Daytona Beach Truck Accident Lawyer

Tens of thousands of truck accidents occur in the United States each year, many of which happen here in Florida. These collisions are often preventable. After a crash, you may recover compensation for resulting losses and expenses, especially when someone else is responsible for the accident.

Knowing what to do after a truck accident is essential, as getting the full settlement you need can be challenging. One of the best things you can do to protect your health, legal rights, and well-being is to reach out to a dedicated legal team early on.

The Daytona Beach truck accident lawyers at Zimmet & Zimmet are here to guide you through the legal process and demand justice. Since 1975, our team has been a trusted source for those affected by accidents in Florida and getting results. We are here to pursue maximum compensation for you and fight to protect your legal rights.

Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about what we can do for you.

Why Should I Hire an Attorney for My Truck Accident Claim?

Being injured in a truck accident can be overwhelming. Trying to deal with vehicle repairs, medical bills, and your recovery simultaneously may seem impossible. Hiring a Daytona Beach truck accident attorney from Zimmet & Zimmet can make all the difference.

When dealing with a truck accident injury, having an attorney means someone is there to fight for the compensation you deserve. Trucking companies often have extensive insurance policies and legal teams. Going up against them alone is tough. However, with a truck accident lawyer in Daytona Beach, you’ll have someone who understands the law and how to hold these companies accountable.

Our team at Zimmet & Zimmet is committed to your well-being. We take the time to learn about your case and your needs as an individual. We then develop a strategy that aims to achieve the best possible outcome for your case.

What Should I Do After a Truck Accident?

After an accident with a semi-truck, you must seek medical help right away. A thorough medical evaluation can determine the extent of your injuries and whether further medical care is necessary. Reaching out to law enforcement is also essential, as police officials can create a report of the 18-wheeler accident that details who was involved. They can also record insurance information and offer their view of what took place.

If you can, gather information from the big rig’s driver and collect contact information from witnesses. This can help strengthen your truck accident claim later on. Take pictures of your vehicle, the involved truck, the road conditions, and any other important details. This can help provide a clearer view of the conditions, weather, and other factors that may have played a role in the accident.

Once you are safe, you should contact a truck accident law firm. Our team at Zimmet & Zimmet will take over the stressful parts of dealing with the insurance companies, investigating the accident, and building your case.

Why Are Trucking Accidents More Complicated Than Other Motor Vehicle Collisions?

Trucking accidents tend to be more complicated than other car accidents for several reasons, such as the following:

• Bigger Vehicles, More Extensive Damage – Trucks are much larger and heavier than regular cars, so they cause more damage and more severe injuries when they crash.
• Multiple Parties Involved – In a truck accident, it’s not just the truck driver who could be at fault. The driver and several other parties could all share responsibility.
• Federal and State Regulations – Trucks follow special rules set by both federal and state governments. These rules cover how long a truck driver can work, required maintenance for the truck, securement rules, and size and weight regulations.
• Higher Insurance Policy Limits – Trucking companies usually have big insurance policy limits, which means their insurers will fight hard to pay injured parties as little as possible.
• Serious Injuries – Since trucks are so big, accidents often cause life-changing injuries, which means higher medical costs, longer recovery times, and more complicated claims for compensation.

After an accident, it is essential to contact a Daytona Beach truck accident lawyer with experience handling these challenging cases. They will know how to deal with the different parties involved, the rules that apply to trucks, and how to pursue maximum compensation.

Who Could Be Liable for a Truck Accident in Daytona Beach?

Multiple parties could be held responsible for your injuries in a truck accident. These include the following:

Our Daytona Beach truck accident attorneys at Zimmet & Zimmet know how to investigate all angles of a truck accident case. We’ll look into whether there were any violations of federal regulations, whether the truck driver was driving while fatigued or under the influence, and whether there were any mechanical failures with the semi-truck.

What Compensation Could I Recover in a Daytona Beach Truck Accident Claim?

In Florida, truck accident cases are subject to the state’s no-fault insurance system, which requires registered vehicle owners to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.

PIP helps cover a portion of medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of who is responsible for the accident. That means that injured parties must first turn to their own PIP coverage for payment of their medical expenses and lost wages. This typically pays up to 80 percent of the resulting medical expenses and up to 60 percent of lost wages up to the $10,000 PIP policy limit.

However, because truck accidents often result in severe injuries, victims frequently meet the state’s “serious injury” threshold. Meeting this threshold allows them to step outside the no-fault system and file a lawsuit against the at-fault party.

In a truck accident lawsuit, an injured person can usually be compensated for:

There are complex laws that surround finding other sources of recovery beyond the at-fault parties’ insurance policy. It is extremely important to hire an experienced lawyer who not only understands how to find other sources of recovery but will leave no stone unturned during the investigation to find them. Many times this is the difference between no recovery and recovering millions of dollars.

If you’ve lost a loved one in a fatal truck accident, you may also be able to seek compensation for funeral costs and the emotional impact of your loss.

What If I’m Partly at Fault for a Trucking Accident?

In Florida, you can seek compensation for the losses and expenses you face after an accident, even if you share some of the fault for the crash.

Based on our state’s comparative negligence laws, the amount of compensation you should receive for your losses may be reduced to reflect the amount of fault you share. For example, if you shared 5 percent of the fault for the accident, your truck accident compensation will be reduced by 5 percent.

It is essential to seek help from a knowledgeable legal team like Zimmet & Zimmet immediately to understand how comparative fault could affect your particular trucking accident claim.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Florida?

Victims in Florida truck accidents have up to two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. However, it is important to know that, in some circumstances, you may have less time to file, such as in cases involving government entities.

Reaching out to a truck accident attorney in Daytona Beach immediately after a crash is the best way to make sure your claim is filed accurately and within the statute of limitations.

What Is Considered a Truck in Florida?

Florida law defines trucks as vehicles designed primarily for carrying cargo. This includes:

What Injuries Could I Sustain in a Truck Accident?

Injuries in truck accidents can range from minor to life-altering. Some common injuries include: