Gainesville Truck Accident Lawyers
Big truck accidents can leave you with a lifetime of disability, chronic pain, and financial trouble. When a negligent truck driver or trucking company is to blame, you shouldn’t have to bear these costs yourself. Big trucking companies fight hard to evade responsibility, but our skilled and experienced Gainesville truck accident lawyers won’t let them get away with it. Call us now at (352) 505-8093 to schedule a free consultation.
Home » Personal Injury Lawyers in Gainesville, FL » Truck Accident Lawyers in Gainesville, FL
If you or your family member has suffered an injury in a big truck accident in Gainesville, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation for your pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, and more. You can count on our award-winning truck accident attorneys in Gainesville to fight for you. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Our Attorneys Will Fight for You After a Truck Accident
You’re significantly more likely to win your truck accident injury case and secure a higher payout when you hire an attorney—however, your choice of attorney matters.
If you’ve recently gotten hurt in an accident with a big rig, tow truck, dump truck, or any other large commercial truck in Gainesville, call our nationally recognized Gainesville truck accident attorneys today at (352) 505-8093 for a free consultation. We know what it takes to win you the compensation you deserve.
We’ll Always Fight For You
We’ve protected injured Floridians and their families since 1979, and our experience makes all the difference. With more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements won, we have the skillset and leverage you need to get the attention of even the most stubborn trucking companies that refuse to pay the damages they owe.
Our family-centered law firm treats every client with honesty, dignity, and respect. From the moment you contact us, we will stay in close contact with you to keep you up to date on how your case is progressing, check on how you’re feeling, and help with your needs during this difficult time.
Whether you need help scheduling surgery, a referral to medical care, or just someone to talk to, we’ll be there. We pride ourselves on helping those who need it most.
Our Outstanding Case Results for Truck Accident Clients
We have an outstanding record of large verdicts and settlements for our deserving clients. Below are a few examples of our recent big-truck accident case results:
- $3.4 million verdict for a man who suffered painful herniated discs when a moving truck struck him.
- $2 million verdict for a 47-year-old man who sustained shoulder, neck, and back injuries from being rear-ended by a semi truck.
- $1.3 million for the family of a truck driver struck by a tractor-trailer while working on a loading dock.
- $1 million for the family of a motorcycle rider struck by a truck and killed.
- $760,000 recovery for the family of a woman struck by a dump truck while riding a motorcycle, resulting in her death.
- $750,000 settlement for an injured driver who suffered spine and brain injuries in a collision with a tow truck pulled out in front of her.
Our Clients Are Thrilled With Their Results
We recently received the following unsolicited client testimonial from one of our satisfied truck accident clients in Gainesville:
With honesty and passionate professionalism, I have only had the best of experiences working with this outstanding law firm. Being hit by a semi-truck while cycling home from work and the healing process has been one of the biggest challenges of my life. Even more so than being in Iraq in the Marines in 2009. This being said, I speak from my heart when I say that truly, Farah & Farah has been wonderful every step of this process. I am forever grateful for their support.
Christopher C.
How Our Gainesville Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help You Maximize Your Recovery
Truck accidents aren’t like other vehicle accidents. Trucks are commercial vehicles operated on behalf of large trucking corporations. They’ll be represented by skilled adjusters and highly-trained defense attorneys who will work hard to limit liability, shift blame, and get you to walk away with much less than your truck accident case is worth. That’s where our Gainesville personal injury lawyers can help.
Our law firm has the experience and resources you need to take on these powerful adversaries and achieve top results. We’ll invest the resources needed to win your case and do the following:
- Counsel you regarding your legal rights and options
- Answer your questions and address your concerns about your truck accident injury claim
- Help you secure appropriate medical care
- Investigate the details of your truck accident to determine how it happened and who’s responsible
- Analyze the results of official investigations and gather critical pieces of evidence, including truck black box data, driver communication records, vehicle maintenance records, witness statements, company hiring and training policies, property damage, medical records, and dash cam footage.
- Represent you during all conversations and hearings with the defendants and their insurers
- Fight to secure maximum compensation for you during settlement negotiations
- Advocate for you at trial if the trucking company refuses to take accountability for the crash
Now is the time to stand up and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call our skilled Florida truck accident lawyers in Gainesville today at (352) 505-8093 and put our experience to work for you.
Our Featured Gainesville Attorneys
Gainesville is near and dear to our hearts because it is where senior partner Eddie Farah and partner Dalya Farah began their education. As University of Florida alums, Gainesville is like home to us, and we immensely care about the people and the community.
Attorney Ryan O’Connor is also a former Gator, and when you visit our Gainesville personal injury law office, you’ll be greeted by him and his team. With prior experience as a defense attorney for insurance companies, Ryan has an in-depth understanding of how the big trucking companies put together cases and what types of evidence they cannot overcome.
Ryan has extensive trial experience, making him a powerful ally in your pursuit of justice against large trucking companies. When you have an attorney who is unafraid to fight and knows how to win, you have a secret weapon who won’t quit until you recover the compensation you deserve.
Our law firm is proud to be an active supporter of the local communities where our big-truck lawyers live and work, and we feel a strong sense of duty to give to worthy causes that improve the lives of our neighbors. We provide scholarships to high school graduates, support veterans, and help those in need. In Gainesville, Ryan is a volunteer soccer coach who invests in multiple local causes.
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Understanding Liability for Truck Accidents
Negligence is the primary cause of most truck accidents in Gainesville, FL. Simply put, negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care, causing another party to get hurt. Anyone whose negligence directly or indirectly contributes to a semi truck accident can be liable for the resulting harm. Depending on the specific circumstances of your case, truck accident liability could extend to any of the following parties:
- A truck driver whose carelessness caused or contributed to the crash
- A truck mechanic who performed substandard repairs
- A trucking company that owns the truck or employs the driver
- Another driver on the roadway that caused or contributed to the crash
- A property owner who failed to remove a hazardous condition
- The manufacturer or distributor of defective truck parts
- The government agency that failed to maintain safe roads
Identifying the liable parties is one of the most important ways our personal injury attorneys in Gainesville maximize your compensation. This is the primary question we seek answers to when conducting our detailed accident investigation.
How Could Florida’s Comparative Fault Law Affect My Recovery?
Florida operates under a modified comparative negligence system. If you are more than 50 percent responsible for the accident, the law does not allow you to recover compensation.
You can recover compensation for truck accident-related damages if you are 50 percent or less to blame for the collision. However, your damages will be subject to reduction. For example, if you’re 30 percent at fault, your damages will be reduced by 30 percent.
Our Gainesville truck accident lawyers will fight to limit your liability and protect you against claims of shared fault. We’ll force the defendant to prove their allegations with hard proof, all while working to discount their claims with persuasive evidence of our own.
Large trucking companies have a vested interest in blaming you for the accident. If you’ve been found at fault, even more than 50 percent at fault, don’t let that stop you from calling a Gainesville truck accident attorney at our office at (352) 900-8526. We may be able to refute allegations of blame so you can receive the compensation you deserve.
Police Allegations Cannot Be Used Against You
If the police report states that you are to blame for the accident, you can bet that the trucking company and the insurance company will hold it against you. If you received a ticket in connection with the accident, the insurance company may use it as grounds to deny your claim. Insurance companies almost always demand a copy of the police report when you file a claim because they provide a convenient means to escape liability.
The following information and materials are inadmissible as evidence to prove fault if your case goes to court:
- The police report
- The fact that you or the truck driver received a ticket
- Your statements to the police after the accident
The insurance company wants you to think that this information is evidence so you won’t hire a lawyer or attempt to recover compensation. Don’t let a wealthy trucking company get away with keeping your compensation from you. We’ll protect your rights and force the insurance company to pay the compensation you deserve.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Truck Accident Claim?
When you have Team Farah on your side, we’ll work hard to maximize the value of your truck accident case. Depending on your situation, you may be able to secure damages for the following:
- Medical expenses include past and future medical costs, including doctor visits, hospital stays, rehabilitation, physical therapy, prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, assistive devices, home health, occupational therapy, trauma counseling, and any other costs associated with your medical care.
- Lost wages compensate for missed workdays, loss of work benefits, lost business opportunities, and any other earnings you lost because of your injuries.
- Lost earning capacity involves lost future earnings stemming from a disability brought on by the accident, including a lifetime of lost income if you have a disability that permanently prevents you from working or forces you to work in a lower-paying job.
- Non-economic damages compensate for difficult-to-measure traumatic impacts on your life, such as loss of bodily functions, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, emotional distress, physical pain, and suffering.
- Punitive damages of up to $500,000 or three times the total of your other damages, whichever is greater, may be available in limited cases if you have clear and convincing evidence of intentional misconduct or gross negligence.
- Wrongful death damages may be available to immediate family members or next of kin through a wrongful death lawsuit when someone dies from a truck accident. These may include your loved one’s pain and suffering, funeral costs, medical expenses, and lost lifetime earnings. You can also pursue damages for your family’s emotional losses, such as the loss of comfort, guidance, support, and companionship. Punitive damages may also be available.
Contact us today to find out what our big-truck attorneys in Gainesville can do for you.
Understanding the Factors That Can Impact the Value of Your Case
Many factors influence the amount of damages you can receive in a truck accident case. Our talented truck accident lawyers in Gainesville can provide an accurate case value after we have completed a deep dive into the characteristics of your unique case. This requires a detailed investigation into the following factors, which will determine how much compensation you recover:
- The severity of your injuries – Generally speaking, the more severe your injuries, the higher your compensation, depending on other factors.
- The cost of your medical care – Your medical expenses are among the most important factors in determining case value.
- Your earning capacity before and after the accident – This is based on how much you earned before the accident, how long you cannot work, and how much you can earn in the future.
- The available insurance coverage and assets – The amount recoverable largely depends on who the liable parties are, their policy limits, and how many collectible assets they own.
- The weight of the evidence against the liable parties – Strong evidence is powerful leverage when negotiating settlements.
- The conduct that led to the accident – If willful misconduct or gross negligence caused the accident, your case may qualify for punitive damages, increasing your award. For instance, the truck driver may have driven while drunk.
- Your age at the time of the accident – A longer life expectancy can increase calculations for pain and suffering, lost earning capacity, and other future medical expenses.
These are just a few of the factors that influence compensation. Call us today at (352) 505-8093 to talk to a Gainesville truck accident attorney about how much your case may be worth.
What’s the Deadline To File a Florida Truck Accident Lawsuit?
While there are limited exceptions, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in Florida is two years from the accident date. This deadline applies to cases involving both personal injury and wrongful death.
You lose the opportunity to demand justice and seek compensation once the statute of limitations expires. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Contact an experienced truck accident lawyer in Gainesville as soon as possible to protect your claim and fight for the compensation you deserve.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents Near Gainesville?
An average of 190 people is injured in truck accidents every year in Alachua County, and 10 people are killed, based on statistics compiled by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Statewide, 4,462 people were injured in truck accidents, and 345 were killed in 2022.
Many of these accidents happen in and around large cities like Gainesville, where traffic is more congested.
The most common causes of truck accidents include the following:
- Speeding
- Driving too fast for the road
- Poor weather conditions
- Fatigued driving
- Drug and alcohol use
- Distracted driving
- Wide turns
- High-speed turns
- Braking errors
- Tailgating
- Failing to perform required inspections
- Failing to perform required maintenance
- Negligent hiring
- Negligent training
- Tire blowouts
- Vehicle defects
Identifying every potential cause of your tractor-trailer accident in Gainesville is important. Our attorneys will launch a thorough investigation and work closely with experts as we gather and analyze critical pieces of evidence. The more we know about why and how your truck accident happened, the better leverage we’ll have to maximize your compensation.
Large Trucks Make Interstate 75 in Alachua County a Hazardous Place to Drive
Interstate 75 is a dangerous highway with a high volume of truck traffic. It has been the site of numerous truck accidents in Alachua County in recent years, including the following in 2023 alone:
- A tanker rollover: A multi-vehicle crash in June 2023 involved two pickup trucks, an SUV, another passenger vehicle, and two tractor-trailers. It resulted in a tanker overturning, leading to a chemical spill that shut down I-75 near mile marker 391 between State Road 441 and State Road 222. The crash began when a vehicle hydroplaned.
- Collision of two semis: A semi rear-ended another semi on I-75 south of the rest area at mile marker 379 in June 2023. It resulted in the death of the driver of the rear-ending semi and a ten-year-old girl’s hospitalization.
- Tractor-trailer rollover – A tractor-trailer hauling vehicles overturned on I-75 near mile marker 372 in September 2023, killing two people in a minivan.
- DUI semi-truck rollover – In May 2023, a southbound truck ran off the road on I-75 near mile marker 403 and onto the left median shoulder. It then rolled into the northbound lanes and hit a box truck. The truck driver was arrested for driving under the influence. No one was hurt, but this could have turned out very differently if the truck had struck a smaller vehicle.
One of Florida’s most severe truck accidents occurred on I-75 just north of Gainesville in 2019 when a northbound tractor-trailer hit a passenger vehicle, went through a guardrail, and struck a passenger van and another tractor-trailer in the southbound lanes. The collision caused a fiery explosion, killing seven people, including five children. Several others were critically injured.
The NTSB determined the crash occurred when the truck driver became medically incapacitated. Health records indicated he had fraudulently concealed his heart problems and medication use during health screenings.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Truck accident injuries may be more severe than injuries involving only passenger vehicles because of big trucks’ massive size and weight. A fully loaded semi truck in Florida can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while the average car weighs around 4,000 pounds.
With such a weight difference, cars are no match for big trucks. When a big truck collides with a car, the force can rapidly propel the car forward and potentially cause it to strike other vehicles or objects. The truck can also penetrate the vehicle, impacting those inside.
Thus, truck accident injuries are more likely to be catastrophic. Contact our skilled Gainesville truck accident attorneys today if you or your loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury from a truck accident.
Head Injuries
Head injuries may include skull fractures, facial injuries, and traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injury may be the result of skull fractures, but it is possible to sustain a traumatic brain injury even without broken bones in the skull.
Traumatic brain injury can result in severe long-term or permanent complications, including the following:
- Cognitive difficulties affecting reasoning, learning, or decision-making
- Memory problems
- Vision problems, such as double vision
- Problems with smell and taste
- Ringing in the ears
- Communication difficulties
- Changes in personality, such as aggression and social difficulties
- Mood changes, including depression, anxiety, and mood swings
Facial injuries may include broken orbital bones, crushed nose or cheekbones, and skin injuries such as burns or lacerations that can result in long-term disfigurement, breathing problems, and vision problems.
Neck and Back Injuries
The spinal cord begins at the base of the brain and runs down the length of the back. It is protected by a series of small bones called vertebrae cushioned by discs. The spinal column is fragile and can be damaged or even severed, or the discs can be damaged.
Spinal cord injuries can cause paralysis, weakness, or spasticity from the point of injury downward. These types of injuries are generally permanent. If you have quadriplegia as a result of a spinal cord injury in your neck or upper spine, you may require assistance with breathing. You will likely be confined to a wheelchair and may need assistance with daily tasks.
The force of an accident makes it easy for the neck to become hyperextended in an accident when it moves forward and backward in response to the accident. This motion can cause whiplash, a painful condition that could require months of therapy. In a worst-case scenario, the vertebrae in the neck can also become damaged.
Other injuries in the back that can result in severe chronic pain, disability, or a need for surgery include the following:
- Pinched nerves
- Herniated disks
- Broken vertebrae
Severe Burns
Vehicle fires are more common in large truck accidents than accidents involving smaller vehicles. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics found that from 2003 to 2007, 15.4 percent of all vehicle fire fatalities resulted from fires large truck accidents, even though large trucks only comprised 3.7 percent of registered vehicles.
Fires were most common in Class 8 commercial vehicles, which weigh 33,000 pounds or more. These vehicles have two to five times the rate of fatal fires than any other weight class.
Burns are classified as first, second, or third-degree based on the depth and severity. Widespread second- or third-degree burns can cause serious long-term complications. Second-degree burns are extremely painful, while third-degree burns are full depth burns that destroy nerves.
Widespread burn injuries can lead to dehydration because the body loses the ability to retain moisture in the skin. Skin grafting is often necessary. Burn injuries can easily become infected. The body’s responses to burn injuries can lead to muscle wasting and kidney damage. The disfigurement and scarring caused by severe burns can lead to depression.
Loss of Limbs
The crushing forces of a collision with a big truck can severely damage the hands, feet, arms, and legs. Limbs can be severed during an accident. Paramedics occasionally must amputate a limb to rescue an accident victim from the vehicle. In other cases, damage to the affected limbs is so severe they must be amputated.
Complications that may lead to amputation include the following:
- Crush injuries
- Severe burns
- Tissue destruction
- Infections
- Loss of blood flow for extended periods.
Advances in medical technology have made it possible for some patients to lead a full and independent life following amputation with a lot of hard work and rehabilitation.
Crushed and Broken Bones
Broken or crushed bones occur from being squeezed between vehicles, pushed into other vehicles or objects, or ejected from the vehicle. We have observed clients with multiple broken ribs, broken pelvic bones, broken arms, broken legs, and more.
It is not uncommon to require surgery for severe breaks, especially if you have multiple breaks in the same area or a break in a joint, such as the wrist.
Internal Injuries
One of the bones’ most important functions is protecting delicate and vital internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, and intestines. Abdominal injuries are particularly common in side and frontal collisions, with the kidney, liver, and spleen experiencing trauma the most often.
Chest injuries can result in punctured lungs or damage to the heart. When internal organs are damaged, you can experience internal bleeding, which can be fatal if not detected quickly. Even if quickly addressed, you could face long-term health problems as a result of any type of organ damage. Some organ injuries are fatal.
When Should I Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer from Farah & Farah?
You should hire a lawyer as soon as possible. Getting a jump on the defendants in litigation is incredibly important. Most importantly, there is a deadline to file a lawsuit. Adhering to the statute of limitations timeline is important because you will be ineligible for compensation if you miss the deadline.
You don’t want valuable evidence to get damaged, lost, or destroyed. The chances of that happening increase significantly as time passes. Don’t allow those responsible for your injuries to secure evidence, speak with witnesses, or begin to build a defense before you get started.
By hiring an attorney immediately, you can benefit from a prompt and thorough investigation and ensure your rights are protected. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Who Pays for My Medical Bills After a Truck Accident?
Medical bills can add up quickly after a truck accident. In Florida, you must seek coverage from your own insurance company first. Under the state’s no-fault insurance system, your Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, benefits will cover 80 percent of your medical bills up to your policy limit.
If your injuries are severe, you can file a claim against the liable parties’ insurance policies for any medical costs not covered by PIP. While you wait for your settlement, you can also file a claim under your health insurance. You can still recover these costs in your lawsuit, but the defendants will have the right to present evidence regarding the amount insurance actually paid.
Our truck accident attorneys in Gainesville will help you navigate the system to pay for your medical care and work to secure compensation from all available sources, including insurance companies and liable parties.
What Does It Cost To Hire a Gainesville Truck Accident Attorney?
At Farah & Farah, we know truck accidents are costly. Hiring an attorney shouldn’t make things worse. That’s why we work on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
We front the costs of your case and take on the litigation risks. You only pay if we recover a settlement or verdict in your truck accident case.
Call Our Gainesville Truck Accident Lawyers for Help Today
If you or your loved one has been hurt in a semi truck accident in Gainesville, you can count on our big-truck attorneys to pursue the results you need. For the last four decades, we’ve provided fierce, unwavering advocacy to truck accident victims. You can count on our compassionate big-truck lawyers to fight for you like you’re part of our family.
As a client-centric law firm, our attorneys work as a team so that you get the best of their abilities, resources, and experience in one bundle. We have an open-door policy, which means you will always be able to reach your team, and your team will always have access to our senior partners.
With more than $2 billion in successful case results, we know that caring, understanding, and hard work are keys to winning.
The Time to Make That Call Is Now
Our Gainesville law office may be small, but don’t let that fool you. Attorney Ryan O’Connor and the rest of the team have access to our senior partners and vast resources. Therefore, you can get the results you would expect from a large law firm, but with individualized attention, friendly smiles, and the caring support of a small office.
Call our experienced Gainesville truck accident lawyers today at (352) 505-8093 to schedule your free consultation.
Farah & Farah Will Fight For You After a Truck Accident in Gainesville, FL
How Our Gainesville Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help You Maximize Your Recovery
Understanding Liability For Gainesville Truck Accidents
What Damages Can You Recover in a Truck Accident Claim?
Understanding the Factors That Can Impact the Value of Your Case
What’s the Deadline To File a Florida Truck Accident Lawsuit?
What Causes Most Truck Accidents Near Gainesville?
Common Truck Accident Injuries
When Should I Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?
Who Pays for My Medical Bills After a Truck Accident in Gainesville?
Call Our Award-Winning Gainesville Truck Accident Lawyers For Help Today
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