If you were injured in a truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence in Tampa, Florida, you might be anxious to settle your claim to make up lost income, pay your medical bills, and provide other financial relief. An experienced Tampa 18-wheeler accident lawyer from Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers can help fight for the compensation you need.
Contact or call our firm at (813) 223-6200 to schedule a free consultation with one of our Tampa personal injury attorneys. They can evaluate the facts of your case and provide potential estimates for how long it could take to settle.
Why Choose Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers for Help with Your Truck Accident Case in Tampa, FL?
The attorneys at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers have over 119 years of combined legal experience. For over two decades, we have recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients in Tampa, FL, and across the state.
When you hire our Tampa personal injury lawyers for your truck accident case, we can help by:
- Investigating the accident and determining who is responsible for it
- Gathering evidence to prove fault and the full extent of your damages
- Explaining the law on how it applies to your case
- Managing your insurance claim and communications with the insurance company
- Negotiating for fair compensation
Call our Tampa 18-wheeler accident attorneys today for a free case review to discuss your legal options.
Steps Involved in Obtaining a Truck Accident Settlement
Understanding a reasonable timeline for a truck accident settlement relies on understanding all the steps that occur before a settlement, which include:
- Reporting the accident: You should report the accident to the police immediately. This will help ensure a law enforcement officer goes to the accident scene and prepares an official report.
- Consulting with a lawyer: Our Tampa truck accident lawyers offer free consultations, which you can use to learn about your legal rights and options. If you hire us, we can help with all the next steps in your case.
- Filing an insurance claim: Your lawyer can make a claim with the insurance company for the truck driver or the trucking company.
- Investigating the accident: The claims adjuster investigates the accident. Your lawyer can also conduct an independent investigation by reviewing the accident report, interviewing witnesses, requesting traffic camera footage, reviewing photos from your dash cam and other pictures you took at the time of the accident, and working with accident reconstruction experts, as necessary.
- Calculating damages: Your Tampa truck accident attorney begins compiling information about your damages, including medical bills, lost wage statements, employer letters, car repair receipts, and pain journal entries.
- Sending a demand letter: Your lawyer sends a demand letter stating the legal reasons the defendant is responsible and the damages you seek to settle your truck accident case.
- Negotiating for fair compensation: Your truck accident attorney tries to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
Completing all of the steps above may take several months or longer. If the case does not settle, your lawyer can file a lawsuit against the trucking company. Your lawsuit must typically be filed within the two-year statute of limitations period for truck accident cases.
Compensation That Can Be Included in Your Truck Accident Settlement
A truck accident settlement might provide compensation for the following damages:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Costs to repair or replace your damaged vehicle and other damaged personal property
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you pursue fair compensation for these and other losses you suffered.
Factors That Affect the Value and Timeline of Your Case
The potential value of your truck accident case and how long it ultimately takes to resolve your case depend on various factors, including:
- Why the accident happened
- Who is responsible for the accident
- Whether you share any blame
- Whether you suffered permanent disabilities in the case
- How long it takes you to reach maximum medical improvement
- The insurance coverage available
- How the injuries affect your life
- The extent of your pain and suffering
- The strength of your evidence
- The willingness of the other side to settle your claim for a fair amount
An experienced lawyer can give you a better idea about the potential value of your case after carefully reviewing it.
How Your Own Negligence Can Affect the Value of Your Truck Accident Settlement
Florida uses a modified comparative negligence system, so if you are more than 50% responsible for the accident, you typically cannot recover compensation for the accident. If your share of fault is less than 51%, you can still recover compensation, but it is usually reduced by your degree of fault.
Contact Our Tampa 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
An experienced Tampa 18-wheeler accident attorney from Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers can evaluate your case and discuss your legal rights during a free case review. After a careful investigation, we can explain how long it might take to receive a settlement. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
