Commercial Motor Vehicle Accidents Can Cause Lifelong Injuries

Commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) are a constant presence on Florida roads, and while their drivers are required to exercise reasonable care toward other road users, it is important for other drivers to be aware of the risks of sharing the road. Because of the size and speed of a CMV, they are disproportionately more likely to cause fatalities or injuries that last a lifetime. If you have been through this type of accident, the right attorney may be able to assist you.

Can Leave Serious Physical Scars

The state of Florida and the U.S. federal government define a commercial motor vehicle in different ways, but the most notable characteristic that a CMV must have is weight. Under federal law, a CMV must have a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more, while Florida law mandates such a vehicle be 26,001 pounds or more. These vehicles require more stopping distance and if they do hit another vehicle, they will do so with great force, causing several different possible types of injuries.

Some of the most common injuries one may experience after a CMV accident include traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), burns (either from fire/heat, or from chemicals, depending on the type of CMV involved in your accident), and soft tissue injuries like whiplash. This last is why it is always recommended to seek medical attention even if you do not feel as if you require it; soft tissue injuries in particular can take days or even weeks to manifest after a crash.

Can I Recover For Emotional Pain?

In addition to the potential physical injuries, it is not at all uncommon for CMV accident victims to experience psychological or emotional distress. While these emotional scars are very real, it can unfortunately be more difficult to recover damages for invisible injuries – in Florida, mental health-related concerns are not covered by personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, which is what many accident victims use to pay their bills.

In general, one must file suit in court to receive compensation for inchoate causes of action like pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of companionship. However, not every case will be worth taking to trial, not least of all because many insurers and companies have the ability to ‘wait out’ an insistent plaintiff. A knowledgeable attorney will be able to assess your case and determine what the best options will be for your family, but can also assess when filing suit may do more harm than good.

Contact A Tampa CMV Accident Attorney

Every CMV accident is different, and every insurer in this type of case will react differently to every other. However, there are certain legal facts that an injured plaintiff can be sure of, and a Tampa truck accident attorney from the Rinaldo Law Group can help you navigate the rest of the legal process. Contact our office today at (813) 831-9999 to schedule a consultation.

Source:

fmcsa.dot.gov/faq/what-difference-between-commercial-motor-vehicle-cmv-and-non-cmv