Dunedin Truck Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident in Dunedin, FL, call Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for help.
Our Dunedin truck accident lawyers can advise you and fight for your right to compensation. Since 1986, we have won more than $120 million for our clients.
There are no strings attached during our free consultation. It’s an opportunity for you to learn more about your legal options after a truck accident in Dunedin, Florida.
Contact us to schedule a time to talk with a Dunedin truck accident attorney today.
How Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Truck Accident in Dunedin
Life can feel hectic after getting hurt in a truck accident in Dunedin, FL. From getting medical help to missing work to filing insurance claims, there’s surely a lot on your plate.
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers can take the stress of a lawsuit off your hands. Our Dunedin personal injury lawyers will help you organize your legal case to recover compensation. This compensation will go towards medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Our team has over 50 years of combined experience. We have a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating, are named Super Lawyers, and are members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
When you hire us to represent you after a truck accident, we will:
- Explain your rights
- Investigate the cause of the accident
- Identify everyone responsible
- Collect evidence
- Handle an insurance claim and negotiate with insurance companies
- Protect you from unfair blame
- File a personal injury lawsuit
- Keep track of deadlines
- Represent you in court and at trial
Every case is different and requires a different strategy. We use our breadth of experience to design a strategy to reach your goals and maximize recovery.
Call our office to start building a strategy with a Dunedin truck accident lawyer today.
What Is My Truck Accident Case Worth?
The value of your truck accident case depends on the specifics of the crash, your injury, and your recovery.
In general, a truck accident case will be worth more when:
- You have permanent or disfiguring injuries
- Your injuries or medical treatment are particularly painful
- You must undergo extensive surgeries, treatment, and/or rehabilitation
- Your injuries affect your quality of life and ability to enjoy the same activities as before the accident
- You are unable to work or earn the same level of income as before the crash
- You are unable to progress in your chosen career
- You have emotional trauma associated with the accident
- The cost of property damage is high
You should be prepared to discuss these points at your first meeting with your lawyer. Most personal injury attorneys will want to get an idea of your case value at the beginning of representation. This will help them weed through fair and unfair settlement offers and negotiate with the insurance or trucking companies.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Truck Accident Victims?
In Florida, truck accident victims can ask for economic damages and non-economic damages. These are called compensatory damages because they compensate a plaintiff for actual losses.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are purely financial. The amount is usually tied to bills or payments you have made (or will make) or money you will lose because of the crash.
Examples of economic damages include:
- Cost of surgery
- Emergency medical bills
- Follow up visits
- Rehabilitation or physical therapy
- Cost of medicine
- Transportation to and from the doctor
- Cost of therapeutic devices (like prosthetics or a wheelchair)
- Lost wages (past and future)
- Property damages (to a truck or another vehicle, for example)
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Keep track of all financial losses because you may be entitled to claim them as damages. Your lawyer will help you collect evidence to prove damages in court.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are emotional damages. This category is payment for damages that we can’t see and that aren’t tied to a dollar figure.
Non-economic damages can include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Anxiety, depression, PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Permanent scarring
- Inconvenience
We will help you calculate your non-economic damages because it can be difficult. There are a few different methods that we can use based on our experience.
Punitive Damages
In rare cases, you may be able to ask for punitive damages. This type of damages punished the defendant for intentional misconduct or gross negligence. Punitive damages are difficult to prove and are not available in most cases.
The defendant must have acted very recklessly or with a conscious disregard for someone else’s safety. Examples may include drunk driving or road rage incidents.
If you think you are entitled to punitive damages, a lawyer will help you make the best case.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?
Truck accident lawyers charge a contingency fee. This type of arraignment usually benefits the client.
Instead of charging by the hour, a lawyer works for a percentage of the final settlement or award. If the plaintiff loses the case, the lawyer doesn’t get paid.
Clients prefer this arrangement because they don’t need to pay an attorney with money they don’t have. They can trust that the lawyer will work hard on their case because if they lose, they won’t be paid for their time. Furthermore, the lawyer is invested in winning the maximum amount of money.
When it comes time to pay the lawyer, they will take it directly from the damages before sending the client the remainder.
You will speak with your lawyer about the contingency fee before hiring them. Usually, it is between 30% and 40%, depending on the type of work that needs to be done.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Truck Accident In Florida?
Florida is a no-fault state. This means that you can recover compensation through your own PIP insurance even if you are responsible for an accident. If your damages exceed your PIP policy limit or the accident is particularly severe, you may be able to file a lawsuit.
Florida is a modified comparative negligence state. You can recover money as long as you are less than 51% responsible for causing the accident. You won’t be allowed to recover anything if you are 51% or more responsible.
It’s best to try to minimize your role in a truck accident. Even though you can still get paid, the amount will be reduced based on your percentage share of responsibility. Defendants will try to blame you to get out of paying for your damages or reduce what they owe.
By speaking with a lawyer early in your case, you can protect yourself from unfair blame.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Truck Accident Injuries
You need a lawyer who understands even the most complex injuries. If your lawyer doesn’t understand exactly how you’re suffering, it will be difficult for them to fight for fair compensation.
We have worked with clients suffering from:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Broken bones
- Amputations
- Severe burns
- Crush injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Whiplash
- Back and neck injuries
- Loss of eyesight
- Loss of hearing
- Spinal cord injuries
- Partial and full paralysis
Unfortunately, sometimes, our clients succumb to their injuries. In these cases, we represent families in wrongful death lawsuits.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents In Dunedin, Florida?
Most truck accidents in Dunedin, Florida, are caused by the following:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Negligent or lack of truck maintenance
- Drunk driving
- Overloaded trailers
- Blind spots
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Improper truck driver training
We will find out what caused the accident, even if it means consulting with experts. This will help us hold each party accountable for their actions or inaction.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Truck Accident in Florida?
Negligence is a specific legal term. Negligence happens when someone fails to use reasonable care and causes another person to get hurt. This means that someone acted differently than an ordinary person would under the same circumstances.
To prove negligence, a plaintiff must produce evidence of the following:
- Duty
- Breach
- Causation
- Damages
If the plaintiff doesn’t have enough evidence to prove these elements by a preponderance of the evidence, then they will lose their case.
Just because someone made a mistake doesn’t mean they are negligent. That’s why negligence can be tricky. However, a lawyer can help you to understand how it applies to your truck accident case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit in Florida?
In Florida, you typically have two years to bring a personal injury lawsuit. If you fail to file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires, you cannot recover compensation.
Contact an attorney immediately following an accident to ensure you don’t lose your right to pursue damages.
Contact Our Dunedin Truck Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Call Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. Our Dunedin truck accident lawyers are ready to fight for your right to damages. The sooner you speak with a lawyer, the sooner you get the support you need.
Let a professional handle your truck accident case in Dunedin, FL, while you focus on healing and moving forward.