Tampa Truck Accident Attorney
Personalized legal representation for truck accident victims.
An accident with a tractor trailer or semi-truck is a life altering event – emotionally, financially, and physically. Without an experienced truck accident attorney on your side, you run the risk of not obtaining fair compensation for injuries and damages. This is because cases involving trucking accidents are much more complex than car accidents, with multiple parties who may be at fault for the crash. A skilled attorney will determine who is liable and negotiate a successful settlement.
Don’t try to handle this on your own. Attorney Jennifer Meksraitis knows the specific laws and statutes governing the trucking industry and has a proven track record of success. Let her advocate on your behalf.
Call (813) 600-3197 for a free consultation.
How Can a Truck Accident Attorney Help Me?
If you or a loved one has sustained injuries because of an accident involving a tractor trailer or semi-truck, call an attorney as soon as possible to discuss and protect your legal options. The sooner you call an attorney, the sooner they can begin to investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident and ensure that key evidence of the crash has been preserved.
Thoroughly Investigating a truck accident requires knowledge, time, and resources that a victim acting alone just doesn’t have. An experienced attorney knows how to obtain and analyze key evidence to determine just how the accident happened and who is at fault. This includes:
• Crash Scene Evidence
• Police Reports
• Black Box data
• Witness Evidence
• Trucker Logs
Unlike in car accidents, there are often multiple at-fault parties in accidents involving tractor trailer or semi-trucks including the driver, trailer owner, the carrier, and many others. This makes it critical to have a skilled truck accident attorney on your side who knows how to look at the circumstances of the accident to determine exactly which parties should be held responsible for your injuries. It may be necessary to recover compensation from multiple parties to maximize the value of your claim.
Your attorney will also take on the responsibility of negotiating with the insurance company and other at-fault entities to ensure you get fair compensation for injury and loss of property. Remember, the insurance company wants to settle quickly and in the best interest of their client. You need an experienced truck accident attorney on your side to look after your best interest.
Contact us today and let Attorney Jennifer Meksraitis handle the complexity of your truck accident while you focus on taking care of yourself and your loved ones.
What Damages Am I Entitled to In a Truck Accident Lawsuit?
Injuries sustained in a truck accident are often severe and can have a devastating and lasting effect on you and your family. Under Florida law, you may be entitled to the following damages due to injuries sustained by someone else’s negligence:
• Wrongful Death
• Pain and Suffering (both present and future)
• Medical Expenses (both present and future)
• Loss of Income
• Property Damage
• Loss of Earning Potential
• Loss of Consortium (either spousal and/or parental)
Who is Liable for A Truck Accident?
Once the cause of a truck accident has been determined, the responsible parties can be identified. In many cases the driver of the truck will be found liable for the accident. But driver error or negligence may be just one contributing factor. Other responsible parties may include:
• Carrier (Trucking Company)
• Owner of the Trailer
• Cargo Loader
• Truck Mechanics
• Truck manufacturer and parts makers
Attorney Jennifer Meksraitis is an experienced personal injury attorney and is here to help you. Call her today at (813) 600-3197.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Tampa?
Truck accidents can happen for many reasons including bad weather, human error, equipment failure, and overloaded cargo. Some of the most common causes are:
• Driving Under the Influence: Federal law prohibits the consumption of alcohol within four hours of driving. But it’s not only alcohol and illegal drugs that can impair a driver; some prescription drugs can also have an adverse effect on coordination and judgement.
• Speeding: Truck drivers are often responsible for delivering their cargo on tight deadlines. Bad weather, road construction, and traffic jams can cause them to fall behind schedule. This often leads to speeding in an attempt to make up for lost time.
• Distracted Driving: Truckers spend most of their time on the road and often eat, drink and talk on their cellphones while driving in order to keep on schedule. Holding a mobile phone while driving is prohibited for truckers regardless of state regulations for passenger cars.
• Aggressive Driving: Long hours of driving, road construction, traffic, fatigue and the stress of tight schedules can take their toll on a driver’s nerves and lead to incidents of road rage and overly aggressive driving.
• Fatigued Driving: Federal regulations limit the total number of consecutive hours that a truck driver can drive and specify requirements for breaks. Even so, long haul truckers drive long hours under demanding schedules making driver fatigue a serious problem for the industry.
• Severe Weather: Dangerous weather conditions are especially difficult for truck drivers given the massive size and weight of their vehicles, especially when fully loaded. Slick roads make it more difficult to stop and increase incidents of hydroplaning and jackknifing. This can be especially true In Florida with the onset of sudden storms and heavy rains.
• Poorly Loaded or Overloaded Cargo: Improperly loaded or poorly secured cargo can result in balance and braking problems and ultimately cause a truck to jackknife or tip over.
• Improperly Maintained Vehicles: Trucking companies are required by law to maintain their fleet. Poorly maintained brakes and problems with tires are responsible for a significant percentage of truck accidents.
• Failure to comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations regarding truck safety: These regulations are in place to protect both the truck drivers and the drivers who share the road with them. Failure to adhere to these standards can result in significant penalties or worse in the event of an accident.
Why Heights Injury Law?
When you work with Heights Injury Law, you’re never just a case number. Jennifer Meksraitis provides personalized legal representation that always puts the client first. She will fight aggressively and tirelessly on your behalf. Call (813) 600-3197 for a free conversation.
