Did you suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), paralysis, loss of limbs, or any other injury in a collision with an 18-wheeler? If so, you may have the right to financial compensation.
A Pompano Beach 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine could help you get the most out of your case. We can give you a free consultation today and tell you how a personal injury lawyer could help.
How do 18-Wheeler Truck Accidents Happen in Pompano Beach?
Large truck accidents in Pompano Beach occur far more frequently than they should. In many cases, irresponsible or negligent driving causes these collisions. Some examples of negligent driving in 18-wheeler truck accidents include:
- Driving while fatigued
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Failure to stop at a stoplight
- Failure to use a turn signal
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Aggressive driving
- Road rage
- Following too closely
- Making illegal turns
However, negligent driving is not the only cause of 18-wheeler truck accidents in Pompano Beach. Defective truck parts and dangerous road conditions are also possible factors associated with these collisions.
Several parties could share liability when malfunctioning auto parts and hazardous road conditions cause accidents. Some of these parties may include:
- Cargo loaders
- The truck owner
- The trucking company
- Truck part designers
- Truck part manufacturers and distributors
- Safety inspectors
- Truck maintenance technicians
- Government agencies
- Government officials
- Truck dealerships
- Municipalities
- Road construction workers
- Contractors and subcontractors
These are just a few of the possible parties named liable for 18-wheeler truck accidents in Pompano Beach. If you have been involved in another type of collision not described above, you may still have grounds for financial compensation. You can discuss the specific details of your case with your Pompano Beach 18-wheeler accident attorney to learn more about your rights.
How Will Shared Fault Laws Impact Your 18-Wheeler Truck Accident Settlement in Pompano Beach?
Shared fault for injuries is far more common than you might think. Fortunately, Florida operates under a pure comparative negligence system, per Florida Statutes § 761.81. This means you will not be barred from recovering compensation for your damages, even if you are partially responsible for causing the accident.
You could be as much as 99% responsible for causing the 18-wheeler truck accident and still be compensated for the one percent of liability that is not yours. However, because you share fault, your compensation will be affected.
Expect your injury settlement to reflect a shared fault deduction. The amount of money deducted from your truck accident settlement will depend on how much fault is assigned to you. For example, if you were not wearing your seatbelt when a drowsy truck driver struck you, the court may find you 10% responsible for your injuries. Your injury settlement would then be reduced by 10% to account for your portion of fault.
If you have questions regarding how Florida’s pure comparative negligence laws may affect your ability to recover damages in your Pompano Beach 18-wheeler truck accident claim, reach out to your attorney to discuss your concerns further.
How Long do You Have to File Your Pompano Beach 18-Wheeler Truck Accident Lawsuit?
Under Florida law, 18-wheeler truck accident claims must be filed before the statute of limitations for personal injury claims expires. This is four years from the date of the accident in most cases, per Florida Statutes § 95.11.
However, the statute of limitations is a complicated personal injury law. If your injuries were not diagnosed until days, weeks, or even months after the accident, it may be unclear how long you have to file your claim.
Fortunately, when you have a Pompano Beach 18-wheeler truck accident attorney advocating for your rights, you can avoid putting your claim at risk.
How Much Is Your 18-Wheeler Truck Accident Claim Worth in Pompano Beach?
You may have the right to be compensated for every loss you suffered due to someone else’s negligence. To ensure you consider every loss when calculating the value of your claim, your attorney will separate your losses into economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are monetary. You can prove economic damages with receipts, bank statements, financial records, etc. Some of the economic damages awarded in 18-wheeler truck accident claims in Pompano Beach include:
- Loss of income
- Loss of future potential earnings, including salary increases, bonuses, and retirement savings contributions
- Medical expenses and equipment fees, including necessary accommodations to your home
- Loss of household services
- Costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages describe the ways your injuries have affected your life. Since these damages do not have a monetary value, they are often more difficult to quantify. It will be up to your Pompano Beach 18-wheeler truck accident attorney to review how these losses have affected your life to determine how much they are worth.
Some of the non-economic damages that may be recoverable in Pompano Beach 18-wheeler truck accident claims include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Inconvenience
- Reputational damage
- Skin scarring and disfigurement
Start Working With an 18-Wheeler Truck Accident Lawyer in Pompano Beach Today
When your truck accident injuries have substantially impacted your life, you should not be stuck covering the costs on your own.
Make the liable party pay for their negligence when you work with a Pompano Beach 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine. Schedule your no-cost, risk-free consultation by calling our office or completing our convenient contact form.