Facing the aftermath of a semi-truck crash can feel confusing, fast, and unforgiving. Florida follows no-fault rules for initial benefits, yet serious cases move beyond that. Acting quickly protects your health and legal options in a potential truck accident claim.
The Florida truck accident attorneys with Fenstersheib Law Group, P.A. would like to share some steps to take immediately to help improve your chances of obtaining fair compensation. Please reach out for a free case review so we can help.
Your health comes first. Hidden injuries from high-energy impacts can surface later, so getting prompt medical evaluation is not only smart medicine. It also preserves access to personal injury protection benefits when initial care occurs within 14 days.
Seek a medical evaluation right away and follow through with treatment. Florida’s personal injury protection benefits reimburse a portion of reasonable, necessary care – as long as you get medical help within two weeks after the accident. If you wait, you could jeopardize your case. Keep every discharge note, imaging order, and prescription; those documents tie symptoms to the collision date and support damages.
Notify your auto insurer, but keep communications measured. Give the basic facts required by your policy and confirm claim numbers in writing. Avoid recorded statements about pain, prior injuries, or fault until you speak with counsel. An attorney will advise on when to give more detail and how to prevent out-of-context statements from narrowing coverage.
After you open the claim, ask for written confirmation of the claim number, assigned adjuster, and any deadlines. Decline broad medical authorizations until counsel reviews them. Keep your comments factual and concise, and store all emails and letters in a single folder to maintain a clear paper trail. The crash report will identify drivers, owners, and policy numbers, which helps your future demand package line up with the correct carriers.
You need legal help to secure evidence before it cycles out. Motor carriers must retain driver hours-of-service records and supporting ELD data for only six months, so early preservation letters matter. A truck accident lawyer will send written demands to obtain ELD files, dash-cam footage, bills of lading, and maintenance logs. Doing so will protect this evidence from deletion and help prove issues with fatigue, negligent loading, or insufficient truck inspections.
Those letters should also request dispatch notes, text and telematics messages, post-crash inspection results, and any drug or alcohol testing records. Sending them by certified mail creates a receipt and makes later spoliation arguments stronger. Early control of these materials often shapes negotiations because it reveals patterns of skipped inspections, overloaded trailers, or route pressures that raise risk.
Fast action is critical. Florida now applies a two-year statute of limitations to negligence lawsuits, so filing late can keep you from getting what you deserve even if your case is strong.
Build a proof file. Track medical bills, mileage to appointments, pharmacy costs, and time missed from work. An attorney will use pay stubs, tax returns, and employer letters to support wage loss claims. They will also use medical notes to prove your economic and non-economic losses. Save every receipt and maintain a simple health journal, describing symptoms and activity limitations. Organized documentation speeds settlement talks and makes your damages story credible.
Recovery starts with your body and mind. Prioritize medical care, therapy, sleep, and routine, because stress and untreated injuries can slow healing and weaken documentation. Let your attorney focus on the legal matters so you can rebuild your health, stability, and momentum without distractions or delays.
An attorney with Fenstersheib Law Group, P.A., is ready to put their skills and experience to work on your behalf and help with your Florida truck accident claim. Use our online form or call 833-835-5354 to speak with one of our experienced truck accident lawyers.
What should I do immediately after a truck accident in Florida?
Immediately after a truck accident in Florida, prioritize your health by seeking medical attention within 14 days to preserve personal injury protection benefits. Also, notify your auto insurer with basic facts, and gather all important paperwork.
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Florida?
In Florida, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit for a truck accident claim.
Why is it important to speak with an attorney after a Florida truck accident?
Speaking with a Florida truck accident attorney is critical to secure evidence before it’s lost, as motor carriers only retain certain records for six months. An attorney can send preservation letters for crucial evidence like hours-of-service records, dash-cam footage, and maintenance logs, which helps prove negligence and speeds up your claim.
The Lawyers at Fenstersheib Law Group, P.A. provide
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