Truck accidents can turn your life upside down in an instant. These collisions often cause severe or catastrophic injuries, leaving victims overwhelmed by expenses and uncertainty about the future.
If you have been injured in a truck accident in Mary Esther, FL, you may be entitled to compensation. A Mary Esther truck accident lawyer from Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers can help you hold the at-fault party accountable. We will seek the fair financial compensation you need to rebuild your life.
Contact our Mary Esther, Florida, law office at (850) 809-0170 to schedule a free case evaluation with a Mary Esther truck accident attorney. We will listen to your story and help you take the next steps in your case.
How Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Truck Accident In Mary Esther, FL
At Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, we understand how devastating truck accidents can be, and how complex. For 43 years, we’ve been helping victims of serious accidents in Mary Esther, Florida, recover the compensation they deserve. With over 75 years of combined legal experience and more than $200 million recovered for our clients, we’ve built a reputation for providing compassionate and effective legal representation.
Here’s how our law office is prepared to assist you:
- Investigate your accident to determine fault and liability
- Collect evidence, including police reports, medical records, and witness testimony
- Work with experts to calculate the full extent of your damages and explain the severity of your injuries
- Handle all communication with insurance companies
- Negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement agreement
- Take your case to trial if necessary for fair compensation
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers is here to give you the support and legal guidance you need. Schedule a free consultation with a Mary Esther truck accident attorney to learn how we can help you pursue justice and fair compensation.
How Common Are Truck Accidents?
Trucks make up a relatively small share of vehicles on the road, yet they account for a disproportionate share of severe and fatal crashes. About 11% of all motor vehicle fatalities involve large truck accidents. In 2022, more than 4,700 people were killed in accidents with large trucks.
About 17% of deaths in these crashes were truck occupants. About 66% were passenger vehicle occupants. Another 16% were motorcyclists, pedestrians, and cyclists. In two-vehicle car accidents involving a truck, 96% of fatalities were people in the cars.
Florida consistently ranks as one of the top states for serious truck accidents. In 2022, there were 9,243 truck crashes in Florida, the third-highest number in the U.S. This included 3,193 crashes with injuries and 261 fatal truck accidents.
What Causes Most Truck Crashes In Mary Esther, FL?
Truck accidents are often caused by preventable errors or carelessness.
Common causes include:
- Driver fatigue and exceeding hours-of-service limits
- Distracted driving
- Speeding or reckless driving
- Overloaded or improperly loaded cargo
- Inadequate training or negligent hiring practices
- Mechanical failures due to poor maintenance or defective parts
- Poor road conditions
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Truck drivers and trucking companies are held to strict safety standards under Florida and federal law. When these standards are ignored, serious accidents can result. At Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, we will carefully investigate your crash to determine causation and who can be held accountable.
Truck accidents are usually complex as multiple parties may share liability for damages. The truck driver, trucking company and other drivers may share the blame. We will also investigate whether the companies that loaded the cargo, maintained the truck, or manufactured defective parts share liability.
What Is My Truck Accident Case Worth?
Every truck accident case is unique, and its value depends on many factors. A Mary Esther personal injury lawyer will carefully examine the details of your case to determine a fair value.
Some of the factors that influence the value of your claim include:
- The severity and type of injuries
- How the accident affects your ability to work and earn income
- The extent of your medical bills and future treatment needs
- The impact of the accident on your daily life and relationships
- The circumstances of your accident and why it happened
- Insurance coverage
- Any shared fault for the accident
Determining a fair value for your damages may require the help of specialists, particularly if you suffered long-term or permanent injuries. Medical experts may be needed to assess your likely future care needs. Economic and vocational experts can assist with calculating the value of lost earnings and benefits over the rest of your life if you are disabled.
Some damages, like physical pain and mental anguish, are subjective and difficult to calculate. The value of these damages may be estimated by multiplying your total economic losses by a factor of 1.5 to 5 or by some other metric.
An experienced truck accident attorney will help you navigate the legal process and fight for every dollar you deserve.
We Will Fight To Recover Compensation For All Your Truck Accident Injuries
Truck accidents often result in severe injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputation or traumatic loss of limb
- Broken bones
- Back and neck injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Facial injuries
- Burns
- Soft tissue injuries
At Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, we have the resources to handle complex truck accident cases. We are prepared to fight tirelessly to recover compensation for all your injuries, including the invisible psychological harm you have suffered.
What Kind Of Damages Are Available To Truck Accident Victims In Mary Esther, Florida?
Florida law allows truck accident victims to recover compensatory damages from the party at fault for the crash. These damages are intended to make you whole after your accident by reimbursing or compensating for your losses.
There are two types of compensatory damages. Economic damages are the tangible, financial damages you suffered.
Examples of economic damages include:
- Medical expenses, including anticipated future medical bills, therapy and rehabilitation, prescriptions, surgery, and assistive devices
- Lost wages during your recovery period
- Diminished earning capacity if you cannot return to your job
- Property damage for your vehicle and personal belongings damaged or destroyed in the crash
You are also entitled to compensation for non-economic damages. These are intangible and highly personal losses without intrinsic financial value.
Non-economic damages include:
- Physical pain
- Psychological and emotional anguish and suffering
- Reduced enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
Spouses may pursue compensation for loss of consortium through a separate claim in Florida. Loss of consortium includes the loss of companionship, comfort, affection, sexual relations, child-rearing assistance, and more. Unmarried dependent children may be entitled to loss of consortium damages if a parent suffered a serious, total disability.
In rare cases, Florida courts may award punitive damages. These damages punish a defendant for intentional misconduct or gross negligence. If a jury awards punitive damages, they are generally capped at three times your total compensatory damages or $500,000.
Am I Still Entitled To Compensation If I Am Partially At Fault For A Truck Accident In Florida?
You can still recover compensation even if you share some fault for the truck accident. Florida’s modified comparative negligence law means a percentage of fault is assigned to all parties in a crash. Each party is then liable for their share of damages. However, there is a 51% bar: if you are 51% or more to blame for your crash, you are not entitled to any damages.
To demonstrate how this works, imagine your total damages are $150,000. If you are assigned 25% fault, you are still entitled to 75% of your losses, or $112,500. If you are 50% at fault, you can recover 50% of your damages or $75,000. If you are 51% or more to blame for the crash, you cannot recover anything.
If you are being blamed for the accident, it’s important to work with an experienced lawyer who can fight back against insurance companies trying to shift undue blame onto you.
What Is The Deadline To File A Truck Accident Lawsuit In Florida?
The statute of limitations in Florida gives you a strict deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit after your accident. You have two years after your truck crash to pursue damages from the at-fault party. If you miss this deadline, you will be barred from recovering money for your losses.
It’s best to act as quickly as possible. Investigating your case and gathering evidence becomes more challenging as time passes. Contact a Mary Esther truck accident lawyer at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers as soon as possible to ensure your claim is filed on time.
Contact Our Mary Esther Truck Accident Lawyers For A Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a truck accident, don’t wait to seek legal help. A Mary Esther truck accident lawyer at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers is ready to stand by your side and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Since our founding 43 years ago, our firm has helped clients recover $200 million in verdicts and settlements. Let us use our experience and resources to help you. Call today for a free consultation and learn how we can help you move forward after a devastating truck accident.