Were you hurt in a truck accident in New Port Richey, Florida that was caused by someone else’s careless or reckless actions? If so, an experienced New Port Richey truck accident lawyer at Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Call us today at (727) 815-8442.
We offer a free consultation so that you can learn more about your legal rights. Just contact our New Port Richey law firm when you’re ready to schedule your case review.
Why Do I Need a Truck Accident Lawyer in New Port Richey?
Because multiple parties can be liable in a commercial truck crash. A New Port Richey truck accident claim can reach the driver, the motor carrier, the cargo loader and the maintenance contractor, which is why these claims often result in higher recoveries than a standard car accident claim.
Each of those parties may carry its own insurance policy:
- The truck driver, for negligent driving such as speeding, distraction or hours-of-service violations
- The motor carrier, for its driver's conduct and for its own negligent hiring, training or scheduling
- The cargo loader, for overloaded, unbalanced or improperly secured freight
- The maintenance contractor, for faulty brake, tire or equipment repairs
Federal regulations require most interstate carriers hauling general freight to carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, far more than the minimum coverage Florida requires for passenger vehicles. Reaching those policies takes a fast investigation.
The trucking company controls much of the key evidence, including electronic logging device data, driver logs and maintenance records, and some records only have to be kept for six months.
Our New Port Richey truck accident lawyers move quickly to preserve that evidence and pursue every responsible party rather than settling against a single policy.
How Can A Personal Injury Lawyer Help if I Was Hurt in a Florida Truck Accident?
Some of the most serious truck accidents are also entirely preventable. Our lawyers at Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers want to keep the roads in our community safe for everyone. That’s why we’ve dedicated over 60 years of combined experience to helping accident victims get the legal advice they need.
After a serious accident, the only available justice is often financial compensation. Getting fair compensation after a truck accident is much more complex than in typical car accident cases. Employment laws and federal safety regulations often come into play--and more than one party may share in the blame.
Large trucking companies and commercial insurance carriers know what it takes to minimize their liability. You deserve the same experience and dedication in your corner.
When you hire Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, our New Port Richey personal injury lawyers will:
- Gather the evidence needed to support your injury claim
- Discuss your case with accident reconstruction experts, medical specialists, financial analysts and any other experts who can help establish your right to fair compensation
- Handle all communications with the insurance companies and defense lawyers
- Negotiate to get the best possible deal for you
- Make sure you understand your options and rights
- Protect your best interests and work to accomplish your goals every step of the way
If you were involved in a trucking accident in New Port Richey, call today to learn more about how we can help hold the responsible parties accountable.
Florida Truck Accident Statistics
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) crash statistics show that Florida trucking accidents are common:
- 2021: 8,740 collisions causing 4,207 injuries and 347 fatalities
- 2022: 8,919 collisions causing 4,326 injuries and 280 fatalities
- 2023: 8,237 collisions causing 4,128 injuries and 280 fatalities
According to these numbers, on average, slightly over 52% of all truck crashes result in death or injury in the Sunshine State.
Leading Causes of Truck Accidents in New Port Richey
Anyone who drives a large commercial truck must have a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL). These drivers are also subject to strict rules that limit their time behind the wheel. Unfortunately, in many collisions, driver error plays a significant role despite applicable safety rules.
Some of the most common causes of truck accidents in New Port Richey include:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Speeding
- Failure to properly maintain the tractor-trailer
- Overloading
- Aggressive driving
- Drug or alcohol use
- Illegal turns
- Unsafe passing or lane changes
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Faulty brakes
- Worn tires
- Malfunctioning safety systems
- Defective vehicle components
Were you or a loved one hurt in a large truck or tractor-trailer accident? You can call us anytime to learn more about what we can do to protect your right to fair compensation.
Truck Accident Victims Often Suffer Severe, Life-Threatening Injuries
Commercial trucks, big-rigs, semi-trucks, and tractor-trailers are much larger and heavier than commercial vehicles. Crashes involving large trucks often happen because a loaded tractor-trailer can take 20-40% longer to stop than a traditional motor vehicle.
That means truck accident victims in smaller vehicles are much more likely to suffer severe injuries in a crash. Our New Port Richey truck accident attorneys can help you recover fair compensation for all of your injuries.
This includes:
- 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
These serious injuries often result in expensive medical treatments, long-term care and physical therapy. They can also keep you off the job at a time when you need money the most. If you were hurt in a truck or commercial vehicle accident, don’t hesitate to call for legal advice. Your first consultation is always 100% free.
We Handle All Types of Truck Accident Cases in New Port Richey, FL
Some examples of the types of truck accident cases we handle in New Port Richey, Florida include:
- Rollover accidents
- Rear-end accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Multi-vehicle crashes
- Override accidents
- Underride accidents
- Broadside collisions
The type of truck accident involved can have a significant impact on the type and extent of your injuries. It can also help us determine who or what might have caused the crash.
Potentially Liable Parties in a Truck Accident Case in New Port Richey
Under Florida law, each responsible party pays only its own percentage of fault. That makes identifying every liable party critical, because anyone left out of the claim can leave part of your compensation unpaid.
Potentially liable parties in a truck accident case may include:
- The trucking company
- A truck leasing company
- The truck driver
- A company responsible for inspecting and loading the truck cargo
- Maintenance companies
- Manufacturers of defective truck parts
- Another at-fault driver that caused a multi-vehicle crash
The driver is usually at least partly to blame. Under a legal theory called “vicarious liability,” the trucking company can be held responsible for their employees’ negligent driving. That means we may be able to pursue compensation from the trucking company’s insurance carrier even if the driver was at-fault.
Our Lawyers Will Investigate to Find Out What Caused the Crash
Before we can hold anyone accountable, we have to find out what caused your truck accident. The investigation stage is critical to getting the fair compensation you deserve. Trucking companies, insurance adjusters, and defense lawyers know this. They will all be at the accident scene as quickly as possible after the truck accident occurs.
Our lawyers can be there to even the score. When you hire us, you can rest assured that we will:
- Interview witnesses
- Bring in accident reconstruction specialists
- Obtain the hard evidence needed to prove fault, such as video surveillance, photos, and cell phone records
- Make sure nothing disappears while the at-fault party conducts their investigation
Visiting the scene of the accident is an important step, but it’s only the first step in the fight to get fair compensation for your injuries. Our personal injury attorneys will also locate evidence such as:
- The trucking company’s safety record
- The truck driver’s hours of service log
- Information about how the truck was loaded
- The truck’s inspection and maintenance history
- Alcohol and drug test results
- The truck’s electronic recording device
- The truck itself, so that we can inspect and photograph the vehicle
The trucking company usually controls the most valuable evidence in a truck evidence case. It isn’t always easy to get them to hand it over. Our lawyers have the experience and resources you need to obtain these types of hard evidence to support your case.
Don’t Delay: Call Before Time Runs Out
You don’t have an unlimited amount of time to file a personal injury claim. The Florida statute of limitations gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. The law used to give you four years to take legal action, but it was updated on March 24, 2023. Accordingly, Florida truck accidents occurring after that date are subject to the two-year deadline.
Remember, a comprehensive investigation takes time. We put in the hard work necessary to build a case that’s ready for court. This approach makes sense even if we never see the inside of a courtroom--because insurance companies know that we’re prepared to advocate for fair compensation no matter what it takes.
Worried You Share the Blame? We’re Here to Help
The insurance company might try to blame you for causing the accident. If they can convince you that you did, you might be willing to accept a low settlement offer.
Florida’s modified comparative fault laws don’t eliminate your right to compensation unless your share of fault exceeds 50%. If your percentage of responsibility is 50% or less, your compensation award can be reduced to account for your share of the blame.
Damages Available to New Port Richey Truck Accident Victims
You have the right to compensation for past, current, and future expenses caused by the truck accident. You also have the right to money designed to make up for how a serious injury may have changed your life.
At Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, our personal injury attorneys will work with respected experts to help you get fair compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Future medical expenses
- Lost future earning capacity
- Physical therapy
- Long-term care
- Medical devices and in-home modifications
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
- Anxiety and depression
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of your independence
If the truck accident was fatal, our lawyers can help you file a wrongful death lawsuit. You may be able to obtain compensation for the loss of your loved one’s company and support, as well as funeral and burial costs. For a free consultation, just give us a call today.
New Port Richey Truck Accident FAQs
Who can be held liable for a truck accident in New Port Richey?
Liability can extend to the truck driver, the trucking company, a leasing company, the cargo loader, a maintenance contractor, or a parts manufacturer. The right defendants depend on what caused the crash, which is why a full investigation of logs, maintenance records and cargo documents comes first.
Are truck accident settlements higher than car accident settlements?
They often are. Truck crashes tend to cause more severe injuries, commercial carriers carry much larger insurance policies, and several parties may share liability. Every case is different, and no lawyer can guarantee a specific result, but more available coverage usually means more room to recover full compensation.
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Florida?
Florida gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Wrongful death claims also carry a two-year deadline, generally measured from the date of death. Waiting risks losing evidence as well as your right to sue.
Does Florida's no-fault insurance cover a truck accident?
Your own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage pays first, up to $10,000 in benefits, and you must get medical care within 14 days to use it. If your injuries are permanent or involve significant scarring, disfigurement or loss of a bodily function, you can step outside the no-fault system and pursue the at-fault parties for your full damages, including pain and suffering.
What evidence matters most after a truck crash?
The most valuable evidence usually includes the truck's electronic logging device and engine control module data, the driver's hours-of-service records, drug and alcohol test results, inspection and maintenance files, and cargo loading documents. Because the carrier controls most of it, your attorney should send a preservation demand as soon as possible.
Can I recover compensation if I was partly at fault?
Yes, as long as you were 50% or less at fault. Florida's modified comparative negligence law reduces your award by your percentage of fault, but bars recovery if you are found more than 50% responsible. Insurers often push fault onto victims to reduce payouts, so don't accept blame before speaking with a lawyer.
What if the truck driver was an independent contractor?
The trucking company may still be liable. Carriers often cannot avoid responsibility simply by labeling drivers as contractors, especially when the truck operated under the carrier's federal authority. Leasing agreements, dispatch records and the carrier's degree of control all factor into who pays.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With a Respected New Port Richey Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one were seriously hurt in a truck accident, Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers will fight to get the most compensation possible to protect your future. Call our law offices to schedule a free consultation with an experienced New Port Richey truck accident lawyer today.