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Florida Truck Accident Lawyer

Have you been injured in a trucking accident in Florida?

When you or your loved one is driving on the road, the last thing you ever imagine happening is being involved in a truck accident.

However, trucking accidents happen more often than people think and the results can be catastrophic.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Florida is among the top states in the country for trucking accidents and injuries. In 2021, the FMCSA recorded 5,734 trucking and large vehicle crashes in Florida. Florida is rated #3 in the nation for number of trucking accidents behind Texas and California.

If you or a loved one is a victim of a truck accident, you should strongly consider contacting a Florida truck accident lawyer.

Truck drivers are often employees of a larger company, which means you’ll be up against big insurance companies, trucking companies and their corporate lawyers, all of which have gone through hundreds of accident claims before. It’s extremely unlikely that you’ve been in a truck accident before.

Trucking companies may have up to thousands of drivers in their fleet, and the insurance companies they work with will do everything in their power to pay as little as possible for the damages they’ve caused. It is essential you hire a lawyer who understands how the trucking industry works and the tactics they use.

If you’re struggling with injuries due to a truck accident, call the attorneys at Michael T. Gibson, Auto Justice Attorney at 407-422-4529 to schedule your free consultation. When you’re up against an experienced defense lawyer, you want the best representation to be fighting for your rights. Our Florida truck accident lawyers have experience with truck accident claims involving 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, tractor trailers and other large commercial trucks and have won!

Common Causes for Truck Accidents

Truck accidents can be caused by a number of reasons. Some of the most common causes for trucking accidents include:

Driver Error – Driver fatigue is one of the most common causes for crashes on highways and interstates, as drivers may have been overworked or lack sufficient rest before they get behind the wheel.

Driving under the influence – For truck drivers, drinking and driving can be an especially dangerous combination. Trucks often weigh more than 10 tons, create a larger impact than smaller vehicles and cause death or serious injury to occupants of other vehicles that may cross their paths.

Speeding – For many trucking companies, time is money. This means they might order their drivers to speed in order to complete deliveries on time.

Vehicle failure – Damages sustained to the truck can lead to an accident if it causes the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Some common damages include tire blowouts, brake failures or defective equipment that could cause the driver to lose control of their commercial motor vehicle.

Mechanical defects – A commercial motor vehicle can be outfitted with defective parts before it even leaves the factory. If you are unlucky enough to be involved in an accident with a commercial truck that has defective equipment, call our Florida truck accident attorney for help!

Common Injuries Sustained in Truck Accidents

Truck accidents can have a serious impact on any victim, but the larger size and weight of commercial motor vehicles means that occupants in smaller vehicles are at a greater risk for sustaining injuries or death.

Injuries you could sustain from a trucking accident when you’re in another vehicle include:

Whiplash – As trucks weigh much more than cars, they often cause more damage to the occupants of other vehicles when accidents occur. Whiplash is one type of injury that can be sustained if your head hits the headrest or windshield during an accident.

Broken bones – Truck drivers are responsible for ensuring their vehicle is safe to drive prior to getting behind the wheel. If a truck has a defect or defective equipment, a driver can become a victim of a preventable accident.

Road rash – If your body comes in contact with the pavement during an accident, road rash can occur. Road rash is another type of injury you could sustain from a trucking accident.

Serious Injury – In many cases, accidents involving commercial vehicles end with serious injuries or even death to those involved.

Fatal Injury – In the worst cases, trucking accidents can result in a fatality. When an accident results in death, you want to retain experienced legal representation on your side to help with damages like funeral costs and lost wages.

Proving Your Truck Accident Case in Florida

We understand that recovering damages for injuries sustained in a truck accident can be difficult. Trucking companies are often represented by large insurance companies who know how to work the system. The last thing you want is to get stuck with medical bills due to an injury you didn’t cause, so let us fight for your rights while you focus on healing! A person injured in a truck accident must prove:

    • The truck driver owed you a duty of care to drive in a safe and reasonable manner.

    • The trucker failed to maintain that level of care.

    • Your injuries or the harm done to you or a loved one as a result of this breach of care.

    • You or a loved one was injured and incurred losses as a result of the accident.

Damages in a personal injury lawsuit can fall under either economic or noneconomic categories. Economic damages include all of the financial losses you have incurred as a result of an accident or personal injury, while non-economic damages are awarded for pain and suffering and emotional distress.

Trucking Company Negligence

Truck accidents can occur in a number of different ways. Trucking companies can be held liable if they were negligent in any way when it comes to the operation, maintenance and/or inspection of their vehicles. For example, trucking companies may have a responsibility to properly maintain their trucks and ensure that parts are kept up-to-date. In cases where drivers are fatigued, not properly trained or under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, trucking companies may be held liable because they must ensure that their employees are following safe driving practices.

Act Quickly if You’ve Been in a Truck Accident

If you have been injured in a truck accident, it is essential to act quickly. Trucking companies often have law firms and experts on stand by for such incidents. These experts are quickly dispatched to the scene of the accident. This means that the trucking company and their lawyers inevitably have a big head start on the collection of post crash evidence, and that they start planning their defense of a claim immediately.

Thus, if you are a truck accident victim or family of the same, you need to hire an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Experienced truck accident lawyers know the evidence the trucking company obtained and looked for on the day of the crash, and know how the trucking companies will try to hide or not provide the same. Crucial evidence to proving a trucking negligence case can be lost forever in as little as thirty days if action isn’t taken quickly.

Insurance companies from the trucking company may attempt to deny liability or offer an unfair settlement when they learn that a personal injury attorney has been contacted.

It’s in your best interest to discuss your case with a Florida truck accident lawyer immediately. The experienced attorneys at Michael T. Gibson, Auto Justice Attorney will fight to ensure you receive the money you need and deserve for your injuries. You can call our office at 407-422-4529 to schedule your free consultation or contact us online.

Practice Areas

Our Location

Orlando Office

2420 S Lakemont Ave #150
Orlando, FL 32814

Phone: 407-422-4529

Hours: 24/7

Proving Your Truck Accident Case in Florida

We understand that recovering damages for injuries sustained in a truck accident can be difficult. Trucking companies are often represented by large insurance companies who know how to work the system. The last thing you want is to get stuck with medical bills due to an injury you didn’t cause, so let us fight for your rights while you focus on healing! A person injured in a truck accident must prove:

    • The truck driver owed you a duty of care to drive in a safe and reasonable manner.
    • The trucker failed to maintain that level of care.
    • Your injuries or the harm done to you or a loved one as a result of this breach of care.
    • You or a loved one was injured and incurred losses as a result of the accident.

Damages in a personal injury lawsuit can fall under either economic or noneconomic categories. Economic damages include all of the financial losses you have incurred as a result of an accident or personal injury, while non-economic damages are awarded for pain and suffering and emotional distress.

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We Will Fight for You!

If you’ve been involved in an accident involving any commercial truck, call the experienced Florida lawyers at Michael T. Gibson, Auto Justice Attorney. It is essential you hire a lawyer who understands how the trucking industry operates and the tactics they use. For more information, call our law office at 407-422-4529 or contact us online today!

We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing until we win money for you.

Past Truck Accident Claim Results

Michael T. Gibson, Auto Justice Attorney and his team of lawyers have been helping victims in Florida with their truck accident claims for over a decade. Here are some recent cases that our law firm has settled for our clients:

$3,200,000.00 – Wrongful Death – Trucking Accident

Recovery from a company truck that struck our clients’ vehicle head on, killing one and injuring another. Insurance Company initially attempted to deny liability, but our firm successfully obtained surveillance video from a nearby home that proved the Defendant caused the accident.

$2,250,000.00 – Wrongful Death and Personal Injuries – Trucking Accident

Recovery from trucking company whose truck struck our client on the interstate at night. Our client had multiple children in the car. One of the children was killed in the crash, and all suffered various injuries. Trucking company contented our client was at fault for the crash.

$1,475,000.00 – Wrongful Death – Trucking Accident

Recovery for the death of one client and for catastrophic injuries suffered by another. Accident happened on Interstate 275 in Tampa when a Dump Truck locked its brakes and went across traffic striking our clients head on. Case involved multiple defendants involved in the hauling of dirt. Firm investigated and made recoveries against all companies involved in the hauling project.

$1,970,000.00 – Wrongful Death – Trucking Accident

Recovery for death of our client caused when his truck was struck head on by another truck on I95.

$600,000.00 –Wrongful Death – Trucking Accident

Recovery on behalf of a client who was struck and killed by an eighteen-wheeler when the truck violated the client’s right away. Trucking company denied negligence for several years, contending our client was speeding, and thus caused the crash. We litigated the case, and successfully provided truck driver was negligent.

Injured? Consider Hiring a Florida Truck Accident Lawyer

If you have been injured in a trucking accident, it is vital that you hire an experienced Florida truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Having the services of Michael T. Gibson, Auto Justice Attorney on your side will ensure that your rights are protected and that all evidence necessary to win your case are preserved. Call us at 407-422-4529 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Truck Accident Lawyer FAQs

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Time is of the essence in a truck accident claim. The Florida statute of limitations gives you four years following the truck accident to bring about legal action. Aside from that, truck companies may be able to destroy important evidence if enough time has passed, sometimes within a few weeks!

You should contact a truck crash attorney as soon as possible following your truck accident to begin working on your case. I will begin gathering information, police reports, medical reports, and other necessary documentation. My firm will pursue all necessary measures to obtain compensation commensurate with the injuries you have sustained. It is the highest priority of your truck accident lawyer to work vigorously in seeking justice on your behalf, and that’s a responsibility I take very seriously. The only thing holding you back from getting compensation could be question. So At Michael T. Gibson, P.A., Auto Justice Attorney we have collected some of our more frequent client questions and listed them below to help you get started on your path to recovery.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) maintains online records of traffic crash reports filed by law enforcement. You will have to wait a few days until your report is put into the system. Once it’s available, you can request a report for $10, plus a $2 convenience fee. After you pay, FLHSMV will send you a link that allows you to download your report within 48 hours. If you need to obtain a copy of your crash report in-person, you can do so at your nearest Florida Highway Patrol troop station, but you must fill out a Sworn Statement to Obtain Crash Report and submit it with payment.

Following a truck accident, there might be a lot of confusion. If you are reading this and you’ve just been in a truck accident, you should:

 

  • Call the police to file an accident report.
  • Check to see if anyone was seriously injured. If so, call 911 immediately!
  • Write down the names and contact information of any witnesses. Also, take pictures of the scene, vehicles involved and people involved in the crash.
  • Get your car inspected by a mechanic as soon as possible to determine the extent of damage.
  • Do not contact any insurance companies or speak with an insurance adjuster.
  • Do not agree to anything without first consulting your driver injury lawyer.
  • If you were injured in a truck accident, should speak with a Florida truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.

When facing off against large insurance companies and their claims adjusters, you want an experienced lawyer working on your side. At the law office of Michael T. Gibson, Auto Justice Attorney, we will fight for your rights and demand fair compensation! Our Florida truck accident lawyers help clients recover damages that include:

 

Medical bills – Truck accidents can result in serious injuries that require extensive medical treatment to correct.

 

Pain and suffering – A truck accident that causes you or a loved one significant injuries can result in long-term pain, increased risk of diseases and mental trauma.

 

Lost wages – If you are unable to work due to your injuries, you may not have the money available to pay for expenses during your healing process. Our Florida truck accident attorneys can help!

 

Loss of consortium – Your injury could affect your life with your spouse or significant other. A loss of consortium claim could help compensate for the person you share your life with who has suffered financially, mentally and emotionally due to your injuries.

We understand the financial struggle you may be facing as a result of your injuries. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis which means you owe us nothing until we win money for you.

 

This means you don’t pay upfront if you choose us to represent you. If you obtain a settlement or court decision in your favor, we deduct our attorney fees from any money you receive. Contact our Florida personal injury lawyers at Michael T. Gibson, P.A., Auto Justice Attorney today to discuss your case.

Trucking is a complex industry involving millions of businesses, and there are multiple laws and regulations in place to ensure the safety of our roadways:

Truck accidents can be very complex because they often involve larger vehicles, commercial trucks or 18 wheelers that have many blind spots along with various federal regulations regarding the size and weight of such vehicles.

Larger Insurance Policies

Trucking companies carry larger insurance policies to protect themselves against major claims. Therefore, if you have been in a truck accident, it is essential to contact a Florida truck accident lawyer to help maximize the recovery of damages you may be entitled to.

Increased Property Damages

Truck accidents can lead to extensive property damage on the roadway and on private property. Due to their size and weight, even smaller vehicles such as cars may be crushed or mangled by a tractor-trailer.

More Serious and Catastrophic Injuries

Truck accidents can lead to more serious and catastrophic injuries. This is because larger trucks and tractor trailers pose a greater risk of injury, especially in the case of rollover accidents where motorists are thrown from their vehicles or pinned underneath wreckage.

Higher Medical Bills

Truck accidents can lead to higher medical bills due to the nature of injuries suffered in such crashes. Victims of trucking accidents may suffer from broken bones, internal injuries and other significant or catastrophic injuries that require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.

A Much Greater Chance of Death

In addition to catastrophic or serious injuries, there is a much greater likelihood of death in a truck accident. This is because the size and weight of trucks often make them lethal, even at low speeds where it could easily be avoided if other vehicles were able to see around the truck properly. According to FMCSA, in 2021 there was 191 deaths recorded from trucking accidents in Florida.