Clearwater Truck Accident Attorneys

Protecting the Rights of Injured Motorists

You’re bound to have a lot of questions and concerns after being in a truck accident—and that’s before you ever consider taking legal action against the truck driver and trucking company that caused the wreck. To start making sense of your options, start with a free virtual consultation provided by the Clearwater truck accident lawyers of Burnetti, P.A.. Our legal team is proud to be a recognized name across Florida for all things related to truck accident claims, including courtroom litigation if necessary.

People choose Burnetti, P.A. for truck accident claims because:

• We have more than 30 years of experience representing the wrongfully injured.
• We have secured millions of dollars for our clients through settlements and awards.
• We have earned high praise from past clients, including motor vehicle accident clients.
• We have been recognized by Super Lawyers®, Martindale-Hubbell®, and other professional groups.

Discuss your legal options with a highly experienced legal team. Call (727) 240-2712 now.

Common Types of Truck Accidents

Go anywhere on a highway or state route in Florida, including the 19, 580, and 60 that cross Clearwater, and you’re bound to see commercial trucks, big rigs, and 18-wheelers. With so many trucks on the road at all times, the risk of a truck accident is always present. If or when a truck accident does occur, it can take one of many different forms.

Our lawyers can work on cases involving these types of truck accidents and more:

• Detached trailers
• Head-on collisions
• Jackknifes
• Loose cargo
• Rear-end collisions
• Rollovers
• Tire blowouts
• Underrides

Common Truck Accident Injuries

Why does it seem that truck accidents are much more likely to cause severe injuries than other motor vehicle accidents? It has to do with the size and weight of the average commercial truck. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) allows commercial trucks to weigh up to 80,000 pounds, which is an enormous weight compared to the average passenger vehicle. If a truck hits a smaller, lighter vehicle, the force will mostly be imparted on that smaller vehicle, so anyone inside of it will be at a high risk of serious injury.

At Burnetti, P.A., we focus on catastrophic injury claims that involve life-changing or life-threatening injuries. If you were in a truck accident that left you severely injured or disabled, you can lean on our team for resourceful and insightful counsel. We can even talk to trusted medical experts to get more information about your injuries if they are complex or permanent.

Life-changing injuries suffered in a truck accident can include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Broken bones
• Lost limbs
• Soft tissue damage
• Permanent scarring

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

If there are so many safety regulations within the trucking industry, why are there so many truck accidents in Florida each year, ranging well into the tens of thousands? The common thread among truck accidents is everyday negligence. People make mistakes that bring consequences. Sometimes, those people are truck drivers, and the consequences are life-changing injuries suffered by others. Furthermore, truck accidents can be caused by trucking companies that use negligent business practices that indirectly put other motorists at risk.

Types of negligence that can cause or contribute to a truck accident are:

• Truck driver distraction
• Truck driver fatigue
• Truck driver intoxication or impairment
• Not obeying traffic safety laws
• Unsafely loaded truck cargo or trailer
• Poor truck maintenance
• Hiring unlicensed truck drivers
• Not training new truck drivers

Who Can Be Liable for a Truck Accident?

Truck accidents can usually be traced back to truck driver negligence or some sort of professional oversight on behalf of the trucking company that hired them. Also, employment laws in Florida usually make an employer responsible for the wrongdoing that an employee carried out while at work or completing a work-related duty. For this reason, most defendants in a truck accident claim or lawsuit are trucking companies and the insurance companies that sell them insurance policies, not necessarily individual truck drivers.

Establishing Negligence in a Truck Accident

You probably know that the truck driver did something wrong and hit you. However, knowing that fact yourself and proving it to others are two different things entirely. If you want to pursue compensation for your losses after a truck accident, you have to be able to establish negligence and liability with convincing evidence and arguments.

Thankfully, you don’t need to go through this process on your own. Talk to our Clearwater truck accident attorneys about what happened, and we can tell you how we can help, including the start-to-finish preparation of your claim, complete with useful evidence of negligence and liability.

Different types of evidence that can be useful in your truck accident claim are:

• Police reports
• Dashcam footage
• Eyewitness statements
• Electronic onboard recorders (EOBRs)
• Trucking company’s history of inadequate safety standards
• Truck driver’s history of unsafe driving

Steps to Take After a Truck Accident

After a truck accident, you should try to follow these steps:

1. Get to a safe location and call 911 for help.
2. Collect evidence if you can do so safely. Photographs and video footage of the crash scene are important.
3. Write down the contact and insurance information of the truck driver, as well as details about the truck (company, trailer ID, license plate number, etc.).
4. Record any information provided by eyewitnesses who stop to help, so your attorney can talk to them later.
5. If you aren’t treated at the scene of the crash, see a medical provider as soon as possible for a checkup. Even if you feel fine, you should always let a doctor evaluate your health after a truck accident.
6. Call (727) 240-2712 to talk to an attorney from Burnetti, P.A. about the crash. If you hire us, we can even report the accident to your insurance provider for you.

Florida Truck Accident Statute of Limitations

Your truck accident claim in Florida is likely held to a two-year statute of limitations that begins on the date of the accident. In other words, you have two years to file an injury claim against the liable party or parties, or you will lose the option to pursue compensation through the court system.

Keep in mind that the statute of limitations can be shorter than two years under certain circumstances, so talking to a lawyer soon should be a priority. Also, you should be reminded that an injury claim is separate from an auto insurance claim, which usually must be filed within 30 days or fewer after the crash.

Truck Accident Claims Process

The process of filing a truck accident claim in Florida will usually include:

1. Hiring an attorney to represent and guide you throughout the process.
2. Investigating the crash and the circumstances leading up to it.
3. Researching the extent of your injuries and losses.
4. Calculating how much compensation should be provided to you by the defendant.
5. Sending a demand letter to the defendant, so they can provide compensation or risk legal action.
6. Filing a claim prepared by our lawyers with the right court before any statutes of limitations expire.
7. Attempting to negotiate a settlement that gets you compensation sooner rather than later.
8. Entering litigation on your behalf to fight for the compensation you deserve (if no settlement is reached).

Don’t skip step 1: hiring an attorney! If you let us represent you from the beginning, we can handle every step in your truck accident claims process.

Compensation Available for Truck Accident Claims

Your truck accident claim will have a “worth” based on the losses you have incurred and the injuries you have suffered. The greater the losses and the worse the injuries, the larger the “worth,” usually. Our legal team knows how to thoroughly research a truck accident claim to calculate a maximized amount of compensation owed to our clients.

In a typical truck accident claim, compensation will include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Past and future lost wages and income
• Pain and suffering
• Disabilities and lost enjoyment of life

Call an Attorney from Our Firm Today

You can get your truck accident claim started as soon as you talk to our Clearwater truck accident attorneys from Burnetti, P.A.. We make working with a legal professional simple and stress-free by offering to handle all parts of your claim on your behalf. You just stay focused on taking care of yourself while we get to work on fighting for every dollar of compensation you’re owed.

Dial (727) 240-2712 to ask for a FREE case consultation today.