Have you been hurt or lost a loved one in a truck accident in Fort Walton Beach, Florida? At Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve won millions of dollars on behalf of injury victims. Contact our Fort Walton Beach truck accident lawyers for a free consultation at (850) 863-5297.
You could be entitled to substantial compensation for medical treatment, lost wages, and suffering. Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers is a premier law firm helping injured victims throughout Northwest Florida.
For more than three decades, our truck accident lawyers have been standing up for the rights of people whose lives have been devastated by tragic accidents. We can help you fight for the money you need to get back on your feet.
How Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Truck Accident in Fort Walton Beach
We know you are trying to get your life back on track. You need time to recover—physically and emotionally. When you’ve been injured through no fault of your own, you shouldn’t pay a penny for the financial fallout from your accident.
We’ve handled hundreds of cases with outstanding results. We’ve obtained numerous six-figure awards for clients over the years. Don’t let your fate be determined by an insurance company’s paltry offer.
Our personal injury lawyers in Fort Walton Beach will handle every aspect of your case from beginning to end.
You can expect us to:
- Fully investigate your accident to pinpoint the cause and identify liable parties
- Review all evidence and build a strong case in your favor
- Handle all communication and negotiate with insurance companies and at-fault parties
- Present your strongest case for a settlement that includes full compensation for your losses
- Fight your case in court if necessary
Since 1990, we’ve dedicated our practice to pursuing life-changing awards for accident victims just like you. We know the local landscape. Insurance companies and defense firms know our reputation for fighting fiercely for our clients.
Plus, our founding partner started his career as an insurance defense attorney. He now uses the knowledge he gained of their unfair tactics to your benefit. We believe in your case. So you don’t pay unless we win.
How Common Are Truck Accidents?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2019, 678 fatal vehicle crashes in Florida involved a large truck. That’s almost two per day statewide.
Nationwide, 538,000 large trucks were involved in accidents in 2019. That’s over 1,400 collisions per day across the nation involving big rigs. Of those, 5,005 resulted in fatalities. Another 159,000 caused injuries.
What is My Truck Accident Case Worth?
Each case will be a little different based on the specific facts involved. When you hire the right attorney, you’re more likely to win your case. One study found that you could get as much as 3.5 times more money than if you try to handle the case yourself.
Some factors that affect the value of your case include:
- The nature of your injuries
- Value of lost wages due to your injuries, including future wages and the financial effect on your family
- Your prognosis and whether you’re expected to fully recover
- Whether you were at fault for the accident
These are just a few general examples. You can rest assured that we want you to get the full compensation that you’re due. Contact us as soon as possible after your accident so that we have adequate time to investigate every avenue for recovery.
What Kind of Damages Are Available to Accident Victims?
If someone else is responsible for your accident, they need to pay for the consequences.
Damages are typically divided into two categories:
- Economic: to make you financially whole
- Non-economic: to compensate you for intangible losses
Economic damages can include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages (past and future)
- Cost to repair or replace damaged property
- Rehabilitation
Non-economic damages are often referred to generally as “pain and suffering” and can cover:
- Mental anguish
- Inconvenience
- Disability
- Disfigurement
We frequently hire experts to assist in calculating damages. Expert reports help not only get an accurate and fair number, but they also add authority to the calculation for damages. Such reports can be convincing even in the early stages of litigation and can help with settlement demands.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed For a Truck Accident in Florida?
Yes. Because Florida is a “no-fault” state, you’ll at least get something from your own insurance company.
If you pursue additional compensation because your insurance doesn’t cover all of your losses, you’ll still be able to recover some compensation as long as you are not mostly at fault for the accident. Under the state’s modified comparative fault statute, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you.
Insurance companies (especially ones backing big trucking companies) will try to get away with paying as little as possible. They think they can just put all the blame on you and not have to pay anything.
Having the right attorney can make all the difference in the amount of compensation you receive for your accident claim. We’ll fight back aggressively against any allegations of blame. Even if you were somewhat to blame, you shouldn’t give up any more compensation than is fair.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation For All of Your Truck Accident Injuries
Crashes involving commercial trucks can be devastating due to the size, weight, and speed involved. Many of these accidents happen on freeways at high speeds and involve multiple vehicles. It’s not uncommon to see more serious injuries than in a typical car accident.
Some common injuries we see are:
- Brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Concussion
- Airbag injuries
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Wrongful death
- And more
Whether it’s a minor injury that might heal in a few weeks or a catastrophic injury that causes you a lifetime of suffering, you shouldn’t have to foot the bill.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents?
Semi-trucks are hard to maneuver because they are big and heavy. It takes them longer to stop, and they can’t dodge obstacles quickly.
Some common causes of truck accidents are:
- Excessive speed
- Fatigued truck drivers
- Drunk driving
- Unsafe lane changes
- Poorly trained drivers
- Improper truck maintenance
- Failure to properly load cargo
- Rear-end collisions
- Distracted driving
These complex cases frequently involve multiple parties. The truck driver, the trucking company, the owner of the cargo may all be different entities. We’ll examine every aspect of your accident to determine who did what so that at-fault parties can be held responsible.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Truck Accident in Florida?
Most semi-truck crashes are caused by carelessness. So most cases will be based on negligence, a legal theory that imposes liability on someone for failing to act cautiously.
To prove negligence, you’ll need to prove each of its four elements:
The legal standard for negligence is a preponderance of the evidence. This means you’ll have to prove that it was more likely than not that the defendant’s actions caused your injuries.
Evidence to prove your case could include:
- Eyewitness testimony
- Maintenance reports
- Video footage from traffic cams
- Deposition testimony
- Police or accident reports
We dive into the evidence to build your best case. That means supporting your demand for damages as well as refuting unfair allegations of blame against you.
Who Pays for My Truck Accident Injuries?
This will depend on the facts of your case. Florida requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (“PIP”) coverage. After a crash, you’ll be required to turn to your own provider for benefits first.
If your damages exceed your policy limits or if the provider just won’t pay, you might be able to file a lawsuit or submit a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance provider. We can help you fight at this stage, even before a lawsuit is filed.
If your PIP doesn’t cover your injuries (very likely in a trucking accident), then we’ll pursue the at-fault parties for your full compensation.
Liable parties could include:
- Truck driver
- Truck owner
- Property owner
- Owner of the cargo
- Company that loaded the cargo
- Dock security
- Maintenance company
Basically, any party in the chain of events that caused your injury could potentially shoulder some responsibility.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Truck Accident in Florida?
If you’re filing a lawsuit based on injuries you sustained, then you’ll have two years. If you are pursuing damages for the loss of a loved one, you’ll also have two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Trucking cases are complex and could be subject to other deadlines than the ones listed here. We highly recommend contacting an experienced Fort Walton Beach trucking accident attorney as soon as possible after your crash. It takes time to perform an initial investigation. You’ll be in a better position to get the maximum compensation if your legal team has a jump on your case.
Contact Our Fort Walton Beach Truck Accident Lawyers For a Free Consultation
We know dealing with the aftermath of a catastrophic accident is overwhelming. Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers wants to help you get back on your feet. We’re local attorneys with a track record of success throughout the Florida Panhandle.
We’ll put our 60+ years of combined experience to work for you. We treat each case as if it were for a member of our own family. We’re a father-son team with deep roots in the community. Taking care of our neighbors in times of need is why we’re here.
Call our Fort Walton Beach truck accident lawyers today to learn more about how we can help. Your initial consultation is free with no obligation, so there’s no risk to you.
Fort Walton Emergency Rooms
- White-Wilson Immediate Care Clinic – 1005 Mar Walt Dr, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
- Twin Cities Hospital – 2190 FL-85 N, Niceville, FL 32578
- Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital Emerald Coast – 7800 US-98, Miramar Beach, FL 32550
*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.
Fort Walton Beach Truck Accident Lawyer Review
https://goo.gl/maps/ko1Au5GycHDXfe7H7
Read more of our client reviews here.