Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers

Representation for 18-Wheeler & Semi-Truck Accident Victims in FL

Each day, Tampa motorists share the road with tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and 18-wheelers. When a fully loaded truck weighing up to 80,000 pounds collides with a passenger vehicle, the results are devastating. In Hillsborough County alone, there are over 2,700 commercial vehicle accidents each year, resulting in hundreds of serious injuries and dozens of fatalities.

If you’ve been injured in a truck crash in Tampa, you are facing a complex and overwhelming battle against large trucking corporations and their aggressive insurance companies. You need a law firm with a proven track record of taking on these giants and winning.

At Burnetti, P.A., our experienced Tampa truck accident attorneys have a strong reputation for handling these complex cases. We have the resources, the expertise, and the results to prove it, including an $11,000,000 recovery for a client injured in a commercial vehicle accident.

If you or a loved one has been severely injured in an 18-wheeler accident, contact the Tampa truck accident lawyers at Burnett, P.A.

Why Choose Burnetti, P.A. for Your Tampa Truck Accident Case?

A truck accident claim involves complex state and federal regulations and multiple liable parties. Your choice of attorney is critical. Here is what sets Burnetti, P.A. apart:

• A Team Led by Board-Certified Specialists: A serious truck accident case requires the highest level of legal skill. Our firm is home to Florida Bar Board-Certified Civil Trial Lawyers. This is the highest level of evaluation for trial attorneys, a distinction held by less than 5% of Florida lawyers, signifying a tested specialist in trial law. This level of expertise is essential when facing powerful corporate legal teams.

• Your Advocate, Never Theirs: We have made a foundational promise to our clients: we only represent injured people, never insurance companies. This ensures our loyalty is exclusively to you. We are dedicated to maximizing your recovery, not maintaining relationships with the trucking insurers we fight against every day.

• Direct, Personal Communication: We believe you deserve to speak directly with your lawyer. That’s why we limit the number of cases we accept and provide you with your attorney's direct cell phone number. You will have a direct line for your questions, ensuring you are never left in the dark about your case.

• The Resources to Win: Trucking companies have deep pockets. We level the playing field by committing our firm's full financial resources to build your case, hiring top experts in accident reconstruction and trucking safety. We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Client Testimonial: "I would recommend Burnetti PA to any one who is looking for an attorney who wants to win!!" - Roy S.

Unraveling Complex Liability in a Tampa Truck Accident

Unlike a typical car crash, multiple parties can be held legally responsible for a truck accident. Our attorneys conduct a thorough investigation to identify every liable party, which may include:

• The Truck Driver: For negligence such as speeding, distracted driving, or driving while fatigued in violation of federal hours-of-service rules.

• The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier): For negligent hiring, poor training, failure to maintain their fleet, or pressuring drivers to violate safety regulations.

• The Truck Manufacturer: If a defective part, such as faulty brakes or a tire blowout, caused the crash.

• The Cargo Shipper or Loader: If improperly secured or overloaded cargo shifted and led to a loss of control.

• A Maintenance Company: If a third-party mechanic performed negligent repairs on the truck.

Our experience allows us to pursue every avenue of compensation to ensure you receive the full amount you are owed.

Establishing Negligence in Tampa Truck Accident Cases

To win compensation, you must show the truck driver breached their duty of care, causing your injury. Useful evidence includes:

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

• Police reports and eyewitness statements
• Medical and repair records
• Truck driver logs and maintenance records
• Photos, videos, and surveillance footage
• Cell phone and black box data
• Expert witness testimony

How Our Firm Builds a Winning Truck Accident Claim

Evidence in a truck accident case can disappear quickly. We act immediately to preserve it. Our process includes:

1. Rapid Investigation: We dispatch investigators to the scene, document evidence, and interview witnesses.

2. Preserving Critical Evidence: We send spoliation letters to the trucking company, legally demanding they preserve crucial evidence like the truck's "black box" data recorder, driver logs, maintenance records, and driver qualification files.

3. Hiring Experts: We work with accident reconstruction specialists to determine exactly how the crash happened and prove the truck driver or trucking company was at fault.

4. Calculating Full Damages: We consult with medical and financial experts to calculate the full lifetime cost of your injuries, including future medical care, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

Common Causes of Tractor-Trailer Accidents

Our investigation focuses on proving the specific cause of your crash. We have experience handling cases involving all forms of trucking negligence, including:

• Fatigued Driving: Drivers violating federal hours-of-service rules to meet deadlines.

• Distracted Driving: Using cell phones, GPS, or other devices while driving.

• Impaired Driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Inexperienced Driving: Trucking companies hiring drivers without adequate training.

• Poor Maintenance: Failure to properly maintain brakes, tires, and other critical components.

• Improperly Loaded Trucks: Overloaded or unsecured cargo that causes the truck to become unstable.

Common Types of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents involve large vehicles designed to transport cargo and often cause more severe damage than typical car crashes. Common types include:

Common types of truck accidents include:

• Rear-End Collisions: Truck hits the vehicle ahead, often due to distracted driving or sudden stops.

• Jackknife Accidents: Trailer swings out forming a sharp angle with the cab, usually from locked wheels.

• Rollovers: Truck tips over due to speed, sharp turns, or uneven loads.

• Underride Accidents: Smaller vehicle slides under a truck’s trailer, causing severe injury.

• Override Accidents: Truck runs over a smaller vehicle, often from poor visibility or unsafe following.

• T-Bone Accidents: Side-impact crashes, often at intersections.

• Wide Turns: Trucks swing wide during turns and may collide with nearby vehicles.

• Tire Blowouts & Brake Failure: Mechanical issues causing loss of control and crashes.

• Hazmat Accidents: Involving trucks carrying hazardous materials, increasing risk of spills or explosions.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

Truck accidents often result in severe and life-altering injuries due to the sheer size and weight of commercial trucks.

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Burns from fires or explosions
• Whiplash and chronic back or neck pain
• Broken bones and internal injuries
• Lacerations and bruises

Tampa Truck Accident FAQs

What should I do immediately after a truck accident in Tampa?

Ensure your safety and seek immediate medical attention. Call 911 to report the accident. If you can, take photos of the scene, damage, and any injuries. Exchange information with the truck driver, but avoid admitting fault or giving detailed statements to insurers before speaking to a lawyer.

How is a truck accident different from a regular car accident?

Truck accidents often cause more severe injuries and involve complex federal and state regulations, multiple insurance policies, and numerous potentially liable parties than a typical car accident. These cases require a much more extensive investigation and specialized legal experience.

What types of compensation can I recover in a truck accident claim?

You may be eligible to recover economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, property damage). In cases of extreme negligence, punitive damages may also be possible.

How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Florida?

Florida law gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. It’s important to act quickly, as critical evidence like black box data can be lost or destroyed over time.

What is a “black box” and how can it help my case?

Commercial trucks are equipped with electronic logging devices (ELDs), or “black boxes,” that record speed, braking, hours of service, and more. This data can provide critical, objective evidence of a driver’s actions leading up to the crash.

Can I still file a claim if the truck driver was from out of state?

Yes, you can file a claim in Florida even if the truck driver or company is based elsewhere. Trucking companies operating in Florida are still subject to Florida laws and federal trucking regulations.

Will my case go to trial?

Most truck accident claims are settled before reaching trial. However, if the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement, going to court may be the best option to recover the full value of your damages.

Do I need a lawyer to file a truck accident claim?

While you can file a claim on your own, trucking companies and their insurers have strong legal teams. Our Tampa truck accident lawyer at Burnetti, P.A., can help you navigate the legal system and maximize your compensation.

Contact Burnetti, P.A. — Your Trusted Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Tampa, time is critical. The sooner you contact an experienced truck accident attorney, the better we can protect your rights, preserve vital evidence, and build a strong case for the compensation you deserve.

At Burnetti, P.A., we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll these accidents take. We are committed to guiding you through every step of the legal process with compassion, clear communication, and aggressive advocacy.

Don’t face the powerful trucking companies and their insurers alone. Let us fight for your justice and help you move forward.

Contact the Tampa truck accident attorneys at Burnetti, P.A. by calling (813) 414-5884 today.