Commercial truck drivers are known for their perseverance on the road, but sometimes, they take reckless chances or are negligent, which can lead to an accident. When you have been hurt in a commercial vehicle collision, call a diligent truck accident attorney for help understanding your options for pursuing compensation.
Truck accident injuries are often catastrophic, and your medical records from the first day are important evidence when proving a negligence claim and showing the extent of your injuries. It can be difficult to know the first step to take after a Sarasota truck accident, but the practiced lawyers at Dannheisser Injury Law can walk you through everything that you need to do to ensure a claim is successful.
In Florida, leaving the scene of a road accident with injuries is a third-degree felony. Penalties can include up to five years in prison or probation and a $5,000 fine. Witnesses are expected to contact law enforcement if those injured cannot, and they, and the injured parties if they can, are supposed to share insurance and personal information while waiting to give reports to responding officers. Either local police or the Florida Highway Patrol can investigate road accidents.
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When an injured person is unsure of the first step to take after a commercial vehicle wreck in Sarasota, calling 911 is wise to ensure the accident is properly documented and any injuries are treated.
Law enforcement officers from all departments in Florida are trained to respond and act after truck accidents in Sarasota. If possible, they interview witnesses and those involved in the crash and write detailed reports about what happened. Usually, fault is determined based on the conduct of the involved motorists. These reports are crucial because they:
Trucking companies are bound by federal law to carry a minimum of accident insurance, according to the US Code of Federal Regulations § 387.9. The amount fluctuates depending on whether the truck routes are in Florida or include other states. The minimum liability is $750,000, and the liability is $5 million if a trucker is transporting hazardous cargo.
Another early step a person should take after a Sarasota commercial vehicle wreck is to accumulate all information concerning the accident in a dedicated file and earmark it for an attorney’s review. Information should include medical and police reports, any communications with insurance adjusters, witness contact information, cell phone videos or still pictures, and receipts for accident-related expenses.
The attorneys at Dannheisser Injury Law have decades of experience successfully settling injury claims or convincing juries to award injured motorists what they need and deserve. We employ top-notch expert witnesses to testify when necessary about the extent of a person’s injuries and how the truck driver negligently caused the accident. Our team painstakingly builds a person’s case and keeps them updated, unlike big box law firms that assign a person a number, rush to settle, and move on to the next case.
In some situations, the trucker, the injured motorist, and sometimes others bear some responsibility for an accident. In 2023, Florida switched from a pure comparative negligence doctrine to a comparative one. Injured parties prior to the new law can sue for damages even if they were up to 99 percent at fault for an accident. Now, the jury must determine that the injured party is not more than 50 percent responsible. Awards are reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to the injured party. Our Sarasota attorneys can help a person take the necessary steps following an 18-wheeler collision to ensure that compensation is just.
You may be dazed and severely injured after you are involved in a truck accident. However, you must rally and think about the future. The first steps to take after a Sarasota truck accident include calling 911 or asking someone at the scene to call.
Because crucial evidence can easily disappear following a wreck, speaking with a lawyer at Dannheisser Injury Law is crucial. We would be happy to schedule a consultation at your convenience.
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