Panama City Tailgating Truck Accident Attorneys
Were you injured in a car accident in Panama City? Was it due to a commercial truck driver tailgating your vehicle? If so, contact The Bruner Law Firm immediately. You might be entitled to compensation for the expenses you incurred and the suffering you were forced to experience. Our legal team will work tirelessly to pursue the maximum financial award you need to pay for your medical treatment so you can recover from this devastating accident.
Tailgating often leads to rear-end collisions between two vehicles. A truck driver following a smaller car too closely can cause severe injuries to the occupants and extensive property damage. Tailgating is reckless behavior that puts other people at risk of harm.
The Panama City tailgating truck accident attorneys of The Bruner Law Firm know how stressful and overwhelming the aftermath of a car crash can be. You might feel disoriented and worried about how you can pay for your expensive medical bills. That’s where our skills and experience can go to work for you.
The Bruner Law Firm will fight by your side until the end of your case to reach a favorable outcome. We will not rest until we help you hold the at-fault truck driver liable for their negligence. Another person’s wrongdoing caused your injuries, and they should suffer the consequences of their actions.
To learn more about the services we provide or for a free consultation with one of our compassionate and dedicated Panama City truck accident attorneys, call us at (850) 769-9292 today.
Common Types of Commercial Trucks
You may not realize how many types of commercial trucks you might encounter on the roadways. These behemoths can cause huge amounts of damage during a crash. They are necessary to deliver food, consumer goods, and other products around the country. They’re also helpful at construction sites in growing cities and for damaged roadways requiring repairs. However, they can also be dangerous when an accident occurs.
The most common commercial trucks seen in Panama City are:
- Refrigerator trucks
- Heavy haulers
- Box trucks
- Dump and garbage trucks
- Tractor-trailers
- Tow trucks
- Cement mixers
- Tankers
- Delivery vans and trucks
- Flatbed trucks
- Commercial buses
If you were involved in an accident with any of these or another type of commercial truck and suffered injuries, you might be able to seek compensation from the at-fault party. You should contact The Bruner Law Firm immediately, so we can begin our investigation into what happened and determine the party that should be financially responsible for your resulting expenses.
What To Do If Someone Causes An Accident While Tailgating
If a truck driver follows your vehicle too closely and causes an accident, there are immediate steps you need to take and things you should do during the months and years after to ensure you can collect the compensation you deserve. First, go to a hospital to determine the right treatment plan to recover. Next, contact The Bruner Law Firm to speak with one of our Panama City tailgating truck accident attorneys. While we’re handling your legal case, you should attend all doctor’s appointments until you heal.
It’s crucial that you let a doctor evaluate your injuries instead of going home after the accident and hoping you’ll feel better after resting. Even minor problems could turn into something more serious without proper medical intervention.
Insurance companies could also use your lack of treatment as evidence that your injury doesn’t require significant compensation from a settlement. The more documentation you have to prove what happened, the better chance you’ll have of receiving the money you need to pay for your medical bills.
Determining Who Is Liable for A Truck Accident In Panama City
Most accident victims think that the other driver is automatically to blame for their injuries. You might think since the truck driver was tailgating you, they must be at fault for the crash. However, the trucking company could be just as responsible for what happened if they hired an inexperienced employee or failed to provide adequate training.
While we’re investigating the accident, we will need to obtain evidence to learn why it happened and who we should hold liable for the expenses you incurred. Some of the evidence we might collect includes:
- Police reports
- Video surveillance footage
- Statements from eyewitnesses
- Trucking company’s hiring procedures
- Accident scene photos and other evidence
- Estimate reports from the damage to all vehicles involved in the collision
- Truck driver’s employment history, licensing, and prior accident reports
We will also request a copy of the driver’s liability insurance policy. It’s a federal law for trucking companies to purchase insurance for their drivers that include minimum limits depending on the weight of the truck and the type of cargo being transported. We can file a claim with their insurer and pursue the maximum settlement possible to cover your past and future losses.
Compensation Available In An Insurance Claim
Trucking companies are supposed to purchase insurance with high liability limits. The lowest limit is $300,000. That’s significant coverage that could compensate you for your losses. However, Florida is a no-fault state, meaning you must turn to your auto insurance company before pursuing compensation from the at-fault driver’s carrier.
Personal injury protection (PIP) is required insurance coverage for all Florida drivers. The limit is up to $10,000 and can pay for all necessary and reasonable medical treatment and other financial costs resulting from an accident. Once you exhaust your policy limit, you could file a claim with the trucking company’s insurance company as long as your injury meets the serious injury threshold under Florida statute § 627.737(2):
- Permanent and significant scarring or disfigurement;
- Permanent injury other than disfigurement or scarring;
- Significant and permanent loss of a vital bodily function; or
- Death.
The losses available in a liability claim are:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Inconvenience
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If your loved one died in an accident that a truck driver or trucking company caused, you could file a wrongful death lawsuit. You could pursue various losses in this type of case to compensate your family and the deceased’s estate.
Seeking Justice With A Civil Lawsuit
Filing an insurance claim isn’t your only option to recovering a monetary award. You might be able to file a lawsuit against the truck driver or another at-fault party. You must initiate your case in the civil court system within a specific timeframe known as a statute of limitations. The statute of limitations in Florida is four years. That means you have four years from the date of the accident to sue. Once this deadline passes, you could lose your right to hold the at-fault truck driver liable in court for causing your injuries.
The only circumstances that could potentially pause the clock and toll the statute are:
- You were a minor or deemed mentally incompetent at the time the accident occurred. The four-year statute would begin to run if you gain mental competency or when you turn 18 years old. However, lawsuits using this exception must proceed within seven years from the accident date.
- The defendant in the case left the state for a period of time. Their absence wouldn’t count towards the four-year statute, and the clock would only start again when they return to the state.
Lawsuits can be confusing for most people to handle alone. That’s why it’s vital that you hire an experienced Panama City tailgating truck accident attorney to assist you. We can create an efficient plan that ensures we do not miss the deadline to file your lawsuit. We’re also familiar with state laws and how to argue a client’s case in court. Our goal is to meet your interests and win an adequate amount of compensation so you’re not left with the burden of paying out-of-pocket for your expenses.
The Bruner Law Firm Legal Fees and Costs
At The Bruner Law Firm, we know the financial pressures you might face following an accident. A collision between a commercial truck and a small car can wreak havoc on the smaller vehicle’s occupants. You’re more likely to suffer debilitating injuries and require extensive treatment to recover and get your life back on track. While you’re figuring out how to afford the bills you’ve been receiving, you might worry about the financial implications of hiring a lawyer. You don’t want to spend more money and sink further into debt.
Our Panama City tailgating truck accident attorneys don’t want to add more stress to your life while you’re going through this overwhelming experience. That’s why we take cases on contingency. That means there are no upfront fees or costs. You won’t have to pay us for our legal services unless we secure compensation for you. If we lose your case, you won’t have to pay.
Contact The Bruner Law Firm for A Free Consultation
The Bruner Law Firm aims to provide quality customer service and personalized attention to each client that hires us. We will guide you through the complex process and stay by your side until we resolve your case. Your Panama City tailgating truck accident attorney will speak with you directly and offer the support you need during this traumatic time in your life. You won’t be alone; we’ll fight for your legal rights and seek the compensation you need and deserve.
If you suffered injuries in a tailgating truck accident in Panama City, call The Bruner Law Firm today at (850) 769-9292 for your free consultation.
