An experienced Clearwater truck accident lawyer at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers can help you understand your legal options for recovering the compensation you deserve, contact us at (727) 787-2500 if you or a loved one got hurt in an accident involving a large truck, tractor-trailer, big rig, or semi in Clearwater, Florida.
For decades, Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers have helped injured victims recover the money they deserve. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars for clients involved in all types of cases.
Your initial consultation is free. Give our law firm in Clearwater a call today to arrange a time to meet with our legal team.
Why Do I Need an Experienced Clearwater Truck Accident Lawyer at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers if I Was Hurt in a Truck Accident in Clearwater?
Truck accidents can cause devastating, even catastrophic injuries to those involved in the crash. You might be forced to take time off work–and some accident victims are haunted by flashbacks that cause anxiety, depression. and PTSD. When you’re dealing with all of this, the last thing you need is a legal battle.
An experienced Clearwater personal injury lawyer can handle your injury claim so that you can work to recover. Of course, choosing a lawyer to represent your interests after a truck accident isn’t always easy. It’s important to look for real-world experience, dedication, and a passion for justice when hiring a lawyer to fight for you.
Collectively, our Clearwater truck accident injury attorneys at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers have over 60 years of experience.
We know what it takes to succeed at the negotiating table–and our board-certified trial attorneys never shy away from arguing your case at trial.
When you hire our skilled Clearwater truck accident lawyers at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers to help you with your truck accident claim, we will:
- Investigate your case to determine causation and identify all responsible parties
- Visit the scene of the accident to gather all relevant evidence
- Protect you from insurance companies that want to pay less than you deserve
- Consult experts who can assess the true fair value of your case
- Work to limit your liability if the insurance company blames you for causing the accident
- Develop a custom-tailored strategy designed to maximize the compensation award in your case
Our top priority is recovering the full compensation you deserve. Our attorneys have been featured in top legal directories such as Justia, Findlaw, Avvo, and more. The insurance company knows that you need money right away. They might even put a settlement offer on the table before you even file a claim. Don’t be fooled by these tactics.
Ready to learn more about how a knowledgeable Clearwater truck accident lawyer near you can help? Get in touch with us today to arrange your free consultation.
How Dangerous Are Truck Accidents in Florida?
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data reveals that, in 2021, there were 366 large trucks involved in fatal crashes in Florida alone. Also that year, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles found that truck accidents caused:
- 28 fatalities
- 124 incapacitating injuries
- 468 non-incapacitating injuries
Nationally, the statistics are equally dire. Across the country, 5,936 people died in truck accidents in 2022. The vast majority of those fatalities were passengers in smaller personal vehicles. According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) data, the number of large trucks and buses involved in injury crashes has increased by 6% between five years
Leading Causes of Clearwater Truck Accidents
Thousands of Americans are killed in semi-truck crashes every year. Countless others sustain injuries that change their lives forever.
Some of the most common causes of truck accidents in Clearwater include:
- Distracted drivers
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
- Failure to properly maintain the truck
- Failure to properly load the truck cargo
- Unsafe passing
- Unsafe lane changes
- Driver fatigue
- Environmental factors
- Vehicle defects
- Braking problems
- Worn tires
- Illegal turns
- Violations of state and federal safety regulations
If you or a loved one were recently hurt in a truck accident, an experienced Clearwater truck accident injury lawyer can be vital to finding out what caused your accident.
Our lawyers have experience identifying the causes in even the most complex truck accident cases. We’ll work tirelessly to get the fair financial recovery you deserve. If you think you might have a case, don’t hesitate to call to speak with an experienced big rig accident lawyer in Clearwater today.
Who’s Responsible for Paying My Damages After a Clearwater Truck Accident?
Anyone who was negligent, careless or reckless is responsible for paying your damages. Responsibility for compensation awards in truck accident cases is divided among all responsible parties.
Depending upon what caused your big rig accident, we may be able to recover damages from:
- The trucking company
- A truck leasing company
- Parties responsible for inspecting or maintaining the truck
- The at-fault party who caused a multi-vehicle crash
- The manufacturer of a defective truck component
- The truck driver
- Someone responsible for loading the truck cargo
- Government agencies that failed to properly maintain the roads
You might wonder how you’ll recover compensation if the truck driver caused the crash near you. In these cases, responsible parties are required to purchase commercial vehicle insurance. Because accidents involving large trucks tend to cause more damage than car accidents, the insurance coverage limits are usually much higher.
Additionally, the truck driver’s employer can be held liable for negligent driving. That means the financial stakes are much higher for everyone involved.
At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve successfully faced off against some of the most powerful insurance companies out there. You can count on us to do everything we can to get fair compensation you deserve.
We’ll Fight to Get Fair Compensation for Your Truck Accident Injuries
Passengers in smaller motor vehicles experience the brunt of the damage in accidents involving commercial trucks, tractor-trailers, and semi-trucks. Some of the most common injuries truck collision victims sustain include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Severe burns
- Loss of limbs
- Internal injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Chest injuries
- Broken bones
- Joint injuries
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
The physical and mental toll that these serious injuries take is often overwhelming. Serious injuries can unfortunately also take a significant financial toll.
Our lawyers at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers are passionate about getting justice for accident victims and their families. If you’re ready to explore your legal options, contact our Clearwater law offices for your free case evaluation today.
What is the Deadline for Filing Personal Injury Lawsuits in Clearwater?
Most truck accidents are caused by some type of negligence. When you’re hurt because of someone else’s negligent actions, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit for damages. The law imposes deadlines that can limit your rights.
In Florida, you typically have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. The state of Florida used to give crash victims four years to take legal action. However, the law was changed on March 24, 2023, reducing the deadline. Accordingly, if your Clearwater truck accident occurred after 3/24/23, you have two years to file a lawsuit.
If the crash was fatal, you have two years from the victim’s date of death to sue for wrongful death.
There isn’t a lot of wiggle room when it comes to these deadlines. Courts take them seriously–and insurance companies know that the exceptions to the rule are extremely limited. If you’re hurt and suffering, our lawyers are available to come to you so that we can get the process started. Don’t hesitate to reach out and learn more.
What if I’m Blamed For the Truck Accident and Injuries?
For many insurance companies, blaming the victim is standard procedure. Under the Florida modified comparative fault law, your compensation award can be reduced or prohibited to account for your share of the blame. That’s often the primary goal of the insurance adjuster on your case.
Here’s how it works: if your share of blame exceeds 50%, you’re barred from receiving any compensation. However, if you’re allocated 50% or less fault, your compensation is reduced proportionately.
For example, if the insurance company can get you to believe that you were 40% responsible for the crash, your settlement award will be reduced by 40%. If they prove that you were 51% responsible, you’ll get nothing.
Don’t take what the insurance company says at face value. If the insurance company wants to blame you for the crash, call a Clearwater truck accident attorney right away. An experienced lawyer will know how to fight back to minimize the damage these tactics can cause.
How Much is My Clearwater Truck Accident Case Worth?
Our board certified trial lawyers at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers will fight to get every dollar you deserve. For seriously injured truck accident victims, a fair settlement or verdict might include money for:
- Medical bills, ER costs and hospitalization
- Lost wages
- Future medical expenses
- Lost future earning capacity
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitative care
- Long-term care
- Medical devices
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and anxiety
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Damages for wrongful death, including loss of support and loss of your loved one’s company
- Property damage
If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that the insurance company will do all they can to drive down the value of your claim. They’ll blame the victim, challenge your need for ongoing medical care, and even try to prove you were hurt before the crash happened.
Our lawyers don’t tolerate these games. We’ve proven our ability to win big for our clients even when the insurance company tries every trick in the book.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Clearwater Truck Accident Lawyer Today
It can be hard to know where to turn for help if you or a loved one were hurt in a serious truck accident. An experienced Clearwater truck accident lawyer can evaluate your situation and help you identify options for getting fair compensation.
At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we offer a 100% free consultation–so it never hurts to reach out for the legal advice you need. All you have to do is call or connect with us online today.
Clearwater Truck Accident Lawyer Review
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Our Clearwater, FL personal injury law firm also provides:
- Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Clearwater, FL
- Car Accident Lawyers in Clearwater, FL
- Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Clearwater, FL
- Slip And Fall Lawyers in Clearwater, FL
- Truck Accident Lawyers in Clearwater, FL
- Wrongful Death Lawyers in Clearwater, FL
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- Bills Mobil & Auto Service Center – 32505 US Hwy 19 N, Palm Harbor, FL 34684
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- Florida Auto Service Center – 2316 FL-580, Clearwater, FL 33763
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