Driving an 18-wheeler requires training, skill, and care, but not all truck drivers exercise care when operating these heavy vehicles. If you’re a motorist who has collided with one of these trucks, you can speak with a Tallahassee truck accident lawyer. You could be eligible for compensation, so reach out to the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today to get started.
Why 18-Wheelers Are Dangerous
On average, a semi-truck with a full load weighs 80,000 pounds and requires the length of two football fields to come to a stop when moving at 65 MPH. That’s twice as long as a car takes. If you’re in the path while one of these trucks is trying to stop, you’ll suffer physical injuries and damage to your car.
When there is a collision on the road, the chances for severe injuries and death are higher for drivers in passenger vehicles. In 2019, over 5,000 large trucks and buses were involved in collisions involving fatalities, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
What to Do Immediately Following a Truck Accident
If you aren’t hurt, try to collect evidence to turn over to a truck accident lawyer. Your safety is of the utmost importance, so do not jeopardize your safety or that of others around you to complete these tasks. When possible, try to:
- Take photographs of the accident scene from all angles with your cell phone
- Gather contact information from eyewitnesses
- Get a medical examination as soon as possible after the accident, whether you think you need one or not
- Keep track of your medical records
- Make notes of everything you can remember about the accident
Liability in a Tallahassee 18-Wheeler Accident
Although the driver of an 18-wheeler is the person involved in the crash, several entities may be liable for damages, depending on the circumstances.
- The truck driver
- The company that owns the truck
- The truck manufacturer or parts manufacturer
- The company that owns the cargo
How Damages Are Calculated
There are two types of damages you can receive:
- Economic damages
- Noneconomic damages
Economic damages are those losses that have a verifiable monetary value. This could include medical bills, funeral expenses, lost income, and other losses. Noneconomic damages are losses that do not have a direct financial value. Noneconomic losses include emotional pain and the value of a lost life, among other
Settlements in a Tallahassee Truck Accident
Every accident case is different, and the settlement amount is contingent upon many variables. Where an accident resulted in death or a permanent life-changing injury, the settlement could reach over a million dollars. Each case will vary, and our past victories are not a guarantee of your outcome.
How Much Do Lawyers Cost?
We understand that the concept of getting a lawyer can be scary. Many people believe that that’s something only the rich can afford. You may be worried about being saddled with the legal fees should things go south.
Those are valid concerns, and we’re happy to say that we’ve done what we can to alleviate them. Here at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, our personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. We won’t charge you unless and until we settle or win your case.
The Value of a Personal Injury Layer
While you do not need an 18-wheeler accident lawyer, our team knows how difficult these cases can be if you’re not familiar with personal injury law. These cases can be especially challenging if you’re trying to recover from severe injuries or the difficulties of losing a family member.
We encourage you to work with our firm because:
- Our lawyers know what evidence to gather and how to use it to support your case
- Our team can communicate directly with the insurance company and work as a middleman for your case
- Our attorneys know what a fair settlement would look like, and we will advise you if the offer is unfair or insufficient for your needs
Trucking companies deal with these kinds of accidents on an ongoing basis. It’s part of doing business for them. They have lawyers to handle injury claims against them. In some cases, the insurance company for the at-fault driver or company will pursue and pressure you into accepting a lump-sum amount of money. Be sure you protect yourself by calling the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine.
What a Lawyer Looks for and Interprets
After gathering all kinds of evidence, your lawyer will use it to calculate the compensation you have a right to. Here’re some things that lawyers look at:
- The truck driver’s qualification and training file
- How many hours the truck has been in service
- The truck inspection records
- Maintenance records for the truck
- The driver’s drug screening records
- A download of data from the truck’s onboard systems
- Documentation of deliveries
- Instructions from the trucking firm’s dispatcher
- Any tickets for the truck being over the weight limit
Multiple factors may have caused your accident, and we will work hard to determine how negligence played a role in your case.
We Will Fight Against the Tactics Used by Insurance Companies
Lawyers for the trucking company’s insurer will often use tactics like minimizing the payout or offering you a fast settlement. They might even try to shift the blame to you. Some will outright deny your claim as a pressure tactic to get you to settle for less.
Many claims are settled out of court because insurance companies don’t want to chance losing a lawsuit in a trial. Sometimes, there may be an impasse between the compensation you seek and what the insurance company wants to get away with paying you.
An experienced lawyer will press for fair and just compensation for you until the claim or lawsuit is settled.
Let Our Lawyers Fight for What You Are Owed
If you’ve suffered injuries in an 18-wheeler truck accident, don’t go it alone. Turn to the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine. We have experience handling accident cases involving large trucks like 18-wheelers. Our team of lawyers and support staff will handle all the legal heavy lifting while you heal. We’ll keep you informed and give you the phone number of your lawyer so you can call with any questions.
Contact us for a free consultation today. Let us review your case and help you on the way to recovering your peace of mind.
We Can Help.
