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Truck Accident Lawyer in Tampa, FL
While the busy roads and highways of Tampa bring traffic and commerce in and out of the city, they are also, unfortunately, home to many trucks accidents. Tampa crashes involving large semis and tractor-trailers can have devastating consequences – sometimes even causing loss of life.
The impact of injuries often requires a lot of recovery time, which can equate to piles of medical bills and sometimes even loss of income if you’re unable to work after a crash. Tampa truck drivers and companies can be held responsible for these costs associated with their negligence, but proving so in a Tampa courthouse can be complicated and stressful.
Fortunately, there are options available if you’re a survivor of a truck accident or a family member of a victim. Our Tampa-based legal team at Dennis Hernandez & Associates has extensive experience in truck accident law and can help you seek compensation for medical expenses and lost wages.
Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents
Personal injury attorneys in Tampa assist those wanting to bring a claim against a person or institution at fault after an accident. This can be in the event of a car accident, if you have been hurt at work, or have otherwise been injured at no fault of your own.
Common Causes
Sometimes accidents are truly accidents. Unfortunately, many Tampa crashes are the result of negligence on the behalf of a driver. Some examples of negligence include:
- Overloaded or unbalanced freights
- Mechanical failures resulting from improper maintenance
- Driving while distracted or tired
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Ignoring Tampa road rules or signs
Trucking Company Responsibilities
To be ‘negligent’ means the at-fault party had a legal responsibility to prevent harm but failed to do so. In Tampa, the burden of proving negligence, however, falls upon the victim.
You’ll have to gather evidence that a company or driver didn’t fulfill their responsibility to keep you safe on the road. In addition to things like eyewitness statements and police accident reports, your Tampa legal team will help gather info. This includes:
- Driver log books
- Black box data or dash cam footage
- Photos or videos of injuries and damaged vehicles at the scene of the accident
- The trucking company’s records, such as information on its maintenance policies, personnel records, etc.
Companies and drivers in Tampa are bound by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, as well as local, state, and federal laws. Knowing what information you need and how to acquire it can be difficult, which is why a Tampa truck accident attorney can help.
Determining Damages
Our Tampa team will fight for you to receive compensation for all damages – including medical expenses, property damage, lost income, and the pain and suffering you face as a result of a crash.
It’s important to contact a Tampa truck injury lawyer immediately after an accident to start documenting potential damages. But, whether you had a truck accident yesterday or several weeks ago, our legal team can help you figure out your options regardless.
Why You Need a Truck Accident Attorney
A truck accidents attorney can help you navigate the complex Tampa legal system both in and out of the courthouse. Tampa trucking companies often have expensive legal teams at their disposal to protect them in court, so it’s important to have good representation to help you make your case.
While you focus on healing, we can work to minimize the financial aftermath and get the compensation you deserve.
Consult an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer
The Dennis Hernandez & Associates team has served the Tampa area for years and has experience handling insurance companies, gathering evidence, and helping semi-truck accident victims and their families through this difficult process. We can also help you fully understand what your case is worth.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact our Tampa team at 813-250-0000 for a free consultation to review your case.
After calling law enforcement and ensuring that all parties involved in an accident are medically attended to, the next steps are critical to a successful personal injury case. For vehicular accidents, we recommend following these steps:
Document the scene:
- Take as many photos as possible as soon as possible. If you don’t have a camera or smartphone handy, ask someone on the scene if you can use theirs.
- Take photos of all of the vehicles involved from several angles.
- Take photos of the area surrounding the accident, including the roadway, street signs and traffic signals, if applicable.
- Take photos of any visible injuries you or any of your passengers may have sustained.
- In addition to damage to vehicles, take photos of any property that was damaged in the accident.
Gather information:
- Write down the license plate numbers of all vehicles involved in the accident.
- Ask the other driver if he or she owns the car or if it is owned by someone who is not at the scene.
- Ask for the name of the insurance company that covers the other driver’s vehicle.
- Ask the responding law enforcement officer how soon the accident report will be available to you and where you must go to get it.
- Should the officer indicate that a report will not be written, ask for his or her name and badge number to be used as contact information.
Get contact details from witnesses:
- Try to get contact information from all witnesses before they leave the scene. Do not ask witnesses for statements—your personal injury attorney will contact them if needed.
- If there were no witnesses in close proximity to the accident, make note of any nearby businesses or homes and provide this information to your attorney.
After the accident:
- If you received any medical treatment, gather contact information for the hospital or emergency room where you were immediately treated, as well as from physicians and/or therapists who may have treated you in the days following the accident.
- Retain all documents in a safe place. These may include:
- The police accident report
- Insurance policies and any communications from insurance companies
- Medical bills from hospitals, doctors, pharmacies, testing facilities, etc.
- Correspondence from the other driver or any witnesses
- Receipt for repairs to property that was damaged as a result of the accident
- Pay stubs or other proof of wages that were lost as a result of the accident
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