Orlando Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accident victims suffer on multiple fronts. On an emotional level, you may feel frustrated, angry, and scared when you recall the incident. On a logistical level, you may feel overwhelmed and confused about how to rebuild your life, get medical and legal help, and hold careless drivers or other wrongdoers responsible. These frustrations are common, but once you obtain help from a skilled legal team, you will immediately begin to feel less stressed and more in control of your life.

Truck Accident Lawyer Orlando

You shouldn’t have to worry about finances, your health, and your family all because of an incident that wasn’t your fault. Call an experienced truck accident lawyer in the Orlando area who can help you get on the road to recovery today. 

Why should I hire a truck accident lawyer with DWK Law?

The Florida personal injury attorneys at DWK Law have been serving victims of truck, car, and motorcycle crashes in Florida since 1989. We have the talent, experience, and deep familiarity with Florida law to help the injured understand their rights and help you recover from their collision as quickly as possible.

Our firm is founded on a unique philosophy. We review potential cases carefully. We only take on a very limited number of clients at any time to make sure you get the full value of working with the whole DWK Law team. We strive to maximize our attention on getting our clients results and holding wrongdoers accountable for negligent actions.

How much does it cost to hire a truck accident lawyer in the Orlando area?

Some people who are hurt in truck crashes don’t ask for help from lawyers because they think they can’t pay for it. However we can help without you having to pay upfront. You only pay when we win your case, and that’s an amount that we’ll agree upon upfront. There is no need to worry about money when you work with us. Contact an truck accident lawyer today to schedule a free consultation

What do we recommend you do after being in a crash with a semi-truck?

If you get hurt in a truck crash, here are some next steps to take:

1. Call 911 for help

Ask for the police and an ambulance. The police will make a report, and the ambulance will check you right away.

2. Remove yourself from harm’s way

If you can move without getting more hurt, get out of the way of danger. Leave the car wreckage and stay away from traffic.

3. Gather evidence at the scene

Make no mistake, most truck companies are sophisticated and will often have an investigator quickly visit the accident scene. Therefore, take pictures of the cars, where they are, and any damage. Also, take pictures of any injuries. Capture the whole scene, like traffic lights and the road, in your photos or videos. Get the names and numbers of people who saw the collision. If they have a video, ask them to send it to you.

4. Notify your insurance carrier

Tell your insurance company about the incident. Keep it short and stick to the facts.

5. Meet with a truck accident lawyer in Orlando

To improve the odds of obtaining good results, choose your legal representation wisely. Hiring an attorney as early as possible is crucial to ensure critical evidence is preserved. DWK Law has won the respect of peers and repeatedly demonstrated a high level of skill and service. Throughout your case, our lawyers will inform you, answer your questions, and resolve your concerns.

Our team has built a reputation on our ability to research and perform in court, and we leverage trusted investigative resources. We at DWK Law take Orlando truck accident cases on contingency. Thus, you pay no fees or costs unless and until we win a trial award or settlement award for you.

Why are truck collisions so serious?

Think about the last time you drove next to a semi-truck. Unless you were also driving a semi-truck, you likely felt small and vulnerable, and that’s for good reason.

A semi-truck can legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Compared to the average passenger vehicle weight of 4,000 pounds, semi-trucks make up an extremely disproportionate size, weight, and risk on the road.

In 2022 alone, 120,200 trucks were involved in crashes resulting in an injury, with over 5,000 involving fatalities. 

These incidents tend to be extraordinarily complex events. Your truck accident attorney will need to probe the details of what happened to help you and your family obtain compensation for your injuries and medical bills, time off of work, and other costs.

Types of semi-truck accidents

Truck accidents can happen in different ways, and no matter how they happen, they can cause serious problems.

Rollover

If a truck is going too fast, carrying too much, or if the stuff inside is not loaded right, the truck can tip over and crush cars, creating a big problem on the road.

Jackknife

Sometimes, when the driver can’t control the truck, it can turn and face the wrong way, making a shape like a jackknife across the road.

Underride

This occurs when a smaller car behind the truck slides underneath the trailer. These truck accidents are typically fatal and can result in death or serious injury.

Lost cargo

If the things inside the truck are not tied down properly, they can fall off and hit other cars or block the road.

Sideswipe

If a driver doesn’t change lanes correctly or forgets to look in their mirrors, they might hit the side of another vehicle.

What are common causes of truck crashes?

Truck collisions involve innumerable variables. These can include (but are not limited to): whether the trucker was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or while fatigued; whether parts, such as tires or brakes, failed or underperformed; whether road signage was unclear; and whether safety features (e.g. airbags, seat belts) functioned appropriately.

What are common truck accident injuries?

Truck accidents can cause lasting injuries like problems with the brain, head, neck, spine, bones, cuts, or burns. Sometimes, these injuries stay forever, and people might have trouble moving, thinking, or dealing with pain. They might also look different because of scars or missing body parts.

Here are some things to do and not do when dealing with the insurance company after a crash.

Do’s

  • Tell your insurance company about the accident, but keep it short and stick to the facts. Let them know when and where it happened.
  • Answer basic questions to confirm who you are, so they can find your policy and review the case.
  • Direct them to talk to your truck accident lawyer in Orlando for more information about your injuries and car damage.

Don’ts

  • Don’t guess about why the crash happened, admit you did something wrong, or say your injuries are not that bad.
  • Don’t share details about the incident on social media. What you say can be misunderstood or used against you.
  • Don’t give recorded statements without talking to your lawyer. The other party’s insurance might ask for it, but you have the right to talk to your lawyer first.
  • Try not to use the word “accident” because it might make it seem like nobody is to blame. The insurance company might use this to defend their client and say it just happened without anyone being at fault.

What kinds of damages can we help you claim?

Orlando truck accident lawyer

If you get hurt because someone else was careless you can take legal action to ask for payment. This payment is for the things you lost because of your injuries. Damages can include:

Economic damages

These have a clear cost, like bills you have to pay. Your Orlando truck accident attorney will add up these costs, such as:

  • Medical treatment and future medical care costs
  • The value of things that got damaged or ruined
  • Money you lost because you couldn’t work, both now and in the future
  • Other costs because of the crash, like paying someone else to do things you used to do.

Non-economic damages

These do not have a specific cost, but they are still very important. They include things like:

  • Pain or changes to your body because of the injuries
  • How you feel emotionally and mentally
  • Your ability to enjoy life as you did before the collision

Punitive Damages

Florida only allows these in special cases, like if a drunk driver caused the collision. In the case of trucking accidents, drivers can be penalized for not following certain regulations, such as driving on the road for longer than allowed. These damages are not to pay you back for what you lost. Instead, the damages are extra money to punish the person who caused the accident and to prevent the truck driver from repeating the behavior.

How long do I have to file a claim?

If you want your case to be successful, you need to file it in time. Florida has a deadline, known as the statute of limitations, for filing a personal injury lawsuit. Typically, you have two years from the date of the accident to take legal action. Two years is the deadline for most claims, but in some situations, the deadline is shorter. Connect with DWK Law to learn more about the specifics of your situation.

How long will my case take to settle?

We cannot say for sure how long it will take because it depends on a few things. It’s based on how valid the evidence is, how skilled your attorney is, and if the person who caused the accident is willing to be fair. We will work hard to gather strong proof and negotiate for you.

The trucking company has insurance – why do I need a attorney?

Insurance companies are businesses, and they make a profit by denying claims or paying very little. These companies also have a variety of “tricks” they can use to shift the blame onto you, making it easier for them to devalue or outright deny your claim. Don’t let them get away with these tricks – work with DWK Law and protect your rights.

How can we help you prove liability?

Duty of care

The person who caused the wreck had a legal job (duty) to keep you safe. Every driver has to follow the rules and drive safely to protect everyone on the road.

Breach of duty

The person who caused the crash didn’t do their job (breached their duty) to keep you safe. Maybe they were driving too fast, not following traffic rules, or driving while drunk.

Causation

The reason the collision happened was because the person didn’t do their job, not because of something else. It is important to display that the injuries you have were caused by or exaggerated by the truck accident.

Damages

The incident caused things that cost money (economic) and things that you can’t put a price on (non-economic).

What is a semi-truck “black box” and how can it help my case?

Every big truck has something like a “black box” called an event data recorder (EDR). This box keeps important info about how fast the truck was going and how the driver was driving. For example, it records things like how the driver turned the steering wheel just before an accident, how long they worked without a break and other details that can help your case.

Who else besides the driver could be liable for the crash?

It’s important to figure out who is responsible for the crash to make your case successful. It’s not always the truck driver’s fault.

Trucking company

The company that owns the truck has to check and train their drivers, make sure unsafe drivers are not on the road, and keep the trucks in good shape. The rules for this are made by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Cargo loading company

The people who load the truck have to follow weight rules and make sure the cargo is tied down safely. If the cargo moves around, it can make the truck unsteady or things can fall off and cause collisions.

Manufacturer of trucks or parts

The company that makes the truck or its parts can be responsible if they make or install things that don’t work right. Trucks have a lot of parts that need to work correctly, like steering, brakes, and loading systems, to prevent accidents.

Local Resources in Orlando Florida

  1. Orlando Police Department
    1. 1250 W South St, Orlando, FL 32805
  2. Orange County Clerk of Courts
    1. 425 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32801
  3. Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center Emergency Room
    1. 29 W Sturtevant St, Orlando, FL 32806
  4. Orange County Sheriff’s Office
    1. 2500 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32804
  5. Orange County – Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
    1. 730 Sand Lake Road Suite #106B Orlando, FL 32809

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When you team up with us, know that we are using all our legal know-how, experience, and resources to fight for you, and it makes a difference. You should have a lawyer who listens, knows their stuff, and cares about you, and you should get a fair amount of money to make up for what you’ve lost.

Speak with an DWK Law truck accident attorney today now, for free, to get clear, methodical answers to all of your questions related to the incident in Orlando.

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