An accident involving a large truck in Sarasota has its own set of problems. These claims are often more extensive because large truck accidents result in more serious injuries and significant damages.
According to data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in 2020, there were:
• More than 101,000 injury crashes involving large trucks
• 107,000 large trucks involved in injury crashes
• 147,000 persons injured in large truck crashes
• 302,141 million miles that were traveled in larger trucks
Between 2019 and 2020, the amount of large trucks involved in fatal accidents actually decreased by 4 percent. Additionally, the amount of larger trucks that are involved in property damage-only crashes decreased by 21 percent.
However, despite the decline in numbers, the amount of miles large trucks cover daily, and the risks involved can still result in serious and catastrophic accidents along Florida roadways.
If you have been involved in an accident with a large truck, you want to ensure you have the right representation. Here are our tips for hiring a personal injury attorney to help with your Sarasota truck accident claim.
1. Find an Attorney That Understands Florida Law
Trucking accidents can prove to be complex due to federal and state laws. According to Florida Statute 316.302, there are governing rules and regulations that owners and drivers of commercial vehicles on public roads must follow.
For example, for interstate travel, the driver must be over 21 years old. A truck company can only hire drivers who are fluent in English and who can read and understand road signs, write reports, and communicate with officials. Also, all drivers must carry a valid CDL license and have a safe driving history.
2. Find an Attorney Experienced With Trucking Accidents
As with any other accident case, the injured party in a large trucking accident can also seek compensation for injuries and damages. You can pursue compensation for medical bills, surgery, rehab fees, lost income, loss of future earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, wrongful death, and mental anguish, among others.
In more extreme cases, you may also be entitled to punitive damages if you can prove that the other party acted to intentionally cause harm. This is also known as acting in bad faith.
3. Find an Attorney With the Financial Resources to Handle These
ClaimsTrucking accidents often require expert testimony and investigations into what could have happened in the case of the truck malfunctioning. An attorney with the right financial resources and expert knowledge can easily handle these cases and use their network of expert witnesses and professional investigators to help prove the details of your claim.
4. Find an Attorney Who Stays in Touch
When you are dealing with the aftermath of a truck accident and are in the middle of a complex claim, you want a personal injury attorney who communicates with you every step of the way. You don’t want to be kept in the dark regarding your case.
Some people want to have daily updates and discussions that detail the process, while others just want to touch base regularly to review facts and get an update. However, if you wish to proceed, you want to ensure your personal injury attorney is on board with your wants and needs.
As you can see, the right personal injury attorney in Sarasota can ultimately save your case. They have the experience and resources to proceed with a commercial trucking accident case. They ensure there is an investigation into the collision to determine who should be held liable and will keep you in the loop about everything regarding your case.
