Truck Accident Attorney in Lakeland, FL

Truck accidents are one of the most common causes of severe injuries and deaths today, especially in states like Florida, where the commercial trucking industry is booming. In Polk County alone, 2015-2017 yielded an average of 1,307 commercial vehicle accidents per year, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Truck Accidents: Who’s Really at Fault?

If you or your loved one was involved in a truck accident, identifying the person responsible for the crash may seem extremely obvious. For instance, if you saw that the truck driver was distracted or not following the rules of the road, you might even find the question “Who’s to blame?” ridiculous.

Unfortunately, successfully recovering financial compensation from the at-fault party is not as simple as stating that the driver did something wrong. You must be able to demonstrate what really happened to someone who wasn’t there. This is where a knowledgeable personal injury attorney comes into play. Depending on the unique circumstances of your case, your lawyer may advise you to pursue a claim against:

• The truck driver
• The owner of the truck
• The person or company who leased the truck
• The truck manufacturer
• The shipper of the truck’s cargo

If you feel that the accident was solely the truck driver’s fault, it may seem counterproductive to pursue a claim against one of these other parties. However, it’s important to remember that commercial truck drivers work for a company. That same company has insurance to cover claims such as these, and (perhaps even more importantly) that company is responsible for designing their drivers’ schedules, establishing safety regulations, and enforcing those same regulations. If they fail to do so, your claim against them could force them to improve their standards, which in turn could save countless other families from suffering the same fate as your own.

When to Call a Truck Accident Lawyer

After a serious accident, reaching out to a lawyer may not be your first instinct — after all, insurance companies exist to sort out accident claims, right? As much as I’d love to tell you it’s that simple, it never is. Insurance companies and their lawyers get paid to find ways to offer accident victims as little compensation as possible. My job, on the other hand, is to protect your rights as an accident victim and to fight aggressively for the maximum allowable payout the insurance company has to offer you.

With an experienced truck accident attorney on your side, you can focus on your recovery while I focus on:

• Investigating the true cause(s) of your accident
• Gathering evidence to strengthen your claim against the at-fault party
• Negotiating aggressively with the insurance company
• Taking your case to court if the insurance company refuses to offer you a fair settlement
• Handling any other legal concerns that may arise during the claims process
• Offering you guidance and peace of mind through the process from start to finish

While I sincerely hope that your truck accident resulted in minor damage, I know from years of experience that these cases can have a huge impact on a person’s life — physically, financially, and emotionally. Please allow me to make this process easier for you and your family.