Being in an 18-wheeler truck accident can have devastating impacts on your life, in a physical, mental, and financial sense. The last thing you want to do is worry about the legal complexities and processes that come after.
The good news is that an 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer in West Palm Beach can help you with the legal steps required to move forward, along with providing support and guidance that you may need regarding any aspect of your accident.
At Blakeley Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers, we have recovered over $250 million for our clients, and we are here for you with local offices that mean real in-person help. To get started with a free consultation with a West Palm Beach truck accident lawyer from our firm, give us a call or reach out to us online today.
What Makes 18-Wheeler Accidents So Much More Dangerous Than Other Crashes in West Palm?
18-wheeler accidents can be more serious than those involving standard vehicles because of these trucks’ height and size. Because of this, the injuries that victims face can be devastating, requiring not just immediate medical care but also long-term or life-long care in many instances. And those in standard vehicles usually suffer the most.
Along with that, many truck accidents happen on expressways, where both vehicles are traveling at high speeds, which can increase the severity of injuries. While you recover and try to get back to normal life, a West Palm Beach personal injury lawyer can take care of the claims process.
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Understanding Florida’s Comparative Fault Law and Its Potential Impact
When pursuing any kind of personal injury claim in Florida, you should be aware of the comparative fault law in this state. Under Florida Statute § 768.81, an injured person’s damages are reduced by the percentage of the fault that they share.
This means that if you are found to be more than 50% of fault, even by as little as 1%, then you may not be able to recover any damages from the accident. Thus, you will be responsible for all medical bills, property damages, or anything else related to the accident.
An experienced 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer in West Palm Beach may be able to challenge any allegations of fault and potentially protect your right to compensation. Of course, this depends on the details surrounding the accident and your claim.
What Kinds of Compensation May Be Available?
Every 18-wheeler truck accident can vary quite a bit, and so compensation will vary; however, in general, you can typically expect the following types of damage:
Future and Current Medical Costs
Serious truck accident injuries often require immediate and ongoing care. Compensation may be available for future surgeries, rehabilitation, assistive devices, in-home care, and other anticipated medical expenses.
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
If your injuries force you to miss work while recovering, you may be entitled to compensation for the income you lost during that time. And if you are unable to continue working as you did beforehand, there may be compensation for that loss of future earnings as well.
Property Damage
Compensation may be available for repairs to your vehicle or the replacement of property damaged in the accident. In many 18-wheeler truck accidents, vehicles are severely damaged, sometimes even totaled.
Pain and Suffering
Truck accident victims may recover damages for the physical pain, discomfort, and limitations caused by their injuries.
Emotional Distress
A serious accident can have lasting emotional effects, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. These damages may be included as part of your claim.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
If your injuries prevent you from participating in activities, hobbies, or aspects of daily life that you previously enjoyed, they can impact your overall quality of life. As a result, you may be entitled to additional compensation.
Wrongful Death Damages
If a loved one was killed in an 18-wheeler accident, surviving family members may be entitled to pursue wrongful death damages. Depending on the circumstances, compensation may be available for funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and other losses resulting from the fatal accident.
Because of Florida’s fault laws and because of the two-year statute of limitations in the state for personal injury claims, having a lawyer in your corner can be extremely helpful as you attempt to exercise your right to compensation.
Who May Be Liable in These Accidents?
Many people assume the truck driver is the only person responsible after a crash, but that is often not the case.
Liability may extend to the trucking company if it failed to properly hire, train, supervise, or monitor its drivers. Cargo loading companies may be liable when improperly secured freight contributes to an accident. Truck manufacturers can be held responsible for defective vehicle components, while maintenance contractors may be liable for negligent repairs or inspections.
Identifying every liable party is important because it may increase the amount of compensation available (depending on the details of the case). An experienced 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer in West Palm Beach can handle this process for you.
Call or text 800-431-9252 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
Reach Out to a West Palm Beach 18-Wheeler Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
An 18-wheeler truck accident is one of the most serious incidents that someone can face on the road. If you’ve been involved in one of these crashes, chances are there is a long medical road ahead of you, and even if not, you have setbacks like vehicle repairs, lost income, insurance claims, and mounting expenses to worry about.
The aftermath of a truck accident can quickly become overwhelming. Unlike a typical car accident, these cases often involve trucking companies, commercial insurance carriers, and complex state and federal regulations.
This is where an experienced law firm can step in and help while you focus on getting your life back on track. Blakeley Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers has over 40 years of combined experience and is here to fight for you.
Reach out to our firm to speak to a truck accident lawyer from our team today. Real people. Real cases. A legal team you can trust.
