Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers:
Our Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers have been hired to handle all types of 18 wheeler, large truck, and tractor-trailer accidents over the years. We are fully prepared to fight hard on your behalf.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a large truck, 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer due to the negligence of somebody else, do not try to handle a claim on your own or risk using an inexperienced lawyer.
Not all personal injury lawyers have our commitment to achieving full justice for their clients, nor do they have our trial experience and proven skills.
If you were injured in a trucking accident IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA OF FLORIDA, our TAMPA truck accident lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Our attorneys have a combined legal experience of over 50 years in handling all types of personal injury cases, and a large portion of our work involves trucking accidents.
We put multiple lawyers on your case in order to give it the extra attention it deserves. Not only that, but we’re also fewer than 10% of Florida attorneys who are also authorized to practice in federal courts. Let us put our experiences and resources to work for you today, and you can expect to get the results you deserve.
Our TAMPA Truck Accident Lawyers are ready to provide you with a detailed consultation for FREE!
Our Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers are very experienced and fully prepared to litigate aggressively on your behalf. There are no up front fees or costs unless we win and our consultations are always free. And we make it very easy to reach us – by phone, email, and even live chat right here on the website. And if you’re still unsure, have a look at some of the reviews we receive.
My husband and I used the services of Fernandez Law Group last year after a very serious car accident. The staff was always receptive and available to answer any questions we had. Frank and Sherry kept us up-to-date on everthing from beginning to end. We were never left out in the dark not knowing how the case was progressing. They took their time, never appeared to be rushed or to rush us into any decisions regarding the case. The process was long and arduous, but they never left our side and we truly appreciated it and everything they did for us. We were beyond impressed with the final outcome of the case and we can’t thank them enough.❤ We pray that nothing like this ever occurs again…. but would most definitely seek their services in the future if the need were to arise. We “HIGHLY” recommend this firm! Thanks again and God bless! – by Shernea on Google
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a large truck, 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer due to the negligence of somebody else, do not try to handle a claim on your own or risk using an inexperienced lawyer.
Not all personal injury lawyers have our commitment to achieving full justice for their clients, nor do they have our trial experience and proven skills.
After negligence is proved in my injury claim, what kind of damages can I expect?
Here in Florida, and particularly in the cases our law firm has handled over the years here in the Tampa Bay area, most truck accidents which result in a personal injury have resulted in our clients receiving several different types of recoverable damages, including the following:
- Past and future physical pain and/or mental anguish and suffering compensation
- Past and future disfigurement compensation
- Past and future physical impairment compensation
- Recovery for lost wages, or loss of future earning capacity
- Past and future medical expenses
- Punitive damages (in some cases)
While the above list is a general idea of what you can expect when settlement is reached, each case is very unique and results may vary. Our Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers work aggressively on your behalf to get you the very best possible outcome for your situation.
3 Reasons Commercial TAMPA Truck Accident Cases Are Different
- Multiple Defendants – These cases can involve multiple defendants and insurance companies. In addition to truck drivers, trucking companies, shippers, brokers, mechanics, and others may share legal responsibility for injuries caused by commercial vehicles.
- Standard of Care – Drivers of commercial vehicles are required to have special CDL licenses and a thorough knowledge of the federal rules and regulations governing vehicle operation. While most jurors understand the general rules of the road, expert testimony is typically required to explain the standard of care that applies to commercial vehicle drivers and companies.
- Special Laws – Commercial truck drivers and companies are strictly governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Finding drivers in non-compliance with FMCSR is important in proving liability. An experienced truck accident lawyer can look for violations of these comprehensive rules to prove additional negligence.
For the past decade, Florida has been one of the top 5 states in the nation for trucking related accidents.
In the Tampa Bay Area of Florida, trucking accidents account for well over 7% of all fatal accidents, which is more than double the national average.
Whether we call them large trucks, 18-wheelers or tractor-trailers, these heavy duty commercial vehicles all have the potential to be a very dangerous hazard. And when an accident occurs, the injuries and damages can be extremely significant – often resulting in death. Our experienced Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers can greatly improve the outcome of these cases for injured victims.
Weighing in around 80,000 pounds, they are difficult to maneuver. Acceleration, stopping and turning abilities are greatly hindered. It’s no wonder why drivers are required to pass a CDL exam, and there’s many other requirements drivers must adhere to.
Truckers can be negligent for many reasons. Some may have expired licenses, or operating privileges revoked. Having lack of proper registration, insurance or inspection is also negligent behavior.
Drivers are also subject to time limits on the road and relating to sleep in between as well as being subject to lower blood-alcohol contents.
These extra restrictions are meant to protect us, but with all the different requirements comes a higher potential for mistakes to be made.
Not only that, but truck drivers must adhere to all of the other basic safety rules and regulations on the roadway as motorists do, but they have to also take into account all of the other variables that come into play due to the size or type of load they are carrying.
It is a demanding job that requires skill and patience where small mistakes can cause huge accidents, injury, loss and even death.
Primary types of trucking accidents in THE TAMPA BAY AREA OF Florida:
Rear-end and side collisions:
The cases our Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers have seen involving rear-endings typically result from trucks not being able to stop in time for traffic, whereas the T-angle crashes typically result from truckers running red lights. Both of these instances are very negligible on the part of the truck operator and these cases can often settle out of court.
Under-ride accidents:
These accidents occur when a truck quickly slams on their brakes and the driver of a passenger car or truck collides with the rear of a truck and slides up under the rear of the trailer, often pulled and tucked by the trailer’s rear wheels. Driver negligence, poor road conditions or mechanical failure are all factors that contribute to these types of crashes.
Head-on collisions:
Unfortunately, these types of accidents are usually very severe. The weight of a large tractor-trailer impacting a smaller passenger car or truck is extremely damaging and those who manage to survive are often left with permanent injuries as a result.
Driver negligence, such as falling asleep behind the wheel, operating while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, and an increased rise of distracted driving has continually been the cause of these types of accidents.
Truck rollovers:
Truck rollovers occur when a truck has too high of a center of gravity. Overloading or mis-loading the freight can be a contributing factor. But even the most properly loaded trailer can still rollover if a trucker takes a turn too fast. Our Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers have also seen plenty of cases where a truck has locked up the breaks, resulting in a jackknife that not only causes a rollover, but a rear-end collision as well.
Lost loads:
Drivers are supposed to constantly check the status of their loads in order to ensure they are safe and secure. Improperly or inadequately securing a load the negligence of the driver to properly inspect and continue to inspect the load can have bad consequences for other motorists.
Blind spots:
As a motorist, you should be aware that truck drivers usually have rather large blind spots where they have trouble seeing other vehicles. Blind spot accidents are difficult to avoid, especially in situations where you are between a large truck and a wall.
Tire blowouts:
Not only does a tire blowout increase the chances for a driver to lose control of a large truck or 18-wheeler, it also has other potential consequences. Shrapnel from the tire may fly back and impact your windshield and hinder your view or spin you out of control.
How does negligence come in to play with trucking accidents IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA?
Tractor-trailers have the potential to be a very dangerous hazard. Weighing in around 80,000 pounds, they are difficult to maneuver. Acceleration, stopping and turning abilities are greatly hindered. It’s no wonder why drivers are required to pass a CDL exam, and there’s many other requirements drivers must adhere to.
Truckers can be negligent for many reasons. Some may have expired licenses, or operating privileges revoked. Having lack of proper registration, insurance or inspection is also negligent behavior. And drivers are also subject to time limits on the road and relating to sleep in between as well as being subject to lower blood-alcohol contents. These extra restrictions are meant to protect us, but with all the different requirements comes a higher potential for mistakes to be made.
Not only that, but truck drivers must adhere to all of the other basic safety rules and regulations on the roadway as motorists do, but they have to also take into account all of the other variables that come into play due to the size or type of load they are carrying. It is a demanding job that requires skill and patience where small mistakes can cause huge accidents, injury, loss and even death. Our Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers will diligently review all of the details and evidence for each case to prove negligence.
Different types of negligence that CONTRIBUTE TO trucking accidents IN TAMPA:
- Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service
- Vehicle Maintenance and Inspections
- Being careless or inattentive
- Failure to check blind spots
- Operator inexperience
- Excessive speed
- Alcohol and/or drug use
- Over the counter drug use
- Overloading
- Lack of proper lights
- Failure to signal
- Distracted driving
- Brake violations
- Unfamiliarity with the roads or route
- Aggressive driving or road rage
If you or a loved one has a question about a potential personal injury case or if you’re in need of experienced personal injury lawyers, we hope that you will contact our office for a free consultation.
– Additional Resources and Information on Personal Injury and our Personal Injury Lawyers