Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a truck accident in Tampa, Florida, you might be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. The Tampa truck accident lawyers at Winters & Yonker, P.A. can help you get the money you deserve.
Contact our Tampa, FL law firm today at (813) 223-6200 for a free consultation to discuss your legal options. We’re ready to fight for you while you focus on your recovery.
How a Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer at Winters & Yonker, P.A. Can Help After a Truck Accident in Tampa, FL
Truck accident cases can be difficult because they often involve multiple parties and complex state and federal trucking regulations. It’s unwise to handle these claims without the assistance of a knowledgeable lawyer.
That’s why Winters & Yonker, P.A. should be your first call. Our personal injury lawyers in Tampa are known for their aggressive and passionate advocacy. We know how to battle insurance companies and other formidable opponents to get our clients the compensation they deserve after devastating truck wrecks.
When you hire our Tampa personal injury attorneys to handle your truck accident claim, we’ll:
- Investigate the collision to determine who caused it, why it happened, and who is liable for your damages
- Coordinate with state and federal agencies that may also be investigating the incident
- Handle your accident claim from start to finish and ensure that we meet all applicable statutory filing deadlines
- Consult leading trucking industry experts and other specialists to build a solid claim and determine how much your claim is worth
- Fiercely negotiate on your behalf for a fair settlement that accounts for the full extent of your losses
- Argue your case before a jury if opposing parties refuse to offer a fair amount
Our attorneys have decades of combined experience helping victims navigate the legal process after a truck accident. Let us put our skills to work for you by contacting our law office to schedule a free case evaluation. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there’s no cost unless and until we win compensation on your behalf.
How Common Are Truck Accidents in Florida?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 4,965 people died and 146,930 were injured in nationwide large truck accidents in 2020. That same year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported 341 fatalities and 3,850 injuries caused by large truck crashes in Florida.
That means Florida made up nearly 7% of the country’s fatal semi-truck accidents and 3% of the nationwide injury-causing collisions in 2020.
According to the FMCSA, Florida experienced 321 fatalities and 4,314 injuries due to large truck collisions in 2021. Accordingly, statewide deadly truck accidents decreased by nearly 6% from 2020 to 2021, but injury-related crashes increased by over 12%.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents in Tampa, Florida?
Truck drivers are frequently under immense stress to drive long distances to reach their destinations and meet deadlines – and operating an 80,000-pound vehicle requires attention, skill, and experience. Accordingly, tractor-trailer collisions are inevitable.
Many factors can contribute to a truck accident, including:
- Truck driver fatigue due to FMCSA hours of service regulation violations
- Distracted driving
- Inexperienced or untrained drivers
- Speeding
- Overloaded or improperly loaded cargo
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances
- Improper or illegal lane changes or turns
- Failure to see vehicles in the truck’s blind spots
- Tailgating
- Aggressive driving
- Malfunctioning or defective truck components
- Failure to maintain the truck
- Unfamiliarity with the area
- Unsafe passing
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Road or infrastructure defects
Poor weather, failure to inspect the commercial vehicle, and road debris can also cause a collision with a semi-truck. Our Tampa truck accident attorneys will investigate to determine what caused your wreck.
What is My Tampa Truck Accident Case Worth?
Many commercial truck accident cases are worth significant amounts of money due to the catastrophic injuries they tend to cause. Typically, the more severe your injuries, the more your personal injury case will be worth.
The following factors will affect the value of your truck accident claim:
- Your injuries and how they impact your quality of life and ability to work
- The medical bills and out-of-pocket costs you incurred
- Your anticipated future damages, including ongoing medical treatment or physical therapy
- The pain and suffering you’ve endured
- Your emotional trauma
- The parties and insurance coverage involved
- Whether you share fault for the truck accident
- Whether you suffer from a permanent impairment or disability
Many factors can affect what your case is worth. We’ll review your accident, injuries, and lifestyle after the collision to ensure that we include the full value of your losses.
Who Could Be Liable for My Semi-Truck Accident in Tampa?
Truck accidents are different from typical car accidents because they could involve multiple parties, including third parties. Many truckers are employed by a trucking company, which could be vicariously liable for the actions of its employees. A manufacturer could share liability if a defective truck component contributed to the accident.
Depending on the facts of your case, the following parties could be liable for your truck accident:
- The truck driver
- Other negligent motorists who contributed to the accident
- The trucking company
- Manufacturers of defective truck parts
- Cargo loading companies (e.g., in an accident caused by overloading or improper loading)
- The truck leasing company
- A property owner
- Government agencies
We’ll work to identify every party who may share liability for the collision.
We’ll Fight to Pursue Compensation For All of Your Tampa Truck Accident Injuries
No matter the severity of your crash, it’s no secret that passenger vehicles are much smaller and lighter than big rigs. Therefore, even a fender bender with a tractor-trailer could cause an injury.
We’ve helped truck accident victims who’ve suffered all types of injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Amputations
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries, such as whiplash
- Broken bones
- Crushing injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Nerve damage
- Burns
- Paralysis and other catastrophic injuries
We’ll review your medical records and obtain statements from your physicians to evaluate the injuries you’ve suffered and how they will affect your life. This will help us value your case and seek the money you deserve.
What Compensation is Available to Truck Accident Victims in Florida?
Florida truck accident victims can recover economic damages for their financial losses, including:
- Medical expenses, such as ER bills, medications, and doctor’s visits
- Future medical expenses, such as ongoing medical care and rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity from being unable to earn the same wages as before the accident
- Out-of-pocket costs, such as transportation to and from doctor’s appointments
You may also be entitled to non-economic damages for things like:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD)
- Inconvenience
- Disfigurement
Punitive damages may apply if the trucker or other at-fault party engaged in grossly negligent or intentional acts. However, these damages are rarely awarded and must be proven by clear and convincing evidence.
What If I’m Blamed For a Truck Accident in Florida?
Tampa truck accident victims can still recover compensation if they’re partially at fault for the collision. You just can’t be entirely to blame.
Under Florida’s pure comparative fault rule, your awarded compensation will be reduced by your percentage of assigned fault. For example, if you were 40% at fault for the truck wreck, you will receive 60% of your award.
Insurance adjusters commonly use this tactic to undervalue claims and take advantage of accident victims. We won’t let them get away with it. Contact us as soon as possible if you’ve been blamed for causing the truck accident so that we can fight for you.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Truck Accident in Florida?
Florida law applies a four-year statute of limitations to most personal injury lawsuits – meaning you have four years from the truck accident date to file a lawsuit. If you lost a loved one in a fatal truck crash, you only have two years from their date of death to file a wrongful death claim.
The deadline may be shorter in some circumstances, such as if a government entity is involved. Contact our Tampa personal injury lawyers today to preserve your legal right to compensation. The sooner we get started, the better chances you’ll have at securing the maximum amount possible.
Contact Our Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers For a Free Consultation
Are you suffering from painful injuries and trauma after a collision with a semi-truck in Tampa, FL? If so, you don’t have to deal with your legal fight alone. The legal team at Winters & Yonker, P.A. is ready to help you stand up to trucking companies and insurance providers to get the compensation you need.
Call today for a free consultation with our truck accident lawyers in Tampa. We’ll protect your legal rights and provide the aggressive representation you deserve.
Local Emergency Rooms
- Tampa General Hospital Emergency Room – 1 Tampa General Cir, Tampa, FL 33606
- HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital Emergency Room – 2901 W Swann Ave 1st Floor, Tampa, FL 33609
- St. Joseph’s Hospital- Emergency Center – 3001 W Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tampa, FL 33614
- HCA Florida Central Tampa Emergency – 801 E Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL 33604
- AdventHealth Carrollwood ER – 7171 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33614
*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website. These were some of the highest-rated auto repair shops on Yelp.