Panama City Truck Accident Attorney

Put Decades of Experience in Your Corner

With accidents involving trucks, most claims will be filed against the company that owns the vehicle instead of against the individual driver. Trucking companies immediately spring to action after an accident, investigating the scene and doing what they can to minimize damage.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an accident involving a truck and are looking for compensation, assistance from a truck accident attorney in Panama City will prove invaluable as you face a larger-scale defendant with vast resources.

Types of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents can be some of the most dangerous traffic accidents due to the size of the truck in comparison to other passenger vehicles. Some of the most common types of trucking accidents include:

• Jackknife Accidents
• Rollover Accidents
• Tire Blowouts
• Wide Turn Accidents
• Rear-End Accident
• T-Bone Accidents
• Lost Load Accidents
• Blind Spot Accidents

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Due to the serious nature of truck accidents, it's important for all drivers to understand how these accidents can occur. Truck accidents can be caused by several factors, including:

• Drunk Drivers
• Distracted Drivers
• Texting While Driving
• Unsafe Road Conditions
• Poor or Improper Training from the Truck Company
• Fatigued Drivers
• Poor Truck Maintenance
• Improperly Secured Loads

If you've suffered an injury as the result of a truck accident, you have options. Contact our firm today to learn more about your potential truck accident claim and start fighting for your rights today!

Syfrett, Dykes & Furr has the experience necessary to safeguard your future. Contact us at (850) 795-4979 to hear how we can help.

Who Is Liable in a Trucking Accident?

As with many personal injury cases, the most involved portion of constructing the claim is determining who is liable for the incident.

In trucking accidents, the following parties could be wholly or partially liable:

• Driver of the truck
• Employer of the driver
• Owner of the truck
• Company leasing the truck
• Owner of the leasing company
• Manufacturer of any involved components

What is a Truck Accident Attorney’s Role?

Your Panama City truck accident attorney assists in establishing the liability for the damages you have sustained. We collect evidence to substantiate your claim and ensure the defendant does not incorrectly represent the facts. Trucking companies typically launch into damage control immediately after an accident, following a protocol set in place by their insurance company.

Your attorney conducts their own investigation into the particulars of the accident and the record of the company and driver in question. We do our best to make sure your voice is heard and you are treated fairly throughout the proceedings.

Who is Liable After a Truck Accident?

A truck driver is not always the one who is held liable for an accident, in fact usually the trucking company is help responsible. There are many reasons for this, the main one being that trucking companies are often caught encouraging their drivers to break truck regulations in order to save their company money.

At times, the truck driver is held liable particularly if the accident was directly caused by their negligence, such as driving while drunk. Although it happens less often, there are other parties that can be held liable such as a truck manufacturer or cargo loading team. The legal team at Syfrett, Dykes & Furr is experienced in investigating truck accident claims and is ready to help you today.

What Damages Can You Recover From a Truck Accident?

When involved in a truck accident, the damages incurred can be extensive, affecting various aspects of life physically, emotionally, and financially. Understanding what damages are recoverable is crucial for ensuring proper compensation. Here's a breakdown of the damages that victims of truck accidents can typically recover:

• Medical Expenses: One of the most significant areas of recoverable damages in a truck accident is medical expenses. This includes current medical bills, expenses for ongoing treatment, medication costs, rehabilitation fees, and any future medical expenses related to the accident.
• Lost Income and Earning Capacity: Truck accidents often result in injuries that prevent victims from working temporarily or permanently. Recoverable damages may include compensation for lost wages, salary, bonuses, and benefits. Additionally, if the injuries diminish the victim's earning capacity in the future, they may also be entitled to compensation for that loss.
• Property Damage: Damages to your vehicle or other personal property in the accident are recoverable. This includes repair or replacement costs for the vehicle, as well as any other damaged property such as personal belongings.
• Pain and Suffering: Victims of truck accidents often endure physical pain and emotional suffering. Compensation for pain and suffering is subjective and varies depending on the severity of the injuries and their impact on the victim's life. It may encompass physical discomfort, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental anguish.
• Loss of Consortium: In cases where the accident results in the loss of companionship, support, or intimacy with a spouse or partner, the injured party or their loved ones may be entitled to compensation for loss of consortium.
• Punitive Damages: In situations involving extreme negligence or misconduct by the truck driver or the trucking company, punitive damages may be awarded. These damages are intended to punish the responsible party and deter similar behavior in the future.

What Are the Hours of Service Regulations?

Truck drivers are required to follow more regulations than other motor vehicles because of how dangerous a truck accident can be.

One of these rules is called the hours of service regulation which regulates how long a truck driver can be on the road and when and for how long they must rest. These rules also protect truck drivers from being overworked by the company they work for. According to these rules:

• Truck drivers can work up to 14 hours in a day but can only actually drive for 11 hours
• Drivers must rest for a minimum of 10 hours before starting a new day at work
• Truck drivers must take days off at regular intervals

Florida Truck Accident Statute of Limitations

There is a statute of limitations in Florida that limits the time you have to file a claim against another party. Injured truck accident victims only have two years to file a claim. Furthermore, each day you wait to contact an attorney after being injured in an accident is another day the trucking company has to undo the evidence of damage and reduce the benefits available to you.

The years of experience our firm has in personal injury law has given us a deep understanding of these types of claims. We know which direction to take your personal case to secure the compensation you deserve.

We can help you make the best of this unfortunate situation. Schedule a free consultation by calling our Panama City truck accident lawyers (850) 795-4979. Se Habla Español.