Clearwater Truck Accident Lawyer

According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Report, more than 40,000 trucking accidents involving light, medium, and large trucks occur on Florida’s roads every year. Worse yet, even those individuals who survive these often catastrophic collisions do not generally get away unscathed.

Truck accident victims often endure devastating injuries, debilitating pain, and astronomical medical expenses that forever change their lives.

If you have been the victim of a trucking accident that resulted from another person’s wrongful, negligent, or reckless actions, you should not be on the hook for all the tragic consequences that result. You deserve justice for the harm you have sustained and the losses you have endured.

Fortunately, if you reach out to a Clearwater truck accident lawyer, you can get the legal help you need to go after the damages you deserve. Call our experienced personal injury attorneys now.

What You Get From Perenich Law Injury Attorneys

Brothers and attorneys Gregory J. Perenich, Timothy Perenich, and Terence Perenich founded Perenich Law Injury Attorneys to provide injured victims the legal representation they need and the attention their cases deserve.

That is why, for decades, Our seasoned Clearwater truck accident attorneys have assisted victims by recovering millions of dollars on their behalves through settlement awards and jury trial verdicts, including recent judgments of:

• $685,000 for a semi-truck accident.
• $275,000 for a dance studio owner who a truck hit from behind.
• $130,000 for a wrongful death that resulted when a speeding truck with defective brakes killed a 16-year-old.

Although we cannot promise that we will get these every case we take, you can rest assured that if you work with our experienced legal team, we will fight hard to recover every last dollar your injury has cost you.

How Much Does Hiring a Truck Accident Attorney Cost?

Hiring a Clearwater truck crash lawyer at our law firm is easy. We work on a contingency basis. That means that you don’t owe us anything unless we can collect money for you! It is that simple.

We even offer FREE initial consultations and reviews so you can get the answers you need to make the best decision for you and your family.

Come in to our Clearwater office to learn more about what we can do for you. And don’t worry about not being able to afford a lawyer – we understand the financial burdens that follow an 18-wheeler collision in Clearwater. That’s why we work quickly to help you get the compensation you need – and deserve.

What Should You Do Following a Clearwater Trucking Accident?

Taking action after a tragic Clearwater trucking accident may be the last thing on your mind. However, these keep you safe and protect your legal rights. As a result, after a Clearwater trucking collision, you should consider doing the following:

Call 911 Right Away

After a trucking collision, you should call 911 immediately. This is the quickest way to alert the authorities about the accident, get the accident on record, and notify the emergency medical services that you or someone at the scene needs immediate medical care.

When the police arrive, they can perform a preliminary investigation into the crash, recording details about the accident in their police report. If you decide to pursue legal action after the collision, this report can provide your lawyer with valuable information regarding what happened.

Get to a Doctor as Soon as Possible

Even if your injuries appear minor after the trucking crash, you should still get to a doctor as soon as possible. Symptoms of a serious injury such as a traumatic brain injury can take some time to manifest. The longer you wait to get a brain injury checked out, the more debilitating it can become. This is why it is important to get to a doctor immediately after the accident.

In addition, getting treatment can be helpful to your legal case. Insurance companies are looking for any reason to deny your insurance claim or provide you less money than you deserve. If you did not seek medical attention soon after the incident, the insurance company is likely to argue that your injuries are not serious or that they were the result of some other event.

When you get to a doctor right after the accident, the doctor can jot down details of your injuries in their medical report, providing you with clear evidence of a direct link between your Clearwater semi-truck accident and the harm you sustained.

Gather Evidence From the Collision Scene

If it is possible to do so without risking further injury, try to gather as much evidence as possible from the scene. This evidence should include pictures and videos of your visible injuries, skid marks on the road, the weather conditions, the vehicles involved, the damage to your car, traffic signs and signals near the area, and any other evidence you think may help show what happened.

Exchange Information With the Other Drivers

Try to exchange details with all those involved in the accident, including names, contact information, driver’s license numbers, and insurance information. However, as you talk to the other people involved, be careful about what you say. Do not make any definitive statements about the incident, accept the blame for anything that happened, or apologize. These types of comments can end up hurting your claim and impacting the amount of money you ultimately receive.

Check for Witnesses

If there were people present at the accident scene who saw what happened, try to get their names and contact details. Witness statements can often provide your lawyer with valuable information regarding the incident to back up your claim.

Common Causes of Clearwater Trucking Accidents

Most trucking accidents are the result of driver error. In fact, driver error significantly contributes to fully one-third of all fatal trucking crashes. Driver error can include essentially anything, from failing to yield to running a red light.

However, there are some particularly common forms of driver error, which include:

Speeding

If a truck driver is speeding and gets into an accident, the result can be catastrophic. A truck’s size and weight already make it a deadly force on the road and the faster it is going, the greater the force when it gets into a collision.

Distracted driving

If a truck driver is not paying attention to the road ahead of them because they are looking down at their phone, changing the radio station, or eating and drinking, they can miss the chance to avoid an oncoming collision. Just a glance away can cause them to lose control of their massive vehicle.

Driving under the influence

Driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or prescriptions medications can lead to impaired driving. If a trucker is driving while impaired, they cannot use sound judgment to make safe decisions behind the wheel.

Fatigued driving

Fatigued driving is a serious problem in the trucking industry. Truck drivers often have to work long hours, which may not allow them to get the necessary sleep required to function properly. Fatigued drivers can be just as impaired in their thinking and decision-making skills as drunk drivers, which can lead to devastating accidents.

Reckless driving

If a truck driver is operating their vehicle without care for other drivers and individuals on the road, their careless driving can lead to severe collisions.

In addition to driver error, several other common factors can also contribute to trucking accidents in Clearwater, including:

• Poor truck maintenance;
• Inadequate truck driver training;
• Poorly maintained roads;
• Negligent third-party drivers; and
• Dangerous roadways and intersections in Clearwater, including Belcher Road and Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard as well as U.S 19 and Gulf-to-Bay.

Work with an experienced Clearwater truck wreck lawyer at Perenich Law Injury Attorneys after a truck accident. We can thoroughly investigate your trucking accident to identify what happened, figure out who caused the crash, and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Common Injuries Resulting from Clearwater Truck Crashes

Due to their size and weight, when trucks are involved in an accident, the consequences are often catastrophic.

Injuries differ depending on the circumstances of the collision, but some of the more common injuries that tend to result from these accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injuries;
• Spinal cord damage;
• Soft tissue injuries;
• Deep lacerations;
• Broken bones;
• Internal bleeding;
• Neck and back injuries;
• Crushing injuries; and
• Wrongful death.

Are Truck Drivers Responsible For Damages After a Clearwater Trucking Accident?

Unfortunately, determining liability after a tractor-trailer accident is not as straightforward as you might hope. Unlike passenger car crashes, which often only involve two vehicles, trucking crashes often involve multiple parties.

At first glance, it may seem like the truck driver is the one who is responsible for the accident. That may be the case. However, the responsibility for your trucking accident might lie with multiple parties. When truck drivers, trucking companies, and maintenance crews fail in their duties, the results can be catastrophic.

The parties that are most often liable for these tragic crashes include:

• The at-fault truck driver;
• The trucking company;
• Cargo companies;
• Truck maintenance crews;
• The truck’s owner;
• Negligent third parties;
• The manufacturer of the truck or the trucking parts; and/or
• Government agencies.

Fortunately, when you work with an experienced Clearwater truck crash attorney, you will not have to figure out who was responsible for your accident on your own. An experienced lawyer can thoroughly investigate your crash, determine liability, and hold all those who are at fault for the accident accountable for the injuries and losses you endured.

Can I Sue After a Clearwater Truck Accident?

Recovering Damages Following a Clearwater Trucking Accident

If you have been harmed in a Clearwater 18-wheeler accident because of another person’s wrongful, reckless, or negligent actions, you may be entitled to compensation for the harm and losses you endured.

In Florida, this compensation includes both economic and non-economic damages such as:

• Past, current, and future medical expenses, including doctor’s visits, prescription medications, surgeries, hospital stays, and assistive medical devices.
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity.
• Personal property repairs.
• Replacement services.
• Rehabilitative therapy.
• Pain and suffering.
• Mental anguish.
• Loss of a limb.
• Loss of enjoyment of life.
• Loss of consortium.
• Disfigurement and scarring.
• Inconvenience.

In addition, in rare instances, punitive damages may also be awarded. Unlike the other types of damages, which are meant to compensate the victim for their losses following an accident, punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer for their egregious actions and deter others from committing similar acts in the future.

For a court to award these damages, the victim’s lawyer needs to show through clear and convincing evidence that the defendant was personally guilty of gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

The Statute of Limitations in Clearwater Truck Collisions

The statute of limitations is a law that sets a time limit within which you must file a lawsuit following an alleged offense. If you do not file your claim within this deadline, you can’t pursue legal action and obtain compensation.

In Florida, the statute of limitations to file an injury claim following a Clearwater trucking accident is two years from the truck accident date. However, some exceptions to this rule can shorten the filing deadline. Do not wait to reach out to an experienced Clearwater semi-truck collision attorney after an accident.

At Perenich Law Injury Attorneys, our skilled lawyers can verify the amount of time you have to file your legal case and file all of your legal motions correctly before time expires.

Contact Perenich Law Injury Attorneys Today and Fight for the Justice You Deserve

At the Perenich Law Injury Attorneys law firm, our legal team understands that trucking accidents not only impact your health but also your ability to work, take care of your family, and live the life you want. Our experienced Clearwater truck wreck attorneys are here to help. We can take on the legal battle on your behalf and fight for the damages you are entitled to.

If you choose to work with us, our lawyers can:

• Go over your case in detail, figure out whether you have a viable legal claim, and determine your legal options.
• Answer any questions you have and provide you with the legal assistance you require during this difficult time.
• Investigate the trucking collision and secure the necessary evidence to show what happened and who was at fault.
• Retain experts such as accident reconstructionists and doctors to substantiate your claim.
• Handle all the discussions and negotiations with the insurance company and go after a just settlement on your behalf.
• Proceed to trial if the other side is unwilling to provide you with a fair settlement and fight for maximum damages.

If a trucking crash injured you or a family member, do not delay in securing the legal help you require. Contact Perenich Law Injury Attorneys today for a free case evaluation and let our firm show you how we can fight for your rights and the financial recovery you need.

If you have been injured in a truck accident, we want to extend our deepest sympathy. These accidents can leave you so severely injured, and sometimes it’s beyond repair. You deserve full and fair compensation for your injuries and our dedicated legal professionals want to work to get that for you.

A skilled Clearwater truck accident lawyer will guide you through that process. Call now.