Big rig truck accidents are complicated and can result in severe injuries. If you were in an accident, you might be entitled to compensation.
A St. Petersburg truck accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can manage your case, file paperwork for you, talk to insurers on your behalf, and negotiate a settlement. We provide free consultations, and we only collect attorney fees if you recover compensation.
Important Things to Do After a Big Rig Truck Accident
Take these steps if you were hurt in an accident with a large truck:
- Immediately after the accident, check yourself and those around you for injuries.
- Call 9-1-1 if anybody requires medical care.
- Move your vehicle out of the flow of traffic, if possible.
- Collect as much evidence as possible with pictures or video.
- Exchange information with all parties involved in the accident.
- Get contact information from eyewitnesses.
- Contact a big rig accident lawyer for help with your case.
- Report the accident to your insurance company but don’t give a recorded statement until you speak with your attorney.
Truck accident cases tend to be complicated, and having an attorney on your side can help.
What Makes Big Rig Truck Accidents More Complicated?
When searching for a lawyer to help you with your truck accident claim, it’s imperative to find one familiar with truck accidents. Truck accidents are more complicated given the parties involved and the federal regulations that apply to trucking.
Some of these complications result from the following:
- While a truck driver may have caused the accident, the carrier may be vicariously liable, so you could find yourself filing a claim against a big trucking company. Other parties may be involved in the case as well.
- Many truck accidents lead to severe injuries or death. The more severe your injuries are, the more money you’ll need to cover long-term care, diminished earning capacity, and other damages.
- Truck accidents have more evidence to review compared to other types of accidents. Before filing a claim, we’ll have to comb through a lot of evidence about the driver, truck, and the company’s compliance history.
Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
Some of the things your St. Petersburg big rig truck accident lawyer will do include:
Investigate the Accident
We do this by collecting all the relevant evidence such as medical records, pictures of the scene, police reports, eyewitness testimonies, pictures of the wreckage, and more.
Outline Who Was at Fault and Liable
The foundation of a good case is identifying who was at fault based on the evidence collected. We’ll also sort out the complicated liability of truck carriers, truck drivers, and other parties.
Give You Legal Counsel
From the moment you contact us, we’ll give you responsive legal counsel each step of the way and answer any questions you might have. We even give you your lawyer’s phone number, provide regular case updates, and answer all your questions.
Work With Experts to Document the Extent of Your Injuries
We may work with expert witnesses such as mechanics, doctors, and accident reconstruction specialists who will help substantiate the details of the accident so we can prove fault and determine a fair settlement amount.
Contact Insurance Companies and Negotiate a Claim
After building your case, we’ll file claims with the responsible parties and start negotiating a fair settlement. We take over communication with insurers so you can focus on your health and recovery.
Represent You in Court
If the insurance company does not agree to a fair settlement, we can take your case to trial and represent you in court.
Statute of Limitations
If you’re involved in a truck accident in Florida state, then you need to file your personal injury lawsuit for compensation within four years after the date of the collision. If you can’t meet that deadline, you may be unable to recover damages.
Our firm will manage your case, file paperwork, and help you meet the deadlines that apply to your case.
Evidence in a Big Rig Truck Accident Case
Evidence in a truck accident case might vary from that in a typical car accident involving only passenger vehicles.
While some evidence like the accident report, photographs, eyewitness statements, and video footage might be the same, truck accident cases may involve more complicated forms of evidence, such as the following.
- The Truck Electronic Data Holder: Some big rig trucks have a black box that records data about the truck, such as GPS, speed, braking, and so forth.
- Mechanic Records: Carriers should keep logs of maintenance and repairs performed on each truck in their fleet.
- The Load Manifest: This document contains details of who loaded the truck, how and when they loaded it, and the description of the load.
- Drivers Logbook: The law requires every truck driver to log their driving hours and document their breaks.
- Driver Employment Records: Employment data records could come in handy if an incompetent or unqualified driver caused the accident.
Who Is Liable for a Big Rig Truck Accident?
One way truck accidents differ from other accidents is that the truck driver isn’t always the only one who is liable. It could be the following:
- Trucking company
- Mechanics
- Freight company
- Truck manufacturer
Contact a Big Rig Truck Accident Lawyer
Here at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, we understand the strain truck accidents can create. If you or your loved one has been involved in a truck accident and need a personal injury lawyer, please call us. We offer a free evaluation for your case, and we can help you move forward.
We Can Help.
