What Can I Recover For After A Tractor-Trailer Accident?
Because of a tractor-trailer’s size and weight, road accidents involving these vehicles are disproportionately more likely to cause serious injuries and fatalities. If a person manages to survive the crash, they may be too overwhelmed or in pain to consider filing suit against the driver (or their employer) – but it is highly recommended to do so. Money damages may not fix what an injured driver has experienced, but it can help keep their household afloat while they focus on recovery. The right attorney can help to maximize the damages that you would possibly receive.
Medical expenses. This is by far the most immediate concern for injured victims. Florida is a no-fault state in terms of auto insurance, which means that every Floridian who has a four-wheeled vehicle is required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance and property damage liability (PDL) coverage to the tune of at least $10,000 on each policy. That said, PIP insurance will generally not cover the bills sustained after a serious injury, and even if it would cover your bills, many Florida drivers simply do without the coverage. Filing suit, if you are legally permitted to do so, gives you the best chance to recover.
Lost wages. Lost wages is broadly defined in Florida as any income that went unearned (or will go unearned in the future) as a direct result of an accident, and it includes tips and bonuses as well. The exact amount of lost wages one suffers in an accident can be difficult to determine without the aid of an expert, but it is possible to arrive at a reasonable estimate. Be advised that if you have preexisting conditions, it can be more difficult to be awarded lost wages, simply because it can be hard to determine how much of your disability is due to the preexisting condition and how much is due to a new injury.
Loss of future earning capacity. This is when the injuries you sustain in an accident materially affect your ability to do your job (or certain types of jobs). For example, a construction worker who sustains a back injury in a tractor-trailer accident might no longer be able to perform such a physically demanding job, which in turn limits their future employment prospects.
Non-economic damages. In Florida law, there is a class of damages that can be recovered in this type of case that are referred to as non-economic or intangible damages, and they are called that because they are much more difficult to quantify. The most common examples of non-economic damages are mental anguish, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life, and while these are not as easy to obtain from a judge or jury, they are generally worth pursuing in your case against the tractor-trailer driver and their employer.
Contact A Tampa Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in an accident with a tractor-trailer, you may be feeling as though you simply want to focus on physical recovery. A Tampa truck accident attorney from the Rinaldo Law Group can help you do that, while working to give you the best chance at financial recovery for the harm you have suffered. Call our office today for a free initial consultation.
Source:
newsweek.com/uninsured-drivers-soar-florida-insura
