Florida Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog

After a Miami Beach truck accident, it is common to feel upset and confused. In addition to trying to process complex information about claims and insurance laws, you may be recovering from a painful or long-term injury while also trying to get your life back on track. In many cases, where a serious injury has occurred, it can be helpful to speak with a Miami Beach personal injury attorney after your accident. While you may not be sure whether you want to pursue a legal claim following your accident, pursuing justice can do many things:

1) Get answers about the cause of the accident. In many cases, if you have been in a Miami Beach car accident with a truck, you may have many questions about what has caused the accident. You may even be accused of contributing to the accident. A good Miami Beach personal injury attorney can investigate the cause of the accident – most attorneys work with private investigators who have extensive experience with accident reconstruction and other investigative techniques. Getting the facts about your accident can ensure that you are not held responsible for something that way not your fault. Getting the facts can also help you move on and can ensure that if the accident was preventable, steps are taken to prevent similar accidents in the future.

2) Hold parties accountable for their actions. In many cases, truck carriers, truck manufacturers, and others in the truck industry are concerned about cost effectiveness. When cost effectiveness causes safety problems, however, it can be dangerous. Holding companies liable when they are reckless with safety can spur companies and even entire industries into taking steps to ensure safety for everyone. Unfortunately, in some cases it takes legal action to push a company into becoming more aware of safety and being more responsible.

3) Get fair compensation for your injuries. If you have been in a Miami Beach traffic collision involving a truck, you can often get your car insurance carrier to cover some of the costs of your injuries. Unfortunately, if you have serious injuries, your insurance may not cover all the costs related to the car crash. In many cases, victims are surprised to find out how high the costs of a car collision really are. Miami Beach spinal cord injury patients, for example, may have medical costs exceeding one hundred thousand dollars in the first year after the accident alone, and this figure does not cover lost income, property damage, and other costs related to the accident. In many cases, it may take legal action and close work with an experienced Miami Beach personal injury attorney to recover fair compensation for the injuries sustained in a serious accident.

4) Make a difference in the community and in others’ lives. When someone pursues justice through the legal system, changes are often made. In many cases, when legal action leads to a settlement or court win, companies make changes that ensure that they will not get sued. Over time, this leads to better safety practices. Pursuing legal action can draw attention to a problem and can make important changes, ensuring that others are not injured in a similar way.

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Being in a Miami Gardens traffic accident can be one of the most frightening experiences of your life. A Miami Gardens truck accident, especially, can cause devastating damage as well as serious injury. If you have sustained a serious car accident or truck accident, your first priority should be to get medical assistance in order to increase your chances of recovery. The sooner you can get reliable, targeted medical help, the more likely you are to recover from your injuries. Many types of injuries, such as Miami Gardens brain injuries, can become fatal if you do not get prompt medical attention. This is why it is important to:

1) Offer immediate assistance to anyone who needs it at the scene. If anyone at the scene of the accident seems to have a serious injury, it is best to call for emergency personnel right away. Even if you're not sure whether an ambulance is strictly required, it is better to err on the side of caution and get help immediately. In many cases, seconds and minutes can make the difference between life and death.

2) Visit an emergency room or clinic if you are injured but do not require an ambulance. Even if you walk away from a Miami Gardens car accident, it is important to visit a walk in clinic or emergency room right away if you have any symptoms. In many cases, even if symptoms seem mild they can indicate a serious injury. For example, some Miami Gardens brain injury victims do not experience any initial symptoms after their injury but eventually sustain permanent or even fatal damage. For this reason, it is important to consult with a medical professional right away if you have any symptoms at all, if you have hit your head, or if you have vision problems or have lost consciousness even temporarily after your accident.

3) Keep track of symptoms. Even if you have no symptoms after a Miami Gardens truck accident and seem fine, it is important to keep track of any potential symptoms or issues for a few weeks after the accident. In some cases, symptoms develop gradually and may not be noticeable. Keeping a written record of any symptoms, no matter how small, can help you notice any potentially serious symptoms so that you can get help in time.

4) Make an appointment with your regular physician. Speaking with your regular physician after a Miami Gardens truck accident is a smart precaution. A physician can give you a general checkup to make sure that there are no problems and can ensure that there is a record of any symptoms you may be experiencing.

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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycles are among the most dangerous modes of transportation on the roadways, with motorcyclists comprising 13% of all traffic deaths. Since motorcyclists have fewer barriers of protection, they are more vulnerable in a North Miami traffic accident. In fact, according to the NHTSA, motorcyclists are 25 times more likely to die and 5 times more likely to be injured in a car accident than occupants of a passenger vehicle. Motorcyclists involved in a North Miami truck accident are especially vulnerable to injuries and fatalities, as the sheer size and force of a truck can easily crush a motorcycle and motorcyclist. Despite the dangers, motorcyclists still have a passionate love of bikes. In the US, there were 8 million registered motorcycles in 2009, and the number is growing.

Statistics show that in 2009, about one in two motorcycle accidents involved another vehicle. In about 40% of cases, these accidents took place when a vehicle turned left and crashed into a motorcycle that was passing or headed straight. In about 27% of cases, the accidents look place when both the vehicle and motorcycle were traveling straight.

According to experts, the main reason behind motorcycle accidents is related to visibility. In many cases, motorcyclists are not visible to other drivers or other drivers are simply not on the lookout for motorcyclists. While motorcyclists can take steps to be more visible, truck drivers and passenger car drivers also need to be more cautious about keeping an eye out for motorcycles. To encourage this, the NHTSA has teamed up with local law enforcement as part of its “Share the Road” initiative. As part of the program, the NHTSA is reminding all motorcyclists and car and truck drivers that:

1) Motorcycles should be given a full lane at all times. Sharing the lane, even when there seems to be enough room to do so, is extremely dangerous and prevents a motorcyclist from having the room to maneuver safely. Not allowing motorcyclists enough room is a common cause of North Miami motorcycle accidents.

2) Distraction is a danger, whether you are a driver, motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian. Distracted drivers and riders are less likely to notice motorcyclists and other traffic situations that require attention. Putting mobile devices away and putting all focus on the road is the safest way to share the road.

3) Motorcyclists have the same privileges, rights, and responsibilities as all other vehicles on the road.

4) Use signals. Truck drivers, car drivers, motorcyclists, and bicyclists need to signal when merging or changing lanes to let other vehicles know their intention. Signaling lets other vehicles around you adjust their driving as needed.

5) At intersections and when entering or leaving a lane, check your mirrors and blind spots. Motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists may not be noticeable because they are in a blind spot.

6) Give motorcycles and trucks more room. Trucks make frequent stops while motorcyclists change speeds more often or adjust position in a lane due to weather or road conditions. Motorcycles can also stop more quickly than cars. Giving trucks and motorcycles more room is the safest way to adjust for these differences.

Continue reading "Preventing North Miami Truck Accidents Involving Motorcycles " »

Hopefully, you will never need to go through the trauma and stress that is a Tamarac truck accident. However, if you are in this type of Tamarac traffic accident, there are several things you will want to remember to do:

1) Have your vehicle ready. Being ready for a Tamarac car accident or truck accident is important. In your glove compartment, you should have pen and paper, current insurance information, a first aid kit, and possibly a small camera (if your phone does not have a camera). If you are ever in a car accident, you will have the help and information on hand to exchange contact, license plate, and insurance information with the other driver involved.

2) Get safe. The first thing to do after a Tamarac truck accident is to get to a safe location and contact emergency medical help for anyone who needs it. If the accident was not serious, Florida laws require you to get your car out of the way of traffic so that you do not cause a secondary Tamarac car accident.

3) Contact authorities. Contacting police after the accident to file a police report can be an important step in getting documentation about the accident. Contacting your insurance company is also important for starting the claims process.

4) Stay calm and stay alert about what you say. You should never admit fault at the accident scene. It is often premature, especially since no one has yet investigated all the contributing factors in the accident. Do not apologize for the accident, and stick to facts without assigning blame when discussing the accident with police or the other driver.

5) Start documenting the injuries and damages. Take photos of the accident if you can, using the time stamp on your camera phone if possible. Get a copy of any police or medical reports after the accident and keep careful records on injuries as well as any costs related to your Tamarac truck accident.

6) Contact a Tamarac personal injury attorney. Even if you think that the insurance offer made by your insurance company is a safe one, schedule a free consultation with a personal injury attorney to get a sense of how much your case could be worth. Do this before you sign any insurance documents and before you make any final decisions in your case. In some cases, a personal injury attorney can negotiate a better claim offer for you or can help you get fairer compensation, ensuring you won’t pay for as many costs out of pocket. If you are accused of causing the car accident, you will also need a good attorney to defend your rights.

Continue reading "What to Remember if you are in a Tamarac Truck Accident" »

Miramar brain injury victims often sustain their injuries in sport accidents, falls, or in Miramar truck accidents and car accidents. Victims of concussions and other traumatic brain injuries may suffer headache, dizziness, nausea while victims of even more serious brain injuries may suffer memory loss, loss of consciousness, loss of motor functions, and even fatalities. In each case, these injuries occur because the head slams against a hard surface or is shaken inside the skull, causing the soft brain tissue to bounce against the inside of the skull. When this occurs, the brain gets bruised or even severely damages. In a serious Miramar brain injury, there may be extensive tissue damage, bleeding, or swelling.

According to psychiatrist Dr. Shree Bhalerao, however, one issue that is often not explored is the emotional and psychological impact of brain injuries. According to Dr. Bhalerao, the emotional trauma of a serious brain injury is often under-estimated and under-recognized, even though victims can suffer from severe trauma that affects every aspect of their lives for months and even years after their brain injury.

According to some Miramar brain injury patients, a serious brain injury after a truck accident can cause debilitating emotional upset and even serious personality changes. Some Miramar truck accident survivors living with brain injuries may experience anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, impaired thinking, and other symptoms. In rarer cases, Dr. Bhalerao reports, victims may experience psychosis or paranoia. Dr. Bhalerao and other experts have been arguing for more awareness of the issue and more resources for brain injury patients who need help.

The challenge for Miramar truck accident victims who have suffered a head injury is that access to resources may vary widely. Victims and their doctors may not be aware of all the possible risks and challenges that brain injury victims safe. As well, psychological counseling and therapy is expensive, so access to these services varies. In many cases, since the emotional trauma of brain injury has not been widely studied or recognized, counseling and therapy may be seen as an “optional” treatment for Miramar brain injury patients, and may therefore not be covered by medical insurance or car insurance after a truck accident. This is the case even if a Miramar truck accident victim legitimately requires counseling after their accident to recover fully.

For this reason, it is important to consult with a Miramar personal injury attorney if you have suffered a brain injury after a truck accident. A good attorney can offer advice about legal options. In the event that the accident was caused by someone’s negligence or recklessness, the victim can pursue compensation for their injuries. This compensation can help pay for counseling and for other necessary treatment services, ensuring that the victim has the best possible chance of recovery. Even if a victim is not sure they wish to pursue a legal case, speaking with a Miramar personal injury attorney is a good idea. A Florida attorney can help provide an accurate sense of the strength of a case and its value. An experienced attorney can also help a truck accident survivor understand all options and can even help negotiate with insurance carriers.

Continue reading "Brain Injuries After a Miramar Truck Accident" »

North Miami Beach truck accidents occur every year, and in most cases the principal parties involved are the truck driver and any other motorist involved in the accident. However, in some cases, by standers are injured in this type of North Miami Beach traffic accident. Due to the force involved in a truck accident, debris can travel some distance from the accident, and can injure bystanders. This can happen in a number of ways. A bystander may be injured while walking by the accident scene, or may sustain a serious injury while trying to help those involved in the accident. Some bystanders are seriously injured or even killed due to truck accidents they were not directly involved in.

If you were injured as a bystander in a North Miami Beach truck accident, it is important to contact a qualified North Miami Beach personal injury attorney right away. These cases can be devastating for the victim, but they can also be frustrating. In many cases, bystanders may not be fully covered by car insurance or property insurance for their injuries. Many bystanders also sustain injuries which are not covered by most insurance carriers. For example, someone who witnesses a serious North Miami Beach traffic accident may need counseling to deal with the emotional trauma. However, many insurance carriers may not cover this type of treatment.

For bystanders injured in truck accidents, these cases can also be quite complicated. For example, there may be multiple liable parties. The bystander may have been standing on public or private property and the injuries may actually have been caused by multiple vehicles. In addition, those at the scene may not have secured a scene for safety adequately. While multiple liable parties can improve the chances that an injured victim will secure a fair recovery for medical costs and other damages, investigating the liable parties and securing the recovery often requires an experienced attorney.

Bystanders may sustain serious injuries that cause lost income and incur significant medical costs. A qualified attorney can help ensure that the bystander does not have to pay all these costs out of pocket. A good attorney can pursue all liable parties and can ensure that an injury victim understands all their rights and options. There are Florida laws which protect injured bystanders, but many people are not aware of them. A qualified North Miami personal injury attorney can help a victim understand their rights and can aggressively pursue available options on behalf of the victim.

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In Florida, all drivers are aware that they need to stop at the scene of an accident in order to render assistance and in order to exchange insurance information and contact information with any other drivers involved in the accident. Hit and run Miami car accidents are a serious offence, and any driver found guilty of this criminal offence can face serious penalties. Despite the penalties, however, hit and run Florida traffic accidents continue to be a serious problem. In fact, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Miami-Dade County and Broward County had the most hit-and-runs of any Florida county in 2008.

There are many reasons why people leave the scene of an accident. In some cases, drivers panic or are fearful of being accused of causing the accident. In other cases, drivers are already doing something illegal – such as driving without a license or insurance or driving under the influence – and do not want to be caught. It can be especially difficult when the person who leaves the scene of an accident is a commercial truck driver. There are many reasons why hit and run Miami truck accidents are especially challenging:

1) Trucks may sustain fewer damages in an accident. A collision between a car and a truck usually results in severe damages for the car, but the truck driver and the truck are less likely to be severely affected. This can make it easier for a truck to drive away and to not even show much damage on the truck itself.

2) Truck drivers may not be from the area, the state, or even the country, making them harder to find. Finding a truck driver who has fled the scene of an accident can be very challenging because truck drivers drive very long distances every day and may be from a different region, making them difficult to find, especially if the victim does not notice the license plate number or other details of the truck.

3) Truck drivers may share a truck with other drivers or may rent a truck from another company. One thing that can make it even more challenging to find the specific driver involved is that some carriers rent trucks or share trucks among drivers. Even if the truck itself is located, it can require even more investigative work to find the actual driver involved.

4) A truck driver involved in a hit and run Miami truck accident may be driving a load owned by one company in a truck owned by another company and may be hired by a third party. For all these reasons, it can be very difficult to determine liability in a hit and run accident. Usually, it takes a qualified Miami truck accident attorney to evaluate liability in these cases.

Most commercial truck drivers remain on the scene of an accident and try to help. However, in a hit and run accident involving a truck, victims can be left without recourse and assistance. In these cases, it can be important to consult with a qualified Miami personal injury attorney in order to locate the driver and determine liability in the accident.

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Today, millions of Americans use social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and other sites. Usually, these sites are a harmless way to stay in touch with friends and a fun way to share photos and ideas. However, if you have been in a Miami truck accident and have sustained injuries, your social networking activities can be harmful in a number of ways:

1) You never know who is reading. Insurance carriers and attorneys frequently use private investigators to look into the legitimacy of insurance claims. Private detectives increasingly use social networking sites to check up claimants. If you claim to be very injured but your blog or Twitter account shows you traveling, this could harm your claim. In some cases, private investigators will even befriend you on social networking sites to get more information. It is important to keep in mind that anything you post on a social media site is very public.

2) Innocuous comments and pictures may be skewed. You don’t have to write or post anything very suspicious on your social networking site for the site to impact your claim. In many cases, quite innocent photos and comments may be skewed to make your claim seem suspect. For example, if a friend shows up at your home after you are injured by a Miami car accident to cheer you up, those photos on a social networking site can make it appear as though you are throwing a party while claiming to be injured.

3) Social networking sites go back a long time. Many Internet users do not realize that virtually anything posted online is archived – for a long time. Posts that you made years ago about other injuries or other claims may be a boon to an insurance company now. This is another reason to be very honest with your insurance

4) You cannot control what others post on your site. While you may be cautious about what you post on your social networking sites, your friends and family may be posting comments and photos which could harm your case or which can be skewed to harm your case.

If you have sustained injuries in a Miami traffic accident, it is important to be aware of your online profile and your online participation in social media sites, even if you use a pseudonym or anonymous user name online. If you have a social networking presence, you may want to discuss this with your Miami truck accident attorney. Your attorney may ask you to refrain from posting anything on your social media sites while your case is pending or may give you some advice about what you should and should not be posting. Make sure that you follow these guidelines to the letter.

Whether you are online or not, if you have sustained injuries in a Miami truck accident, you will need a qualified Miami personal injury attorney with experience in these types of cases. A qualified attorney can negotiate with insurance carriers in your behalf, can investigate the causes of the accident and can pursue all liable parties so that you get the fairest compensation possible for lost income, medical bills, and other costs related to your injury.

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Florida truck accidents can be one of the most expensive accidents on the roads. In many cases, insurance carriers cover only the immediate costs of the accident, but victims often face numerous costs and expenses, including:

1) The cost of car repair or replacement. After a Florida car accident or truck accident, you will need to replace or repair your vehicle. Due to the size of a truck, the most likely scenario is that your car will be beyond repair. If you have a car loan or are making car payments, you will also need to cover these costs, even if the vehicle is no longer functional.

2) Lost income. Recovering from a Florida truck accident can take months or years. If you cannot work during this time, you will need to replace lost income. If you have a permanent injury, you may need to replace a lifetime of income or you may need to take on a lower-paying job and make up for the difference in income.

3) Medical costs. The medical costs after a truck accident can be staggering. Since injuries in a truck accident are more likely to be serious, patients can expect long hospital stays and long treatments, which can add up quickly. Someone who has sustained serious injuries in a truck accident can end up paying hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for treatment. Medical costs can include hospital stays, surgery, home care, medication, rehabilitation, doctor visits, and more.

4) Secondary medical costs. In addition to the immediate medical costs, there are often secondary medical costs as well. For example, you may need to pay for a taxi to get to a doctor's appointment or you may need to buy medical devices and equipment, such as crutches or supports. Over months and years, these costs can really add up.

5) Transportation costs. If you are severely injured, you may not be able to drive for some time after your accident. This will mean that you will need to pay for taxis or other forms of transportation as you heal.

6) Alternative care. Many truck accident victims are in severe pain after their accident, and, unfortunately, medical science cannot always help chronic pain patients. Many patients turn to alternative or holistic treatments to supplement medical care and increase the chances of healing. Unfortunately, these costs are usually not covered by insurance, even if the treatments are truly necessary for a patient to help manage severe pain.

7) Accessibility costs. After an accident, a Florida spinal cord injury patient or brain injury patient may have decreased mobility. He or she may need a wheel chair, a wheel chair ramp at home, an accessible vehicle, and other accessibly features for their home. These can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

8) Property damage considerations. Anything in your car at the time of the accident, including digital cameras, jewelry, cell phones, work laptop, mobile devices, and other items, is likely to be damaged in the accident. You will likely need to replace these items, which can also be a substantial investment.

Continue reading "A Florida Truck Accident May Cost More Than You Think" »

Florida truck accidents are one cause of brain injuries – and brain injuries are a serious problem across the country. According to statistics, one million people seek medical attention in the US every year due to a head injury. Up to 100 000 of these patients have severe and prolonged problems that will affect their lives for a long time. In Florida car accidents and truck accidents, there are a number of ways that the brain can be injured:

1) Bleeding. Even with a low-speed and low impact accident, a collision causes a person's brain to impact against the hard skull. This can occur even if the person does not hit their head on a hard surface. The soft tissue of the brain is pushed violently against the skull, possibly tearing blood vessels and releasing blood into the brain. Since there is no room for the blood, the blood can press against brain tissue, causing areas of the brain to cease working correctly. Critical areas of the brain can be affected, affecting the heart or breathing. One of the most insidious things about this type of injury is that it does not present symptoms right away. A Florida brain injury patient may feel fine after their accident or may assume that they are uninjured because their head did not hit any hard object. However, within hours or minutes, symptoms can manifest rapidly. If the patient does not get help in time, death often occurs.

2) Bruising. Just as with bleeding, this type of injury can occur in a Florida truck accident, even if there is no impact. When the head is whipped back and forth during a truck collision, the brain tissue impacts against the skull, and this can cause bruising to take place. In fact, if the head is thrown back and forth, the Florida brain injury patient may have two bruises – one where the brain impacts the front of the skull and one bruise where the brain tissue impacts against the back of the skull. This is known as a "contra coup" brain injury. As with bleeding, bruising can injure critical areas of the brain.

3) Tearing. The impact of a Florida truck accident can cause tears in the tissues of the brain, especially if the head impacts with a hard object. This can disrupt signals in the brain, leading to serious and permanent injuries or fatalities. Tearing can also be difficult to diagnose, as this type of injury often takes place on a microscopic level. Even CT Scans and MRIs may not necessarily be able to detect small tears in the brain, even though these tears can have a significant impact on a Florida brain injury patient's life for a lifetime.

4) Swelling. If the brain is bruised or injured, it can swell, just like any injured part of the body. Unfortunately, since the brain is encased in the skull, there is no room for swelling. Swelling of brain tissue can create a life-threatening emergency, since the brain tissue will eventually push up against the skull, building pressure and destroying vital areas of the brain. Doctors can install an IC or intra-cranial pressure monitor to relieve pressure caused by swelling.

5) Open injuries. Swelling, bruising, and bleeding are closed-head injuries. They occur even if the skull itself is protected. In some Florida truck accidents, however, the impact is great enough to fracture the skull. With the skull fractured, objects can become imbedded in brain tissue and the tissue can become damaged because the skull is no longer protecting the area.

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If you have teens moving to college, your teens may wish to hire a rental truck with friends or may be planning on packing their belongings into a car in order to get their belongings safely to their dorm room. However, Florida moving truck accidents do happen, so you want to make sure that you avoid this type of thing from happening to your children. Here's how you can help:

1) Discourage your child from overloading their car with their possessions. Many teens move to college by stuffing as many of their possessions as they can into a car. While it's true that most teens don't have tons of possessions and furniture, overloading a car can still be dangerous. It can obstruct visibility and make it hard for them to see through their rearview mirror or through their side windows. Placing additional pressure on tires can also lead to a tire blow or Florida car accident. If your child is moving with lots of possessions, consider a truck or travel in multiple cars.

2) Discourage your child from renting a truck and driving it themselves across the country or across the state. Rental trucks have varied safety records, and your child may simply not have enough experience with a large truck to drive safely. If your child needs a larger truck, consider hiring professional movers, or urge your child to pool resources in order to move with other college students this fall. Hiring professional movers as part of a group can cost just as little as renting a truck and driving it themselves.

3) Consider driving your child to college yourself. If you have a pickup truck or a larger van, you may be able to fit most of the possessions into this vehicle. If both you and your child have a vehicle, you can distribute your child's possessions between two cars and get to the college safely.

4) Help your child make a good moving choices. Help your teen pack and label possessions correctly, and explore all the options for moving together. There are many low-cost options for moving to college. For example, classified ads often have offers from college students moving at this time of year or looking for someone to share a truck with. This can be a relatively safe way to get your child's possessions to college at a low cost and with less risk.

If your teen does not have extensive experience with driving a truck, it can be dangerous to let your child rent a large truck in order to move their possessions into a dorm room. Similarly, it is very dangerous to overload a passenger car with possessions. Help your teen make the right decisions, to ensure that your child is not a victim of a Florida car accident or truck accident.

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Florida truck accidents and car accidents are two of the most common causes for personal injuries. Unfortunately, due to the size and force of trucks, truck accidents in the state tend to lead to especially severe injuries. If you have been in a Florida traffic accident, your first aim should be to get medical attention. Some patients – including Florida brain injury patients – need immediate medical attention to prevent complications and to increase the chances of survival. However, if you do not need medical attention, you should gather some information at the scene of the accident. Among the items of information to gather are:

Information about the other truck or car and driver. Gather, if you can, the name, driver's license number, address, and phone number of the driver. As well, write down the make and type of truck or car, as well as the car year and license number. In the event of a commercial truck, write down the location where the truck came from and the truck carrier or the owner of the truck as well. If the other driver makes a statement or seems impaired, note this. As well, write down any details of the passengers in the other car or truck. This should include the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all passengers in the other car or truck. Finally, write down the insurance information for the other driver. You will need to reciprocate and share the same information with the other driver involved in the accident.

Information about any witnesses on the scene. Take down names, phone numbers, and addresses of anyone who saw the accident. Their testimony may be very important if you need to take legal action.

Information about any wrecker services used. Write down the tow services or wrecker services used for your car or any car or truck involved in the accident. Write down the name of two truck operator and the name of the service, if possible.

Any details about the conditions of the accident. Write down the location, time, and date of the accident, as well as any pertinent conditions regarding weather, lighting, road conditions, traffic conditions, visual obstructions, and anything else which may have contributed to the accident. If there are specific weather conditions or other conditions which may have contributed to the accident, you may want to take photos at the scene, if you have a camera handy.

Other details about the conditions and aftermath of the accident. Note the speed at which you were going, and any traffic controls in the area. If someone is cited to be at fault, note the details, including the reason given. Note who was wearing seatbelts and who was not, as well as the direction each car was traveling. Note the location of the impact and the damage done to the car as well as any damage done to the street or landmarks in the area.

It is always better to take down more details than fewer. If you are in doubt, write in down, as you will start to forget details soon after your accident. If you have been taken to hospital, you can jot down a few details while waiting for tests. However, focus on your health first. If you cannot get details of the accident because you are rushed to the hospital, don’t worry: law enforcement will get the details of the accident. If you decide to pursue legal action, a Florida personal injury attorney can work with private investigators and accident reconstruction professionals to determine the details of the crash. However, since evidence only lasts for so long, it is important to contact a qualified attorney as soon as possible after your accident.

Continue reading "What to Take Down After a Florida Truck Accident " »

When trucks collide with passenger vehicles, everyone in the passenger vehicle is immediately at high risk of serious injury. In cases where children are in the passenger vehicle, the outcome can be even worse for them. Since trucks are so much larger than cars, the force of the impact is likely to leave passenger car victims with severe injuries. Since children are smaller, their injuries can easily become life-threatening.

As well, while car manufacturers create a number of safety systems for adult drivers and passengers – including safety belts and air bags – these same systems often cannot protect young children. Indeed, for very young children, air bags can pose a danger of head injuries while seat belts can lead to lacerations. Parents are expected to provide safety seats and age-appropriate child safety restraints for their children.

However, laws in Florida re quite lax when it comes to booster seats for children. In fact, only Arizona, Florida, and South Dakota do not have any booster seat requirements for young passengers, even though booster seats and other age-appropriate child safety restraints have been shown to decrease the risk of fatalities and injuries in young passengers in the event of a truck accident or car accident. While parents can – and often do – choose to get age-appropriate child safety restraints for their children, they are not required by law, in many cases, to do so.

Adults in Florida truck accidents often suffer from spinal cord injuries, broken bones, brain injuries, and other serious injuries. Each year, many adults die in truck accidents and traffic accidents. However, there are many things that can be done to help prevent child fatalities in such accidents. One of the most important things drivers can do is to ensure that all child passengers always use an age-appropriate child safety restraint.

Continue reading "Child Victims of Florida Truck Accidents" »

Most Florida car accidents and truck accidents involve other vehicles, pedestrians, and inanimate objects such as telephone poles. However, in some cases, trucks and cars in Florida plow into homes. In many cases, these are Florida drunk driving accidents or accidents involving loss of control of the vehicle or a pedal error (such as when the driver mistakes the accelerator for the brake. Such an accident occurred in Cocoa, Florida in January and another took place in Palm Bay in May. Brevard County has in fact seen a few such accidents in 2011.

The results of these accidents can be devastating, especially when the vehicle involved is a truck. Due to the size and force of a truck, the truck can plow right into the house and tear down walls. Both the driver and the occupants of the home are likely to sustain serious injuries. There are many types of damages which typically occur in this type of Florida accident, including severe property damage and serious injuries. There are many reasons why such accidents result in such severe damages:

1) Many accidents involve high rates of speed. While there are no statistics concerning such crashes specifically, authorities have stated that such accidents occur fairly often and often do involve high speeds, since often the drivers are intoxicated or have hit the accelerator by mistake. The high speed causes the impact of the crash to be greater.

2) Walls are often torn down. In this type of accident, the sheer size and force of the vehicle is often enough to push down walls and barriers, crushing anyone behind the walls.

3) In many cases, there is structural damage to the home. This sort of collision can compromise the foundation or walls which are structurally important to the home. In some cases, the home cannot be salvaged or requires very extensive (and expensive) repairs.

4) The vehicle sustains serious damages. In many cases, the vehicle doing the damage is also seriously injured and the driver usually is killed or sustains serious injury.

5) The occupants of the home are typically not prepared. In a Florida car accident, victims may have only seconds to respond but may have at least a few seconds to try defensive driving. In a situation where a vehicle crashes into a home, there is typically no warning and occupants often have no time at all to get to safety.

6) There is a risk of fire. This type of collision can easily lead to a fire since the crash of the truck through walls can harm electrical wiring and gar lines and can also create sparks.

Continue reading "Florida Truck Accidents Involving Homes" »

Truck accidents claim thousands of lives in Florida each year. If you have lost a loved one in a Florida truck accident, the devastation can be very traumatic. The loneliness, hurt, and upset can take many years to heal. When a loss has been caused by a driver's negligence or recklessness, the loss can sometimes be even harder to accept.

If you have lost a loved one in a traffic accident, your immediate concern will likely be with arranging for memorial or funeral services. You will also need time to grieve and there will likely be estate issues to deal with as well. However, if the accident was caused by negligence or recklessness, you will also want to consult with an experienced Florida wrongful death attorney.

Waiting after an accident to file a claim reduces the chances of success, because important evidence will be lost and because there are statutes of limitations in these cases. Although it can be difficult to think of legal action at a time of grieving, it is important to at least consider all your options. A consultation with the Flaxman Law Group can help you understand your choices and can help you move forward.

Florida law allows you to recover for end-of-life costs, medical costs, and other related costs in cases of a fatal car or truck accident that was caused by negligence or recklessness. Pursuing the claim you may be entitled to under the law can help protect your family and can leave you with some financial security as you work to heal. The Flaxman Law Group is compassionate and has worked with many grieving families in Coral Gables, Miami, and throughout South Florida. We take care of all the details, so that you can focus on healing.

It can be a difficult decision to contact an attorney after a devastating loss, but it can be an important part of the healing process. A Florida personal injury attorney can investigate the accident to provide you with some answers and some peace of mind. A good attorney can also pursue your case and in some cases can even help save other families from such a loss. If the accident which caused your loved one was a Florida drunk driving accident or was caused by dangerous driving, legal action can ensure that those involved are held responsible. In some cases, legal action can bring about changes that can help prevent further tragedies.

Continue reading "Losing Someone in a Florida Truck Accident" »

Florida truck accidents have an immediate and physical result. Drivers see the incredible physical devastation these accidents cause every day on the roadways, and emergency rooms and hospitals in Florida are filled with patients experiencing the immediate physical effects of burn injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and other injuries caused by truck accidents. However, there are also emotional and financial outcomes of truck accidents, which, although less immediately obvious, are no less devastating to victims.

Victims of Florida car accidents and truck accidents often find that once they are discharged from the hospital, the financial realities of their situation become very evident. Most victims of truck accidents in Florida are not able to return to work immediately; some have permanent injuries which ensure that they are never able to return to work. Therefore, these patients find that their source of income disappears at about the same time as substantial medical bills start arriving from the hospital and from doctors.

Treatment for Florida brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other common injuries caused by truck accidents, can easily total tens of thousands of dollars a year. Many patients find that their insurance providers are reluctant to pay the substantial bills outright. At the same time, the usual bills, such as the mortgage and the credit card bills, continue to arrive, adding to the financial stress and the upset of the patient who is still trying to recover from the physical trauma of the accident.

The terror caused by the accident and the injuries, coupled with the financial strain of the accident, often causes emotional repercussions. Many individuals who have been in a Florida truck accident report disrupted sleep, mood swings, an altered appetite, depression, anger, and other signs of stress and trauma. However, in some cases insurance companies are reluctant to pay for therapy or counseling.

Luckily, there are provisions in Florida law which can help victims of truck accidents. If you have been in a truck accident in Florida, contact a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. A good attorney can investigate the case for you, negotiate with insurance providers and even pursue the case through the court system to ensure that you get the support you need to focus on healing.

Continue reading "The Emotional and Financial Realities of Florida Truck Accidents" »

Many Florida brain injury patients sustain their injury in truck accidents and traffic accidents on Florida roads. Unfortunately, Florida truck accidents are more likely than other types of traffic accidents to lead to fatal and permanent brain injuries. The force of a large truck can effectively crush a passenger vehicle and the occupants inside, leading to devastating losses. Common brain injuries in Florida truck accidents include:

1) Whiplash. Whiplash can occur when the head and neck area is injured due to sudden, rapid movement. In a truck accident, this can often occur when a car collides with a truck and comes to an abrupt stop. Whiplash is hard to detect in MRIs and other scans, making it difficult to diagnose. Unfortunately, this condition can also leave a patient unable to work and unable to resume everyday activities for months.

2) Traumatic brain injury. Brain injury can also occur when the brain pushes or slams up against the inside of the skull, usually in response to a head injury where the victim's head collides with a hard surface (such as a dashboard). When this happens, the brain may swell, bruise, or even bleed, potentially leading to brain damage. This type of injury may be permanent or may take years to heal. Some patients are unable to resume their jobs or everyday tasks. In some cases, such injuries are fatal.

3) Puncture injuries. In a truck accident, objects in a car can easily become airborne and can easily become lodged in the skull due to the impact of the crash. When an object punctures the skull, it typically causes widespread trauma which is often fatal. In cases where a patient survives this type of injury, the brain damage caused may be permanent.

If you have sustained a brain injury in a Florida truck accident, it is important to contact a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. Brain injuries are hard to diagnose and difficult to treat. Florida brain injury patients often spend years and in some cases a lifetime trying to recover from their injuries. Good recovery requires considerable resources, as the treatment options for these types of injuries are expensive. A good attorney can help you pursue a settlement or compensation, so that you are able to afford the treatment options you deserve.

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Florida truck accidents can cause many types of injuries, including brain injuries. Florida brain injuries caused by traffic accidents are especially tragic because they can literally change an entire life in just an instant. A serious brain injury can leave a patient with difficulty remembering, speaking, moving, and performing everyday tasks. Florida brain injuries are also a leading cause of death in traffic accidents.

Brain injuries in traffic accidents can be caused by a number of situations. When a car impacts with a truck, the passengers in the passenger car are generally thrown about. If the head comes into contact with any hard surface, the soft mass of the brain is thrown against the inside of the skull, causing damage as well as bruising. In some cases, the impact of the head is so hard that the surface of the skull actually cracks, causing injury to the brain. In other accidents, the skull is punctured by a sharp object during the accident, causing immense trauma to the brain inside.

Injuries to the brain can cause the brain to bleed, bruise, or swell, all of which can be life-threatening. When a Florida brain injury patient is rushed to the hospital after a truck accident, the first aim of emergency personnel is often to stabilize the patient as much as possible and to find out the extent of the brain injury. Scans are often used to determine where and how the brain has been injured. In cases where swelling is occurring, steps need to be taken to bring down the swelling in order to relieve pressure on the brain.

Long-term, a Florida brain injury patient may need rehabilitation in order to regain use of mobility, speech, and other necessary functions. In many cases, patients with severe brain injuries have suffered permanent injuries and may not return to work. They may always need help for everyday tasks such as getting dressed or getting prepared for their day. In such cases, counseling or some form of therapy is often required in order to help patients deal with the frustration of their new level of ability. In such cases, recovering from a brain injury is a lifelong process.

In less severe cases, Florida brain injury patients may eventually return to their everyday lives. They may, however, still need therapy and long-term care in order to deal with any aftereffects of their injury. In all cases, once a Florida brain injury patient has sustained an injury, any further concussions or injuries to the brain area may be more severe. Therefore, careful monitoring of any other head injury becomes very important.

Continue reading "Truck Accidents Cause Florida Brain Injuries" »

Every type of traffic accident is tragic, but perhaps few are as mismatched and as tragic as Florida pedestrian accidents involving trucks. When a truck hits a pedestrian, the pedestrian literally has no defenses available. There is often nothing between the truck and the pedestrian, meaning that fatality rates in these types of accidents are extremely high. In a passenger car, at least, the safety systems of the car as well as the metal and glass of the vehicle provide a layer of protection to the occupants inside.

What is even more tragic is that these pedestrian accidents often involve young children who simply cannot be seen by the truck driver. In many cases, young children are drawn to trucks and may play behind trucks or around trucks, where they are not visible. When the truck driver climbs into the cab, he or she may simply not see the child and either backup over them or drive over them. Children often do not notice -- the way an adult would -- the truck is about to move and may simply not be able to get away in time. It is one reason why it is imperative that parents teach their children to never play around trucks -- even trucks that are standing still.

Even for adult pedestrians, however, the outcome for Florida truck accidents is very tragic. Since trucks are on such high wheels, adults who are standing up at the time of impact are often hit along the upper body, where the chest and head can be crushed. Florida head injuries are especially common in this type of accidents, and are often fatal.

One frightening thing about such accidents is that they are hard to stop once they begin. The pedestrian pounding on a truck or yelling cannot be heard by a truck driver. Often, there is no time to simply leap out of the way. It is very difficult for the pedestrian to get the attention of a truck driver to prevent an imminent accident, simply because trucks have so many blind spots.

The good news is that such accidents are in fact preventable. Good warning systems on trucks can let pedestrians nearby know when a truck is backing up. This helps prevent rollovers. Newer truck may make use of computer technology and small cameras which allows them to see what is happening behind the truck. This can also help reduce some of the blind spots in the truck.

Continue reading "Florida Pedestrian Accidents Involving Trucks Are Tragic " »

If you've been injured in a Florida truck accident and decide to pursue a claim, you need to be aware that defense attorneys hired by the insurance company or truck company will work to disprove your claim. During the pretrial discovery process, the defense attorneys will be able to access medical records -- not only from the accident but also from far before the accident took place.

It is important to be aware of this because it means that defense attorneys will have access to very personal information about you and will be able to use this information in court. As well, it is important to be aware of this in order to discuss your pre- accident medical records with your own Florida personal injury attorney. This way, your attorney is prepared to represent you.

If you have sustained a brain injury, for example, but you have sustained other concussions before due to sports -- even if those concussions occurred decades ago -- defense attorneys may try to claim that your current injuries are caused in part by those previous injuries and therefore their clients should not be held completely liable. It's very natural for plaintiffs to get very upset by this type of argument, but it is part of the legal process. Knowing about it ahead of time can help make you feel more comfortable with the court process.

If you have been injured in a Florida truck accident, it is important to find a good personal injury attorney you can trust. A good attorney can help prepare you for the court case, the defense attorneys' tactics, and the process itself so that you are more comfortable. However, before you start a claim you also want to be aware that any personal information that is available in any of your records will be made available. If you have previous reckless driving or drunk driving convictions, for example, you can be certain that the defense will try to use this to argue that you may be partly liable for the accident. Being prepared for such comments can help make them less upsetting.

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If you have been in a Florida truck accident and do not appear to be seriously injured, you may think yourself lucky to walk away from an accident. It's true -- given the size difference between passenger vehicles and trucks, surviving any Florida car accident involving a truck is often a cause for celebration. However, many people who are fortunate enough to walk way from Florida truck accidents do not bother getting medical help. This can be an expensive and dangerous mistake.

The truth is, if you have been in a Florida truck accident you need to seek emergency medical help immediately. Even if you think that you are not injured, you may have sustained in internal injuries and other injuries which may not show up immediately. For example, injuries such as whiplash and some brain injuries may not present immediate symptoms. Nevertheless, brain injuries can the fatal if not treated, even if you seem fine at first. Seeking immediate medical help ensures that there is no problem that can endanger your life and your health.

Another excellent reason to visit a medical professional or emergency room after a Florida truck accident is to start the documentation process. If you do need to file a claim with your insurer or if you do find that you have been injured and didn't realize it, getting immediate help ensures that there is an emergency room file about your condition. This can help you file a claim later on if you decide to do so.

Unfortunately, many Florida truck accident victims find that they are left with the entire bill or much of the bill of their medical costs after an accident. Insurance companies do not usually rush to pay out the full claim in any accident. If they did so, they would lose money. As well, it can be difficult to prove an injury has occurred from a specific accident. Getting help immediately can save your life, and it can also help prove that any injure you have sustained was in fact caused by the accident.

Going to the emergency room may be frightening, it may cost money, and it could take some time. However, it can also help save your life and could help provide you with the documentation you need to pursue any claim. It is always better to be safe than sorry. When visiting the emergency room, it is also a good idea to get a copy of your medical file before you leave. Again, if you need this information to prove a claim, it will be handy to have this information at your fingertips.

Continue reading "If You Have Been in a Florida Truck Accident, You Need to Get Medical Help At Once – Here's Why " »

There are many Florida car accidents involving trucks, and in many of these accidents, serious injuries or even fatalities result. Truck accidents can cause a variety of injuries, including burn injuries. Florida burn injury patients brought in from car accidents and road accidents often face a long recovery time, considerable pain and suffering, as well as high medical costs.

Burn injuries can occur in a truck accident if a truck is carrying a flammable material which catches on fire. As well, chemical burns can occur if a truck is loaded with a dangerous chemical substance which spills and affects passengers and bystanders. In some cases, the force of a truck hitting a car causes enough of an impact to start a fire. Fueled by spilled gas, this fire can easily burn out of control and burn passengers as well as bystanders.

Florida burn injury patients are usually rushed to hospital right from the accident scene. Usually, emergency room personnel first work to stabilize the patient's condition. While most people think of burns as being mainly a skin condition, serious burns caused by traffic accidents can in fact be fatal. Fires caused by a truck accident can burn hot enough to seriously injure a person, melting not only the skin, but also the fatty tissue, muscles, and even bones underneath. If major organs are affected by the burns, a person's life can be endangered.

Once the patient is stabilized, the next step is often treating the burns. Treatment will depend upon the severity of the burns. Often, a major concern is to prevent infection and to save as much of the skin and underlying tissue as possible. Pain management is also often an important part of the process, as burn injuries can be extremely painful, affecting nerve endings which send pain signals to the brain.

Florida burn injury patients often face a long recovery. They may need therapy to deal with the trauma of the accident and the changes in their appearance. They also generally need skin grafts as well as other skin treatments in order to cover the burn marks. In cases where a burn is very severe, patients may need rehabilitation and physiotherapy in order to regain use of their limbs and their muscles. Reconstructive surgery is often necessary in order to help a person lead a full and normal life after their injury. Unfortunately, many insurance companies dismiss skin grafts and reconstructive surgery as cosmetic and often refuse to pay for these very expensive treatments. A good Florida personal injury attorney is often a must for Florida burn injury patients. A good lawyer can helped negotiate with your insurance company to ensure that you get the financial support you need after serious injuries such as a burn injury.

Continue reading "Florida Truck Accidents Can Cause Burn Injuries" »

Florida truck accidents can cause spinal cord injuries. Often, this is caused when a car collides with a truck and the passengers of the passenger vehicle are thrown violently in the interior of the car. This can cause extreme trauma to the spinal cord. If an injury results, it can lead to paralysis, reduced motor skills, and related problems

Florida spinal cord injury patients who have sustained their injury in a traffic accident face a host of problems:

1) Physical issues. Recovery from a spinal cord injury is physically daunting. This type of injury can mean extreme pain as well as permanent injuries which affect a person's ability to live and work the way they did before their accident.

2) Emotional problems. Serious spinal cord injuries can cause frustration, anger, stress, grief, and a host of other problems. If the injuries are permanent, especially, it can be difficult to avoid depression. Patients with serious spinal cord injuries have higher rates of substance abuse and relationship problems than the general population, according to some studies.

3) Financial challenges. A permanent spinal cord injury can require millions of dollars to treat or manage, since patients often need rehabilitation, an income, renovations to make their homes accessible, and a lifetime of full-time care in many cases. In many cases, however, insurance only covers a small fraction of costs, leaving the patient with no income and high bills.

A good Florida personal injury attorney is often needed to get the best possible recovery for a patient. A good attorney can negotiate for a good settlement from all liable parties. This can help cover the best possible care as well as counseling and therapy, allowing a patient to live the fullest possible life after their accident.

Continue reading "Truck Accidents Cause Florida Spinal Cord Injuries" »

Each year, almost half a million truck accidents occur across the country each year, resulting in serious burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, and even fatalities. When commercial truck accidents are Florida car accidents involving a passenger car, the injuries to the passengers in the passenger vehicle are often severe. While the truck driver may walk away from such an accident unharmed, in many cases the other passengers in the other vehicle suffer severe injuries. Many Florida spinal cord injury, burn injury, and brain injury patients sustain their injuries in traffic accidents.

Unfortunately, many injury victims assume that their car insurance will cover all costs and do not seek out professional or legal help after an accident. This is unfortunate because in many cases Florida truck accidents involving commercial trucks are quite complex. There may be a few liable parties as well as several contributing factors to the accident and its injuries.

When patients sign any documentation from an insurance company they often sign away at least part of their rights to pursue legal action. All truck carriers have teams of attorneys to help companies avoid expensive litigation. What many patients do not realize is that they may be entitled to more compensation and more coverage of their injuries.

In too many cases, Florida truck accident victims receive less than the full cost of damages from insurance carriers. While immediate hospital care may be covered, for example, long-term care, counseling, and other treatments may need to be paid out of pocket. It is often difficult for injured parties without legal training to truly appreciate the liability of an accident or to calculate the full cost of an injury.

This is why consulting with a Florida personal injury attorney is so crucial. An attorney can investigate the causes of an accident, find all liable parties, and aggressively pursue a fair recovery for the patient. In many cases, this recovery can help the patient pay for lost income, medical treatment, car repairs, and any related costs. As well, an attorney can help the victim understand and take advantage of all their rights.

Continue reading "Why It's Important to Get Help If You Have Been in a Florida Truck Accident" »

Florida pedestrian accidents involving trucks are usually tragic. Pedestrians have almost no protection against the sheer size and force of a large commercial truck and can often not get away quickly enough to prevent serious injury and fatality in a collision. Florida truck accidents involving pedestrians are especially prevalent near intersections, on worksites, and in parking lots. According to the FMCSA (The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), pedestrians can do their part to prevent these accidents by:

1) Making eye contact first. Pedestrians can be all but invisible to truck drivers and trucks have many blind spots. Never walk behind a truck, along the side of a truck, or cross in front of a truck until you make eye contact with the driver and get acknowledgment from the driver.

2) Staying in pedestrian-safe zones. Walking in crosswalks and on sidewalks is much safer than trying to walk on the road or trying to cross without a crosswalk. If you try to cross the street without a crosswalk, a car may be able to stop in time, but trucks take much longer to brake and may not be able to stop in time to prevent a serious accident.

3) Staying alert for trucks. Keep in mind that trucks may sometimes swing up onto sidewalks when making wide turns. Some truck drivers park up on curbs in high-traffic areas to get out of the way of traffic. Keep alert and look about you so that you will notice trucks backing up, turning, or coming near you. Avoid listening to music, using mobile devices, or distracting yourself when out walking in areas with truck and car traffic. For a more leisurely walk, stick to walking trails.

4) Staying visible. In bad weather and at night, pedestrians may not be very visible. Wearing light and reflective clothing can help, but carrying a flashlight is the best way to stay visible, according to the FMCSA. Keep in mind that commercial truck drivers often travel at night, so you are more likely to encounter truck traffic, even once car traffic lessens for the evening.

Continue reading "Pedestrians Can Help Prevent Florida Truck Accidents" »

While many Florida truck accidents take place when cars and trucks collide, each year Florida motorcyclists are seriously injured or killed in collisions with trucks. For motorcyclists, truck accidents are especially dangerous because motorcyclists simply have fewer barriers and protections between themselves and the truck in a collision. In most cases, Florida truck accidents involving motorcyclists are fatal accidents. However, according to the FMCSA (The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), there are several things that motorcyclists to reduce their risk of a serious collision with a truck:

1) Wear a helmet. According to the FMSCA and most experts, wearing a helmet is the single most important thing that motorcyclists can do to prevent the risk of sustaining serious brain injuries in an accident. Most fatal motorcycle accidents are fatal because the motorcyclist sustains a serious brain injury. However, many Florida brain injuries can be prevented by the use of safety measures – such as always wearing a helmet when riding on a motorcycle. Motorcyclists need to ensure that the helmets they wear fit properly and meet US Department of Transportation (DOT) standards.

2) Never ride in a truck's blind spots. Trucks have large blind spots on the sides, in the back, and in the front. It is especially dangerous for motorcyclists to ride in these areas because while motorcyclists can move quickly and flexibly, trucks cannot. For example, if a motorcyclist is in front of a truck and brakes suddenly, the truck will take much longer to brake, resulting in a serious crash.

3) Use defensive driving. Keep in mind that motorcyclists are less visible to other drivers – including truck drivers. Stay extra alert of other vehicles and their lights. Avoid aggressive driving or riding in the lanes of other vehicles.

4) Avoid sudden bursts of speed. Many motorcyclists love their bikes because motorcycles respond quickly – they accelerate much faster than other vehicles. However, this can be fatal. Keep in mind that trucks take much longer to accelerate and brake. Avoid accelerating in front of a truck – you can easily collide with the vehicle.

5) Make sure you and your bike are ready before each ride. Inspect your bike and make sure you are calm, well-rested and prepared to focus on driving. Never distract yourself by using a mobile device while riding a bike. As well, make sure that you wear protective gear, including boots, jacket, and gloves.

Continue reading "What Motorcyclists Can Do to Prevent Florida Truck Accidents" »

Some Florida truck drivers find themselves part of a staged accident – a car rams into them and the driver (or their attorney) assert that the truck driver caused the truck accident. Passenger vehicle drivers also sometimes find themselves part of this type of insurance fraud. Unfortunately, insurance industry experts note that Florida has the dubious distinction of leading the nation in car accident fraud. Several factors cause this type of fraud:

1) Fraud companies. According to the insurance industry, Florida car accident insurance fraud is highly organized, with doctors, clinics, patients, and some attorneys working together to defraud the insurers. In some cases, these companies even advertise to convince people to report false Florida truck accident and car accident claims.

2) Insurance rules. Insurance companies must pay Personal Injury Protection (PIP) claims within 30 days of an accident. Often, this does not give insurers enough time to carefully investigate a Florida truck accident or car accident to determine whether it is real or fraudulent. This is especially the case in situations where many accidents occur around the same time so that claims adjusters are spread thin. In addition, some companies aiming to defraud insurers purposely stage accident before a weekend or holiday to further reduce the chances insurers have to investigate an accident.

3) Economic loss. In many cases, companies that have organized to defraud insurance companies market themselves to the unemployed and to recent immigrants, promising them money in exchange for nothing. Unfortunately, the instances of car insurance fraud in Florida have increased since the economic downturn of 2008.

4) Perceptions of the insurance industry. Many people do not feel bad bout defrauding the insurance industry. Many polls have suggested that drivers tend to see the insurance companies are overly profitable and as charging high premiums. Some drivers even see fraud as a way to get more value out of their already high premiums.

5) Rules about clinic licensing. In Florida, some specialists who are individually licensed – including massage therapists and chiropractors – do not need to license their clinics. For insurers, it is harder to get information about these clinics and insurance companies claim that these clinics produce many of the fraudulent claims they see.

Continue reading "What Leads to Florida Truck Accident and Car Accident Insurance Fraud?" »

All Florida truck accidents are devastating and many are fatal. However, when the truck driver refuses to remain at the scene of the accident, the results can be even more devastating. Victims may not be offered timely help. If they need to report an insurance claim to cover medical costs, this can be more difficult in a hit and run accident, as well.

Under Florida law, all drivers must remain on the scene to help and to speak to authorities (if necessary) after an accident. Despite this, many motorists do not remain to help. In fact, according the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Miami-Dade and Broward counties led the state in 2008 for hit and run accidents. There are many reasons why truck drivers choose to leave the scene of an accident: they may be driving under the influence, they may not have adequate licensing or insurance, or they may simply be afraid of the consequences.

Hit and run truck accidents are even more complex for a number of reasons. Truck drivers are regulated by federal laws and in truck accidents there are usually several liable parties: the truck driver, the truck manufacturer, the carrier or truck company, and others. As well, most truck drivers are protected under commercial insurance, which means they carry higher insurance limits.

If you have been in a Florida truck accident, your first priority should be to seek help. If you remember anything about the truck or its driver, write this down. Since hit and run accidents are a crime, the police will often open an investigation to find the truck driver who has left the scene of a crime. As you start to recover, you will want to keep careful records of your injuries and injury-related expenses so that if the driver is found you can seek compensation.

In hit and run cases, it is often best to seek the help of a qualified attorney. Florida personal injury attorneys often work with private investigators, who can run a more thorough investigation if police are not able to find the hit and run driver. As well, attorneys can help you find help and can offer advice on what you can do to help recover from your injuries. Once the driver is found, a good Florida attorney can help ensure that the driver is held accountable for his or her actions.

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After a Florida car accident involving a truck, many injured passengers and drivers are understandably confused and stressed. In many cases, Florida truck accidents lead to fatalities and serious injuries. After a truck accident, you may also find yourself in many situations which are unfamiliar:

The Situation: Someone pressures you to sign a document, implying that you will lose your right to recover money if you don’t sign right away.
The Solution: It is vital to never sign a document without reading it very carefully and discussing it with a qualified attorney. While someone may claim that you will lose your rights by not signing, all too often the opposite is true: Florida personal injury patients sometimes find that the documents they have been pressured into signing have in fact signed away many of their rights.

The Situation: You are in an accident with a truck driver, but the driver does not want to exchange information, saying “it’s just a scratch.”
The Solution: This is another dangerous situation in which you may end up losing your rights. It is vital to exchange contact information with a driver, even in the rare event that it appears that your Florida truck accident was in fact really minor. Without exchanging contact information, you have no way of filing a claim if you find out later that the accident was more serious than it initially appeared. As well, if you don’t exchange information, you have no way of claiming that you didn’t simply leave the scene of the accident.

The Situation: You are in a hit and run accident with a truck.
The Solution: This can be a very frightening situation. Contact 911 at once to get medical assistance and to report the crime. If you notice anything distinctive about the truck, such as a registration number, write it down as soon as you can. This information can help police and investigators find the driver.

The Situation: You see a commercial truck weaving on the road.
The Solution: Contact authorities at once. A truck driving by a potentially ill, intoxicated, or fatigued driver is an immediate threat to anyone on the road. By reporting the registration number and location of the truck, you may be able to help prevent a Florida drunk driving accident.

Continue reading "Dealing With Common Florida Truck Accident Situations" »

No one wants to believe or consider that they may be in a Florida car accident or truck accident. Statistically, however, anyone who drives a car is likely to be in a traffic accident at some point. While a collision is terrifying, it is important to stay focused and to do the right things in order to ensure that you are fully protected under the law. If you have been in a Florida truck accidents, you need to make sure that you:

1) Get medical help. Call for help at once, even if you are not sure that you are injured. Many people face serious complications or even die because they fail to seek help in time. Some symptoms do not manifest right away. Some Florida brain injury patients, for example, report symptoms hours after an initial impact. Getting medical help for everyone involved can help save a life.

2) Do not sign anything without an attorney. You may be pressured to sign documents from an insurance company or from a truck company’s attorney. No matter what you are told, do not sign without qualified legal advice. At the very least, you deserve to know exactly what you are signing – and that means working with an attorney who has your interests in mind. Signing can mean signing your rights away.

3) Contact authorities at once. A police report can help you support your version of events and can help ensure that your accident is investigated. Most Florida truck accidents are serious, and you need to alert the authorities. Get a copy of the police report if you can or at least get the name of the police officer and other emergency personnel on the scene so that your attorney can get copies of any pertinent documentation.

4) As soon as it is safe to do so, collect evidence. Get the truck driver’s name, contact information, truck registration number, and the name of the carrier. Take video or photos of the accident scene and the vehicles involved. Keep your car – even if it is totaled. Keep copies of medical records and take photos of any injuries. The more evidence you have, the more evidence you have for your attorney.

5) Work with a qualified Florida truck accident attorney. Even if you think that your insurance company (or the truck company’s insurance carrier) will take care of you, get the advice of an attorney. Insurance companies are in business to make money – never forget that. In many cases, insurance companies do not consider all the associated costs of an accident or do not consider long-term costs, leaving you with thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. A good attorney can help you uncover the true expenses of your accident and can help you negotiate for a fair recovery.

Continue reading "What To Do After a Florida Truck Accident" »

More people are killed in traffic accidents than in all other types of accidents combined. Driving is simply one of the most dangerous things we do. Each year, more than 250 000 people are injured and another 3000 are killed in traffic accidents. Another 4000 Americans are killed in car accidents and truck accidents in the workplace. While the tragedy and the types of injuries are the same, Florida truck accidents in the workplace and off-work vary in legal liability and insurance coverage.

Many workers who must drive trucks or cars as part of their work are covered by workers compensation and their employer’s insurance in the event of an accident. This means that in an accident, it is these insurance companies that pay. However, workers who are injured in a Florida car accident or truck accident on the job may want to consult with a qualified Florida personal injury attorney at once, since liability issues can be quite complex with workplace accidents.

For example, several factors may contribute to workplace Florida truck accidents or traffic accidents. If the accident took place on company property, poor maintenance of the property, poor safety features, or poor lighting may have contributed to the accident. In these instances, the employer or the property owner may be partly liable for the accident.

As well, in workplace accidents, there tends to be a desire to settle a claim quickly, sometimes before the full extent of an injury and its causes are known. Patients may be unwilling to try to negotiate out of a fear of alienating an employer. In some cases, employers who are hurt and claim workers compensation benefits find that the benefits and coverage only cover a small portion of the lost income and the medical bills created by the Florida truck accident. Once a patient has signed the paperwork, however, there may be little recourse to recover a fairer settlement. If the patient is unable to work for an extended period of time, he or she may face serious hardships due to the accident.

A qualified Florida personal injury attorney can help offer advice and guidance and can help investigate the accident and the resulting injuries. A good attorney can determine the true costs associated with the accident and can negotiate with insurance providers for this amount. As well, a good Florida attorney can help find all liable parties, which can help ensure that a patient has as many medical bills and as much lost income covered as possible.

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A number of Florida truck accidents result in serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord damage can affect mobility as well as functioning of just about every area of the body. The impact of a Florida car accident involving a truck often cases passengers in the car to be thrown about, and this can result in trauma to the spinal cord. As well, when patients are removed from the accident scene, further trauma can sometimes happen to the spinal cord.

The extent of damage in a Florida spinal cord injury after a truck accident can vary widely, depending on the extent of the trauma, the severity of the injury, and the amount of spinal cord affected. When there is a suspected spinal cord injury during a truck accident, emergency personnel usually transport the patient very carefully to avoid too much movement. They may use a backboard and a rigid collar to help protect the possibly injury spine. Once at the hospital, doctors can use imaging to determine the extent of spinal cord injuries.

In severe Florida spinal cord injuries after a truck accident, patients may sometimes have trouble breathing. This is usually an indication of a very severe injury. Patients who are having trouble breathing may need intubation or other assisted breathing solutions to help them breathe. In addition to helping a patient breathe and evaluating the extent of the injuries, doctors will often give patients medication for pain. Sometimes, a steroid drug known as Methylprednisolone is used with Florida spinal cord injury patients because this drug may help reduce inflammation and nerve cell damage in patients.

Other treatment options for Florida spinal cord injury patients usually include axial traction or rigid braces. The idea with these options is to prevent movement which can cause further damage to the spine. Keeping the back still with braces or traction can also help doctors realign the spine.

A few days after the truck accident and spinal cord injury, doctors will usually continue to diagnose the injury with MRIs, exams, X-rays, and other tools. Many doctors use something known as the ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) Impairment Scale to evaluate patients and to diagnose spinal cord injuries. After running a battery of tests, doctors are able to see the extent of the damage and evaluate the prognosis for the patient. Usually, at this stage the patient can start to learn how the truck accident and injury will impact their lives and for how long they can expect to deal with the consequences of the injury.

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If you have been in a Florida car accident involving a truck, it is advisable to consult with a qualified Florida personal injury attorney immediately. Many truck accidents in Florida result in serious injuries, such as Florida brain injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and other injuries. These injuries often mean high medical costs and lost income. Without legal help, many patients are unable to recover the total costs of their accident from insurance companies. Many good Florida personal injury attorneys provide free initial consultations to clients. This is a great opportunities to discuss your case, get legal advice, and to learn more about your options. If you make an appointment with a Florida personal injury attorney, there are a few things you can do to help make your initial consultation effective and useful to you:

1) Bring all your documentation. If you have medical records, a police report, or any information about the accident or injuries, it is useful to bring this along so that an attorney can evaluate your case. If you have lots of documentation, it may be useful to summarize the details of your case on one page for quick review. If you don’t have any documentation, you should still contact a good Florida personal injury attorney after your accident. He or she can listen to your account of the accident and offer advice based on this.

2) Choose wisely. This is not a mortgage quote, where you will want to get quotes from everyone. Select a Florida truck accident attorney with extensive experience and expertise. An attorney who understands the insurance industry is also useful, since the attorney can help you negotiate with your insurance provider. To find the right attorney, you can ask friends for recommendations, view attorney web sites and online information, or call firms to get details about experience and qualifications.

3) Write down a list of questions you have. You probably have many questions and speaking with an attorney, you will likely think of many more. Carefully write out all the questions you have about your situation and then focus on the five questions which are most important to you. This will help you focus on exactly what you need to ask the attorney.

4) Understand what you want from your consultation. Write down three goals you want to accomplish. For example, you might want to know your options or whether you have a case. Knowing your goals before a consultation with a Florida personal injury attorney increases the chances that you will actually meet those goals.

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After a Florida truck accident or car accident, you will likely be frightened and worried. You may worry about the medical costs or the lost income you are facing and you may feel overwhelmed by the insurance claims process or forms you need to sign. Unfortunately, there are some people who will take advantage of your situation and may try to create further problems for you by luring you into scams.

Recently, for example, police have been investigating a fraudulent accident help line known as Latina de Accidentes. Authorities allege that while the accident line claimed to send interpreters to accident victims, the people who operated the business pressured callers to commit medical fraud by claiming injuries they did not have.

If you have been in a Florida car accident or truck accident, there are many red flag signs you will need to watch out for:

1) Attorneys who guarantee a result or a recovery amount. No experienced attorney can guarantee an outcome for your case. By hiring a qualified, experienced attorney, you can increase the odds of a fair recovery. However, attorneys know that there are simply no guarantees in a Florida car accident or truck accident case and honest attorneys will make this clear.

2) Insurance professionals who claim you will not receive any money unless you sign a document immediately – without reading it carefully. You should never sign a document after your accident without first consulting a good Florida personal injury attorney. If someone pressures you into something you don’t understand, be wary. You could end up signing away your rights for a lowball offer.

3) Drivers who try to get you to accept blame or try to get you to drive away from any accident. If you have been in a Florida truck accident or car accident, you should not accept any blame. There is simply no way to tell who is liable without a good investigation. Similarly, you should always exchange contact information, insurance information, and license plate numbers with the other driver. If you do not, the other driver may accuse you of a hit and run accident.

4) “Too good to be true” offers. If someone offers you something that simple seems too good to be true – like a guarantee of a million dollar settlement for very minor injuries – proceed with caution. Often, scammers make elaborate offers to hook you in. Always consult with a legitimate and experienced Florida personal injury attorney before agreeing to anything after your accident.

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Florida trucking accidents and car accidents cause deaths and considerable suffering every year, but they also have a severe impact on victims’ finances. Some experts believe that truck accidents cost more than twenty-four billion dollars annually in damages. Car and truck accidents involving a large commercial truck with two or three trailers average about $117,309 in damages per collision. These costs can include property loss and damage, pain and suffering, medical costs, and lost income as well as related expenses. While insurance is meant to help Florida traffic accident victims deal with the catastrophic costs of truck accidents, in many cases victims are unable to recover all the damages associated with their injuries. Some Florida car accident and truck accident victims face bankruptcy, reduced quality of life and even eviction or foreclosure of their homes due to the financial devastation of a truck accident.

There are many reasons why Florida truck accidents cause this type of financial devastation to insured victims. One reason is that insurance companies sometimes estimate the total costs associated with an injury. In some cases, insurance companies offer a low claims amount, based on immediate medical costs. However, Florida brain injury victims, spinal cord injury victims, and other injury victims may face a long lifetime of reduced earnings capacity as well as considerable medical bills.

As well, insurance companies sometimes underestimate the total costs involved with an injury. For example, they may pay for car damage, immediate medical costs and immediate lost wages without paying for medical devices, long term treatment or specialty treatment. A Florida burn injury victim, for example, may need counseling, a series of expensive skin grafts, and other rehabilitative treatments. However, an insurance carrier may only agree to pay for basic doctor’s visits.

Due to this problem, it is very important for Florida truck accident victims to speak with a good Florida personal injury attorney soon after the accident. Once statements and insurance papers are signed and once a claim amount has been given, it may be too late to pursue a fairer settlement that covers all medical expenses, which is why it is important to contact an attorney first. An initial consultation with a good attorney can at least give a patient a sense of their rights and options.

Another common problem that affects Florida truck accident victims is the amount of time it can take in order to recover damages for an accident. After a Florida truck accident, a patient may immediately face lost income as well as substantial expenses. However, the claims process can take a long time. While waiting for the insurance money, a patient may be facing severe financial stresses. In some cases, insurance companies promise quick payment in exchange for the patient agreeing to a low claims amount. This places the patient in a difficult position: They can have some much-needed money immediately but may still face many tens of thousands of dollars in costs out of pocket.

A good Florida personal injury attorney can help with this, as well. A good attorney can pursue a case aggressively, to make sure that the injured plaintiff gets as much damages covered as possible. A good attorney can also advise a plaintiff who is in financial distress and offer advice about ways to survive financially while a legal claim works its way through the courts.

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If you have been in a Florida truck accident that has resulted only in a fender bender, you can often handle the claim through your insurance provider. However, most Florida car accidents involving a truck do not end so happily. Many serious Florida brain injuries, amputations, fatalities, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries occur each year as a result of truck accidents. There are many reasons besides these why you may wish to see a Florida personal injury attorney immediately:

1) Someone has been injured in the accident. If you or a passenger have sustained a serious or permanent injury, you need to speak to a qualified Florida personal injury attorney at once. Florida spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, brain injuries, and other serious injuries caused by truck accidents can be very costly to treat and most insurance policies only cover a fraction of the total costs over time. It is important to speak to a good attorney to protect your financial future.

2) You have lost significant time away from work or other duties due to the accident. With lost income, you may need to go into debt or face financial hardship due to the accident. Some people even find themselves facing bankruptcy or foreclosure after a serious Florida pedestrian accident, car accident, or truck accident. A good attorney can ensure that you are compensated for the income you have lost.

3) Fault and liability are an issue. If you are being accused of causing the accident or if it looks as though your claim amount may be reduced due to liability issues, it is important to consult with an experienced Florida personal injury attorney. If a police report suggests that you are at fault or contains errors or inaccuracies, it is also vital to speak to a Florida lawyer. A good attorney can ensure that your rights are protected.

4) The accident was complex. If pedestrians or multiple cars are involved in a Florida car accident, liability issues and damages become more complicated. In this case, it is often best to work with a Florida truck accident attorney who has extensive experience in examining the details of complicated accidents.

5) If the accident involves a government vehicle or takes place in a construction site. These situations are legally more complex. Government employees are protected and it may be harder for you to recover all the damages needed for your medical bills, for example, if you are involved in an accident with a government truck. Construction site accidents are also more complex because determining liability in these cases is often challenging.

6) You start to have insurance problems. You rely on your insurance to protect you in the event of an accident. However, if after your accident you find that your liability coverage is too low or if your insurance companies claims you are not covered, it is time to speak with a qualified attorney. Similarly, if your insurance provider stops taking your calls or starts to act unusual or has you speak with the insurer’s attorney, it is imperative to involve a very good Florida personal injury attorney on your behalf. Insurance problems can be very costly and often a good attorney can better resolve these issues.

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If you have been in a Florida truck accident or other type of traffic accident and have worked with a Florida personal injury attorney to settle your claim, your claim amount may be significant. In fact, many Florida car accidents involving trucks involve serious Florida brain injuries, burn injuries, and even wrongful death claims. As a result, the settlements in these cases can be quite large. If you are expecting a larger settlement in your Florida truck accident case, you may wish to establish a structured settlement plan. A structured settlement means that you will receive your settlement amount in regular installments rather than in one lump sum. This can have several advantages in a Florida truck accident case:

1) Tax benefits. You may be able to set up a structured settlement in your case so that you pay less taxes or even no taxes. Even if your settlement amount is significant, you will of course want to use all of it to recover from your injury, so the less you need to pay in taxes, the more effectively you can use the funds.

2) Money protection. By receiving money gradually, you can be sure that you will have the financial resources in place when you need them. If you are not used to receiving and managing larger amounts of money, a structured settlement can be financially safer.

3) A good asset. You can use a structured settlement just like any asset. It is possible to sell your structured settlement, for example, in order to earn more money for larger purchases. You will need to contact a Florida attorney first, however, to learn about current laws affecting the sale of your structured settlement.

Of course, there are some disadvantages to structured settlements. You may need more money initially to pay for costs and a structured settlement leaves less flexibility in how you will invest your money. You also do not have the option of investing a lump sum settlement in order to make more money.

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If you have been in a Florida car accident or pedestrian accident involving a truck, you likely will need to make a claim on your insurance policy. Most Florida truck accidents result in serious damage as well as costly medical expenses. For example, Florida spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and other serious injuries are a common result of truck accidents. Once you have received basic medical attention, you will need to file a claim with your insurance provider at the earlier possible opportunity. You will also want to look at your insurance policy to understand what you are covered for. Your insurance policy may include coverage such as:

1) Liability coverage. In Florida, liability insurance is required to drive a car. This type of insurance covers the personal injury costs and property damage that occurs to others if you have been in a car accident. This insurance may also cover your legal costs. If your liability insurance does not cover the injuries and damages that others have sustained in a car accident, you may face legal action, especially if it can be proven that you are at fault.

2) Collision coverage. This insurance covers the damage which occurs to your vehicle in the event of an accident. This coverage will be paid out, regardless of who was at fault in the accident. If you have a deductible, you will need to pay that and the insurance provider will pay for the rest of the repair costs to your car. Many Florida trucking accidents, however, result in total destruction of a car. If your car is a complete loss, you will receive the cash value of the car.

3) Comprehensive coverage. This type of insurance usually covers damage which can occur due to vandalism, theft, weather, and fire. You will pay the deductible and the insurance company will pay the cash value of your car or the costs to repair your car. If you have been in a Florida truck accident, you will often not need to worry about comprehensive coverage.

4) Medical payments coverage. This coverage pays (regardless of fault) the medical bills of your passengers and yourself. If you receive payment from the other driver in the car, you will need to repay these benefits.

5) Personal injury protection (PIP) and No-Fault coverage. These optional and additional features of your insurance policy may cover additional medical costs as well as lost income and related expenses of your car accident.

6) Uninsured and underinsured driver coverage. This insurance protects you in the event that you are in an accident with a driver who does not have the legally required liability insurance or does not have enough insurance to cover your injuries. If you have this insurance coverage, your own insurance company will pay for your injuries and damages.

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After a Florida trucking accident, you will need as many resources as possible as you work to recover. Being in a Florida car accident involving a truck is devastating and often leads to serious injuries as well as losses. This is not a time to try to be stoic and do it alone. There are many people who can help you as you recover:

1) A Florida personal injury attorney. An experienced Florida personal injury attorney can be invaluable when you have been in a serious Florida pedestrian accident, traffic accident, or any incident causing injury. A good attorney can ensure you don’t sign away your rights and can help ensure that your accident is carefully investigated in order to find all liable parties. A good Florida personal injury attorney can help ensure that you get all the support you are entitled to under the law as you recover. Working with a good attorney can help ensure quality care and can ensure that you pay fewer costs out of pocket.

2) Friends and family. After an accident, you will need your friends and family as your emotions run the gamut. Friends and family can support you emotionally and encourage you as you heal.

3) Insurance providers. If you are covered by insurance, insurance providers can play a large role in ensuring that most of your accident-related costs are covered so that you are not responsible for these costs. Unfortunately, not all insurance providers are eager to pay you fully for the costs of your accident. For this reason, it is often good to work with a Florida personal injury attorney to ensure that your costs are covered.

4) Counselors. If you are still having trouble recovering from your accident after a few weeks, you may wish to seek help from a counselor or therapist. This can help you get help in recovering from the emotional trauma, especially, of your accident.

5) Health care professionals. After your Florida truck accident, you will likely need to rely on health care professionals and doctors for at least part of your recovery. In many cases, you may need to rely on specialists as well. Florida burn injury patients, for example, may need to work with cosmetic surgeons to recover while Florida spinal cord injury patients may work with surgeons and rehabilitation professionals in order to regain mobility.

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Florida trucking accidents can be devastating for the losses they cause. If you have been in a Florida car accident involving a truck or have been in a trucking accident, you may face many losses:

1) Loss of your health. One of the most tragic losses associated with Florida trucking accidents is the amount of devastating injuries which can occur from such accidents. Due to the size and force of large commercial trucks, Florida trucking accidents may result in amputations, brain injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, and other serious injuries. In some cases, these injuries may be permanent and can affect every aspect of a patient’s life.

2) Loss of income. Florida trucking accidents often leave patients unable to return to work for weeks. In some cases, permanent injuries mean that patients can never return to work. Worse, while trucking accidents deprive a victim of income, they also almost always mean substantial medical bills and other costs.

3) Loss of family members. Florida truck accidents often lead to fatalities, depriving families of parents, siblings, children, and loved ones. It can often be devastating to try to recover from such a loss.

4) Property loss. Patients who are in a Florida car accident involving a truck often do not think about property loss immediately, but this type of loss can be significant. You may lose your car as well as any valuables in your car during a collision.

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While Florida trucking accidents are almost always tragic in that they lead to many injuries and often lead to fatalities as well, not everyone has an equal chance in a truck accident. Due to the unique nature of trucks as well as their size and weight, some individuals are especially vulnerable in Florida trucking accidents:

1) Bicyclists. Bicyclists are not surrounded by a protective layer of metal, the way occupants in passenger vehicles are. Passenger vehicles are specifically designed to shield passengers in the event of a collision. There are seat belts, air bags, and other safety features intended to protect occupants. Bicyclists do not have these advantages. When hit by a truck in a Florida bicycle accident involving a truck, bicyclists are likely to sustain very severe injuries and have a high risk of fatal injuries.

2) Pedestrians. Like bicyclists, pedestrians are not protected by any external car or safety features. Worse, when an adult is struck by a truck, the truck’s relatively flat front usually means a sizeable area of impact and trauma. For an adult, being hit by a truck usually means substantial injuries to the head and abdomen area – injuries which often prove fatal. In fact, research has proven that Florida pedestrian accidents involving trucks are more fatal than pedestrian accidents involving cars.

3) Young children and minors. Even when children are protected by the safety features and the external structure of a passenger vehicle, they may be vulnerable to more injuries in Florida trucking accidents. One problem is that many safety features – such as airbags, for example – are in fact designed for adults and can be dangerous for child passengers. For this reason, it is important to always use age-appropriate child safety seats and safety restraints.

4) Motorcyclists. Like pedestrians and pedestrians, motorcyclists do not have the advantage of being surrounded by the safety features and the metal cage of a car. Worse, in a Florida trucking accident involving a motorcycle, the motorcycle itself can become a danger. It can land on the motorcyclist, crushing bones. It can slide under a truck, dragging the motorcyclist along. In many Florida burn injuries involving motorcycle accidents, the fuel tank of the motorcycle ignites in a collision, causing a fire and burn injuries. As well, since motorcyclists can travel faster than pedestrians or bicyclists, they can collide with a truck at a greater speed, causing even more injury and creating an even greater risk.

5) The elderly. The elderly often have lower bone density, which makes them more vulnerable to broken bones and serious injuries in a traffic accident, even when protected in a passenger vehicle.

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