Did you suffer severe injuries in a truck collision on Florida's Turnpike because a truck driver was not paying attention to the road? Unfortunately, accidents like these are more common than people expect, and the consequences are often catastrophic.
When devastating accidents occur because of the wrongful actions of another, you should not be responsible for the resulting financial hardship. Thankfully, with a Port St. Lucie truck accident attorney on your side from Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, you will not have to take on this legal fight by yourself.
At the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, our personal injury attorneys are known for getting results and providing our clients with the dedication and personal services they require. Our legal team can meet with you one-on-one to discuss your case and work directly with you to handle your claim while meeting your specific needs, including identifying the potential sources of compensation you can pursue.
Due to this hard work, dedication, and drive, we have helped countless individuals over the years and secured millions of dollars on their behalf through settlement negotiations and jury trial verdicts, including these recent awards:
$3.85 million for a trucking collision that resulted in a brain injury
$1.75 million for a semi-truck accident that resulted in shoulder surgery and mild brain trauma
$3.2 million for a semi-truck collision that led to a brain injury
If you suffered harm in a Port St. Lucie trucking accident, contact our experienced legal team for a free consultation. Our lawyers can meet with you virtually or at one of our offices, conveniently located all over Florida. While we cannot guarantee results, we believe our track record is a key indicator of our experience and commitment to pursuing justice. Contact us today to see how we can help you with your claim.
Common Causes of Trucking Accidents in Port St. Lucie
While studies show that almost a third of all trucking collisions are due to truck driver error, in Port St. Lucie, other causes also contribute, including:
As a result, the best way to determine what caused your trucking collision and whether you have a valid legal claim is to reach out to a Port St. Lucie truck accident lawyer. These legal professionals can go over your accident with you in detail, investigate what happened, and help you figure out the legal options you can pursue.
Common Injuries Resulting From a Trucking Collision in Port St. Lucie
Unfortunately, the results are often tragic when it comes to trucking accidents. Most of these collisions result in debilitating trauma and even death.
While consequences are wide-ranging, these accidents often result in:
Broken bones
Spinal cord damage
Traumatic brain injuries
Back and neck trauma
Crushing injuries
Facial injuries
Internal organ damage
Internal bleeding
Lacerations
Death
The Local Dangers of Port St. Lucie You Should Know About
Although trucking crashes can occur anywhere, in Port St. Lucie, some roads and intersections are more prone to them.
For instance, U.S. 1, which travels through the city, is considered one of the most dangerous highways in Florida. Worse yet, some of the riskiest intersections on this road are in St. Lucie County, including the U.S. 1 and Prima Vista Boulevard intersection, and U.S. 1 and West Midway Road, which is the second most dangerous spot in St. Lucie County.
Yet, these are not the only locations that cause problems for drivers.
Additionally, the following areas also rank high as some of the most dangerous roadways in Port St. Lucie:
Okeechobee Road and Midway Road
U.S. 1 and St. Lucie Boulevard
Florida's Turnpike.
If you suffered harm in a trucking collision in Port St. Lucie, it might be a good idea to work with a lawyer with experience handling these devastating accidents in this area. This local knowledge can provide you with the personalized legal help you need and assist you as you go after the compensation you deserve.
Running out of Time to File a Legal Claim
Another issue victims in a Port St. Lucie trucking accident need to keep track of is the statute of limitations. This law not only restricts how much time a person has to bring legal action following a trucking accident, but if individuals do not file their lawsuit within that time, they cannot obtain compensation for their harm and losses.
Trucking accident victims in Port St. Lucie only have four years from the date of their crash to pursue legal action against the wrongful parties. Depending on the accident's circumstances, exceptions may apply to this rule that can impact this filing period.
For these reasons, following a trucking collision, it is often recommended that you reach out to a truck accident attorney, such as those from the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, as soon as possible. Our lawyers can promptly get to work, figuring out how much time you have to file your case and ensuring that your legal documents are prepared and submitted to the proper court before this statutory period expires.
Obtaining Compensation Following a Port St. Lucie Trucking Accident
Florida is one of the few states with no-fault insurance laws. According to these laws, you cannot pursue a lawsuit against another motorist, even if they entirely caused the accident. Rather, you must first turn to your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) policy to receive partial payment of your medical bills and lost income. PIP does not pay for non-economic damages or pain and suffering.
However, you may pursue a claim outside of this no-fault system if you suffered a serious injury.
In Florida, a serious injury:
Results in permanent and significant loss of an important bodily function
Results in a permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability
Results in permanent and significant scarring or disfigurement
If your injuries qualify under this definition, you may be able to pursue a legal claim against the wrongful party and go after full compensation for your injuries, including pain and suffering.
The Damages You Can Pursue in a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Port St. Lucie
If you file a lawsuit following a Port St. Lucie trucking collision, you may be entitled to several categories of compensation. The two main categories of damages are as follows:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are quantifiable losses that result from an accident.
These include:
Medical bills related to hospitalization, doctor visits, surgeries, medications, medical devices, and emergency services
Lost wages
Reduced earning capacity
On-going medical care costs
Replacement domestic services
Personal property damages
Other costs associated with the trucking collision
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are difficult to quantify though precedents help legal teams and courts calculate the appropriate compensation for them.
Non-economic damages include:
Pain and suffering
Mental anguish
Loss of companionship
Loss of consortium
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of fertility
Disfigurement
Inconvenience
Going Against the Insurance Company
If you sustained injuries in a truck collision, the insurance company will not make obtaining compensation easy. Although, in theory, insurance money is there to pay for lost income and medical treatments, in reality, the insurance company will often do everything to prevent you from getting the money you deserve.
Insurance companies, like other businesses, want to make a profit. As a result, by providing you less, the more money these companies make. That is why following an accident, such as a trucking collision, these companies will try to do everything they can to get you to take some of the blame for the accident or find something else that can hurt your case and impact the amount of money you receive.
For these reasons, before speaking to the insurance company after an accident, it may be a good idea to talk with a Port St. Lucie truck accident attorney. A lawyer can help you understand the deceitful practices the insurer may implement and help you avoid them by dealing with the insurance company on your behalf.
Protecting Your Legal Rights After a Trucking Collision
Following a Port St. Lucie trucking accident, medical care should be your top priority. This means if an ambulance did not take you to the hospital after a trucking collision, head to a doctor immediately. There are many serious injuries, such as brain trauma or spinal cord damage, where it can take symptoms sometimes days to appear. However, the longer you wait to get these conditions checked out, the more deadly they can become. That makes getting yourself examined after an accident critical.
In addition, an examination can help your legal claim, as the insurance company will look for any reason to deny your case. For instance, by not getting medical treatment, insurance companies will argue that your injuries are not that serious or resulted from a separate event. Fortunately, when you get to a doctor after your accident, these medical professionals can prepare a medical report, which your lawyer can use to prove the extent of your injuries and show a direct link between the truck collision and your trauma.
The Evidence That Can Help Your Attorney Fight for the Financial Recovery You Deserve
In addition, to the medical report, you also want to provide your attorney with any other helpful documents and evidence you gathered, including:
The police report
Bills associated with the accident
Photos and videos of the accident scene, such as your visible injuries, the vehicles involved in the accident, the damage to your car, and any other details that can help your claim
Your lawyer can use this evidence to prepare a solid legal case and go after the maximum compensation you deserve.
Contact a Port St. Lucie Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one suffered significant harm in a Port St. Lucie trucking accident, do not wait to retain the legal help you need. Instead, contact the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, today at (727) 451-6900 for your free consultation. Let our skilled and knowledgeable attorneys review how we can help you fight for your rights and the financial recovery you deserve.
Matthew Dolman
Personal Injury Lawyer
This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has successfully fought for more than 11,000 injured clients and acted as lead counsel in more than 1,000 lawsuits. Always on the cutting edge of personal injury law, Matt is actively engaged in complex legal matters, including Suboxone, AFFF, and Ozempic lawsuits. Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.
