Truck Accident Lawyer in Largo, FL
The Cloud Law Firm represents clients who have been injured in Largo truck accidents and semi-truck accidents. We are proud to offer ‘no win no fee’ legal services. If your case is not won you don’t pay. Contact our office for more information or to set up a free case consultation.
Our roads are busy, and with the increase in traffic comes the increased probability that you might be involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler here in Largo, FL. These giant pieces of equipment can be dangerous when drivers are inattentive or out of control, and your interests need to be protected. Insurance companies have a low settlement amount in mind, don’t agree to anything before you talk to an attorney, we can help make sure you’re taken care of.
Causes of 18-wheeler Accidents in the United States
There are a wide variety of causes of semi-truck accidents in the united states. These pieces of equipment weigh many tons, and cannot stop as quickly as a passenger vehicle or motorcycle. Being cut off, improper maintenance, driver error/sleep deprivation, driver inexperience, improper load balance or failure to secure the load correctly, as well as distracted driving are just a few causes of these types of accidents. Because of the size of the vehicle, and the variety of accident causes – injury and even death are common outcomes. Wading through the red-tape of a semi-truck accident without an attorney representing your best interest is not advisable. The team at The Cloud Law Firm is here to help. We help clients living in Largo, Sebring, Clearwater, and the surrounding area who have been injured in a truck accident.
Attorneys at The Cloud Law Firm have the experience & compassion to take care of your case and get you results in a reasonable amount of time. We can also ensure that your future needs are taken into account as we work towards a positive outcome. Truck accidents can be devastating to all involved, making sure you’re protected is our #1 job.
Truck Accident Injuries
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration there were more than 11 million motor vehicle accidents in 2015, resulting in more than 22,000 fatalities. Indeed, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control, auto accidents are one of the leading causes of injury and death in the United States. Moreover, of those who survive these car accidents, nearly half suffer permanent injuries or serious ailments that negatively affect them for the remainder of their lives.
Car crashes caused by roadway hazards and negligent drivers can range from moderate to very severe. Common Largo truck accident injuries include: cuts and bruises; sprains; broken bones; neck, back and spinal cord injuries; shoulder, arm, wrist and hand injuries; hip, knee, ankle and foot injuries; joint dislocations; concussions; traumatic brain injuries; and even death. Many of these types of injuries require costly surgical and/or long term treatment.
Florida Statutes Concerning Operation of Motor Vehicle
The Florida Uniform Traffic Control Law, codified in Chapter 316 Florida Statutes, contains many of the statutory laws which govern the rules of the road in the State of Florida. Within this Chapter, are many of the rules concerning operation of motor vehicles, such as: the right of way, yielding, stopping, parking, passing, use of lights and signals, interaction between cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists, etcetera.
Proving Negligence in a Largo Truck Accident Case
Most auto accident claims are based on the legal cause of action called “negligence.” Simply put, every person and business owes a duty to use reasonable care. If a person or business fails to use reasonable care, then they have acted negligently. If that negligence injures someone, the injured person has a civil cause of action against the negligent party for money damages. Without getting too technical, in truck accident cases, negligence is typically proven based upon the circumstances of the accident and/or violation of applicable Florida statutes (e.g. speeding or failing to obey a traffic control device), which may be used as evidence of negligence.
Florida follows the rule of “pure comparative negligence.” This means that the jury may determine that more than one person negligently contributed to an accident, and allocate a percentage of fault for the accident to each of the negligent persons. 18-wheeler and commercial truck accident cases can be tricky because there can be multiple parties responsible. Not only is the driver responsible for their rig and safe operation of the vehicle the company is responsible for making sure their equipment is road safe. Even the manufacturer of whatever product is being hauled could be found liable if the product was somehow involved in the accident. That is why it is so important to speak with an experienced Pinellas County truck accident lawyer near you when you are involved in an accident with a commercial truck.
It should also be noted that the negligent persons may include the injured person, to the extent he or she contributed to the accident. If the jury allocates fault to the injured person, following the trial, the court will reduce the injured party’s award of money damages by the percentage of fault allocated to the plaintiff in the lawsuit.
Truck Accident Victims Are Generally Entitled to PIP/No-Fault Insurance Benefits
Under Florida law, every motor vehicle owner is required to maintain $10,000 Personal Injury Protection (PIP) auto insurance coverage that pays 80% of his or her own medical bills and 60% of his or her lost wages, up to the $10,000 PIP benefit limit, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. § 627.733, Fla. Stat. Irrespective of who was at fault for the accident, pedestrians and bicyclists qualify for PIP: (1) from your own auto insurer if you have auto insurance; (2) if you do not own a vehicle, from a resident relative’s auto insurer; or (3) if the foregoing are not applicable, and you were a passenger in someone else’s vehicle, from the host driver’s auto insurer.
You should also know that in order to qualify for PIP benefits, you must seek treatment within fourteen (14) days following the accident. Treatment during that period qualifies a person for $2,500 PIP benefits. To qualify for the full $10,000 PIP benefits, a doctor must certify that you have suffered an “emergency medical condition.”
What Should You Do if You Are Involved in a Truck Accident in Largo, FL?
This is a non-exhaustive list of things you should do if you are involved in a truck accident:
1. Call 911 and file a police report. The police officer will perform an investigation and record pertinent information about the accident, the vehicles involved, the at-fault driver and the parties’ auto insurance carriers.
2. Seek immediate medical attention and tell your physician everything you can about the pain and other symptoms you are experiencing. If you are disoriented, confused or having trouble remembering things, you should report it then.
3. Get all witnesses names, addresses and telephone numbers.
4. Take a lot of pictures of the accident scene, the vehicle(s) and truck involved, any witnesses, and all visible injuries of all victims. Keep the photographs in a safe location, not just on your cell phone.
5. Do not talk to anyone other than the police officer, your physicians, and your attorneys about the accident or your injuries.
6. Retain an attorney to help you through your accident claim.
7. Before you sign anything, such as a statement or property damage release, consult your attorney.
8. Report the truck accident to your own auto insurance company.
Should You Hire a Lawyer?
Absolutely. The average person does not have the experience necessary to value a personal injury case, to prepare the case, or to negotiate the intricacies of personal injury law. For example, do you know how to obtain and evaluate how much insurance (e.g. BI, UM, PIP, etc.) is available to resolve your claim? Do you know which, if any, of your collateral source providers (e.g. a health insurer) must be reimbursed from your personal injury case settlement or what to do if the collateral source isn’t being responsive or reasonable? An experienced attorney will be familiar with applicable Florida laws and how they apply to your particular circumstance and will be a great benefit in helping you obtain maximum recovery.
What Does a Truck Accident Attorney Do for Clients?
This is a non-exhaustive list of things a truck accident attorney handles for clients:
1. Investigate the claim, such as: interview witnesses, obtain the police report, obtain photographs the scene and vehicles; obtain and analyze all of the client’s medical records, obtain and evaluate all applicable insurance policies, and research applicable law.
2. Advance all the litigation costs incurred in pursuing the claim. Litigation costs generally include things like charges for copies of medical bills, costs charged by the Court, court reporters, and process servers, and costs charged by experts. In cases that go to trial, litigation costs are often tens of thousands of dollars.
3. Represent the client in dealings with the client’s own insurance company, including PIP claims, property damage claims, and UM claims.
4. Represent the client in dealings with the at-fault driver and their insurance company.
5. Represent the client in Court.
6. Negotiate any settlement.
7. Negotiate payment of outstanding liens and medical bills following settlement.
When Should I Contact the Cloud Law Firm About My Truck Accident Claim?
Right away! Mia Cloud will provide a free consultation and get to work immediately on your 18-wheeler truck accident case.
How Long Does a Truck Accident Case Take to Resolve?
This depends on a lot of variables outside the client and attorney’s control, including: the client’s injuries and course of treatment, the amount of insurance coverage available, the number of insurers involved, and the insurers’ willingness to discuss a reasonable settlement. With those factors in mind, a standard personal injury case usually takes anywhere from three months to two years to complete. One of the reasons it takes so long is because it is unwise to settle before the accident victim substantially completes their treatment as you only get one bite at the apple and cannot go back for more later if it turns out you need additional treatment. Also, if the case goes into litigation, it can take more than a year to get the case through the congested court system.
What Items of Damages Are You Entitled to Recover?
Accident victims are entitled to recover the following types of damages:
1. MEDICAL BILLS: You are entitled to recover payment for all of your medical bills which are reasonable and causally related to the accident. This includes future medical costs which are necessitated by your injuries.
2. LOST WAGES: You are entitled to recover payment for all of your lost wages which are causally related to the accident. This includes wages lost in the past, as well as loss of future earning capacity.
3. PAIN AND SUFFERING: You are entitled to recover payment for all of your pain and suffering related to the accident, both past and present. Pain and suffering damages should not be considered lightly. Depending on the circumstances, pain and suffering awards can sometimes be quite significant.
4. OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES: You are entitled to recover all of your out of pocket expenses, including mileage to and from treating physicians and the costs associated with prescription medications. Be sure and keep track of these amounts as they can be difficult to reconstruct.
5. PROPERTY DAMAGES: You are entitled to recover property damages, such as: vehicle repair costs, diminution in value to your car, and loss of use of your vehicle.
6. PUNITIVE DAMAGES: Under some circumstances, such as the case of a drunk driver, you may be entitled to recover punitive damages. Punitive damages are intended to punish a wrongdoer for gross negligence and/or intentional acts. The Florida legislature has passed several statues which serve to define punitive damages and limit the award of punitive damages. However, you should know that under proper circumstances, punitive damages are recoverable.
How Much is Your Truck Accident Case Worth?
Your top priority should be your health. If you are in pain or are experiencing symptoms/limitations, you should seek medical treatment regardless of the potential positive or negative effects to the value of your claim. Setting that aside, the value of your case depends on numerous factors, such as the following:
- the facts of the accident (inflammatory facts makes the value go up),
- the degree to which you may share comparative fault in causing the accident,
- the credibility and likeability of the parties and witnesses,
- the victim’s injuries, course of medical treatment, and future prognosis,
- the total medical bills, liens and write-offs,
- and may other factors.
An experienced truck accident attorney near you will consider the circumstances of your case and help you evaluate the settlement value of your case. To see some of our recent settlements that we have secured for our clients see Our Results page.
Do You Need a Police Report After a Motorcycle Accident?
Whenever you are involved in a vehicle accident whether it be a car accident or truck accident it is important to get an accurate police report related to your collision. If you need assistance getting this report we are happy to help. See our article on How to Get An Accident Report in Largo for more information.
Do I Have To Go To Court?
No. Many clients want to avoid going to court and we are generally able to secure a reasonable settlement offer without filing a lawsuit. However, insurance companies can be stubborn and sometimes a lawsuit must be filed before the insurance company makes a reasonable settlement offer.
How Much Are the Cloud Law Firm’s Fees?
The Cloud Law Firm provides services to accident victims for a “contingent fee.” We get paid only if we win your case by obtaining a settlement or jury verdict in your favor. If we win your claim, the fee is 33.3% to 40% of the recovery depending on whether we had to file a lawsuit to resolve your claim.
What are Personal Injury Protection Benefits (PIP)?
Under Florida law, every driver is required to maintain $10,000 Personal Injury Protection (a/k/a PIP) auto insurance coverage. If you are in an accident, your own insurance company is required to pay 80% of your medical bills and 60% of your lost wages, up to the $10,000 PIP benefit limit, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. Unlike most other collateral source providers (an entity which pays some of your losses), your auto insurer cannot assert a lien for PIP benefits paid and PIP benefits are not required to be repaid at the conclusion of your case. However, the at-fault driver is entitled to a setoff for all PIP benefits paid or payable (e.g. if your auto insurer paid10,000 PIP benefits and the jury awards you $20,000 the at-fault driver is entitled to have your award reduced $10,000 for the PIP benefits paid by your insurer).
What If the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Auto Insurance?
We see this all the time. Under Florida law, drivers are required to purchase PIP coverage to cover their own injuries, but are not required to purchase bodily injury coverage to cover the injuries of a person they harm in a motor vehicle accident. If the at fault driver does not have insurance, there is very little an attorney can do to help you, unless you purchased Uninsured Motorist (a/k/a UM) from you own auto insurance carrier. UM insurance covers your injuries caused by the fault of an uninsured, or underinsured, driver. Due the prevalence of uninsured drivers in Florida, it is very important that you purchase UM coverage to protect you and your family.
