Semi-trucks, also known as 18-wheelers, big rigs, and tractor-trailers, can weigh anywhere from 10,000 pounds (without a trailer) to the legal limit of 80,000 pounds (with a fully loaded trailer). As you can imagine, collisions with large trucks can be fatal and cause significant property and bodily injury damage. Few people walk away from a truck collision unharmed.
According to Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in 2017 Florida had nearly 32,000 large truck accidents. Sadly, these truck accident statistics represent a typical year.
The most common catastrophic injuries from big rig collisions include:
Due to the commercial nature of trucking, the vast majority of truck collisions (83 percent for fatal truck crashes and 88 percent for non-fatal truck collisions) occurred on weekdays in 2017. Contributing factors varied. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:
The Ultimate Guide for Truck Accidents in Orlando
When a person is injured or killed in a truck accident in Florida, their future, and that of their loved ones, has changed in the blink of an eye. Everything — their career, vacation plans, education, and pursuit of happiness — is put on hold indefinitely, if not forever. For those who die, families must plan and pay for funerals and deal with medical expenses, insurance companies, loss of income, and all that comes with the unexpected loss of a loved one. For those who are catastrophically injured, they and their families face an uncertain future that includes many of these same challenges as well as rehabilitation, future surgeries, agonizing pain, medical equipment, 24/hour care, and more. The emotional and financial costs are high for both fatalities and catastrophic injuries.
Below are some of the damages personal injury lawyers typically seek for truck accident injuries:
If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident in Florida, take the following steps:
While insurance companies are likely to be involved, it’s important to understand that insurance company settlements may be limited. Not only might they be limited by the at-fault party’s insurance coverage, insurance companies won’t necessarily cover pain and suffering or punitive damages or take future medical expenses into consideration. In order to pursue the full settlement that you’re entitled to, you’ll want an experienced, board-certified truck accident lawyer on your side who is willing to take the case to verdict. Handling, litigating and trying truck crash cases is complex, and it’s important to find an attorney who has experience in this specialized field.
Leighton Law has obtained some of the largest truck accident verdicts and settlements for our clients in Florida. We recently won a $7.4 million verdict in Osceola county where a semi-truck hit our client’s car, seriously injuring him. We have also won million dollar recoveries in Orange, Seminole, Lake, Volusia, Polk and Brevard Counties. Our expertise could make a substantial difference in your long-term recovery. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
A nationally-recognized trial lawyer who handles catastrophic injury and death cases. He manages Leighton Law, P.A. trial lawyers, with offices in Miami and Orlando, Florida. He is President of The National Crime Victim Bar Association, author of the 2-volume textbook,Litigating Premises Security Cases, and past Chairman of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America’s Motor Vehicle, Highway & Premises Liability Section. Having won some of the largest verdicts in Florida history, Mr. Leighton is listed inThe Best Lawyers in America (14 years), “Top Lawyers” in the South Florida Legal Guide (15 years), Top 100 Florida SuperLawyer™ and Florida SuperLawyers (14 years), “Orlando Legal Elite” by Orlando Style magazine, and FloridaTrend magazine “Florida Legal Elite