Truck accidents are among the most devastating crashes on roads in the Lakeland area, especially when they involve smaller vehicles like cars and motorcycles. Trucks are large, heavy machines that take a lot of training and skill to operate safely. This means there is a great risk of an accident when a truck driver negligently operates their rig.
Have you been injured in a truck accident in Lakeland that wasn’t your fault? You could be entitled to compensation for your injuries and other damages. In that case, you need a dedicated and experienced truck accident lawyer who can help you navigate the complex process of pursuing a legal claim for compensation.
The truck accident attorneys in Lakeland at Brooks Law Firm have extensive experience helping people who have been hurt in crashes with 18-wheelers and other heavy trucks. Our track record of successful verdicts and settlements includes a $1,050,000 recovery for a truck accident victim. We’ve seen firsthand just how catastrophic these accidents can be. That’s why we fight so hard to pursue the maximum compensation for you.
Contact us now to schedule a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable and compassionate team members.
What Makes Truck Accidents More Complicated?
Truck accident cases can be much more complex than an accident involving just regular cars. This is because truck accidents typically result in much more severe injuries and more extensive property damage. Also, the responsibility for an accident might be spread across a complex web of businesses and their insurance companies.
A collision with a tractor-trailer can exert tremendous force on a smaller vehicle. The occupants of those vehicles tend to suffer much more severe injuries. This means victims of truck accidents have higher medical expenses and often require a much longer recovery time.
Fortunately, tractor-trailers and other big trucks are usually covered by insurance policies with higher limits. This means that more money may be available to cover the extensive losses from a crash. However, with so much money on the line, you can count on insurance companies to put up a fight.
It can take time and a lot of evidence to untangle the web of
- truck drivers
- trucking companies
- cargo companies
- and others
to peel back their multiple layers of insurance to determine who is responsible and how much coverage is available.
Who Can Be Held Liable After a Lakeland Truck Accident?
When a semi-truck causes a crash, many parties could be fully or partially responsible. These parties could include:
- The truck driver, who may operate under his or her own business entity
- The trucking company
- The owner of the truck and trailer, which may be different from the trucking company
- The owner of the cargo
- The cargo loading company
- The truck maintenance company
- The truck manufacturer or parts suppliers for the manufacturer
If more than one of these parties is liable for your truck accident, the share of fault may be split among the parties.
Compensation for a Truck Accident Claim in Lakeland
If you are involved in a truck accident in Lakeland, you may be entitled to several types of compensation for your injuries, property damage, and other losses.
Economic Damages
Economic damages encompass a truck accident victim’s expenses incurred as a result of the injuries. It is easy to calculate them by using bills, invoices, and paystubs. Economic damages include:
- Medical expenses, such as hospital and doctor’s bills, physical and occupational therapy, prescription medication, and even renovations to your home to accommodate permanent disabilities caused by your injuries
- Lost income, including wages lost due to missed work and, if your injuries permanently prevent you from returning to your old job, the difference between your pre-accident and post-accident income
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are intended to compensate a truck accident victim for physical and emotional or mental distress. These damages typically have a more subjective aspect in their valuation. Non-economic damages may include:
- Pain and suffering, which includes your physical and emotional or mental distress due to your injuries, and due to your injuries preventing you from doing everyday tasks or participating in activities you used to enjoy
- Loss of consortium, which compensates your spouse or your immediate family for the loss of your society, companionship, and household services
You can seek compensation for property damage you suffer in a truck accident, such as damage to your vehicle or other property inside the vehicle.
If a close relative died in a truck accident, you and your family may be entitled to seek compensation through a wrongful death action. Wrongful death damages are paid to your loved one’s estate and to your family to compensate for your loved one’s funeral and burial expenses, for your loved one’s conscious pain and suffering immediately prior to their death, and for your family’s loss of your loved one’s economic support of your family and companionship and services to the family.
What to Do If You’ve Been Hurt in a Truck Crash in Lakeland
If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, there are specific steps you can take to protect your health and your legal rights, including:
- Seeking medical prompt medical attention even if emergency treatment is not necessary
- Calling the police, since the police accident report can provide crucial information for determining fault
- Getting the driver’s contact information and insurance information
- Taking down the contact information of any eyewitnesses
- Taking photographs of the accident scene
- Getting help from a knowledgeable Lakeland truck accident lawyer who can start the process of pursuing your claim for compensation
How Our Semi-Trailer Truck Accident Lawyers in Lakeland Can Help
If you have sustained injuries in a Lakeland truck accident, the lawyers of Brooks Law Group are ready to take on the burden of pursuing your claim while you focus your time and energy on your physical and emotional recovery.
Our attorneys can handle the process of collecting and preserving the evidence critical to proving your case, including obtaining evidence from the trucking companies which could show potential causes of the accident. After calculating the full extent of your losses and building a strong case, we can negotiate with the trucking companies and their insurers from a position of strength.
If a fair settlement of your claim is not possible, our attorneys will be ready to take your case to court and stand up for your rights in front of a judge and jury.
Don’t wait another day to get a knowledgeable and skilled semi-trailer truck accident lawyer in Lakeland on your side. Contact Brooks Law Group today to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your legal rights and options.
