A Homestead semi-truck accident generally involves a company (the truck carrier) and the powerful insurance companies that protect them. This means that after a Homestead car accident involving a semi-truck, one of the first things that happens is that the truck driver contacts his or her employer to tell them about the accident. The employer then notifies the insurance company, who immediately sends out an attorney and accident reconstructionist to the accident scene. In some cases, these insurance professionals are on the scene before the injury victim even knows who has hit them and before the injury victim has secured medical help. The insurance company steps in immediately to protect its interests and the interests of its client.
In many cases, Homestead personal injury victims do not even seek the help of an attorney after their traffic accident. They assume that insurance will take care of the costs related to their injuries. However, insurance companies are looking for ways to save money and settle claims quickly. As a result, insurance carriers rarely pay out the full amount of a claim cost. Any long-term medical care, especially, may not be fully covered, leaving the victim to pay these expenses out of pocket. For this reason, it is important to consult with a qualified Homestead personal injury attorney as soon as possible after a traffic accident, especially after any accident involving a commercial vehicle, such as a semi.
Even if a Homestead traffic accident victim does consult with a personal injury attorney, by the time the consultation does occur, the defense has been mounting a case and working to protect the interests of the truck carrier and truck driver. There is usually a rehearsed and prepared account of what has happened and in many cases some of the evidence is no longer available to the personal injury attorney. For this reason, it is also important to consult with a truck accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident, so that log books and other evidence can be secured.
Despite these challenges, however, truck accident victims do have some rules and regulations protecting them. Florida laws, for example, allow victims to seek legal claims in Homestead traffic accidents that have been caused by recklessness or negligence. In these cases, victims can get compensation for medical expenses, property damage, lost income, and other costs related to the accident. This compensation can give the victim the financial resources needed to get the help they need to get back on their feet after an accident.
In addition, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations have a number of rules in place to protect the public. These rules govern how many hours tractor trailer truck drivers can drive before resting and dictate how many hours of sleep commercial truck drivers are required to have. In addition, drivers are required to keep log books that keep track of hours driven and rests taken. In a Homestead truck accident case, these logbooks become very important and can help an attorney determine whether a truck driver took unnecessary risks or shortcuts.
If you have been injured in a Homestead truck accident, it is not enough to know the rules that protect you and your rights; you also need an experienced, aggressive truck accident attorney to protect your rights. If you need a Homestead truck accident attorney, contact the Flaxman Law Group to arrange for a free accident consultation to discuss your case and your future.