South Florida truck accident lawyer

Did you or a loved one suffer an injury in a semi-truck crash? Don’t hesitate to call a skilled South Florida truck accident lawyer. We’ll fight the trucking insurance company to recover the compensation you deserve.

Learn how we can help by contacting us online or by calling (561) 655-1990 to schedule your free consultation.

Steps to take after being hurt in a truck crash

If you can remember the following, you’ll significantly increase the chances of getting every dollar you deserve. Even more importantly, you’ll be taking the critical steps needed to protect your health.

1. Move to a safer location

If your vehicle still runs, get it away from the accident site immediately. Even if that means just moving it to the shoulder of the highway, at least you’ll be away from oncoming traffic. If your car won’t operate, get to the safest location nearby.

2. Call 911 and ask for police and an ambulance

Calling 911 will help ensure that you and anyone else who’s hurt can get the necessary medical help. Request a police officer as well. The officer’s investigation could be key to your case and could help you obtain compensation.

3. Tell your side of the story to the responding police officer

Be honest when telling the officer what happened. However, you should never say anything that makes it look like the wreck was your fault. If you admit even the smallest amount of blame, the trucking company’s insurer will use that to minimize the amount of money you can receive. They might even be able to deny your claim entirely.

4. Notify your insurance company

No one likes dealing with their insurance company, but you’ll need to tell your insurer what happened as soon as possible. If you delay, it could negatively affect your policy, and they might deny you coverage to which you would otherwise have been entitled.

5. Gather evidence at the scene

Getting evidence at the accident scene can be critical to your case – but not at the risk of further injury, or even your life. If – and only if – you’re 100% certain you can do so safely, take pictures and/or videos with your phone.

Take photos of all the vehicles involved in the accident, as well as damage to guardrails, highway or street signs, etc. If you see what looks like fresh skid marks, get pictures of those as well. They could indicate that the truck driver was speeding and made the marks when slamming on the brakes in an effort to avoid hitting you.

6. Visit Urgent Care or your primary care physician

If you don’t accept the ambulance ride from emergency personnel, at least get to a 24-hour clinic or your family doctor. You’re going to need to be checked out. Otherwise, your injury could worsen, which can make your recovery longer and more expensive.

7. Consult with a South Florida truck accident attorney

The sooner you speak with a skilled attorney,  the sooner they can start the accident investigation. If it takes too long for the investigation to start, key evidence could quickly disappear for good.

Make sure you meet the deadline to file a claim

The statute of limitations for Florida personal injury claims is two years. This means that you have two years from the date of the incident to take legal action to obtain compensation. If the statute of limitations expires, so will your case.

Possible damages you can claim

Anytime someone suffers an injury in an accident caused by another’s negligence, their losses are known as “damages.” The following is a brief explanation of the damages you’ve likely incurred.

Economic damages

Have your accident-related medical bills started to pile up? Are you losing your salary because you can’t work? Your medical expenses and lost wages are examples of economic damages.

Non-economic damages

Proving non-economic damages is more difficult. It’s hard to place a value on subjective damages such as lost quality of life, mental and emotional distress, pain and suffering, etc. You’re going to need an attorney with the experience it takes to place a numerical value on these damages.

We fight trucking insurance companies to get you the maximum compensation

You’re going to want a South Florida trucking accident lawyer who isn’t afraid of huge insurance companies. That’s exactly what you’ll get when you turn to Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath. We’ve defeated insurance companies for years, helping our clients obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in the process.

Parties who may be liable for the crash

Truck collisions are usually complex, due to the fact that several different parties may share a portion of the blame. These include the following parties:

• The trucker may have been driving while fatigued or impaired
• The trucking company may have neglected maintenance or routine inspections
• The manufacturer of the truck may have produced a defective part, contributing to the crash
• The company that loaded the truck may have done so in an unsafe manner

Length of time you can expect your claim to settle

There is no set-in-stone amount of time it will take for you to get your money. If an attorney ever promises to win your case in a certain time period – without having the facts of the case – then you should choose another legal representative.

It could take a few months for your case to reach a fair settlement, or it could happen earlier. There’s a chance it could take longer. The length of your case will depend on a lot of factors, such as the strength of evidence and the number of parties involved.

Semi-truck “black boxes”: What they are and how they may be used in your case

Most trucks come equipped with an electronic data recorder (EDR), commonly referred to as a “black box.” The EDR contains critical data, such as the speed the truck was traveling at the time of the accident, whether or not the brakes were applied, and much more.

Common truck accident injuries

The injuries resulting from a truck accident can be devastating, including the following:

• Severe organ damage
• Broken bones
• Serious burns
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Amputation

“Dos” and “don’ts” of dealing with insurance after a crash

Another reason you need to hire a South Florida truck accident lawyer as soon as you can is that when an insurance company knows you have representation, they’ll be much less likely to harass you.

If you don’t work with an attorney, you may have to deal with a skilled adjuster who will try to trick you into accepting responsibility for what happened. If you fall into that trap, you may find it impossible to obtain the compensation you deserve.

Cost of hiring a South Florida truck accident lawyer

Some people are hesitant to hire a lawyer because they don’t think they can afford to do so. But our firm works on a contingency basis, which means we won’t charge you anything unless we win your case.

Why you should visit a doctor as soon as possible

Earlier we mentioned how important getting medical help will be to your health. But it will also play a major role in helping you obtain maximum compensation. Seeing a doctor will establish a record of your medical treatment and can help prove some of the economic damages mentioned above.

Not seeking medical help, on the other hand, will severely damage your case. The insurance company will argue that you’re either not hurt that badly, or you really weren’t injured at all. If you don’t get medical attention, it will be very easy for the insurer to deny your claim.

Our South Florida truck accident attorneys are here to help

Please get in touch with the South Florida personal injury lawyers with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath as soon as you can so we can get to work on your behalf. You can contact us online or call (561) 655-1990 to schedule a free case review.