Semi-truck accidents leave victims like you with the short straw. All of a sudden, you have to contend with serious injuries, life-changing property damage, and the emotional distress that stems from these traumatic accidents. How are you supposed to recover?
Floridians can reach out to Winston Law to weigh their post-accident options. Our semi-truck accident attorneys in Weston, FL, can investigate the nature of your truck accident and help you determine if negligence contributed to your losses. If it did, we can take your case to civil court and advocate for your right to compensation.
What to Do After a Semi-Truck Accident
The first thing you need to do after a semi-truck accident case is call the local authorities and first responders. First responders can get you the medical attention you need to address any severe or life-threatening injuries. Police officers can help you assess the severity of your accident and, under some circumstances, can take a negligent party into custody.
If you have the ability to, try to take pictures of the scene of the accident while the damage is still fresh. The more evidence you have of the severity of your losses and the people at the scene, the easier it may be to prove liability later down the line. You can also gather bystanders’ contact information and record statements on a notetaking app.
You also have the right to call an attorney within minutes to hours of your accident. The sooner you bring an attorney onto your case, the sooner you can hand over responsibility for the legal elements of your recovery to an experienced party.
When to Call a Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer
The sooner you call a Weston semi-truck accident attorney to discuss your losses, the better. Our team can investigate your accident scene while you receive essential medical care and otherwise begin brainstorming ways to recover from your losses. You can also count on our team to:
- Prevent police officers from misinterpreting your losses
- Prevent a liable party from leaving the scene
- Keep essential evidence of your losses and liable party negligence on the scene
You can discuss the full extent of our services during an initial truck accident case consultation. Fortunately, you won’t have to worry about legal fees when you work with Winston Law. Our team operates on contingency. This means that we only get paid for our services if we win your case.
Who’s Responsible For a Semi-Truck Accident?
You can name a few different parties liable for a semi-truck accident. Your right to name a party liable hinges on both the evidence you find of a party’s negligence and the nature of any contracts those parties have with one another.
Put another way: if you get hit by a truck driver, you need to bring forward evidence claiming that said truck driver’s negligence caused your accident. You then need to determine how that driver’s company categorizes them. If the truck driver works as an employee, you can hold their employer liable for your losses.
If the truck driver works as an independent contractor, you can hold that individual responsible for your losses.
That said, other parties may also play a role in your accident. You may have the right to hold any of the following responsible for your recent losses:
- Truck packers
- Construction crews
- Government officials
- Private motorists
- Bicyclists
- Pedestrians
When in doubt, follow the evidence and let an attorney investigate what contracts might play a role in your case.
How to Calculate Possible Semi-Truck Accident Damages
The damages you deserve after a semi-truck accident depend on the economic value of your related losses. You need to calculate an estimate of your case’s total value before you bring your case forward. To find that estimate, you need to find the sum of your:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Physical injuries and essential medical attention
- Damaged property and restoration or replacement fees
You can also discuss your right to wrongful death compensation if a truck driver’s negligence resulted in a loved one’s untimely death. Our Weston, FL, semi-truck accident lawyers give you the space you need to grieve your loved one while also pursuing justice on your behalf.
How to Respond to Semi-Truck Accident Settlement Offers
Trucking corporations that recognize that they may be liable for your losses may reach out to you before you can begin compiling evidence against them. These parties can make you settlement offers to try and avoid time in court. You can accept these offers, but you need to consider their overall value before you do.
Many corporations’ insurance adjusters will try to undervalue your truck accident losses when making you an initial settlement offer. You need to have an attorney weigh a settlement offer against your own estimate of your case’s value before you accept a settlement. Fortunately, our team can step in and manage negotiations so they resolve in your favor.
When to File Your Claim
Florida’s personal injury statute of limitations recently changed. As stated in Florida Statutes Section 95.11(3)(a), you no longer have four years to act on your losses. Instead, as announced by the National Law Review, you have two. This means that you must bring a truck accident claim forward by the second anniversary of your accident if you want to fight for compensation.
This statute of limitations is firm. You cannot file a claim after the statute of limitations relevant to your case expires. If you try, Florida’s civil courts can throw your case out without due consideration.
Winston Law Helps You Manage Your Accident Recovery
Do you need help coping with the aftermath of a severe accident? Don’t wait until your statute of limitations expires to take action. Let Winston Law know about your concerns. We can connect you with a semi-truck accident lawyer in Weston who can take the reins of your case. That way, you can focus on recovering without compromising your right to legal action.
When truck drivers fail to act responsibly and, as a consequence, inflict undue suffering upon you or your loved ones, they must face the consequences of their negligent actions. At Winston Law Firm, our Florida truck driver error lawyers pledge to stand by our clients during times of distress caused by the devastating damages and injuries resulting from truck driver negligence.
If you have questions about the civil process or want to estimate the overall value of your recent truck accident case, contact our team. We can schedule your initial case evaluation over the phone or through our website’s contact form.
