The results can be devastating when an 80,000-pound commercial truck and trailer collide with a passenger car. Many truck accident injury victims do not survive, and others are often left disabled and requiring long-term care.
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a Sarasota truck accident caused by another party, you may have the right to recover compensation for your damages. But insurance companies will try to deny your claim and pay you as little as possible for your injuries.
You need the help of an experienced Sarasota truck accident lawyer. The lawyers at Garvin Injury Law have been recovering maximum compensation for truck accident injury victims and their families for over four decades.
Let us help you get the justice and compensation you deserve. To discuss your Sarasota truck or car accident claim, call (239) 277-0005.
You can also visit our contact page and schedule a free consultation.
Why Truck Accident Injury Victims in Sarasota Hire Garvin Injury Law
Garvin Injury Law is one of the most respected personal injury law firms in all of Southwest Florida. Our Sarasota personal injury lawyers prepare every case as though it will go to trial because we know that’s what’s best for our clients. A few reasons to consider hiring us include:
- Our attorneys have over forty years of experience collecting maximum compensation for truck accident injury victims and their families.
- Our attorneys take fast action to investigate your accident to determine all possible causes and liable parties and to uncover essential evidence to support your claim.
- We pay all costs of pursuing your claim, and you pay nothing until we recover your compensation.
We also have established relationships with top-rated experts who can help make your case as strong as possible. Ultimately, our goal will be to recover as much money for you as we can. Contact our truck accident attorneys in Sarasota, Florida, today for a free case review.
Do Not Trust Greedy Insurance Companies
After a truck accident, insurance companies often act quickly to protect their profits. They may contact you soon after the crash, acting concerned while working to gather information that can be used against you. They might also push for a quick settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries, or they could try to shift the blame onto you.
Large trucking companies and their insurers have teams of lawyers and adjusters ready to defend their bottom line. They may downplay your injuries or utilize various tactics designed to pressure you into accepting less than you deserve. Without an experienced lawyer on your side, it can be difficult to fight back effectively.
At Garvin Injury Law, we deal with insurance companies every day. We know their tactics and how to counter them. From the moment you hire us, we will take over all communication with and push for the full amount of compensation you need and deserve.
What Steps Should You Take After a Truck Accident in Sarasota?
The aftermath of a truck accident can be overwhelming, but the actions you take can affect your ability to recover compensation. If possible, try to:
- Seek medical attention right away, even if you do not believe your injuries are serious. Some injuries may not appear immediately, and medical records are critical for your claim.
- Report the accident to law enforcement so that an official crash report is created.
- Exchange contact and insurance information with all drivers involved.
- Gather evidence at the scene if it is safe to do so, including photos, witness information, and notes on road or weather conditions.
- Avoid statements that could be interpreted as accepting blame.
- Contact an experienced Sarasota truck accident attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.
Our Sarasota truck accident attorneys can handle the entirety of your legal claim while you focus on your medical recovery. Contact us today to learn more about forming an attorney-client relationship.
What Are My Legal Options After a Truck Accident in Florida?
After a truck accident in Florida, you may have more than one way to seek compensation. Florida’s no-fault insurance rules mean you can first turn to your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, which helps pay for medical bills and part of your lost wages regardless of fault. While PIP benefits can provide quick relief, they are often limited and may not cover all your losses.
If your injuries are considered serious under Florida law or if another exception applies, you can step outside the no-fault system and bring a personal injury claim against the party responsible for the crash. In truck accident cases, that might include the driver, the trucking company, or another entity involved in the operation or maintenance of the vehicle.
Our truck accident lawyers will thoroughly look into all the facts and circumstances of your crash so that we can determine your best path forward. You can feel confident that no stone will be left unturned with us on your side.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Due to their size and weight, commercial trucks can cause severe injuries in a crash. Victims often face extensive medical treatment and permanent impairments, to name just a few impacts that might result. Our experienced truck accident lawyers in Sarasota can handle cases involving:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and concussions
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken or crushed bones
- Severe burns
- Internal organ damage
- Amputations
- Soft tissue injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
These injuries can lead to life-changing consequences that may last forever, so the stakes could not be any higher. We will work with medical experts to calculate the full cost of your injuries and ensure no future expenses are overlooked in your claim.
If a loved one passed away due to a negligent truck driver, contact our wrongful death lawyers in Sarasota to pursue the justice they deserve.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Truck Accident in Sarasota, FL?
Victims of truck accidents in Sarasota may be entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages. These are designed to compensate you for the financial costs and personal harm you have suffered.
Economic damages cover measurable losses, such as:
- Medical expenses, both current and future
- Lost wages and income if you are unable to work
- Reduced earning capacity if your injuries impact your future employment
- Rehabilitation and long-term care
- Property damage, such as the repair or replacement of your vehicle
- Out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries
Non-economic damages compensate for more personal, intangible losses, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
In rare cases that go to trial, Florida law also allows punitive damages. These are intended to punish a defendant for especially reckless or intentional conduct, such as drunk driving or knowingly violating federal trucking safety regulations.
State and Federal Regulations Impacting Truck Accident Claims
Truck accident cases are often much more complicated than typical car accident claims. One reason why that is the case is that they are subject to both Florida traffic laws and federal trucking regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets strict rules for commercial trucking companies and drivers, including:
- Hours-of-service limits to prevent driver fatigue
- Regular vehicle inspections and maintenance requirements
- Mandatory drug and alcohol testing
- Cargo securement rules
- Driver qualification standards
When a truck driver or company violates these rules and causes an accident, it can be powerful evidence of negligence. Florida law also requires truck drivers to carry higher levels of insurance coverage than standard drivers, which can increase the potential compensation available.
Causes of Sarasota Truck Accidents
Sarasota truck accidents can have many causes. Some are caused by:
- Driving distracted, tired, sleepy, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Aggressive driving includes speeding, tailgating, and abrupt lane changes
- Vehicles moving into a truck’s blind spot areas
- Improperly loaded and secured cargo can shift and cause the driver to lose control, or the cargo may spill onto the road or other vehicles
- Defective or negligently maintained equipment can fail during operation, causing a loss of control and an accident
- Dangerous road conditions, such as negligently maintained or defectively designed roads
- Malfunctioning traffic signals
Determining the cause of your truck accident is essential so that the at-fault parties can be held accountable for paying your damages.
Liability in Sarasota Truck Accidents
Liability depends on the cause of your accident. Some potentially liable parties include the truck driver, truck owner, trucking company, maintenance and repair businesses, and cargo loading parties.
Other liable parties may include a government entity responsible for the negligently maintained or defectively designed road, or the malfunctioning traffic signals, other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
Liability is often hotly contested. An experienced Sarasota truck accident attorney will know how to prove liability and fight for you to collect the compensation you are entitled to.
Evidence Used in Sarasota Truck Accident Claims
The evidence used to prove your Sarasota truck accident claim will depend on the specific facts of your case.
Some common types of evidence we use to prove the cause of your accident include police reports, eyewitness accounts, photographs, and video footage from the accident scene.
We may also use dashcam video, data from event recording devices, cell phone records, expert testimony, and reports from accident reconstructionists.
To prove the existence and value of your damages, we may use medical records, photographs of your injuries, testimony of family and friends, testimony from medical experts, journals kept during your recovery, and economic experts regarding your damages’ current and future valuation.
Why You Should Hire a Sarasota Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accident claims often involve multiple parties, insurance companies, and defense attorneys. Your claim will frequently be impacted by both state and federal trucking regulations and other laws.
Insurance companies have much more at stake in truck accident cases than in most other accidents because the insurance policy usually provides much more coverage.
Your chances of success will be much greater if an experienced Sarasota personal injury attorney represents you.
Reach Out to Garvin Injury Law Today
Our experienced truck accident lawyers in Sarasota are ready to help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Call (239) 277-0005 or visit our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.