You can recover damages for pain and suffering after a big truck accident in Florida. Physical pain and emotional trauma can affect your life for days, weeks, and even years after the accident. You deserve compensation for that impact.
If another party caused your accident through negligence and you were severely injured, you may be entitled to damages. Damages are financial compensation for your physical injuries or mental anguish. You can seek damages on your own, but you may feel more comfortable working with a Florida truck accident lawyer who has experience handling cases like yours.
Florida Law Allows You To Recover Damages For Pain and Suffering
Under Florida law, people like you can recover damages from the motor vehicle operator, owner, registrant, or occupant. Florida Statutes § 627.737 states that you can seek damages for pain, suffering, mental anguish, and inconvenience resulting from your injuries. You may be able to seek damages if you incurred:
- Significant and permanent loss of a body function
- Permanent injury
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement
You might not be sure if you qualify for damages under Florida law. A lawyer can evaluate your case and let you know whether you can recover damages based on the specifics of your case. Many personal injury lawyers offer free case consultations.
Who Is Responsible For Your Pain And Suffering After A Big Truck Accident?
If you suffer serious injuries, any party that causes a motor vehicle accident through negligence can be held financially responsible for the accident. Your gut might tell you that the truck driver is responsible, and that may be true, but there are several other potentially liable parties in a big truck accident case. They include:
- Truck drivers: Truck drivers cause many accidents through negligent driving. Like any driver, they may speed, ignore traffic signals, fail to yield, or drive faster than they should based on the weather. But truckers face more stringent rules than other drivers. Truckers can only drive a certain number of hours per day and have a lower threshold for blood alcohol content, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Any violations constitute negligence.
- Trucking companies: If the truck driver was working at the time of the accident, the company may be responsible.
- Manufacturers: Some accidents occur because of defective parts. For example, a truck with faulty brakes may get in an accident because the driver cannot stop in time. In this case, the brake manufacturer could be at fault.
- Service providers: If a service provider serviced the big truck before the accident and provided shoddy service. For example, an outside vendor may provide routine maintenance, mechanical repairs, or load the cargo onto the truck. Poor service can lead to an accident.
- Municipalities: Sometimes, poorly designed or maintained roads cause accidents. For example, crumbling roads, potholes, and uncleared debris can make roads hazardous for truck drivers and others. Obscured traffic signs and signals and poorly designed intersections can also lead to accidents. Here, the municipality in charge of the roads, such as the state, county, city, or town may be at fault.
How Much Is My Pain And Suffering Worth After A Big Truck Car Accident?
It is hard to say how much your pain and suffering is worth without thoroughly assessing your injuries and how they affect your life. Broadly speaking, more serious injuries are worth more than less serious injuries. Every case is different, so don’t base your expectations on what you hear from friends or relatives. Speak with a lawyer to get a good estimate of the damages you can recover.
A lawyer with experience handling truck accident cases can investigate your injuries and estimate the value of your damages using evidence. Your lawyer will:
- Collect your medical records
- Interview expert medical witnesses
- Document your injuries and learn how they currently affect your life
- Project how they will affect your life in the future.
How A Lawyer Can Help After A Big Truck Accident
A lawyer can guide you through the legal and insurance steps you must take to recover damages for pain and suffering after a big truck accident in Florida. A lawyer can help you by:
- Investigating your accident
- Determining which party is at fault
- Estimating the value of your damages from pain and suffering
- Negotiating a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance provider
- Filing a lawsuit and seeking damages in court
Contact The Law Offices Of Anidjar & Levine For Help With Your Truck Accident Case
If an accident with a big truck in Florida has left you with physical pain or emotional trauma, you may be able to recover damages for pain and suffering. Our team at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine is ready to help you seek damages from the responsible party and their insurance company. Contact our office today to learn more about how we can help you get the financial compensation you deserve.
