Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer Who Sues Big Rig Companies

What You Need to Know About Hiring a Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer

The laws in a trucking crash are not your typical personal injury laws. That’s why it’s so important to consult with an experienced Tampa truck accident lawyer sooner than later to preserve your rights.

Here’s the Deal: Trucks are Dangerous

One out of every eight people killed in a traffic accident in the United States is killed in an accident involving a tractor trailer, semi truck or other big rig. Every year, 500,000 large trucks, or “semis”,are involved in accidents on our roads. Of these, 5,000 involve fatalities and over 94,000 crashes result in injuries. Nearly 110,000 men, women and children are killed or injured each year on our highways in crashes with big trucks.

The Scariest Fact about Semi Trucks on Our Roads?

Approximately one out of every four semi-trucks, upon inspection, have been found to be so mechanically deficient, that it is illegal for them to be operating on the roadways, and they are declared out of service. That’s 25% of the trucks on the roads right now.

How Can We Make the Trucking Industry Safer?

These chilling statistics of injuries, deaths, and illegally operating unsafe semi-trucks are simply unacceptable. Changes must be made in the trucking industry to protect our friends, our families, and the American public from these tragic trucking accidents. Hiring an experienced Tampa truck accident lawyer is crucial to protecting your rights after a crash.

Why You Need an Experienced Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer

The biggest mistake most people make is treating a trucking crash the same way they would a car accident. They are not even close. The complexities of a trucking crash are high.

How are Trucking Accidents so Complex and Different?

The investigation within the first few days are critical to protect the key evidence to win your case. In a perfect world, the truck driver would admit his fault and you would be paid for your losses. Unfortunately, the world is far from perfect and the truth is that good people like you, often pay for the greed of the transportation companies. Much like insurance companies, the trucking industry is all about one thing: Making Profits. They will do anything to get out of paying an accident claim that was clearly their fault.

Not Just Any Accident Lawyer can Take on Trucking Companies

Proving a semi trucker’s negligence is an extremely difficult task. It requires taking on a team of professional investigators, the truck driver, an aggressive insurance adjuster, AND a team of defense attorneys. Without an experienced team on your side, you don’t stand a chance. To prove your case and damages, you need a legal team with the resources to hire the right experts to measure your injuries, damages, and losses. Trucking companies are ruthless and down-right dirty when it comes to paying accident claims.

Every Minute that Passes is a Detrimental to Your Claim

There are special laws that govern the operation of large trucks. For instance, big rigs have weight limitations on their loads. Also, there are strict time limits on how long a truck driver is allowed to drive. Too often, the trucking industry ignores these important restrictions to save money and increase profit.

All of the Evidence You Need Will be Gone if You Wait

If that isn’t bad enough, Truck companies only have to keep records of each driver for a short time period. That means, if you do not hire an experienced truck accident lawyer who knows trucking laws, all of the evidence you need to prove your case will be gone. The only elements you have to recover from a truck crash are the evidence from the truck and the documentation of your own injuries, damages, and losses.

What if the Truck Accident was Partially My Fault?

Since the size and weight of large trucks cause significantly more devastating damages than an ordinary car, it is crucial that the victims seek sound legal advice. Even if the crash was partially your fault, you may still make a significant recovery for your damages. That is why it is so important to consult with an experienced Tampa truck accident lawyer. Speak with one who knows the laws governing heavy trucks on Florida roads.

Steps to Follow After a Crash

• Stop your vehicle and wait for the police. There is almost never a good excuse for leaving the scene of an accident.
• Check and make sure that you and your passengers are okay, then see if anyone else is injured from the crash. If there are injuries, call for an Tampa semi truck accident lawyer immediately.
• Don’t move anyone that is badly injured. Unless there is a danger for greater injury by leaving them where they are. If you are hurt, but not in danger, remain in your car until medical help arrives.
• Leave your car where it is. Don’t move the car unless it is a clear liability case where you were rear ended. You should only move your car if it is blocking a busy road. When in doubt, leave your car where it is until the police tell you it is okay to move your car.

Seek Medical Treatment and Preserve Evidence

• Go to the hospital for your injuries. The sooner you get checked out by a doctor, the better it will be for your case. The insurance companies love to say you went later. They will say you weren’t hurt because you waited before seeing a doctor. Avoid this insurance trick by getting checked out as soon as possible after the crash.
• Take photographs. Take photos of the damaged vehicles, skid marks, traffic signals and signs, and various points of view that each driver would have had before the crash.
• Preserve any evidence. This includes the identity of witnesses who may be able to explain the other driver was at fault. Get the other drivers name, address, and insurance company, as well as the other vehicle owners information too.
• Tell the police what happened but do not give any other statements to any other “investigators” for the other parties. There will be plenty of time to give statements later. Don’t give a recorded statement to anyone without speaking to an experienced Tampa truck accident lawyer first.