Tampa Catastrophic Truck Injury Attorney

A Florida truck accident can result in catastrophic injuries that impact victims’ lives forever. If you are living with long-term disabilities after a crash, the Tampa truck injury attorneys at Paul Knopf Bigger can help you seek accountability and fair compensation from those responsible for the collision.  

Our legal team understands how painful catastrophic injuries can be, both for truck accident victims and their families. Medical bills and lost income can place an immense strain on the household, especially when the losses are ongoing or expected to be permanent. Let us help you pursue the money you need to overcome these challenges. Call us today or complete our contact form for a free consultation with a Tampa truck injury lawyer.

Why are Catastrophic Injuries More Common After a Truck Accident?

Commercial truck crashes often lead to more serious injuries than car accidents. Here are a few reasons why a semi-truck crash can be especially devastating:

• Size and weight – A fully loaded semi-truck is 2.5 times taller, five times longer, and 20 times heavier than passenger cars. This means trucks exert much more force in a crash. The more violent the impact, the greater the risk for severe truck accident injuries.
• Longer stopping distances – Tractor trailers need more space to come to a complete stop than cars. It could take up to the length of two football fields for an 80,000-pound truck traveling at highway speeds to stop.
• Cargo problems – Commercial motor vehicles transport heavy or hazardous cargo that can turn deadly under the wrong conditions. Shifting cargo can throw a truck off balance, leading to jackknife accidents or rollover crashes. Unsecured cargo can spill onto the roadway, creating additional crash hazards.
• Higher point of impact – The elevated height of truck cabins means they often strike cars at locations that bypass safety features like bumpers and crumple zones. This can result in more direct impacts on passenger compartments, heightening the risk of catastrophic or fatal injuries.
• Harder to operate – Trucks are large and complex machines that are difficult to maneuver, particularly in emergencies. This can lead to more severe accidents when drivers are inexperienced or unable to quickly navigate out of dangerous scenarios.

Your Legal Rights and Options After a Truck Accident in Tampa

You have certain rights after a truck accident in Florida. First, your mandatory personal injury protection (PIP) insurance should pay for 80 percent of medical bills and 60 percent of lost wages you suffered up to the $10,000 policy limit. This insurance provides no-fault benefits, which means you are entitled to them regardless of who caused the accident. They’re yours, even if you are to blame.

While this is valuable coverage in the immediate wake of a catastrophic accident, it is likely far from sufficient in the longer term. Fortunately, you can step outside the state’s no-fault system if someone else caused the accident and you meet the state’s injury threshold. In Florida, a serious injury includes:

• Any injury that causes significant, permanent disfigurement or scarring
• Any injury that’s permanent to within a reasonable degree of probability
• Significant, permanent loss of a vital bodily function

To get compensation beyond that provided by your PIP insurance and any other first-party policies you have, you must show that another party caused the truck crash and your resulting injuries. A Tampa truck accident attorney can investigate the accident to determine all potentially at-fault parties, which could include:

• Truck drivers – The truck driver may be liable if the accident resulted from their careless actions, such as speeding, fatigue, or driving under the influence.
• Trucking company – The truck company may bear some responsibility for the crash if it failed to enforce safety regulations or did not properly maintain the truck. The company may also bear vicarious liability if the driver is a direct employee.
• Cargo loaders – If improperly loaded or unsecured cargo contributed to the accident, the parties responsible for loading the truck might be liable.
• Truck manufacturer – If a defect in the truck or any of its components caused the truck crash, the manufacturer of the vehicle or its parts could be held liable.
• Maintenance providers – If lack of proper maintenance was a factor in the collision, third-party service providers responsible for the truck’s upkeep may be to blame.
• Other drivers – Sometimes, other negligent drivers on the road contribute to or cause an accident involving a truck, making them potentially liable.

Types of Compensation for Catastrophic Truck Accident Injuries

Your potential compensation in a Tampa truck accident case depends on your injuries, who was at fault, the strength of your evidence, the availability of insurance coverage, and other factors. At Paul Knopf Bigger, our personal injury lawyers understand the stakes are high. You can count on us to pursue maximum compensation for all your losses from a truck accident, including money for:

• Past, current, and future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Reduced future earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Diminished quality of life
• Damaged personal property

The Legal Process After a Catastrophic Truck Accident

Here are the steps in a Tampa truck accident legal case:

• Initial consultation – Accident victims start by consulting a personal injury lawyer, who will assess the case details, the extent of their injuries, and who could bear liability for the wreck.
• Investigation –The attorney gathers evidence such as accident reports, witness statements, and truck company records to confirm the liable parties and build a robust case against them.
• Filing a truck accident claim – The lawyer sends a demand letter to the liable parties, outlining their client’s injuries and other losses and demanding a specific amount of compensation.
• Settlement negotiations – During settlement negotiations, the truck accident lawyer talks with the opposing parties’ insurance companies and tries to reach a fair settlement that covers the victim’s losses.
• Truck accident lawsuit – If the sides can’t agree on an appropriate settlement, the semi-truck accident case may go to trial, where a judge or jury will determine the outcome.
• Resolution – The case concludes with a settlement or a court verdict, which may provide compensation for the victim’s losses.

Why Choose Paul Knopf Bigger?

Who you choose to represent you has a substantial impact on your case. Here are four reasons to work with a Tampa truck accident lawyer from our firm:

• We have recovered over $250 million for our clients in the past 10 years.
• We have a highly experienced team of 15 attorneys to serve your legal needs.
• We work hard to protect your rights and maximize your compensation.
• Our team includes multiple attorneys certified in civil trial law by the Florida Bar Association, reflecting our commitment to legal excellence.

Contact Our Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers Now

Paul Knopf Bigger has extensive experience providing top-notch legal assistance for Tampa truck accident victims with catastrophic injuries. Call us today or contact our Tampa truck accident attorneys for a free consultation.