If you suffered a serious injury or a loved one died in a truck accident, you could have legal recourse against the trucking company or another at-fault party. A Coral Springs personal injury lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help you understand your legal options.
Compensation Recoverable in Florida Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries that could require lifelong and expensive medical treatments. While truck drivers are generally well protected from accidents in their cab, car occupants or other road users tend to be more vulnerable in truck accidents. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), car occupants account for the largest number of deaths in truck accidents, followed by pedestrians and other road users.
If someone else’s carelessness or recklessness caused your accident, you deserve adequate compensation for your expenses and suffering. Your attorney can help with holding the negligent party to account in a personal injury lawsuit.
Depending on your claim, you could potentially seek damages for:
- Medical expenses– Including doctor and hospital fees, physical and cognitive rehabilitation, and long-term and in-home health services
- Loss of wages– Including benefits, bonuses, retirement, and loss of future earning potential
- Property damage– Including the cost of repairing or replacing your car
- Out-of-pocket expenses– Including household services, rental car fees, and medical travel costs
- Pain and suffering– Including chronic pain, loss of mobility, and permanent and disabling injuries
- Emotional distress– Including anxiety, mental anguish, stress, and depression
- Disfigurement– Including scarring and loss of a limb
- Loss of life enjoyment– Including loss of the ability to participate in hobbies and activities, work, or interact with loved ones in the same way as before your accident
You may also be entitled to other types of compensation. If you are looking to recover compensation, prompt action can be important. This is because Florida has deadlines for personal injury lawsuits. Contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine now to discuss your options.
You Can Pursue Compensation If Your Loved One Suffered a Fatal Injury
Truck accidents claim thousands of lives every year. If your loved one died because of a truck accident, we could help you recover their damages, as well as compensation for surviving family members. Our attorneys can seek awards for:
- Medical bills
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of income, including wages the deceased would have earned had they lived
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of parental guidance
- Pain and suffering
Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer in Coral Springs
In some cases, a truck accident victim may never lead an independent life again or return to their work due to permanently disabling injuries. Having a truck accident lawyer take your case into their hands could help in a number of ways, including:
Identify All Liable Parties
Most accidents with commercial trucks are quite different from car accidents in that they could have multiple at-fault parties. Your Coral Springs truck accident lawyer can help to identify all potentially liable parties, which might give you several avenues for pursuing compensation. At-fault parties in truck accident cases can include:
- The truck driver
- The vehicle manufacturer
- The trucking company
- A third-party company, such as a maintenance garage
- The owner of the truck’s trailer
- The owner/loader of the cargo
- The owner/entity in charge of the roadway
There could be other liable parties in your specific claim.
Establishing Who is at Fault in the Truck Accident
While some truck accidents can occur due to vehicle defects or environmental factors, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has identified that accidents with trucks often happen for driver-related reasons such as:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Driving fatigued
However, accidents can also stem from factors like negligent employment practices, negligent maintenance, vehicle issues, and road defects. Accident causes not related to reckless driving include:
- Faulty brakes and tires
- Shifting, falling, or unsecured cargo
- Defective traffic signals
- Engine problems
- Improperly connected trailers
- Lack of vehicle safety features, such as underride guards
Your truck accident lawyer can thoroughly investigate your accident and any available evidence to determine negligence and fault. We will send a spoliation letter to the trucking company to ensure the preservation of evidence. Our team will then work to collect documents, witness statements, and expert testimony. This evidence can prove fault and show you have suffered losses because of your accident and injuries.
Communicating With Insurance Companies After the Truck Crash
Personal injury cases can sometimes be resolved with an out-of-court settlement. However, negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company can present pitfalls for an accident victim. Insurers will try hard to minimize your claim in order to preserve their profits. Having a dedicated truck accident attorney represent you can be helpful in any settlement negotiations. Your lawyer can also protect your legal rights.
If an insurance agent or representative from the trucking company contacts you, do not agree to a hasty settlement. Also, provide only basic information, like your name, address, and the date and location of your accident.
Do not give details about your injuries or what caused your crash. You do not want to say anything that the insurance company could use against you later. Instead, ask that they direct further questions to our attorneys.
Representing You in Court
If you are unable to secure an adequate settlement from the at-fault party’s insurance, your Coral Springs truck accident lawyer can take your case all the way to trial and represent your case strongly.
If we must take legal action, you generally have four years to file a personal injury lawsuit, according to Florida law. The statute allows two years to sue for wrongful death.
These time restrictions can affect insurance negotiations, as the insurance company might delay giving you a settlement offer, so the timeline to file a lawsuit runs out. In this situation, you would lose your chance of seeking compensation. Our Coral Springs personal injury lawyers can help you get started before time runs out.
Your Truck Accident Attorney Will Keep You Informed
When you work with the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, you get a full-service legal team. We will stand by you through every step of your case and be available to take your calls, return your emails, and help you understand your rights under Florida law. You will get your attorney’s direct phone number so you can reach out with questions and concerns. We can even help you schedule medical appointments.
Types of Truck Accidents
While there can be many different types of accidents, a heavy and large truck colliding with a car typically results in disastrous consequences for the car occupants. Types of truck accidents can include:
Underride Accidents
Perhaps the most horrific type of accident with a truck is a so-called “underride accident,” where a small passenger car travels underneath the truck in a collision. This type of accident can potentially cause fatalities and horrific injuries, particularly to the heads and upper bodies of car occupants.
Rear-End Crashes
While rear-end car accidents can be harmless, a heavy truck slamming into a passenger car typically has tragic consequences. Trucks can take a long time to come to a complete stop or slow down when a car in front brakes. A speeding or tailgating truck driver can be responsible for causing serious and fatal injuries in a rear-end accident.
Head-On Collisions
A head-on accident rarely ends well for any vehicle occupants colliding with a big rig. Head-on accidents can happen when a truck driver falls asleep at the wheel or loses control of their truck due to a tire blowout or medical event. Head-on accidents can also occur when a truck driver attempts to pass another vehicle.
Any type of truck accident can cause great damage to persons and properties and may prove deadly for car occupants and other road users.
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine Wants to Work for You
Recovering adequate compensation in accidents with trucks can be challenging. However, you do not have to struggle with this on your own. The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can be here for you during this challenging time.
If you or a loved one got seriously hurt in a truck accident in Coral Springs, we could potentially help you hold the at-fault party to account. Our team can leave no stone unturned in fighting for the best possible outcome for you and your family.
We understand that severely injured truck accident victims may have a lot on their minds and might worry about the added stress of a lawsuit. They may also be concerned about incurring further costs in addition to their already considerable accident-related expenses. However, when we take your case, you do not have to worry about having to pay any attorneys’ fees upfront as we work on a “no fee, no win” basis.
Call Our Team Today and Get Started on Your Truck Accident Case
We can fight for your rights and work on your case while you are free to prioritize your health and recovery. Contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine now and take advantage of a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our compassionate team members.
We Can Help.
