Alejandro Figueroa | April 26, 2022 | Truck Accidents
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), law enforcement must submit a crash report according to Florida law if the crash involves:
- An injury to any person
- A traffic fatality
- A hit and run accident
- Accidents caused by a drunk driver
- Crashes needing a tow truck to remove a vehicle
- Traffic accidents involving commercial motor vehicles
- Accidents that cause apparent damage of $500 or more
Therefore, you must call 911 after a truck accident in Tampa involving a commercial motor vehicle. Semi-truck accidents tend to cause catastrophic injuries. Therefore, you are likely to need emergency medical treatment for injuries after a truck crash.
Car accidents that do not involve any of the above factors can be reported to the police online or in person. The FLHSMV provides a downloadable copy of the Driver Report of Traffic Crash form on their website. You can file the report online or by mail.
How Do I Get a Copy of a Traffic Accident Report?
You can request a copy of a truck accident report in Tampa from the FLHSMV or the City of Tampa online. If you hire a truck accident attorney, your lawyer will obtain a copy of the accident report during the accident investigation. Your lawyer will analyze the traffic report to determine useful information for your case.
An accident attorney generally conducts an independent truck accident investigation. Your lawyer may hire expert witnesses, including accident reconstructionists, engineers, and trucking industry experts. Truck accident lawyers also monitor the investigations by local, state, and federal agencies.
What Should I Do During a Truck Accident Investigation?
While your lawyer works on obtaining evidence proving who caused the semi-truck accident, you need to complete medical treatment. In addition to proving fault for the cause of the truck crash, you must also prove that the truck accident caused your injuries. Therefore, you need to seek immediate medical treatment after the accident and complete your doctor’s treatment plan.
Injuries caused by truck accidents can include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Severe burns and disfigurement
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Internal organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Partial and complete paralysis
- Broken bones and fractures
Many people injured in truck accidents sustain permanent impairments and disabilities. Therefore, the damages in a truck accident case can be substantial. Documenting your damages is another essential step after a truck accident.
Damages Available for a Truck Accident Claim in Tampa
Compensation for a truck accident claim includes economic and non-economic damages. The types of damages may include future damages for ongoing care.
Examples of truck accident damages include:
- Past and future costs of medical treatment, including surgeries, therapies, medical devices, etc.
- Past and future cost of nursing care and personal care
- Loss of income, including decreases in future earning potential and future lost wages
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Physical pain and suffering
- Disabilities, impairments, and disfigurement
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life and decreases in your quality of life
The more severe your injuries, the higher the value of your damages. It costs more to treat traumatic injuries. Furthermore, your future damages because of disability can total millions of dollars over a lifetime.
Therefore, you need to document your damages carefully. Keep copies of all receipts, invoices, and bills. Your lawyer may retain a financial expert, medical expert, and other professionals to assist in documenting and estimating the value of your damages.
Who is Responsible for Causing a Truck Accident in Tampa?
Proving fault for a truck accident is essential if you want to recover money for damages. Only the parties responsible for causing the collision are liable for your damages.
Truck accident cases generally involve multiple parties who share liability for damages, including:
- Trucking companies
- Truck drivers
- Other motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians
- Shippers and loaders
- Repair shops and maintenance facilities
- Government entities and agencies
- Truck and parts manufacturers
Identifying each party responsible for contributing to the cause of the truck crash can be challenging. Experienced truck accident lawyers have the resources and skills necessary to handle these types of accident cases.
Talk to an Experienced Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer For Help with a Truck Accident Claim
The trucking company and insurance provider will aggressively defend truck accident claims. They want to avoid liability for damages. Therefore, they may try to blame you for contributing to the cause of the crash.
Under Florida’s pure comparative fault laws, your compensation can be reduced by the percentage of your fault for causing the truck crash.
Therefore, it is wise to seek legal advice as soon as possible after a truck accident. Talking to an insurance adjuster or other representatives of the insurance company or trucking company without a lawyer could hurt your case.
Contact Our Truck Accident Law Firm in Tampa, FL
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Tampa, FL, and need legal help, contact our Tampa truck accident lawyers at Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers
Bank of America Plaza
101 E Kennedy Blvd #2400
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 222-8656
We also provide legal assistance throughout the Tampa Bay Area including Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Bradenton.
