Truck Accident Lawyer Serving Ocala

Big rigs weigh up to 30 times more than passenger cars, so even a slow-speed truck accident is likely to result in catastrophic injuries. Victims who are fortunate enough to survive often face steep medical bills, lost earning capacity, and devastating psychological trauma. Although no amount of money can undo such a tragedy, you and your family may be able to restore financial stability by filing a personal injury claim.

The injury lawyers at Frankl Kominsky will evaluate your Ocala Truck Accident case for free to determine if you have grounds for a claim.

Our office is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call (352) 269-5979 to schedule a free consultation.

Truck accident claims tend to be more complex than claims involving regular vehicles because it is common for parties other than the driver to be held liable for damages. For instance, if the truck rolled over because it was overloaded, the party who loaded the cargo may be liable. Depending on the cause of the crash, other potentially liable parties include:

• Weigh station officials if they allowed an overloaded truck to continue on its route;
• The owner of the truck;
• A mechanic;
• The trucking company or shipping company;
• The person who hired the trucking service;
• A government entity; or
• The manufacturer of the truck or its parts.

During your initial consultation, your truck accident lawyer will ask a series of questions to discern who may be liable for your damages. It is important that you consult an attorney as soon as possible—while important evidence is still available. If you delay, data from the truck’s Event Data Recorder (EDR) may be erased, the Hours of Service (HoS) logbook may be altered, and other evidence may become unavailable.

Each truck accident claim is unique, and the types of evidence your injury lawyer will use to try to prove liability will depend on the specific cause of your crash. Common evidence used to prove negligence and liability in these cases includes:

• Photos of the crash scene, injuries, and property damage;
• The police report;
• Toxicology reports;
• Testimony from an accident reconstruction expert;
• Testimony from eyewitnesses;
• Timelines and illustrations;
• Dashcam and surveillance footage;
• Weigh station receipts;
• The truck driver’s Hours of Service logbook;
• EDR data; and
• Records from the at-fault driver’s cell phone company.

“Black box” is another term for an Event Data Recorder, which tracks data about a truck driver’s performance including hours spent on the road, brake usage, average speed, and top speed. Black box data might show that the truck driver who caused your accident violated the Hours of Service Regulations or another traffic law and, if so, its data will be valuable evidence to prove negligence.

To potentially give your claim the best chance of success, it is important that you contact a truck accident lawyer while this evidence is still available.

The insurance adjuster may look for any possible excuse to dispute your claim. DO NOT GIVE A RECORDED STATEMENT before you speak with a personal injury attorney because this statement can be used against you.

Here are a few other mistakes you should avoid to give your truck accident claim the most favorable chance of success:

• Posting details about your case on social networking websites (it’s best to disable your social media profiles until your case has been finalized);
• Admitting fault;
• Putting off your consultation with a truck accident attorney;
• Lying to your truck accident lawyer;
• Putting off your medical evaluation;
• Not following your doctor’s treatment plan;
• Accepting a settlement too early; or
• Accepting a settlement that does not account for non-economic damages or future damages.

There are many other mistakes that could derail your case. The easiest way to avoid a costly oversight is to contact a skilled personal injury lawyer who can try to guide you through every stage of the claims process.

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a truck crash in Ocala, contact Frankl Kominsky to discuss your case. Call (352) 269-5979 or fill out our Contact Form to arrange a free initial consultation.