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Truck Accident Lawyers in St. Petersburg

Truck Accident Lawyers in St. Petersburg

Were you injured or did you lose a loved one in a St. Petersburg truck accident? If you are struggling in the aftermath of a severe injury crash, know that you don’t have to shoulder the burden alone. If your crash was caused by negligence on the part of the truck driver, trucking company, or another entity, you could be owed significant compensation. A St. Petersburg truck accident attorney from Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas can help.

Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas has earned a reputation as tireless advocates for those who’ve been hurt in truck accidents in Pinellas County. Our firm’s track record includes securing more than $145 million in compensation on behalf of our deserving clients. When you choose us to help with your case, you can expect to receive a compassionate, personalized approach from our skilled St. Petersburg truck accident attorneys.

Contact us today for a free case review to learn more about how our firm can take the burden off you during this difficult time.

Do You Have a Truck Accident Claim?

If a truck driver, trucking company, or another entity was negligent and caused your crash, you could have a viable personal injury claim against them.

The truck driver could be liable if he or she was distracted, intoxicated, drowsy, or otherwise failed to operate the vehicle responsibly, causing a crash. The trucking company could be liable if it failed to hire, train, or supervise the driver, or if it failed to keep the vehicle in safe working condition. Other parties, like third-party maintenance companies and cargo loading companies, could also be to blame if their negligence caused the crash.

Do not wait to get trusted legal advice after a serious accident. Our respected St. Petersburg truck accident attorneys can review your case for free and explain your legal options.

Why Truck Accident Claims Are So Complicated

Truck accident claims are often more complicated and difficult than other motor vehicle accident cases for several reasons:

  • Truck accidents tend to cause more serious injuries due to the greater forces of impact. When a truck accident victim is severely or catastrophically injured, he or she will often need long-term care, financial support, and more. This means that seeking fair financial compensation could include future expenses and losses.
  • Truck accident claims often require reviewing much more evidence than other accident claims. Trucking industry regulations require trucking companies to keep extensive records. These might document the underlying cause of a truck accident. An experienced St. Petersburg truck accident lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation into the crash to collect and analyze all the evidence.
  • Trucking companies can have complex corporate structures and layered insurance coverages that make it difficult to determine how much money could be available to compensate you for your injuries and losses. A skilled St. Petersburg truck accident attorney will work to uncover every possible source of compensation in your claim.

Statute of Limitations on Truck Accident Lawsuits in Florida

Florida’s statute of limitations on truck accident claims requires that any personal injury lawsuit be filed within four years of the date of the collision. If you file suit after the deadline, the court may dismiss your claim permanently. If the court dismisses your lawsuit, you could lose the right to recover compensation for your injuries.

Legal deadlines are not the only reason to act quickly. Most truck companies are large and wealthy. They won’t waste time waiting to hire lawyers and experts who will collect and sometimes even destroy evidence in support of their defense. They will utilize investigators and attorneys to gather as much information as possible.

If you go it alone, you’ll struggle. It’s likely you’ll be attempting to learn the laws of your case while caring for an injured loved one. Don’t make the mistake of overlooking an experienced truck accident attorney. The financial gains that are possible through professional representation can be life-changing.

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.

Talk to a Truck Accident Attorney in St. Petersburg Now

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If you’ve been the victim of a truck accident in St. Petersburg, you need experienced legal counsel to help you pursue fair financial compensation for your injuries. Contact Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We are here to discuss the next steps to seeking accountability and justice from those at fault for the truck accident and the harm you suffered.

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