If you were hurt in a commercial truck accident in Fort Walton Beach, you might be entitled to financial compensation. A Fort Walton Beach personal injury lawyer will assist those who’ve been injured in a big rig crash. Consider meeting with Fasig | Brooks for a free consultation right away, or read on for more information about truck accidents.
Florida truck accidents can have a devastating impact on the trajectory of your life. Trying to make a full physical and financial recovery on your own can increase your load as well. Working with a Fort Walton Beach semi-truck legal professional with adept experience negotiating truck accident settlements can help improve the outcome of your claim.
18-Wheeler Accident Data
Every year there are a reported 400,000 accidents involving 18-wheelers. Tractor-trailer accidents resulted in 150,000+ injuries and over 5,000 deaths. A severe accident injury will cost you valuable time from work, resulting in lasting pain, causing property damage, and giving you temporary or permanent disability.
If you or your loved one was in an unfortunate trucking accident with an 18-wheeler, then call an experienced truck accident lawyer at Fasig | Brooks may be able to help you file a lawsuit against the responsible party and collect damages to offset the costs associated with recovery.
How Common Are Truck Accidents in Florida?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2019, 678 fatal vehicle crashes in Florida involved a large truck. There were 538,000 large truck accidents nationwide that same year, with 5,005 resulting in fatalities and 159,000 injuries. That also means there are over 1,400 big rig collisions per day nationwide.
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Fort Walton Beach Truck Accident Causes
Truck accidents happen for a wide variety of reasons. It can be difficult to differentiate who’s liable in these cases because of all the parties involved. At Fasig | Brooks, we’ve had experience helping victims of the following types of truck accidents:
- Intoxicated Driving
- Mechanical Defects and Malfunctions
- Employer Negligence / Liability
- Truck Driver Error / Negligence
- No-Zone Accidents
The size and weight of a typical 18-wheeler can cause life-altering or fatal injuries. The wrongful death of a loved one as a result of any of the above situations deserves to be investigated, and the responsible party must be held accountable for its negligent actions.
A study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found that over 85% of truck accidents are caused by truck drivers. Fasig | Brooks can help you keep truck drivers, parts manufacturers, and trucking companies liable.
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Fort Walton Beach Truck Accident Claim Value
Each truck accident case is unique because of the specific facts involved. Hiring a Fort Walton Beach injury attorney could improve the outcomes of your claim. One study found hiring an attorney could multiply the damages you’re entitled to by three.
Severe injuries are common in truck accidents, increasing the total value of your claim. Here are some factors that affect the value of your case:
- The nature of your injuries
- Value of lost wages due to your injuries, including future wages and the financial effect on your family
- Your prognosis and whether you’re expected to fully recover
- Whether you were at fault for the accident
The damages you can recover will depend on the factors in your accident. If you’re interested in recovering fair and just compensation for your accident, contact Fasig | Brooks for a free consultation with skilled trucking accident attorneys in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
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Fort Walton Beach Truck Accident Damages
If someone else is deemed legally responsible for your accident, then they’re responsible for the consequences according to tort law. Truck accident damages are usually divided into economic damages, which make you financially whole, and non-economic damages, which compensate you for intangible losses.
Truck accident economic damages usually include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages (past and future)
- Cost to repair or replace damaged property
- Rehabilitation
Non-economic damages in truck accidents can cover:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of quality of life or consortium
- Disabilities
- Disfigurement
Fort Walton Beach Trucking Accident Fault
Florida is a “no-fault” state. This means if you pursue compensation because your insurance doesn’t cover all of your losses, you’ll be able to recover some compensation as long as you are not 100% at fault for the accident. Under Florida’s comparative fault statute, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you.
Insurance companies often try to deflect blame onto victims and deny claims to avoid paying what you truly deserve. Having the right Fort Walton Beach attorney can make all the difference in the amount of compensation you receive. Even when you were partially at fault, that doesn’t mean you’re not entitled to compensation.
Fort Walton Beach. Truck Accident Injuries
Crashes involving commercial trucks can be devastating due to their size, weight, and speed. Many truck accidents occur at high speeds and involve multiple vehicles. Fort Walton Beach truck accidents can lead to more severe injury than a typical car accident.
The personal injury law representatives from Fasig | Brooks have helped victims of commercial truck accidents with the following injuries:
- Head and Neck Injuries
- Whiplash
- Broken Bones
- Lacerations
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Organ Damage
- Burns
Florida Truck Accident Liability
Liability in a truck accident can be more difficult to determine because of the severity of the accidents and the parties involved. The trucking industry, trucking laws, and their insurance policies have specific adherences for truck drivers and trucking companies.
The truck driver is responsible for operating the vehicle correctly and safely. If the cause of the accident is the negligent behavior of the driver, they will likely be at fault for the accident, and the trucking company’s insurance policy may be on the hook for damages.
A trucking company, or carrier, may also bear liability when the carrier demands their driver spend more hours on the road than is legal and they cause an accident. Cargo loaders may also be partially responsible for an accident if the freight was not loaded or secured properly.
Trucking maintenance and repair companies can be liable if the service they provide wasn’t performed correctly and causes an accident. Part manufacturers can also be held liable if parts fail or were improperly installed at the time of manufacture and led to an accident.
Highway maintenance contractors can be held liable when one of these contractors fails to properly maintain a road or add signage to indicate a work zone. If your accident was caused by an unsafe highway, the highway maintenance contractor could be assigned some liability for the accident.
Truck Accident Injury Compensation
Who pays your claim will depend on what occurred in your accident. Florida requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. After a crash, since Florida is a no-fault state, you’ll be required to turn to your provider for benefits initially.
If your damages exceed your policy limits, or if your insurance company denies your personal injury claim and refuses to pay, then you may be able to file a lawsuit with our law firm or submit a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance provider.
Speaking with a Fort Walton Beach commercial truck accident attorney could be the first step you make towards reclaiming what you’ve been denied. Truck accident attorneys have experience helping accident victims. Truck accident lawyers work contingently, so they only get paid when they recover compensation for medical bills and more after trucking accidents on your behalf.
Negotiating a Settlement
Once your attorney has reached a total figure, they will need to present this to the insurance adjuster. They will almost certainly need to negotiate to close the gap between their initial offer and the amount they believe you truly deserve.
In most instances, these negotiations result in a settlement agreement, but there are many times when you may need to take your case in front of a judge.
To get a better sense of how your case may be handled, contact our law firm today. Truck accident cases can be complicated, especially when passenger vehicles are involved. Large commercial trucks cause more serious injuries. At-fault parties should be held responsible for the damages they cause.
If your insurance coverage denies your insurance claim in the Florida panhandle, contact Fasig | Brooks to speak about recovering full compensation after an accident with a semi-truck. Large trucks are complex vehicles that are difficult to operate safely, and errors at any stage can play a role in dangerous collisions.
Florida Truck Accident Statutes of Limitations
If you’re filing a trucking lawsuit, then you’ll have four years from the date of the accident to file your suit. If you are pursuing damages for the loss of a loved one, you’ll have two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Since trucking accident cases are complex matters, we highly recommend contacting an experienced Fort Walton Beach trucking accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident. The more time you give your legal team to perform an investigation, the better position you’ll be in to get the maximum compensation you deserve.
Fasig | Brooks Is Ready To Serve
The sooner you contact us for your free initial consultation, the sooner you will understand how to move forward with your case. Commercial insurance is much more complicated than passenger vehicle insurance.
The amount of data, regulations, and additional details required to complete a full investigation of a trucking accident can easily overwhelm a victim. When we are working on your case, you will get all of the information you need about your case but will not feel bogged down or overwhelmed by all of the minor details and updates that would otherwise flood your thoughts.
We look forward to speaking with you and hope to help you through this process towards the best possible outcome.
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