Palm Harbor Truck Accident

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Experienced Truck Accident Lawyers Serving Palm Harbor, Florida

“I couldn’t not be happier with this team! Tiffany L. Has been my main point of contact and she and her team cares for you not only emotionally but takes care of you physically. THANK YOU!”

-Alli Smith, client review

How Truck Accidents Happen

It’s impossible to drive through Palm Harbor without seeing a large truck on the road. Especially along US-19, large trucks are a common sight. And for good reason – these vehicles carry the products and goods, including food and medicine, that people in our communities rely on.

But large trucks are also dangerous, too. While many truck drivers out there operate their vehicles with a high standard of care, others engage in dangerous behaviors that lead to crashes. And when a crash does occur, the amount of weight involved exponentially increases the amount of force involved, leading to serious damages. In a single year, heavy trucks were involved in 39 fatal crashes, 129 incapacitating injury crashes, 421 non-incapacitating injury crashes, and 758 possible injury crashes, as reported by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Theoretically, truck accidents should never happen. These types of accidents are completely preventable, and almost always only occur when negligence–the failure to exercise the proper degree of care–is involved. Some of the top causes of truck accidents include:

• Fatigued driving. Truck driver fatigue is a big problem. While truck drivers are also supposed to drive a certain number of hours before stopping, they are often pressured to complete their routes quickly. Fatigued driving can lead to erratic driving maneuvers, like swerving, and falling asleep at the wheel is a recipe for disaster.
• Blind spot accidents. Blind spot accidents occur when a smaller vehicle is hanging out in a truck’s “no zones” (the areas directly behind and in front of a truck, as well as to the immediate right and left of a truck) and a truck driver performs a maneuver without being able to see the other vehicle. These types of accidents are similar to squeeze play accidents, which occur when a vehicle attempts to pass a large truck on the right, only to get “squeezed” between the truck and the curb when a truck makes a right-hand turn.
• Impaired driving. Truck drivers may use substances to help them stay awake or because of dependency issues. When truck drivers are not of a clear mind and their physical or mental capacities are impaired, truck accidents are more likely.
• Truck defects. In addition to truck drivers’ errors, which may include those mentioned above as well as acts like speeding and driving aggressively, another top cause of truck accidents is truck defects. Tire blowouts, defective brakes, and steering problems can result in crashes.
• Cargo shifts. If cargo shifts in transit, the shift in weight could lead a trailer to sway or even tip over.

Of course, in addition to the above causes of truck accidents, they are also caused by the errors of drivers of passenger cars. Road defects, including damaged roads, debris and animals in the road, and defective signage may also contribute to accidents, too.

Our law firm appreciates truck drivers and the services that they provide, but we also recognize how severely your life may be changed if you’re involved in a truck accident. For the support and guidance you need, call our law firm immediately today.

Why Work with An Experienced Palm Harbor Truck Accident Attorney

When you have been involved in a truck accident, you need an experienced Palm Harbor truck accident attorney on your side. Truck accidents are complex both because they usually result in very serious damages to those involved, and also because it can be difficult to determine fault and liability for the crash. Your truck accident lawyer will support you by:

• Investigating your case, which means talking to witnesses, hiring vehicle design and accident reconstruction experts, sending spoliation of evidence letters to ensure that data relevant to the claim is preserved, reviewing the police report, and drawing conclusions about what caused the accident.
• Determining liability. Note that fault and liability may not be synonymous. For example, a truck driver may have caused the crash through an act of fault, but the trucking company may be held liable for damages under the theory of vicarious liability.
• Negotiating your settlement to improve your chances of recovering your maximum settlement amount. An insurance company will likely try to pay you less than you deserve, and having a skilled attorney on your side can improve your chances of a more positive case outcome.

At the law office of the Kemp, Ruge & Green Law Group, we understand that if you’ve been in a truck accident, your life may never look the same again. We know we can’t change what happened, but we do believe in our power to support your best interests moving into the future.

Contact a Truck Accident Attorney in Palm Harbor

Call us at 1-877-941-4878 or submit a contact form for a free consultation.

Directions to Our Nearest Office

Why Should I Hire Kemp, Ruge & Green?

It is very easy to describe what Kemp, Ruge & Green Law Group does. Our mission statement says it all. We strive to “relentlessly pursue protecting our clients and improving our community through respect, communication and service.” Put more simply, we help people.

Everything we do is with that singular purpose in mind. If a client has been injured by someone else, we will do everything we can to make sure they get the best possible medical care at little or no expense to them. If a client is going through a divorce, we will vigorously work to help them get everything they need to put the pieces of their life back together and to make sure their rights are protected.

Our firm is unique; we are committed to our community and our clients with a level of legal expertise that is among the highest in the area. In fact, we were featured in Positively Tampa for our efforts.

Our attorneys are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a national group that provides a network for information exchange, local assistance and case referrals to top trial lawyers in America who have won large, complex cases. Fewer than 1% of attorneys nationwide earn this high distinction. We always provide legal representation in your best interests, maintaining open communication lines, and keeping you updated about your case every step of the way.

Regardless of where you live in the Tampa Bay region, including Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and Hernando Counties, we look forward to helping you make the best of your situation. Many of our attorneys have been acclaimed as among the 1% of all attorneys in the country, and they’re right here in our area, ready to help you.

Common Questions About Truck Accidents in Palm Harbor, FL

• Who Will Pay for the Damage to My Vehicle in an Accident?
• It depends on who was at fault for the accident. If you were at fault, your insurance company will pay for the damage to the vehicle. If you were not at fault, the at-fault driver’s or owner’s insurance policy will pay for the damage, and if they do not have enough coverage to cover the damage to your vehicle, your collision coverage (if purchased) would pay for the damage to your vehicle.

• What is Non-Binding Arbitration?
• Non-binding arbitration is another form of what we call in Florida, Alternative dispute resolution. Mediation is when you bring together parties with a mediator and you basically have the parties decide what the value of your case is. Non-binding arbitration is when you go in front of what’s called an arbitrator. Usually this is a former judge or an attorney that practices in trials and has a great amount of experience. During the arbitration process, both sides are able to put forward what we call evidence. That can be in the form of sworn testimony, it can be in the form of documents, it can be photographs. The arbitrator pulls all of this information together. He listens to statements from both sides and then ultimately comes up with a decision. In that decision they field the issue of liability. Who caused the injuries as well as what the injuries are and what they are worth. Both sides get an opportunity to review that opinion and if they agree and they accept it then the case is resolved and basically it’s over. If one side says “I don’t agree with that” They notice the case for trial and we just continue along in the litigation process.

• What is a Proposal for Settlement?
• A proposal for settlement is just another chance to try to resolve your case. What happens is you sit down with your attorneys or the other side sits down with theirs and they come up with a number that they view that the case is worth. They put it down on what is called a proposal and it is sent to the other side. Once that proposal is served, the side that receives it has 30 days to decide what they want to do with their case. If the proposal is accepted, the case is over. That means that it’s resolved and basically you will move through with the final documents. If the proposal is not accepted, you ultimately go to a trial because your case will continue on and we end up getting a verdict or the other side gets a verdict. If it’s 25% greater than the offer we made to the defense, we would be entitled to all of our attorney fees and costs from the date that was served. If it’s on the other side where the defense served the proposal, and we reject it and they get 25% less than their offer then we would be responsible for their attorney fees and costs.

Living in Palm Harbor

North of Clearwater and northwest of Tampa, the city of Palm Harbor has about 61,000 people and sits within Pinellas County. It attracts a high volume of retirees as well as families that enjoy living in a seaside suburban area surrounded by parks and trees.

Palm Harbor has a thriving marina and restaurant zone, plus a downtown area with a variety of annual events and celebrations. The city has a low crime rate, highly-rated schools, and many miles of bike and walking paths. For all of these reasons, Palm Harbor is attractive to both residents and tourists.

Palm Harbor Local Services & Emergency Contact Information

In an emergency, always call 911.

After a motor vehicle crash:

• Florida Highway Patrol – (305) 234-2240
• Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Dial 911; Non Emergency (727) 582-6200
• Palm Harbor Car Accident Lawyer – (877) 941-4878

Fire Department

• Palm Harbor Fire Rescue – Dial 911

Police/Sheriff Departments

• Florida Highway Patrol – (305) 234-2240
• Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Dial 911; Non Emergency (727) 582-6200

Hospitals

• Advent Health Palm Harbor – (727) 401-3900
• Advent Health North Pinellas ER – (727) 942-5000
• BayCare Outpatient Center – 1-800-229-2273