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Are Large Truck Accidents Common in Florida?
Have you or a loved one been in a horrific auto accident with a semi, 18-wheeler, or other type of commercial truck? Commercial trucking accidents are unfortunately widespread and pose an increased threat of injury and death to the occupants of different motor vehicles, as well as pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists.
According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, more than 4,700 people died in truck accidents in the year 2022 alone. Nearly 70% of those who suffered fatal injuries in commercial truck accidents were the drivers and passengers of smaller vehicles, 16% were pedestrians, cyclists, or motorcycle riders, and the smallest percentage were the occupants of trucks and truck drivers.
Truck accident cases are typically more legally complex than most other car accident cases or personal injury legal matters. Because of the severity of the injuries, the medical costs are often more expensive, which can lead to more conflict in negotiations with insurance companies and at-fault parties. Additionally, lawyers dedicated to defending the company’s interests and avoiding liability will undoubtedly represent the trucking company. We strongly recommend retaining professional legal counsel from experienced personal injury lawyers when contending with a truck accident case. Contact our Lake Worth Beach-based law firm to schedule your free initial consultation with our legal team today.
What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?
After you’ve been in a semi-truck accident, you must attempt to remain calm. You’ve just been through a violent and traumatic experience, and you must take specific steps to ensure the safety and well-being of yourself and others while also potentially strengthening your truck accident claim for when you take legal action.
Ensure Your Safety and the Safety of Others
Firstly, check yourself for injuries. Safety should be your top priority. If you are not severely hurt, check on anyone else’s injuries in the motor vehicle.
If possible, move your car to a safe location along the side of the road. Do not leave the accident scene, however, as this can be met with harsh consequences.
Check on the injuries of other motorists or parties involved in the trucking collision. If anyone is severely injured, do not attempt to move them.
Seek Emergency Medical Attention
Call 911 to summon emergency medical services like paramedics and law enforcement personnel.
Even if you believe your injuries to be relatively minor, it’s still vital that you get professional medical care. Some injuries can worsen with time, and failure to get medical attention promptly could result in your personal injury case being devalued or dismissed by the insurance companies.
When doctors tell you to do something, follow their instructions to the letter. Any deviation from doctor’s orders could also devalue your personal injury claims.
Notify Local Law Enforcement and Get a Police Report
Florida law requires that accidents involving personal injury, death, severe damage to motor vehicles or personal property, and any commercial vehicle accident must be reported to the police. While the police should arrive at the scene of a semi-truck crash, you may need to notify them yourself. The law provides you 10 days to notify authorities of commercial vehicle accidents.
Notifying the police can benefit your pursuit of justice and financial recovery. A thorough accident report compiled by law enforcement will be valuable evidence to your truck accident lawyers.
Thoroughly Document the Accident Scene
Use your smartphone or other device to take photos and videos of the crash scene, including vehicle damage, property damage, road conditions, debris, traffic signs, weather conditions, skid marks, and personal injuries.
When you later seek the legal advice of truck accident attorneys, the evidence you’ve gathered at the scene could prove invaluable.
Speak to Any Potential Eyewitnesses
Were there any witnesses to the trucking accident?
Approach them and attempt to get their version of events recorded on video or audio. Additionally, get their contact information so that your lawyer can reach out to them later if eyewitness testimonies are valuable to your claim.
Exchange Contact and Insurance Company Information
If you and the truck driver can speak, exchange necessary information with them. Valuable information you should ask about may include contact numbers, e-mail addresses, legal name, insurance company provider and policy information, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, and information about the driver’s employer or trucking company.
In Florida, exchanging insurance information with other parties involved in motor vehicle accidents is mandatory. A thorough investigation is necessary to prove negligence and seek justice in hit-and-run accidents.
Do Not Speak With Insurance Adjusters or Trucking Company Representatives without Legal Counsel
Insurance adjusters and truck company representatives may arrive at the accident scene to assess the damage, review the incident, and find ways to avoid liability and save money.
An insurance adjuster may ask you for a recorded statement. We recommend that you decline to provide any recorded statements until you have consulted with an experienced attorney. Anything you say to the insurance or truck companies could be used against your case to limit your total compensation. If they insist on speaking with you, direct them to talk with your legal representation.
Consult with an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney
Truck accident claims are often complex personal injury cases for several reasons, not least of all the severity of catastrophic injuries and the associated medical bills, but also because of the number of liable parties that could be held accountable for the crash. If you or a family member have been in a commercial trucking accident, you need the legal services of experienced personal injury lawyers.
Our Florida law firm proudly represents the interests of injured clients seeking maximum compensation for their injuries, property damage, and other losses. Contact our law office to schedule a free case review today.
What Are Mistakes to Avoid After a Commercial Truck Accident?
The following are mistakes to avoid in the immediate aftermath of a truck accident:
- Do not accept the initial settlement offer from the insurance company or truck company
- Avoid making recorded statements without a lawyer by your side
- Don’t dispose of insurance records or medical records
- You shouldn’t speak to the truck driver’s lawyers or insurers
- Never admit fault, even in casual conversations about the accident
- Stay off social media, and don’t talk about your case with anyone except for your attorney, your doctors, and perhaps your spouse
- Avoid diminishing the severity of your injuries to anyone involved in the accident. We often tend to try to ‘walk it off,’ but you shouldn’t do anything that could devalue your claim
- Never leave the scene of the crash, as hit-and-run charges can result in serious consequences
- Do not delay consulting an attorney about your case, as there is a strict statute of limitations
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Florida Trucking Accident Lawyers Today
With a truck accident claim, there are potentially several parties you may sue, including negligent truck drivers, trucking companies, loading companies, truck manufacturers, maintenance and repair shops, and more. Your attorneys will evaluate the particulars of your case to determine the potentially liable parties with whom you could take legal action.
Our FL law firm has extensive experience representing the legal rights of clients injured in acts of negligence and recklessness. We will work tirelessly to help you recover the financial compensation you require and help you get the justice you seek.
Schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation by calling us at 561-639-7858.
