Clearwater Truck Accident Attorney

Even if you are a safe driver around large trucks, it's impossible to know when an accident is going to happen. From drowsy truck drivers to cargo shifts to road defects and more, truck accidents happen and, when they do, the damages are often devastating for those involved.

In the picturesque city of Clearwater, Florida, where the sun meets the Gulf Coast, truck accidents can occur anywhere—from congested areas around Clearwater Beach to the bustling U.S. Route 19. Intersections near Coachman Park and the Clearwater Memorial Causeway are particularly high-risk areas for commercial vehicle collisions.

How Truck Accidents Differ from Car Accidents in Clearwater

Truck accidents differ significantly from typical car collisions, and understanding these differences is crucial for protecting your rights and securing fair compensation.

Complexity and Scale of Damages

Due to their sheer size and weight, commercial trucks cause more catastrophic injuries and extensive property damage compared to passenger vehicle accidents. The medical bills, lost wages, and long-term care needs following a truck crash are typically far more severe, making proper legal representation essential.

Multiple Liable Parties

Unlike most car accidents where liability usually involves one or two drivers, truck accident cases often include multiple potentially responsible parties:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• Cargo loaders or shippers
• Vehicle or parts manufacturers
• Maintenance companies
• Third-party contractors

Note that even when a truck driver is at fault, the trucking company may be held liable for the driver's actions under federal regulations.

Federal Regulations and Industry Standards

Truck accidents involve complex federal guidelines governing commercial vehicles, including:

• Hours of service requirements
• Maintenance and inspection standards
• Driver qualification rules
• Cargo securement regulations
• Electronic logging device (ELD) compliance

Our Clearwater truck accident lawyers have specialized knowledge in these federal trucking industry regulations, which is crucial for building a strong case and holding negligent parties accountable.

More Complex Investigation Requirements

Truck accident investigations require specialized expertise and resources. Evidence like electronic logging devices, black box data, maintenance records, driver qualification files, and trucking company safety records must be preserved and analyzed—often requiring immediate action through spoliation of evidence letters.

Injured in a regular car accident instead? While car accidents involve more straightforward legal procedures, they still require skilled representation. Visit our Clearwater car accident page for dedicated support with passenger vehicle collisions.

What to Expect from Our Clearwater Truck Accident Law Firm

If you've been in a truck accident, you shouldn't think twice about hiring a lawyer – you need someone on your side who will be available to support you and make sure that an insurance company doesn't get away with paying you less than you deserve. When you hire our Clearwater truck accident law firm, you can expect us to:

• Fully investigate your crash. One of the first things that we'll do when you hire us is to open an investigation into your crash to determine how the crash happened, who's to blame for what happened, and against whom a claim should be filed. This process involves being at the scene of the accident ourselves, collaborating with experts, sending spoliation of evidence letters, reviewing the police report, talking to witnesses, and more.
• Handle your claim. Filing an insurance claim, proving fault and damages, and reviewing a settlement can all be very complicated. You can count on our legal team to do everything that's necessary along the way, including compiling your paperwork, talking to the insurance company, calculating your damages, and reviewing and negotiating your settlement amount. We know what's on the line, and you can trust us to do a thorough and accurate job of managing your case.
• Keep you in the loop. Throughout the entire process, we will remain proactive, transparent, and engaged in your case. If you have questions, you can count on us to be accessible and available throughout. We want you to feel as though you have a friend in us.

Why You Need a Lawyer After a Truck Accident

Don't make the mistake of not hiring an attorney if you've been in a truck accident. You need a lawyer because:

• Your injuries are serious. If your injuries are serious, you are looking at high medical bills and long-term damages, potentially in the form of permanent disability, disfigurement, or/and scarring. You need someone who knows what's on the line and will work hard to make sure you're compensated.
• Your economic and noneconomic damages are severe. If you've been injured, disability and high medical expenses aren't the only damages you'll incur; you may also be unable to work and sustain lost wages. What's more, you may also be facing property damage expenses and a wide array of noneconomic damages, like pain, suffering, and emotional distress.
• Liability is unclear. Liability in a truck accident can be complex. The first step is determining what happened. Potentially liable parties include a trucking company, truck driver, shipper or loader of cargo, the manufacturer of a vehicle or a vehicle party, or another third-party. Note that even when fault lies on the shoulders of one party, however, that may not be who's liable (i.e. a trucking company may be liable for a truck driver's actions).
• You're not being offered a fair settlement. Insurance companies notoriously low-ball claims and offer people less than they deserve with the aim of saving money in mind. If your claim has been low-balled and you haven't been offered a fair settlement, we can help.

The Statute of Limitations in Truck Accident Claims

One of the most important things that you need to know is that you only have a limited amount of time to act. After a truck accident, you have four years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. If you breach the statute of limitations, your claim will be barred.

At the law office of the Kemp Law Group, our experienced Clearwater, Florida truck accident lawyers are here to guide you through the process of filing a truck accident claim and aggressively advocate for your rights along the way. Please reach our Clearwater truck accidents lawyers today.

Contact a Clearwater Truck Injury Attorney

Call us at (727) 788-6792 or submit a contact form for a free consultation.

Why Should I Hire Kemp Law?

It is very easy to describe what Kemp Law 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 Clearwater, FL

• Can I file a Lawsuit If I wasn’t Wearing My Seat Belt? Yes, you are able to still sue the driver and the owner of the car, if you were injured in an accident while not wearing your seatbelt. However, keep in mind, that because of comparative negligence, the jury could place a percentage of liability on you for your injuries and the verdict could be reduced by that percentage.
• Will My Auto Accident Case Be Affected Because I Gave a Recorded Statement to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company? Your auto accident case can be affected. The reason the other driver’s insurance company tries to get a recorded statement from you is because they want to pinpoint you on the answers to your questions. If you make statements about your injuries, if you make statements about your pain, they can use that against you at a later time.
• Can a Passenger Recover Damages If The Driver of the Same Car caused the Injuries? Yes, you can. As long as you are not married to the driver of the vehicle. You can be a relative. You can be a friend. You can definitely recover damages if the accident is the driver's fault.