There is hardly a more fearful experience for today’s motorists than colliding with a large commercial vehicle. These large vehicles can weigh an excess of 50,000 pounds and cause far more damage than you would expect from an average car accident.
Because of this considerable potential for damage, Florida laws require that large commercial vehicles, like 18-wheelers, cement trucks, and other large vehicles, are covered with a very high insurance policy. This coverage exists for the expressed purpose of paying for any damages sustained in an accident with these vehicles.
Florida law gives you the right to seek compensation from the liable party in a truck accident. But exercising that right is no simple matter and you will be met with opposition. Insurance companies don’t make big profits by signing a lot of checks.
Victims need the help of an experienced truck accident lawyer in Jupiter, Florida. Our attorneys at Steinberg Law can build a strong case to help you get the full compensation you deserve.
At Steinberg Law, we have the best auto accident lawyers in Jupiter, Florida. Call us today at 877-783-4611 if you are serious about getting the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?
If car accidents can be disorienting, getting involved in a collision with a large commercial vehicle is even more stressful and frightening. Nevertheless, you must act with intelligence to protect your interests.
Here are a few things that you can keep in mind if you have found yourself in the aftermath of a serious truck accident.
Be Safe and Call 911
you may feel frightened, but take a moment to breathe deep and assess your injuries. If your injuries permit, try to see to the safety of others involved in the accident. Be very careful when moving about the scene of the accident as large commercial vehicles may be carrying hazardous materials.
Call emergency services and do not leave the scene of the accident until cleared to do so by the officers who arrive at the scene of the accident.
Exchange Info
Get the name and contact information of the employer of the truck driver and their insurance company. You should also get the name and contact information of the truck driver.
Document the Scene and Speak With Witnesses
Using your mobile device or phone, take as many pictures as you can of the scene of the accident. Get some wide-angle shots of the vehicles about each other, traffic signals, and obstacles. Get some close-up shots of the damage made to both vehicles, road debris, skid marks, and injuries.
If you see any bystanders in the area, ask for their names and contact information as well.
Seek Medical Attention
You might believe that your injuries are mild. But you will not know for sure unless you have them properly examined by a medical professional. There are many times that the excitement of the accident can mask the full extent of the injury. Furthermore, the doctor’s examination places a time stamp and connects your injuries to the accident.
Contact an Attorney
Insurance companies will often offer victims a fraction of what they deserve or try to deny the claim. A truck accident lawyer in Jupiter, Florida will make sure you aren’t taken advantage of.
If you are serious about getting the full compensation afforded you by the law, call 877-783-4611 and speak with a qualified truck accident lawyer from Steinberg Law.
How Can a Jupiter Truck Accident Lawyer Help Me?
Steinberg Law has a stellar history of obtaining compensation for our valued clients in truck accident cases just like yours. Our experience in the legal process improves your chances of success in seeking full compensation.
Here are some of the ways your Jupiter truck accident lawyer can help your case.
A Thorough Investigation
finding who is truly responsible in these cases is not always the easiest task. There are many details to investigate. Luckily, an experienced truck accident lawyer has done this before and knows exactly where to look to determine liability in this case.
Filing a Claim
The process of filing a legal claim involves a lot of details that all determine the outcome of the case. It can take years of study and many more years of practice to properly navigate the legal process. Our attorneys will ensure your claim is filed correctly and on time.
Our experience also allows us to properly calculate the full list of damages you can claim under the law. We maximize your compensation and give your case the best odds of success.
Negotiations
Your lawyer will negotiate your case with the insurance company and its legal representatives. These crafty legal professionals will exploit any loophole to avoid making payments. But our legal team has experience in these negotiations and will defend your interests with tenacity.
Litigation
Most often, these matters will be settled in a negotiation. But in the case that no resolution can be reached, a savvy truck accident lawyer will have the skills and experience to fight for you in court and obtain the full compensation you deserve.
What Types of Compensation Can I Receive?
Without a full examination of all the details of the case, it would be impossible to provide a clear account of the damages you can expect from your Jupiter truck accident. The laws in Florida separate the damages available in these cases into three categories.
Economic Damages
The damages are meant to reimburse victims for the financial consequences of the accident. Lost wages, loss of earning capacity, medical bills, and any other financial losses fall into this category. Economic damages seek to compensate the victim for past, present, and future losses.
Non-Economic Damages
Some damages can’t be assigned dollar figures so easily. Non-economic damages are things like pain and suffering, loss of companionship, loss of capacity to enjoy life, etc.
Punitive Damages
There are instances when the actions of the at-fault party are so reckless or extremely negligent, that the courts may apply punitive damages for the sole purpose of punishing the at-fault party.
Florida limits on punitive damages to three times the amount of compensatory damages or $500,000, whichever is greater.
How Is Fault Determined in a Jupiter, FL Truck Accident?
Florida law allows the victims of a truck accident to seek compensation from the liable party. But to do this, liability must first be established. To do this, the following four elements must be established.
- Duty of Care – Truck drivers and the companies that employ them to haul goods are required to follow specific guidelines for transport and traffic rules to ensure the safety of other motorists.
- Breach of duty – If the driver or the company they are working for knowingly breached this duty of care they have for other motorists, they will be operating negligently.
- Causation – It is not enough to prove that the company was acting negligently, this negligence must be the cause of the accident that resulted in injuries.
- Damages – Finally, it must be proven that the victim suffered injuries and losses, such as medical bills.
Florida follows the pure comparative negligence doctrine. Unlike in other states, you can recover damages even if you are more than 50% at fault.
The total economic and non-economic damages will be reduced according to your percentage of fault. If your total damages are $100,000 and you were 25% at fault for the accident, you stand to get 75% of the total damages ($75,000).
What Are Important Trucking Regulations?
Commercial trucking is a potentially dangerous undertaking and many rules and regulations must be followed to ensure the safety of roads and highways. If the guidelines set down by the FMCSA are not followed, the result could be extensive injuries.
Here are some of the most important regulations you should know about.
- Drivers must maintain a record of hours on the road.
- Companies must properly load cargo.
- Truckers can drive 10 hours a day and no more.
- Drivers should document all services and breaks.
- Companies must keep up with scheduled maintenance.
- Truck drivers must avoid alcohol and other controlled substances while at work.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Truck Accident Case?
At Steinberg Law, we will place the full resources of the out legal firm behind your case to see it through to its resolution. One of the most important tasks we will perform is a full investigation of the events leading up to the accident.
It takes many technicians and professionals to keep a commercial vehicle on the road, so many different parties and entities can be listed in your Jupiter truck accident lawsuit.
Liable parties can include:
- The Truck Driver
- Company Who Loaded the Truck
- Vehicle or Parts Manufacturers
- The Trucking Company
Hire an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer in Jupiter, Florida!
Truck accidents can happen at any time, and when they do the consequences can be grave. If you are serious about getting the compensation you will need to make a proper recovery, don’t trust your luck. Call a legal professional from Steinberg Law to represent you in your quest for compensation.
Call 877-783-4611 today and arrange a free consultation with a truck accident lawyer in Jupiter, Florida.
