If you were injured in a truck crash, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Your Hollywood truck accident lawyer can get justice for you as long as they can prove fault. Of course, there’s no way to know what type of damages you’ll be entitled to until your truck accident attorney in Hollywood, Florida has a chance to review your case.
What Are Some of the More Common Injuries in a Tractor-Trailer Accident?
When a tractor-trailer or box truck hits a passenger vehicle, the impact is tremendous. Considering the size and weight of the average commercial vehicle, this should come as no surprise.
In many of the cases our Hollywood truck accident lawyers handle, their clients experienced some of the following injuries:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations
- Burn injuries
- Amputations
Any one of these can leave you permanently disabled. Many of our clients have suffered more than one of these injuries. If the truck driver was at fault, they need to be held accountable.
Many Truck Accident Victims Suffer Life-Threatening Injuries
Many truck accident victims are not able to walk away from their accident. Some are in the hospital for weeks or months. They often need surgery and long-term physical therapy. If they didn’t cause the crash, they shouldn’t have to pay for their medical bills. Nor should they lose income as a result of the accident.
Your truck accident attorney in Hollywood will need to prove that the trucker was negligent. That’s the only way you’ll have a chance of recovering damages.
It’s Usually the Person in the Passenger Vehicle Who Suffers the Brunt of the Impact
When a truck driver crashes into a car or SUV, they usually manage to walk away unscathed. Sure, they may have a few bumps and bruises. But, for the most part, they’re fine.
The people in the car or SUV cannot say the same. Usually, they are the ones who suffer the brunt of the impact. The sheer force of the impact is enough to seriously injure and perhaps kill a human being. If your loved one was hurt or even killed, you need to talk to a Hollywood truck accident lawyer.
Your Hollywood Truck Accident Lawyer Must First Prove Fault
In order to collect damages, your truck accident attorney in Hollywood must prove fault. To do this, they need to prove negligence. Over the years, our associates have handled many truck accident cases. They have become quite familiar with the more common causes of these accidents.
Many tractor-trailer accidents are caused by:
- Drivers who are tired after being on the road for so many hours
- Driver inexperience
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Drivers carrying too heavy a load on their truck
Of course, these are just the more common causes of truck accidents. Every case is different. Your truck accident attorney in Hollywood will have to review the facts of your case and determine the cause.
Can Your Truck Accident Attorney in Hollywood Prove Negligence?
In almost all motor vehicle accident cases, you must prove negligence in order to win your case. To do this, your Hollywood truck accident lawyer needs to demonstrate four things.
- The truck driver owed you a duty of care. When it comes to commercial drivers, they are held to a higher standard. They have a duty to exercise an elevated level of caution when behind the wheel.
- The trucker breached this duty of care. Your truck accident attorney in Hollywood must show that the driver didn’t meet their required standard of care. You can do this by showing they have worked more than the number of hours allowed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
- You must show that you were injured. Usually, this will involve a description of your physical injuries. You can also provide evidence of any financial losses you suffered.
- Your attorney must prove that your injuries were caused by the defendant’s behavior. As long as you go to the hospital right after the crash, it will be difficult for the defendant to argue that something other than your truck accident caused your injuries.
You May Have a Claim Against the Trucker’s Employer As Well
In many of the truck accident cases our attorneys handle, they need to pursue more than one party. Oftentimes, you’ll need to name the driver’s employer in your complaint.
Employers are considered vicariously liable for any injuries caused by their employees. As long as the defendant was indeed driving a commercial vehicle at the time of the accident, it should not be hard to prove fault on the part of the trucking company.
What Damages Will Your Hollywood Truck Accident Lawyer Demand?
The reason you would hire a Hollywood truck accident lawyer is because you want damages for your injuries. It’s only natural that you would want to know what types of damages you may be entitled to.
In most of the cases our truck accident attorneys in Hollywood handle, our clients are entitled to some or all of the following:
- Medical bills and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost future income
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
It’s important to keep in mind that punitive damages are rarely awarded in truck accident cases. However, if your attorney can prove that the trucker was drunk or under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash, you may be able to demand punitive damages.
You Should Meet With an Experienced Hollywood Truck Accident Lawyer Right Away
If you or your loved one were injured in a truck accident, there’s a good chance you’ll be entitled to damages. Given the seriousness of tractor-trailer accidents, you likely suffered terrible injuries. Your best chance of recovering damages for these injuries is to retain an experienced Hollywood truck accident lawyer.
We offer all new clients a free, initial consultation so you can find out if your claim has merit. If it does, you’ll have two options. You can continue to pursue the insurance company. Or your Hollywood truck accident lawyer can file suit.
Contact Klotzman Law Firm today and let us help you get the compensation you deserve.
