As the victim of an accident involving an 18-wheeler or another large commercial truck in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, it’s essential to understand what legal rights and options might be available to you. Don’t hesitate to call Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers.
Suppose someone else’s negligence caused you to get hurt. In that case, our Fort Walton Beach truck accident lawyers can help you take action and demand that they’re held accountable for the costs of your medical treatment, the income you’ve missed out on during your recovery, and the harder-to-value trauma you’ve endured.
For 44 years, we have made sure that truck accident victims in Florida have received personalized legal representation when it matters most. Our team includes a Board Certified civil trial attorney and litigators recognized for excellence in personal injury law by Martindale-Hubbell, Avvo, and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Bringing over 75 years of collective experience to the table, our top-rated litigators have helped clients like you win hundreds of millions of dollars in monetary awards.
Contact our law office in Fort Walton Beach, FL, or call us at (850) 604-3844 to find out how our law firm might be able to help you make the most of your truck accident case, too. Schedule a free consultation today with a Fort Walton Beach truck accident attorney.
How Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Truck Accident in Fort Walton Beach
Accidents involving large trucks are different from other types of car accidents. Not only are trucks much longer and heavier than other vehicles on the road, but they’re also driven for commercial purposes, and drivers are required to comply with additional safety regulations. So, many times, it can take considerable time and resources to discern why a truck accident happens and who should be held accountable for a victim’s resulting damages.
The trucking service and its insurance company will have a lot of experience navigating accident claims. They’ll have a lot of resources at their disposal, too. The best way to level the playing field and increase the odds of success is by hiring an experienced Fort Walton Beach personal injury lawyer to handle your truck accident case.
Choosing Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers puts award-winning Florida litigators with over seven decades of combined legal experience in your corner. Providing compassionate, client-driven legal representation, we strive to positively impact the lives of each and every person we represent.
We want you to have the opportunity to get better and maximize your recovery, so our Fort Walton Beach truck accident attorneys will:
- Answer questions about your truck accident case and keep you apprised of the status of your claim throughout the process
- Provide support and advice when you need it most
- Coordinate a full-scale investigation into your truck accident
- Scrutinize property damage, photographs of the scene of the wreck, medical records, cell phone records, forensics reports, the truck’s black box data, dashcam footage, witness statements, and other valuable evidence obtained during discovery
- Determine causation and liability for your damages
- Identify the best strategy for handling claims of shared fault
- Bring in expert witnesses to consult with our legal team as we build your case
- Utilize tried-and-true negotiation strategies to leverage a top-dollar settlement offer on your behalf
- Take your truck accident lawsuit to an Okaloosa County jury, if necessary
We understand that truck accidents are expensive and that the thought of hiring an attorney to help you might seem financially out of the question. That’s why we represent our clients on a contingency fee basis. Our fees are directly related to the results we achieve. You pay nothing until we recover compensation for your truck accident case.
Contact our Fort Walton Beach, FL, law office today to get started and arrange a time for your complimentary case review.
How Much Is My Truck Accident Case Worth?
Given how much damage a truck accident can do, the value of resulting legal claims can vary significantly from one to the next. However, there are certain factors that can be helpful in understanding how much money you might reasonably be able to recover when your truck accident case is resolved.
The following may impact what a truck accident case is worth:
- What type of truck accident were you involved in?
- What types of physical injuries have you suffered?
- What part(s) of the body has been affected?
- Are your injuries permanent?
- Has the truck accident kept you out of work?
- Are you suffering from a temporary or long-term loss of income?
- Do you share responsibility for the trucking accident?
- What have you done to mitigate your damages?
- How old are you?
- What insurance benefits are available?
- What will it cost to replace or repair damage to your property?
The type of injuries you’ve sustained, and their severity will have the greatest impact on the value of your truck accident case. The more serious your trauma, the more your life will change. In turn, the more you can reasonably expect to recover in compensation from those at fault.
Keep in mind that aggravating factors, like shared fault for the truck accident, can also play a part and limit how much money you can get – even if your injuries are catastrophic. It’s important to enlist the assistance of a skilled truck accident attorney in Fort Walton Beach to make sure you’re able to maximize your recovery. Call Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers to discover how we can help.
What Are the Most Commonly Cited Causes of Trucking Accidents?
Some of the top cited causes of tractor-trailer accidents include:
- Driver fatigue, often tied to violations of FMCSA hour of service limitations
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Braking errors
- Blind spot errors
- Following too closely
- Unsafe right-hand turns
- Unsafe lane changes
- Illegal turns
- Unsafe passing
- Improperly loaded and/or secured cargo
- Aggressive driving practices
- Negligent truck maintenance
- Negligent hiring of truck drivers
It’s imperative to know precisely how and why your truck accident happened. Our personal injury lawyers in Fort Walton Beach will dig deep to uncover the underlying cause and understand the critical elements of your crash. The knowledge we gain will be instrumental in allowing us to build a legal claim that allows you to get the compensation you need to move on with your life.
Who Is Liable For My Semi-Truck Accident?
Anyone who contributes to a truck accident in Fort Walton Beach might be liable for damages, including the following:
- Truck driver
- Trucking company
- Freight owner
- Property owner
- Government agency
- Driver of another vehicle on the road, including a passenger vehicle, rideshare vehicle, bus, or motorcycle
- Mass transportation company
- Negligent party’s employer
Liability is proportionate to fault. The more responsibility someone bears for causing your truck accident, the more they’ll be liable for your resulting damages.
What Damages Can Be Awarded to Fort Walton Beach Truck Accident Victims?
As a truck accident victim in Fort Walton Beach, you’ll have the opportunity to file a legal claim to recover economic damages and non-economic damages for:
- Current and future medical bills
- Rehabilitation and nursing care
- Temporary and/or permanent disability
- Lost wages and benefits
- Property damage
- Funeral expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Embarrassment
- Reduced quality of life
Our personal injury attorneys in Fort Walton Beach will evaluate your damages and work hard to ensure that the defense makes you a fair truck accident settlement offer during negotiations. If they refuse, we’ll be prepared to take your civil truck accident lawsuit to a jury in pursuit of the life-changing monetary award you deserve.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Blamed in Part For My Recent Florida Truck Accident?
Yes, since Florida adheres to a system of modified comparative negligence. You cannot recover compensation if your shared responsibility for the truck accident is greater than half.
Limited damages can be awarded if you share 50 percent or less responsibility for the truck accident. So, you might be able to recover 75 percent of the value of your truck accident claim if you’re assigned 25 percent of the blame for the wreck.
Truck Accidents Can Cause Catastrophic Physical Injuries
At Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, we work hard to help victims and families recover compensation for all of the physical injuries sustained in Fort Walton Beach truck accidents, including:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Nerve damage
- Crush injury
- Back injury
- Neck injury
- Soft tissue injury
- Nerve damage
- Amputation injury
- Paralysis injury
- Burn injury
- Catastrophic injury
- Wrongful death
Never underestimate the potential severity of your truck accident injuries. Report the accident, seek immediate medical treatment at the closest emergency room in Fort Walton Beach, and then call Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers for help.
What is the Time Limit For Bringing a Civil Truck Accident Claim in Florida?
You’ll usually have until the second anniversary of your truck accident to file a legal claim for damages in the state of Florida. There may be limited exceptions to the statute of limitations, but don’t assume you have more time to take action.
Once the filing deadline has passed, you’ll have lost the right to hold the trucking company or another party liable for your resulting damages.
Contact Our Fort Walton Beach Truck Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Contact Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers if you’ve suffered injuries or experienced the death of a loved one in a truck accident in Fort Walton Beach, FL. You have rights, and our Fort Walton Beach truck accident lawyers are here to help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
We’ve helped clients recover over $600 million in damages from powerful defendants, including trucking services, insurance companies, government agencies, and employers. Now, you can put our 75+ years of combined experience on your side and increase the odds of a substantial monetary award, too.
Contact us today to set a time for your free consultation with a Fort Walton Beach truck accident lawyer.
