If you’ve been in a truck accident in Florida, understanding your rights and the steps you should take can make a significant difference in protecting your health and your potential injury claim. Commercial truck accidents often cause severe injuries and involve complex legal and insurance issues that differ from standard car accidents.
Here are some important things you need to know after a Florida truck accident.
Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Your health should always be your first priority after a truck accident. Even if you feel fine immediately after the collision, some injuries may not show symptoms right away. Conditions such as traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, whiplash, and soft tissue injuries can worsen over time if left untreated.
Prompt medical treatment not only protects your well-being but also creates documentation that may be important if you pursue a personal injury claim. Insurance companies often scrutinize delays in treatment and may argue that your injuries were unrelated to the accident.
Report the Accident
Florida law requires drivers to report accidents involving injuries, fatalities, or significant property damage. If law enforcement responds to the scene, they will prepare an accident report that can serve as valuable evidence later.
When speaking with police officers, provide accurate information about what happened, but avoid speculating about fault. The accident report may contain details regarding road conditions, witness statements, and preliminary assessments of the collision.
Gather Evidence if Possible
If your injuries allow, try to collect evidence at the scene.
Important information may include:
- Photos of vehicle damage
- Images of skid marks, road conditions, and debris
- Contact information for witnesses
- The truck driver’s name and employer information
- The truck’s license plate and U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) number
This evidence can help establish how the accident occurred and who may be responsible. Preserving evidence early is especially important because trucking companies often deploy investigators immediately following serious crashes.
Taking these steps can strengthen your ability to prove liability later.
Understand That Multiple Parties May Be Liable
Truck accident cases are often more complicated than typical car accident claims because multiple parties may share responsibility.
Potentially liable parties may include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- A cargo loading company
- A truck maintenance provider
- The manufacturer of defective truck parts
For example, a trucking company may be liable if it failed to properly train its drivers or encouraged violations of federal hours-of-service regulations. An experienced attorney can investigate all potential sources of liability and insurance coverage.
Identifying every responsible party is essential for maximizing compensation after a serious truck accident.
Federal Regulations May Impact Your Case
Commercial trucking companies and drivers must comply with numerous federal regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
These rules govern areas such as:
- Driver qualifications
- Hours of service
- Vehicle inspections
- Maintenance requirements
- Cargo securement
Violations of these regulations can serve as evidence of negligence. In many truck accident cases, attorney investigations uncover logbook violations, inadequate maintenance records, or other regulatory failures that contributed to the crash.
Florida’s Comparative Negligence Rules Apply
Florida follows a modified comparative negligence system. This means that an injured person may recover damages if they are not more than 50% responsible for the accident. However, any compensation awarded may be reduced by their percentage of fault.
Insurance companies often attempt to shift blame onto accident victims to reduce payouts. For this reason, it is important to avoid making statements that could be interpreted as an admission of fault before the facts are fully investigated.
Compensation May Include More Than Medical Bills
Truck accident victims may be entitled to recover compensation for various losses, including:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
In catastrophic injury cases, damages may also include long-term rehabilitation costs and accommodations needed to address permanent disabilities.
Contact a Florida Truck Accident Lawyer at Shaked Law Firm, P.A. for a Free Consultation
Truck accident cases often involve complex liability issues, multiple parties, and aggressive insurance companies working to minimize payouts. The experienced legal team at Shaked Law Firm, P.A. can investigate your accident, preserve critical evidence, handle communications with insurers, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Florida truck accident, don’t face the claims process alone. Reach out to a Florida truck accident lawyer today to discuss your legal options.
If you’ve been injured in a truck collision in Florida and need legal help, contact a Florida 18-wheelers attorney at Shaked Law Firm, P.A.
Shaked Law Firm, P.A.
20900 NE 30th Ave STE 705
Aventura, FL 33180
(305) 937-0191
*Relocated across the street from Aventura Hospital.
Available 24/7
Sagi Shaked is the founding attorney of Shaked Law Firm, P.A., a Florida-based practice focused on serious truck accident cases. As a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, Sagi is nationally recognized for his legal advocacy, having recovered multi-