Crashes involving semi-trucks, 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers typically result in more catastrophic injuries
When people think about life-threatening dangers in Florida, they often talk about alligators and mosquitos. But in doing so, they fail to recognize that Florida roads and highways are among the most deadly places in the state. Interstates like I-4 and I-75 are particularly dangerous due to the higher rates of large commercial trucks.
In 2019, 33 fatal accidents in the state of Florida involved trucks, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Another 157 truck accidents resulted in incapacitating injuries.
Because commercial truck accidents often involve large, heavy vehicles colliding with small passenger vehicles, the injuries that result are often severe.
If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a Tampa truck accident, seek medical care immediately — then contact a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer at Lorenzo & Lorenzo to learn about your rights.
Types of common truck accident injuries
Examples of common truck accident injuries include:
Traumatic brain injury
A brain injury may not be visible to the eye, but that doesn’t make it any less devastating. Signs of brain injury may include confusion, trouble recalling events, blurred vision, dizziness and headaches. Brain injuries can cause significant complications in the future.
For truck accident compensation, traumatic brain injuries can pose a challenge because it may not be clear how severe the damages are until much later. A victim must work diligently in order to receive fair compensation for traumatic brain injury by identifying their damages and projected path of recovery.
Spinal cord injury
The high speeds and heavy vehicle weights involved in a truck accident increase the likelihood of paralysis and spinal cord injury. The sheer force of the impact can cause strain on the body beyond what it can withstand. Spinal cord injuries may cause loss of mobility, tingling and decreased mobility. Often, these injuries are permanent and severely impact the victim’s quality of life.
Amputation
Severe trauma to the body may result in the loss of a limb or other body part. An amputation can result in additional complications including infection. The victim may need to learn how to walk again or do simple, daily tasks in a different way.
Amputations are often expensive for the victim, so settlements frequently reach into the hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. In addition to compensation for medical bills, a victim may claim financial compensation if they are unable to work because of amputation after a truck accident.
Broken bones
A truck accident frequently results in broken bones. Broken bones can be considered serious if they are disabling and disfiguring. They may require surgery, casting, immobilization and decreased activity. Commonly broken bones resulting from truck accidents include the clavicle, pelvis, femur, humerus and facial bones. A broken bone may qualify as a serious, permanent or disfiguring injury that allows the victim to claim financial compensation from the responsible driver.
Whiplash
Whiplash occurs when the impact of an accident results in strain on the soft tissues around the neck. Whiplash can be hard to identify because it may not initially show up in an x-ray or a scan. However, it often heals slowly and it can be very painful. A truck accident victim may need to rely on a medical evaluation and their own journal records in order to identify whiplash and document its effects on their life.
Wrongful death
When truck accident injuries cause someone’s death, the responsible individual may have a wrongful death claim. A victim’s family may claim financial compensation under the Florida Wrongful Death Act.
Generally, the standard for bringing a wrongful death claim is whether the individual would have had a valid case if they had survived the accident. Family members may receive financial compensation as a measure of justice for the victim as well as to help cover the expenses of their deceased family member.
Calculating the real cost of truck accident injuries
Identifying your injuries after an accident is an important part of receiving fair compensation following your truck accident. We can help you itemize their injuries and identify the losses associated with your injury. We’ll also determine what damages you might be entitled to for your truck accident injuries, such as:
- Medical bills
- Surgery expenses
- Prescription medications
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Mobility assistance like wheelchairs and crutches
- Mental health damages
- Losses in lifestyle and decreased mobility
- Property damage
Florida law allows truck accident victims to claim a wide variety of compensation in qualifying cases. When a case meets the threshold to qualify as permanent, serious or disfiguring, a victim may claim catastrophic personal injury damages. These damages include pain and suffering and other non-economic damages.
Building a claim for Tampa truck accident compensation
If your injuries are serious, you should speak to a truck accident attorney near you as soon as possible. To successfully establish a claim for Tampa truck accident compensation, we will likely need to rely on your medical records. We also may call on healthcare providers to speak to provide expert testimony about your injuries and speak to the long-term impact of your injuries.
You must be prepared to address all of the aspects of your claim. Proving what your injuries are is just one step of the equation, albeit an important step. You also must prove causation. Causation is the link between the accident and your injuries. Medical experts and lay witnesses can help prove that the accident resulted in your injuries. In addition, you must prove negligence on the part of the driver. The individual driver may be responsible for your financial damages, as well as the owner of the truck or a trucking company that employed the driver.
