion or fire. If accident victims are not rescued fast enough, they’re at risk of sustaining burns or being permanently disfigured.
Wrongful Death
The most tragic result of a semi-truck accident is wrongful death. Victims can lose their lives at the accident scene or while receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the accident.
If you lose your loved one in a semi-truck accident, it is your legal right to seek compensation. A Cape Coral personal injury lawyer can help you recover funeral expenses, medical bills, and other damages resulting from their death.
What You Should Know About Recovering Compensation
Semi-trucks are commercial vehicles that tend to have sizable insurance coverage. This insurance should cover your medical bills, lost pay, and other damages under certain circumstances.
In Florida, your personal injury protection (PIP) covers the first $10,000 of your medical bills and lost pay. It does not matter who caused the accident because Florida has a “no-fault” policy for motor vehicle accidents per Florida Statute § 627.7407.
However, there are instances when you can seek compensation beyond your insurance:
- If your injuries exceed your PIP coverage
- If you are not a licensed Florida driver and therefore do not have PIP
- If your injuries can be categorized as “severe” by Florida statutes
- If you can prove that the other party caused your injuries because of negligence, omission, intent, or unlawful action
Most people do not feel comfortable trying to figure out what their insurance covers and how to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. Let us help you. You focus on your recovery and we’ll handle the rest.
Recoverable Damages in a Cape Coral Semi-Truck Accident
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can recover a wide scope of damages on your behalf after a semi-truck accident in Cape Coral. Some of these damages include:
- Lost wages: This is compensation for any time you spent off work due to your injuries, including time spent at the hospital, doctor’s appointments, and healing your injuries at home.
- Medical bills: This accounts for any money you spent to treat your injuries, including doctor consultation fees, special medical procedures, surgeries, and hospital admission fees.
- Medication and prosthetics: You’re entitled to compensation for any prescription medications or prosthetics you used or continue to use as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident.
- Ongoing and future care: If you developed a long-term health condition from the accident, you should receive compensation to cover the cost of any ongoing treatment and estimated future treatments.
Who Is Liable for My Injuries?
To file a successful injury claim, you need to know who was responsible for the accident. Below is a list of the four most commonly liable parties in a Cape Coral semi-truck accident:
1. The Trucking Company
The company that owns the semi-truck could be responsible for the accident in different ways. These include:
- Failing to maintain the truck.
- Overworking the truck driver.
- Hiring an untrained driver.
- Improper loading of freight.
2. The Truck Manufacturer
If the accident was caused by a mechanical failure, it might be the manufacturer’s fault. It can also be their fault if a specific part that was recently replaced led to the accident.
3. The Truck Driver
A negligent truck driver might also be liable for your injuries, especially if they were driving while drunk or breaking traffic rules.
4. Another Driver
Just because a semi-truck was involved or caused the most damage doesn’t necessarily mean they’re liable. If multiple cars were involved in the crash, the liability could fall on another driver.
Our Semi-Truck Lawyers Can Help Your Case
Semi-truck accident lawsuits can be complicated and lengthy. As a result, you need to work with a legal expert who knows the ins and outs of the justice system to receive the compensation you deserve and quickly.
The attorney will help your case by:
- Taking witness statements.
- Gathering evidence that can help your case.
- Filing the injury claim on your behalf.
- Communicating with your insurance adjuster.
- Determining liability and pursuing all the at-fault parties.
- Advising you on the best legal action to take.
- Negotiating with insurance companies.
Types of Semi-Truck Accidents That We Accept
A semi-truck accident lawyer can help after any type of truck accident, including:
- Distracted driving accidents
- Drowsy driving accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Failure to yield accidents
- Rollover accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Drive under accidents
- Accidents caused by spilled cargo
- Reckless driving
- Aggressive driving
Florida Statute § 95.11(3)(a) allows four years to file a personal injury lawsuit, beginning on the date of their injury. It takes time to build a case, and the court schedule is often backed up with other cases. You do not want to miss this statute of limitations.
At The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, we are dedicated to helping semi-truck accident victims recover money for the damages they’ve experienced. That’s why we work on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t have to pay anything until we settle or win your case.
Don’t Wait—Contact Our Office Today
If you or a loved one are involved in a semi-truck accident, Contact us for a free consultation. Our lawyers will evaluate your case and help you take the first step toward getting your compensation.
We Can Help.
