You may be picturing a lengthy courtroom battle to recover compensation for your injuries in a Florida truck accident. However, while a civil trial is possible in your case, it rarely comes to that. Most truck accident claims are resolved through out-of-court settlement agreements between the crash victims and the liable parties or their insurers. This fact raises a vital question: What is the average truck accident settlement in Florida? The short answer is, “It depends.”
What matters is that you hire an experienced Florida truck accident attorney to represent you. Cardoso Law, PLLC, has over 20 years of experience and can help you recover the money you need after a truck crash. We can handle all the legal work, including documenting your losses to increase your potential compensation. Call now or complete our contact form for a free case review.
What Is an Average Truck Accident Settlement in Florida?
Every Florida truck accident involves unique elements, which means it’s difficult to determine the average amount someone recovers.
Here are some broad guidelines to give you some idea of what your Florida trucking accident lawsuit may be worth:
- Minor or moderate injuries: $10,000-$200,000 – The massive size and weight of semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles mean it’s rare for people in smaller cars to suffer “minor” injuries in a crash. It does happen, though. Someone with minor or moderate injuries from a collision who only misses a few days of work and doesn’t need extensive medical treatment could secure a settlement in the $10,000-$200,000 range.
- Serious injuries: $200,000-$1 million plus – Commercial trucks can (and often do) cause severe injuries even when they hit smaller cars at relatively low speeds. For example, a semi carrying a single, fully loaded trailer might weigh around 80,000 pounds, compared with a passenger car that weighs 2,000-3,000 pounds. That devastating impact force can easily send someone to the hospital for weeks or months, making the victim’s case potentially worth anywhere from $200,000-$1 million plus
- Catastrophic injury/fatality: $1 million-$2 million plus – High-speed truck accidents cause catastrophic, life-altering injuries. People sometimes die in these crashes, particularly if they’re in a smaller car and the truck hits them from the side or head-on. Those lucky enough to survive may need ongoing care for the rest of their lives and may never work again. The extreme losses in these cases (particularly if someone dies and their family files a wrongful death claim) can lead to settlements ranging from $1 million to $2 million or more.
There are several crucial caveats to consider regarding these averages. First, the circumstances of an individual’s injuries and other losses affect their potential compensation. Someone could recover punitive damages if they can prove their injuries resulted from another party’s intentional wrongdoing or “gross negligence,” for example. On the other hand, they might lose some compensation if the evidence suggests they contributed to the collision in some way.
Second, the available insurance coverage can be a limiting factor in truck accident settlements. While federal rules require trucking companies to carry large insurance policies, those policies are not unlimited, and insurers rarely pay more than a policy’s limits. If a truck accident victim’s losses exceed their available insurance coverage, and if another person contributed to the crash that injured them, they may be able to pursue other options to recover compensation. For instance, the victim may need to file additional claims against other liable parties.
Third and finally, truck crash victims who don’t hire an attorney typically might struggle to recover full compensation. Trucking companies and insurers have huge legal teams who will work to minimize victims’ injuries, shift blame for the crash, or pressure victims into accepting lowball offers. Hiring an experienced truck accident lawyer is crucial for anyone seeking an aggressive legal advocate to represent them after sustaining severe injuries.
Key Factors That Affect a Florida Truck Accident Settlement
Several factors influence the settlement amounts in truck accident cases. Some vital ones include:
- Severity of Injuries – Catastrophic injuries like brain trauma, spinal cord damage, or amputations often result in long-term medical expenses, months or years of lost income, and substantial emotional distress. All these elements can increase victims’ potential compensation in a settlement.
- Medical Expenses – Truck accident settlements usually reflect the total cost of a victim’s treatments, including emergency care they needed, surgeries, physical therapy, home modifications, and future medical needs. Detailed records of these expenses can help document the crash’s economic impact.
- Lost Wages and Earning Capacity – Victims who miss work or can no longer perform the same job due to their injuries usually qualify for compensation for current and future lost income. This compensation often includes money for lost bonuses, raises, or potential promotions they would have earned.
- Pain and Suffering – Florida allows victims to seek damages for their physical pain and emotional trauma from a truck crash. This compensation for intangible losses can be significant depending on how someone’s injuries affect their daily life, relationships, and mental well-being.
- Fault and Liability – Some states don’t allow people to recover compensation after a truck crash if they contributed to their own injuries. This isn’t the rule in Florida, but state law requires that crash victims’ compensation be reduced by their percentage of fault if they were partly responsible for the accident. Furthermore, Florida law forbids victims from recovering compensation if their level of fault exceeds 50 percent.
- Insurance Coverage – Commercial trucks typically carry large policies, which can help accident victims recover more compensation. However, the final settlement may be limited by the coverage limits of all involved parties.
- Property Damage – While usually not the most significant component, the cost to repair or replace a vehicle still factors into truck accident settlements. Damage to valuable personal items inside a car can also be a factor.
- Type of Truck Involved – Accidents involving larger or more dangerous vehicles—like tankers or trucks carrying hazardous materials—often lead to more severe consequences and bigger claims.
- Evidence and Documentation – Traffic camera footage, police reports, black box data, medical records, and other evidence are necessary to fully document a crash victim’s losses and maximize their compensation. A well-documented case puts more pressure on insurers to offer a fair settlement.
- Legal Representation – Skilled truck lawyers know how to negotiate with insurers, gather compelling evidence, and maximize their clients’ compensation by using sound strategies and aggressive advocacy.
How a Pensacola Truck Accident Lawyer Can Maximize Your Settlement
At Cardoso Law, PLLC, we know how overwhelming a truck accident can be. Our team will take the lead on your case to simplify your life during this challenging moment. We can gather critical evidence, such as the truck’s black box data, the driver’s logs, and police accident reports, to prove what happened. We’ll also deal with the insurance companies and trucking companies on your behalf to make sure they don’t take advantage of you. While you focus on your recovery, we’ll handle the legal heavy lifting—filing paperwork, negotiating settlements, and fighting for full compensation. If settlement negotiations fail, we can take your case to trial and present a persuasive case to the judge or jury.
Contact a Pensacola Truck Accident Attorney Today
Don’t risk your future after a truck accident by not seeking legal help. Let Cardoso Law, PLLC, protect your rights and hold those responsible for your injuries accountable. Our team knows what’s at stake for you and what evidence to look for to maximize your settlement. Call us now or complete our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.