St. Petersburg Truck Accident Lawyer

How Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group P.A. Can Help After a Truck Accident in St. Petersburg

Accidents involving large semi-trucks can cause serious destruction. Victims often suffer injuries that can be permanent or even catastrophic. Often, these accidents are entirely avoidable. When you’re the one suffering, you deserve to hold the at-fault parties liable in St. Petersburg, FL. 

Our St. Petersburg personal injury attorneys at Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group, P.A. will do everything possible to maximize your financial award.

When you turn to our team, you can expect that we will:

• • Investigate the circumstances of the crash

• • Coordinate with experts as we build your case

• • Put a fair dollar value on your injury claim

• • Demand fair compensation from all at-fault parties

• • Defend against any allegations that the crash was your fault

• • Deal with the paperwork and insurance communications

• • Negotiate with the insurance companies for a full settlement

• • Prepare and take your case to trial if necessary to get a fair deal

The truck driver has teams of insurance adjusters and attorneys to defend them. You deserve an experienced St. Petersburg personal injury lawyer to fight for you. Call us today to learn more about how our St. Petersburg truck accident lawyers can maximize the amount of money you take home.

How Common Are Truck Accidents in Florida?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) keeps track of accidents involving large trucks and tractor-trailers. According to the FMCSA data, 9,595 large truck accidents were reported in Florida during 2023. 

4,517 people were injured in truck wrecks that year. Sadly, another 322 victims were killed. 

What Is My St. Petersburg Truck Accident Claim Worth?

All cases are different. That said, victims with the most severe injuries tend to recover the highest amounts. Unfortunately, when large and heavy trucks are involved in car accidents, the injuries tend to be severe.

As we’re building your case, we’ll evaluate many different factors, including:

• • The overall severity of your injuries

• • Whether your doctor expects you to make a full medical recovery

• • The cost of your medical care thus far

• • Expected future costs, including ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, in-home assistance, etc.

• • Your vehicle repair costs

• • Whether you miss time at work during recovery

• • How much income you lose during recovery 

• • Whether your earning capacity will be impaired even after reaching maximum medical improvement

• • Your personal losses, including emotional trauma and damage to your quality of life

• • Whether shared fault is a legitimate issue

• • The strength of the evidence

You’ve just been through a traumatic event. You probably don’t know how much your personal injury claim is worth if you don’t have much legal experience. Both of these factors can put you in a vulnerable position with the insurance company.

It’s always best to consult an experienced attorney before taking any insurance deal. Otherwise, you risk letting the insurance company take advantage of your position.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Truck Accident Victims in St. Petersburg?

Under Florida personal injury laws, compensatory damages fall into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.

More specifically, these damages might include:

• • Past and future medical expenses

• • Lost wages

• • Reduced earning capacity

• • Physical therapy

• • Rehabilitation and nursing care

• • Vehicle repairs and other property damage

• • Increased transportation expenses

• • Home and vehicle modifications 

• • Out-of-pocket costs

• • Pain and suffering

• • Emotional distress

• • Anxiety

• • Depression 

• • PTSD

• • Diminished quality of life

• • Physical disfigurement and scarring

• • Loss of consortium

To recover a full compensation award, you’ll have to first identify the losses you’ve sustained. You’ll also have to prove their value. That can be incredibly difficult when you’re talking about future expenses and non-financial losses.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in St. Petersburg?

Most personal injury law firms charge contingency fees. When you hire our team at Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group, P.A., you’ll agree to pay a percentage of your final compensation award. That way, there’s no need to worry about upfront fees or racking up big legal bills that you can’t afford.

Can I Recover Damages If I’m Partly Responsible for a Truck Accident in Florida?

You’re the one who was injured. When you’re seeking compensation, you probably don’t expect to be blamed for causing your own injuries. Unfortunately, victim-blaming is a common insurance tactic. When successful, it can have a huge impact on the amount of money you take home.

Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence law, you lose your right to seek compensation if your share of fault is more than 50%. When you share even a small percentage of the blame, your compensation will be reduced. 

Personal injury cases can be complex. Injured parties aren’t always entirely blameless. Because the insurance companies have a strong incentive to pin the blame on you, it’s important to hire a lawyer who can defend you.

Our Legal Team in St. Petersburg Will Fight to Win Compensation for All of Your Truck Accident Injuries

18-wheelers and semi trucks are huge vehicles. They’re heavy and often contain dangerous cargo. When a passenger vehicle is involved in a truck crash, the occupants often sustain serious injuries. 

Our St. Petersburg truck accident attorneys often represents truck injury victims who have suffered:

• • Broken bones

• • Internal bleeding

• • Traumatic brain injuries

• • Spinal cord injuries

• • Organ damage

• • Crushing injuries

• • Chest injuries 

• • Concussions

• • Dislocations

• • Head and neck injuries

• • Whiplash injuries

• • Burns

• • Amputations

• • Paralysis

• • Catastrophic injuries

• • Wrongful death of a loved one

The list of potential injuries is long. Our attorneys have the tools to handle even the most complex personal injury claim. Get started today by calling for a free case evaluation.

What Are the Top Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents in St. Petersburg?

To operate these commercial motor vehicles, truck drivers have to pass certain tests and obtain a commercial driver license in Florida. That’s no guarantee that they won’t cause accidents.

Many different factors can contribute to the case of a truck crash, including:

• • Distracted driving

• • Speeding 

• • Tailgating

• • Weaving between lanes

• • Passing too closely

• • Failure to yield the right-of-way 

• • Fatigued truck drivers and hours-of-service violations

• • Lane departures

• • Aggressive driving

• • Wide turns

• • Failure to account for the truck’s longer stopping times

• • Failure to follow trucking industry regulations

• • Inadequate vehicle maintenance

• • Drunk driving

• • Failing to conduct inspections before and after trips

• • Unqualified or inexperienced truck drivers

When the police respond to an accident, they’ll conduct a preliminary investigation. The accident report will contain important details. However, it doesn’t always tell the whole story. Our lawyers are prepared to step in and conduct our own investigation to gather evidence on your behalf.

How Do I Prove Liability After a Truck Accident in St. Petersburg? 

Legally, you must establish these elements to prove negligence:

• • Duty of care

• • Breach of duty

• • Causation

• • Damages 

Some types of evidence can be particularly helpful in truck accident cases, including: 

• • Electronic recordings from the truck’s black box

• • Hours-of-service logs

• • Video footage

• • Maintenance records

• • Statements from experts 

• • Eyewitnesses 

• • Police reports

• • Medical records

We have the tools to locate every piece of evidence that can prove your case. If you were injured in a St. Petersburg truck accident, our attorneys can provide the legal assistance you deserve.

Who Can Be Responsible for My Damages After a Truck Accident in St. Petersburg?

Responsible parties may include:

• • Negligent truck drivers

• • Trucking companies that employer negligent drivers

• • The company that owns or leases the truck

• • Maintenance companies

• • Manufacturers of defective equipment

• • Cargo loading companies 

• • Government agencies responsible for oversight 

• • Third-party motorists

When multiple parties share blame, each can be held liable for their share of fault. Identifying each and every responsible party can be critical to your financial recovery.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Truck Accident in Florida?

Under Florida law, you must file your lawsuit within two years. This two-year deadline is called the statute of limitations. Once two years pass, you cannot sue for damages.  

Contact a Skilled St. Petersburg Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Consulting an experienced St. Petersburg truck accident lawyer is always a good idea if you were involved in an accident. At Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group, P.A., we’re always here to discuss your case. Contact us today to arrange your free St. Petersburg, FL, truck accident case review.