East Lake Truck Accident
Truck Accidents In East Lake
No matter where you live in East Lake, if you drive, you’ll surely encounter large trucks on the road. This is especially true if you travel on one of the city’s major roads, such as E. Lake Rd or Keystone Rd. While large trucks are a key part of our economy, driving around large trucks can be dangerous. If you have been in a truck accident, or if a loved one has been severely harmed or killed in a truck crash, our East Lake truck accident lawyers at the office of the Kemp Law Law Group can help.
Truck accidents are devastating, and they are also almost always preventable. Top causes of truck accidents in our city include:
- Truck driver fatigue;
- Truck drive intoxication;
- Truck driver error, such as speeding, taking a turn to fast, or improperly changing lanes;
- Truck defects, such as defective brakes or tires;
- Cargo shifts within a tractor-trailer;
- Road conditions, ranging from poor weather to objects on the road and more.
If you have been involved in a truck accident, our law firm will work hard to investigate your accident and determine precisely how it happened and who’s to blame.
Liability For A Truck Accident
Even once the cause of a truck accident has been determined, knowing who’s liable for the damages that have resulted can be difficult. For example, if a truck defect is to blame for the crash, should liability fall on the manufacturer of the truck part, or on the trucking company for its failure to properly inspect and maintain trucks? Similarly, if a fatigued truck driver is responsible for an accident, should the driver be held personally liable for the damages, or should the trucking company be held liable based on the employment relationship or the company’s failure to monitor the driver’s adherence to hours of service requirements? In some cases, more than one party may be liable. We can help you to navigate this type of claim, too.
Steps To Take After A Truck Accident
If you have been involved in a serious truck accident, it’s important that you take action quickly. We know that you may be coping with disabling injuries, which is why we encourage you to reach out to our law firm for help after a crash. Important steps to take include:
- Seek medical care and be sure to follow the doctor’s orders;
- File a police report and request a copy;
- Inform your insurer of the accident within 48 hours;
- Get all of the truck driver’s/truck company’s information; and
- Send a spoliation of evidence letters to ensure that evidence related to your case (such as truck black box data) isn’t destroyed. Our attorneys can help with this.
Contact an East Lake Truck Accident Attorney
Call us at (727) 788-6792 or submit a contact form for a free consultation.
Directions to Our Nearest Office
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 East Lake, FL
- What Insurance Do I Need? You should at least have enough coverage so that there is $100,000 to cover if a singular person is injured, $300,00 to cover for all who are injured, and $50,000 to cover property damage.
- Do I Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage? Although required by law that every vehicle be at least minimally insured, there are still a surprising large number of uninsured drivers. Having Uninsured Motorist coverage will benefit you in the long run as you will be able to make a claim against your insurance company who will then take care of it in lieu of the uninsured at-fault driver.
- How Does “No-Fault” Insurance Work? This is also classified as Personal Injury Protection (PIP). The way it works is that the coverage is immediate, and it is not focused on who was at-fault. It allows for your medical bills to be taken care of right away. You may also be able to have lost wages partially covered.
Living in East Lake
East Lake is a small, quaint area that consists of several smaller communities. It is home to several restaurants and parks.
The area is popular with families due to its outstanding public education. East Lake also boasts top notch programs for youth recreation. This coupled with its 3.2% unemployment rate (lower than the national average) makes it a very attractive place to live.
The library stands out among other locations in East Lake as it houses a Florida Butterfly Garden.
East Lake Local Services & Emergency Contact Information
In an emergency, always call 911.
After a motor vehicle crash:
- Florida Highway Patrol – (727) 788-6792
- Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Dial 911; Administrative (727) 788-6792
- East Lake Car Accident Lawyer – (727) 788-6792
Fire Department
- East Lake Fire Emergency – Dial 911
- East Lake Fire Rescue – (727) 788-6792
Police/Sheriff Departments
- Florida Highway Patrol – (727) 788-6792
- Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Dial 911; Administrative (727) 788-6792
- East Lake Car Accident Lawyer – (727) 788-6792
Hospital
- Mease Countryside Hospital (727) 788-6792
FAQs
you deserve answers
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How Do I Know Who Was At-Fault?
Fault is determined by the evidence collected during the investigation. We look to many things to determine fault in the case: we look to the police report, we look to witness statements, we look to the property damage to the vehicles, skid marks, layout of the cars, etc. Sometimes we even have to refer to accident re-constructionists to do a professional examination of the all the evidence to do a recommendation for us, but that does not happen in very many cases.
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Will I Recover Monetary Damages?
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.
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What Documents Will I Need?
We like you to bring the driver’s exchange of information that the police officer gives you at the scene. We also like you bring any photographs of damage at the scene. Also bring your health insurance cards and your auto insurance cards or declarations page, so we can review the coverage available to you.
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What Should I Say To The Insurance Company?
The at-fault party’s insurance company could ask you to give them a recorded statement. You do not have to give them a recorded statement. However, if your own insurance company asks you for a recorded statement please seek advice from your attorney so that they can assist you in giving that statement. But yes you do have to comply and you do have to give your insurance company a recorded statement.
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Will I Have To Go To Court?
Actually, most cases, or a large percentage of the cases are resolved pre-suit, which means the cases never go to court. We work with the insurance companies before filing suit to try to find a fair resolution for the client, which save money on expenses, court costs and attorney’s fees.
