Getting into a Florida truck accident is devastating. You may be facing serious injuries and feel unsure where to turn. Large commercial trucks, such as 18-wheelers, are involved in accidents more than most of us would like to think. Many times, these types of cases settle before going to trial. A fair settlement is often the fastest way to get the compensation you need after your accident. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about commercial truck accident settlements in Florida.
At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, we have years of experience handling truck accident cases, and have settled numerous cases for clients involved in these accidents. We’ve helped our Florida clients get substantial compensation from 18-wheeler accident settlements. We can help you make sense of this uncertain time and get the financial recovery you truly deserve. We invite you to contact us anytime for a free consultation about your case and to discuss what your Florida truck accident settlement could look like.
Florida 18-Wheeler Truck Accident Settlements
- Is There an Average Settlement Amount for Truck Accidents?
- Example Truck Accident Settlements That Our Law Firm Has Achieved
- Case Study: Florida Truck Accident Settlement Example
- Who Can Be Liable for Damages in Truck Accident Cases?
- What Factors Most Impact How Much My Truck Accident Settlement is Worth?
- Commercial Truck Accident Settlements Are Often Large Due to the Serious Nature of These Accidents
- Why Is It Critical for Truck Accident Victims to Hire a Lawyer?
- Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney to Assist in Your Claim
Is There an Average Amount for Florida Truck Accident Settlements?
According to the truck accident settlement examples found on this page, the typical Florida truck accident settlement is anywhere from $530,000 to $5,000,000. Settlements depend greatly on the unique circumstances of each case.
The facts and circumstances of each truck accident are vastly different, which makes it difficult to point to an average settlement amount for truck accidents. Semi-truck accident settlements can be all over the map so giving an average payout for a semi-truck accident is very difficult. It is hard to predict how commercial truck accident settlements will go since there are many factors to consider such as is only the driver liable, the trucking company, or other third parties as well.
What you receive as a payout in your truck accident case will be dependent on many different things. The important thing is to hire an experienced attorney near you who understands how to craft your case, so you get the maximum amount possible.
Wondering How Much Will You Get Paid If An 18-Wheeler Hits You?
How much you will get paid if an 18-wheeler hits you relies on many factors including Florida’s no-fault law, the presence of permanent injury, and your total expenses from the accident. The Florida no-fault law also might be a factor in the answer to this question. Under no-fault rules – the personal injury protection coverage that is part of your insurance policy cover reimbursement of the first 80% of your medical bills and up to 60% of your lost wages up to $10,000. Because a semi-truck is so large – it’s unlikely that the damage to your vehicle or your medical bills will be small. Under Florida’s No-Fault Rule, in most cases, you must have a permanent injury to recover pain and suffering compensation. Getting help wading through the rules of these cases, and getting the trucking company’s insurance to cover your costs beyond what your personal injury protection insurance will cover will have a direct impact on how much you will get paid if an 18-wheeler hits you in Florida.
According to the 18-wheeler settlement examples listed on this page, the typical Florida 18-wheeler accident settlement is anywhere from $775,000 to $2,500,000. Settlements depend greatly on the unique circumstances of each case.
Recent 18-Wheeler Accident Settlement Amounts and Payouts
$775,000 / Motor Vehicle Accident / Hillsborough Co./2022
Our client, a 34-year-old member of the U.S. Air Force, was stopped getting ready to make a right-hand turn when a semi-truck stopped in the dedicated right-hand turn lane to the left of our client’s vehicle. As both drivers began to turn right onto South 50th Street, the semi-truck driver cut the turn too close, and the trailer ran over the rear of our client’s SUV causing significant property damage. The semi-truck driver claimed our client veered into the truck driver’s lane. Our client emphatically stated that the semi-truck driver cut the turn to close causing the accident.
Shortly after the accident, our client began to treat with orthopedic surgeons for neck and lower back pain. MRI scans of his lower back and neck were taken which revealed several herniated discs. Our client had numerous injections into his lower back as well as other conservative procedures which failed. His surgeon then recommended lower back surgery. Our client agreed to undergo that procedure to alleviate his severe lower back pain that radiated down his legs. The lower back surgery was a success. Our client had multiple neck injections and conservative procedures which ultimately helped alleviate some of his neck pain. He continued to suffer intermittent and occasional neck pain.
A demand was made to the defendant driver’s insurance company. The company made a lowball offer of only $50,000.00 and claimed that our client was at fault for veering into the semi-truck driver’s lane. We rejected the offer, and immediately filed a complaint against the defendant and his employer. Our office initiated aggressive discovery including taking the depositions of an eyewitness to the accident and the defendant’s semi-truck driver. These depositions proved that the truck driver was at fault for causing the accident and raised serious doubts about the truck driver’s credibility. The case proceeded to a court-ordered mediation settlement conference where we fiercely negotiated on our client’s behalf. The defendant’s insurance company’s top offer to settle the case at the mediation conference was $400,000.00. That offer was rejected, and we continued to move the case toward trial. Ultimately, our injury attorneys convinced the insurance company to pay our client $775,000. Our client was very pleased with the result which fairly compensated him for his injuries.
$2.5 million (Jury Verdict) $2.2 million (settlement) / Auto Accident / Cervical Surgery / Hillsborough County
The client was a 43-year-old female who was rear-ended by a commercial truck resulting in injuries that included disc herniations requiring anterior cervical fusion.
Based on the featured cases page, we have successfully secured substantial compensations for our clients who were involved in accidents with 18-wheelers. It’s important to note that the settlements obtained greatly depend on the specific circumstances of each case, emphasizing the uniqueness of every situation.
Abrahamson & Uiterwyk has fought hard on behalf of truck accident victims to get our clients everything they deserve in the way of compensation. If you have been injured in a truck accident, contact one of our Florida truck accident lawyers.
Example Truck Accident Settlements That Our Law Firm Has Achieved in Florida
Case Study: Florida Truck Accident Settlement Example
$530,000 Settlement / Truck Accident / Sumter County, Florida
On October 17, 2017, our client was working in a construction area on Interstate 75 in Sumter County, Florida when a utility trailer being towed by a passing truck became dislodged from the truck and careened into a truck that our client was working in. The defendant was cited by the police for careless driving in that he negligently failed to secure his load.
Our client suffering immediate and severe injuries was transported to the emergency room where he was diagnosed with a fracture to his lower back. An MRI of his back revealed several disc injuries, as well. After conservative treatment failed, he underwent nerve ablation surgery followed by a lumbar spine fusion several months after his accident.
The parties to the case agreed to submit to a voluntary mediation before the filing of a lawsuit. With the assistance of a trained mediator, the parties negotiated. However, the defense was unwilling to come above $400,000.00.
After mediation impassed, our law firm continued to push the case forward and were eventually able to convince the defense to pay an additional $130,000.00, and the case settled for $530,000.00.
Abrahamson & Uiterwyk has the experience to understand your case thoroughly and get you what you deserve. You can read more on our case results page.
Please note that any potential recovery depends upon the facts of your specific case and that past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case.
Who Can Be Liable for Damages in Truck Accident Cases?
If you were injured in a truck accident, you might be wondering who can be liable. Unlike motor vehicle accidents, where it is usually just two drivers on the road, there can be multiple parties liable in a truck accident. Semi-truck accident settlements can involve many different parties.
Truck Drivers Responsible For The Accident
Generally, the first party most people think of for legal liability is the truck driver. If your truck accident case goes to trial, the court will examine the circumstances surrounding the accident. In other words, just because a truck driver and a motor vehicle driver got into an accident doesn’t mean the truck driver is automatically responsible in the eyes of the law.
If the truck driver was driving under the influence, or fell asleep, or was driving dangerously, they can be liable. These are common causes of truck accidents. Often, truck drivers are exhausted and overworked. They may also fail to check for other cars.
In some cases, the companies that hire truck drivers do not properly train them, making them a danger on the road. These are all circumstances that can lead to plaintiffs receiving compensation through commercial truck accident settlements.
Trucking Companies Responsible
The truck driver’s employer may also be legally liable. For example, as noted above, drivers may be improperly trained or overworked. In those cases, the victim may go after the truck company, as well for compensation. The truck company is also responsible for ensuring that their drivers follow all the rules and regulations required of truckers.
If a truck has too much cargo, or the driver didn’t properly inspect the truck’s equipment, this could legally come back on the trucking company. Semi-truck accident settlements often involve the truck companies, along with the drivers.
Loading Companies Responsible
In some cases, the truck company will use a third-party cargo loader or cargo business. If the cargo company improperly loaded the truck, and this caused the accident, they could be liable, as well and be named in your Florida truck accident settlement.
Truck Manufacturers Responsible
If a defective part on the truck caused the accident, the manufacturer might be liable in your truck accident case. This is not an uncommon occurrence in truck accident cases.
What Factors Most Impact How Much My Truck Accident Settlement is Worth?
There are several different factors that may impact the value of your truck accident case, including but not limited to:
- The severity of your injuries
- Medical bills you’ve already incurred, as well as future medical bills
- Length of your absence from work
- The nature and circumstances of the accident
- Availability of insurance to help cover your expenses
- Every truck accident is different. Your experienced truck accident attorney will make sure the compensation you receive is what you deserve.
The average payout for semi-truck accidents will be determined by looking at all of the above factors. It’s important to have an experienced truck accident attorney near you on your side to fight for your case so that you can receive the best compensation possible.
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Commercial Truck Accident Settlements Are Often Largely Due to the Serious Nature of These Accidents
Commercial truck accident settlements may be larger than other personal injury settlement amounts. Often, the victims in these cases are seriously injured, due to the significant damage a truck can cause.
These settlements are also higher because insurance requirements tend to be higher for commercial carriers. Commercial drivers are also required to have a special driver’s license and follow special rules and regulations. If they don’t, the jury awards are often higher, which makes the settlement offers higher, as well.
Why Is It Critical for Truck Accident Victims to Hire an Accident Lawyer?
It’s essential for truck accident victims to hire an attorney because this is not something that you will want to handle on your own. The insurance companies are not on your side. It is their job to pay out as little as possible so that the insurance company doesn’t lose money or miss out on profit. You need a qualified attorney near you in your corner to fight for you. If your attorney cannot negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company, they may recommend filing an insurance lawsuit. Learn more about Farmers insurance lawsuits as well as other insurance disputes and why it’s especially important to hire an injury lawyer for these situations.
An attorney who has experience representing truck accident victims knows the ins-and-outs of the legal process. Most importantly, your attorney will know how to argue the case on your behalf to get the most financial compensation possible. When you hire a truck wreck attorney, you’ll get valuable information on how to evaluate your claim.
Your attorney will prepare you for what to expect, both through negotiations in your commercial truck accident settlement and if your case goes to trial. Your attorney will be fighting on your behalf while you focus on recovering and healing from your injuries.
Contact an Experienced Florida Truck Accident Attorney Near You to Assist in Your Claim
If you sustained an injury in a commercial truck accident, contact one of our experienced attorneys as soon as you can. We can answer any questions you may have. We’ll be there to support you every step of the way and obtain the maximum recovery possible for your case.
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Working with this team had been a fantastic experience. I was rear ended, resulting in a totaled car and lingering injuries. I had no idea how the process worked, and they made everything extremely simple. The majority of information/paperwork needed on my end was able to be taken care of digitally, which was great since I have an extremely busysbusy Within a matter of a few months I received a settlement that was much larger than I had expected, and a few months later they contacted me again to let me know they’d procured more on my behalf and that there was a second check in the mail. Amy was extremely friendly and a pleasure to work with. I would definitely recommend this firm to anyone who finds themselves dealing with the aftermath of a car accident. A silver lining in a stressful situation!
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