Benefits of Hiring a St. Petersburg Truck Accident Lawyer After a Crash

Given the complexity of truck accident claims, it is wise to choose an experienced St. Petersburg truck accident lawyer to handle your case. An attorney in your corner can take the pressure off you by managing all the aspects of your claim, such as:

• Investigating the accident, including collecting evidence from the accident scene, preserving evidence from the truck itself, securing documents from the trucking company, and interviewing witnesses
• Building a persuasive argument to show how the truck accident occurred and who was responsible for causing the crash
• Advising you of your legal options for pursuing compensation from those at fault for your injuries
• Thoroughly documenting the full extent of your injuries and losses
• Consulting with experts to maximize the value of your claim
• Negotiating aggressively for a full and fair truck accident settlement
• Filing a lawsuit and taking your case to trial if necessary for the results you want and deserve

What Compensation Can Be Recovered in a St. Petersburg Truck Accident Claim?

If you suffered injuries in a St. Petersburg truck accident, you might be entitled to compensation that includes:

• Costs of related medical treatment and rehabilitation
• Long-term healthcare and personal care if you suffered long-term injuries or permanent disability
• Costs to replace or repair your vehicle or other personal property
• Lost income if you missed time from work due to your injuries
• Lost future earning potential if you can’t return to work after reaching maximum recovery from your injuries
• Pain and suffering
• Reduced quality of life from scarring, disfigurement, or disabilities

How Is Fault Determined in a Truck Accident Case in Florida?

Determining how a truck accident occurred and identifying the party or parties at fault for the crash is part of our job. Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas will gather and analyze all available evidence and documents, including:

• The truck driver’s logs, which could show that the driver violated hours-of-service limitations and suggest if the driver was drowsy or fatigued at the time of the accident
• The truck driver’s employment and driving records, which could confirm if the driver had the appropriate licenses and certifications to operate the commercial motor vehicle
• The truck’s electronic data recorder, or “black box,” which records information about the semi-truck’s operation, including GPS position, speed, how many hours the engine had been running, steering, braking, and acceleration inputs by the driver
• The load manifest, which can show what cargo the 18-wheeler was loaded with and how it was loaded
• The truck’s in-cab camera, dash-cam, nearby surveillance camera, or traffic camera footage, which can show the driver’s behavior before the wreck

Who Is Liable in a Florida Truck Accident?

Unlike most motor vehicle accidents where one of the motorists involved in the crash is usually responsible, the fault for a truck accident could be attributed to one or more of several different parties, such as:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• The owner of the truck, if not the driver or trucking company
• The truck’s mechanic
• The freight company that loads the truck or trailer with cargo
• The truck’s manufacturer or the manufacturer of a part used in the truck

We may discover that multiple parties share fault for your semi-truck accident. You can trust that our knowledgeable attorneys will fight to hold every responsible party accountable.