St. Petersburg 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney Information

If you have a St. Petersburg, FL 18-wheeler accident claim, St. Petersburg 18-wheeler accident lawyers are here to advocate for you. Call one of the St. Petersburg 18-wheeler accident lawyers listed on this site for a free initial consultation.

St. Petersburg, Florida, located in Pinellas County, Florida, and with a population of approximately 250,000, is the largest city in Florida that is not also the county seat. St. Petersburg's nickname "The Sunshine City" is derived from the claim that on average, St. Petersburg has 360 days of sunshine, making St. Petersburg ideal for retirees and vacation goers from all over the country.

Because St. Petersburg is ideal for many tourists and retirees, it comes as little surprise that several museums, attractions and other points of interest are located in St. Petersburg. For example, the Salvador Dali Museum and the Great Expectations Children's Museum are located in St. Petersburg. Additionally the Boyd Hill Nature Park in St. Petersburg and many endangered species are located here. St. Petersburg also has one of the nations top rated beaches in the country, Fort Desoto Beach. St. Petersburg is also regarded as one of the most livable cities in America. Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays play at Tropicana Field, located in St. Petersburg as well. From several attractions, to beautiful beaches, it becomes quite evident that St. Petersburg offers a little something for almost anyone, because of this, St. Petersburg's roads and highways accommodate many types of transportation, including 18-wheelers.

Occasionally, these trucks cause crashes on St. Petersburg roads, highways and interstates such as I-175, I-275, U.S. 19, U.S. 92, SR-687, SR-93 and SR-595. For example, in 2009, Florida had a total of 235,778 reported crashes, involving 338,633 people. Although this number is slightly lower than previous years, the fact remains that accidents occur quite frequently on many of Florida's roads, including St. Petersburg. These accidents are not exclusive as well, they involve several modes of transportation, including 18-wheelers. It is estimated that approximately 5,000 people die as a result of 18-wheeler accidents and big rig collisions in the United States each year with a substantial number of 18-wheeler truck accidents occurring in St. Petersburg, Florida, every day.

If you find yourself in an automobile or truck accident, you need a St. Petersburg 18-wheeler accident lawyer to advocate aggressively on your behalf. If you have a St. Petersburg truck accident claim, call one of the St. Petersburg truck accident lawyers listed on this site for a free initial consultation.
 

St. Petersburg 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer

Due to the sheer weight difference of a car versus the weight of an 18-wheeler or tractor trailer, accidents that involve commercial vehicles often times result in severe injuries or even death. Compared to the average weight of an automobile, which is only 5,000 pounds, one can easily see how much more dangerous commercial vehicles like an 18 wheeler can be. That is why if you are injured by a semi truck or commercial vehicle in St. Petersburg, it is important that you choose an experienced St. Petersburg 18-wheeler accident attorney who knows the truck regulations and laws both nationally and for the State of Florida.

Commercial vehicles go by different names such as:

1. Box Truck
2. 18 Wheeler
3. Tractor Trailer
4. Commercial Vehicle
5. Stake Trucks

St. Petersburg truck accidents caused by an 18-wheeler, big rig, semi truck, tractor trailer, bus or commercial vehicle are common on St. Petersburg streets, avenues and highways. Many of the semi truck crashes that occur in the city of St. Petersburg happen along the major St. Petersburg highways, which include I-175, I-275, U.S. 19, U.S. 92, SR-687, SR-93 and SR-595.

Types of Trucks

The following trucks do specific things and carry certain types of cargo:

1. Bob-Tail Trucks
2. Tanker trucks
3. Refrigerated trucks
4. Flat bed trucks
5. Logging trucks

Buses are also considered commercial vehicles as well, but as a rule do not haul cargo. Instead a bus is a transportation vehicle that carries children or adults such as a school bus or commercial bus like Greyhound. School bus accidents or commercial bus accidents are common on St. Petersburg roads and freeways. The causes may vary, but often times the accident is a result of hazardous road conditions or driver negligence.

It is essential to hire a St. Petersburg bus accident lawyer if you have been involved in the following type of accident:

1. St. Petersburg city buses;
2. transportation buses such as Greyhound;
3. shuttle bus accidents when driving to and from the airport, such as St Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport, and/or,
4. bus accidents that occur running back and forth from Tropicana Field.

The ways St. Petersburg truck accidents happen occur are too numerous to list. Blind spots, rear-ends, sideswipes, head-ons, load overturns, jack-knifes are all possible and can result in fatal wrongful death truck accidents.

If you live in St. Petersburg and have a claims for an accident that involved a big rig or an 18 wheeler, your case might be filed in one of these courts:

Pinellas County Court - Clearwater Courthouse
315 Court St., Room 170, Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 464-7000
 

County Court of Pinellas County (Civil Intake)
545 1st Avenue North, 5th Floor, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 582-7000
 

18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys Serve St. Petersburg and Surrounding Cities

Serving clients throughout Southwestern Florida, including Bradenton, Brandon, Clearwater, Dunedin, Egypt Lake-Leto, Gibsonton, Gulfport, Indian Rocks Beach, Lake Magdalene, Largo, Oldsmar, Orient Park, Palm Harbor, Palmetto, Pinellas, Sarasota, Seminole, South Highpoint, St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tarpon Springs, Temple Terrace, Town 'N' Country, West and East Lealman, and other communities in Pinellas County.

St. Petersburg 18-wheeler accident attorneys are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a St. Petersburg 18 wheeler accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.

Types of Trucks

Hiring a St. Petersburg 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer

If you have been involved in an 18 wheeler truck accident in St. Petersburg, Florida, it is recommended that you hire a qualified St. Petersburg 18-wheeler accident lawyer who is knowledgeable in federal laws and Florida state laws regarding trucking regulations. St. Petersburg, located in Pinellas County, is the fourth largest city in Florida with extensive roadways and congested freeways due to its high population. Therefore, it is not uncommon for truck collisions, wrecks, crashes and injuries to occur due to the high amount of traffic. If you or a loved one have been injured in a Southeast Florida truck accident, contact a qualified St. Petersburg semi truck accident attorney today for a free initial consultation.

St. Petersburg & Florida Professional Associations

In addition to selecting a qualified St. Petersburg accident & injury lawyer that regularly handles St. Petersburg big rig truck accident cases, you should also check out the attorney’s credentials. For example, is the attorney a member of  the St. Petersburg Bar Association, PInellas County Trial Lawyers Association or the Florida Justice Association? All lawyers that practice St. Petersburg truck accident litigation must be active members of the State Bar of Florida. They may also join other professional organizations, such as:

• Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association
• St. Petersburg Bar Association
• Florida Justice Association
• American Association of Justice

The St. Petersburg Bar Association is a nonprofit professional association of lawyers. The St. Petersburg Bar Association provides educational and professional development services for both the legal profession and the St. Petersburg community.

Big Rig Accidents Can Be Devastating

When a negligent truck driver makes the decision to get behind the wheel of their semi tractor-trailer, any driver traveling near them is at risk for serious injury or death. The consequences of an 18-wheeler truck a crash along a St. Petersburg intersection, avenue, or freeway can be devastating, often resulting in very serious injuries that can even lead to death. The sheer force of a speeding 18-wheeler truck is a dangerous weapon that can forever change your life. Under the law if you are involved in such a wreck or an accident, you are entitled to compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering. If you or a loved one have been injured in a commercial truck accident in St. Petersburg, FL or Pinellas County, it is in your best interest to contact a St. Petersburg big rig truck accident lawyer immediately.

St. Petersburg 18 Wheeler Accident Attorneys File in Pinellas County, FL

When a truck accident occurs and a lawsuit is subsequently filed, the decision of where to file it is called “choice of venue.” The venue chosen can have legal consequences that affect the outcome of your case. Generally, venue in a truck accident case is proper in any of the following locations:

1. the county wherein the accident occurred;
2. the county wherein the defendant company’s principal place of business is located; or,
3. the county wherein the defendant truck driver resides.

Even though your accident may have occurred in St. Petersburg, the truck company and truck driver will often be from a different state. This is because trucking companies frequently operate in states other than where they are registered. In these cases, the venue where the lawsuit may be filed could be the state where the truck accident occurred, the state where the trucking company is located, or even the state where the trucking company regularly does business, if different. For example, the accident may have occurred in St. Petersburg, Florida, therefore making venue proper in Pinellas County, but the claim may be filed against a trucking company from another state. You need a qualified and experienced St. Petersburg tractor trailer lawyer to decide what the best venue would be in a case like this that crosses state lines.

Some of the courts in the St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, areas include:

Pinellas County Court - Clearwater Courthouse
315 Court St., Room 170, Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 464-7000

County Court of Pinellas County (Civil Intake)
545 1st Avenue North, 5th Floor, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 582-7000
 

Flat Bed Accident Lawyers Serve St. Petersburg and Surrounding Cities

Serving clients throughout Southwestern Florida, including Bradenton, Brandon, Clearwater, Dunedin, Egypt Lake-Leto, Gibsonton, Gulfport, Indian Rocks Beach, Lake Magdalene, Largo, Oldsmar, Orient Park, Palm Harbor, Palmetto, Pinellas, Sarasota, Seminole, South Highpoint, St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tarpon Springs, Temple Terrace, Town 'N' Country, West and East Lealman, and other communities in Pinellas County.

Don’t be the victim of a semi driver’s negligence. Hiring a qualified St. Petersburg 18-wheeler accident lawyer is essential if you or a loved one have been injured in a truck collision. Contact a big rig accident lawyer today to ensure you receive expert representation from an attorney who knows how to handle your case.

Types of Trucks on St. Petersburg Highways

There are many types of commercial trucks found in and around St. Petersburg, Florida. Trucking companies in St. Petersburg offer a wide variety of vehicle choices. Some St. Petersburg trucking companies deal with courier and small package delivery as well. Some companies offer bicycle couriers for downtown areas and will also use an assortment of vehicles ranging from cars, vans and pick-up trucks to large tractor-trailers and bobtail trucks.

Types of Trucks Used By St. Petersburg Trucking Companies:

• 18 Wheeler
• Semi Truck
• Tractor Trailer
• Big Rig
• Semi Trailer
• Box Truck
• Straight Truck
• Flatbed Truck
• Stake Truck
• Bobtail Truck

Be sure to insist on the highest levels of safety by selecting a reputable St. Petersburg trucking company that uses late model vehicles which are inspected on a regular basis.

When to Hire a St. Petersburg Straight Truck Accident Lawyer

In many cases, St. Petersburg 18-wheeler accident attorneys must retain the services of scientific and medical experts to prove both the cause of the accident and the cause of your injuries. Additionally, a qualified semi truck accident lawyer will obtain all kinds of evidence concerning the scene of the crash, truck logs, and other important information to be used against the trucker, trucking company, or the company’s insurer. Arranging expert witness testimony and preparing important physical and documentary evidence is just one of many ways a St. Petersburg tractor trailer injury lawyer can help you after you’ve suffered a truck accident injury from a major 18-wheeler truck wreck.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious box truck wreck, semi crash or big rig accident, hiring a lawyer is the farthest thing from your mind when tragedy such as this strikes you, a family member, or a friend. However, this is when you need a St. Petersburg truck accident lawyer most. Do yourself a favor by calling one of the qualified St. Petersburg truck accident lawyers listed on this page. Hire a qualified St. Petersburg tractor trailer accident lawyer to help protect your rights.

St. Petersburg Trucking Companies

Following is a list of trucking companies based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Services offered include container drayage, loose freight drayage, overweight loads, bonded moves, same day delivery.

Stake Truck Accident Attorneys Serve St. Petersburg and Surrounding Cities

Serving clients throughout Southwestern Florida, including Bradenton, Brandon, Clearwater, Dunedin, Egypt Lake-Leto, Gibsonton, Gulfport, Indian Rocks Beach, Lake Magdalene, Largo, Oldsmar, Orient Park, Palm Harbor, Palmetto, Pinellas, Sarasota, Seminole, South Highpoint, St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tarpon Springs, Temple Terrace, Town 'N' Country, West and East Lealman, and other communities in Pinellas County.

St. Petersburg truck accident attorneys are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a St. Petersburg truck accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.

St. Petersburg Truck Accident Lawyers Represent Injured Truck Drivers

Truck drivers who operate an 18-wheeler truck or big rig on the busy roads and highways of St. Petersburg such as I-275, U.S. 92 or U.S. 19, can become injured when a major commercial vehicle collision occurs. Truckers often say, “Ride with me for just one day and you will see what it is like ‘out there’…it’s not always the trucker’s fault…”

It is not uncommon to see a big rig wreck, semi crash or major accident involving semi truck drivers in St. Petersburg, FL. St. Petersburg is the fourth largest city in Florida, attracting both vacation goers and large companies as well.  Additionally, truckers frequently use many of St. Petersburg's roads and highways to transport various goods. The danger of an 18-wheeler truck accident is not just confined to injured people in automobiles, but can end up injuring the truck driver affecting their livelihood and family’s livelihood as well as the automobile driver. So, when a St. Petersburg 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer is contacted, be it by an automobile driver who has been injured or a truck driver that has been injured at the dangerous hands of another, you will need an expert St. Petersburg truck injury lawyer to fight for your rights.

The Semi Truck Driver is Not Always at Fault

When an 18-wheeler is moving down a St. Petersburg road or highway, such as I-175, I-275, U.S. 19, U.S. 92, SR-687, SR-93 or SR-595 at high speeds, it is nearly unstoppable and can easily turn a motorist’s everyday commute into a lethal situation. Although a passenger car is lightweight, in comparison, and can easily maneuver in and out of lanes on St. Petersburg highways, it is no match for a big rig truck. If the two vehicles are unable to avoid a collision, wreck or crash, the driver of the passenger car will be lucky to escape with their life.

A driver of a passenger vehicle could easily be killed as a result of  veering out of his lane and then smashing into a tractor trailer truck let’s say on I-275, which runs north/south and located in western St. Petersburg.  If the trucker tried to avoid hitting the passenger car but was unable to avoid the wreck or crash, then this would be a case where the accident was caused by the driver of the passenger vehicle and therefore the trucker would not be at fault.

Truck Driver Facts

• Two of your fellow truck drivers die each day in accidents
• 33,000 people driving large trucks are injured each year
• 6.3% of U.S. truck drivers are injured each year.

Injured Truckers Need Legal Representation

A qualified St. Petersburg 18-wheeler accident attorney should offer a free case review. If they decide to take on your legal matter, they should not require an up-front fee. Truckers with a trucking injury claim are generally taken on a contingency fee basis. In other words, your St. Petersburg truck accident attorney is only paid if you receive compensation for your injuries.

Injured Truckers Need to Know Their Rights

As a trucker, you have rights you need to be aware of. It is not uncommon for aggressive insurance companies to contact you shortly after the accident in an effort to try to get you to settle quickly and convince you that you want the matter to go away. In many cases, injuries are not so quick to heal. Many times the injuries can be permanent, long-lasting, and career-threatening. That is why you need a competent St. Petersburg truck accident lawyer that is not only prepared to mediate a resolution, but also prepared to take your case to court.

When Negligence Changes a Trucker’s Life

Qualified St. Petersburg truck accident lawyers know exactly how to provide nationwide representation for truckers injured in trucking accidents caused by a variety of negligent acts and mechanical malfunctions, including:

• Rear-end, Head-On Crashes and Jackknives
• Poor Maintenance, including Tires and Brakes
• Driver Fatigue
• Unsecured Loads
• Aggressive Driving
• DWI/Drug Use
• Lack of Reflectors and Poor Visibility

Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, litigation can be very complex. Hiring a semi truck accident attorney who specializes in the numerous trucking laws throughout the United States is essential for a successful verdict outcome. For more information about trucking laws or to schedule an appointment with an experienced commercial truck injury lawyer, contact a truck injury attorney today.

When an 18 Wheeler accident occurs, your St. Petersburg truck accident lawyer will check the truck driver’s credentials to see if he/she attended an accredited Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL) school. In St. Petersburg, Florida, one truck driving school is Pinellas Technical Education‎ 901 34th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33711-2209, although there are many others throughout the country. See the Nationwide List of Accredited CDL Schools for a more comprehensive list.

Truck Accident Attorneys for Injured Truckers Serve St. Petersburg and Surrounding Cities

Serving clients throughout Southwestern Florida, including Bradenton, Brandon, Clearwater, Dunedin, Egypt Lake-Leto, Gibsonton, Gulfport, Indian Rocks Beach, Lake Magdalene, Largo, Oldsmar, Orient Park, Palm Harbor, Palmetto, Pinellas, Sarasota, Seminole, South Highpoint, St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tarpon Springs, Temple Terrace, Town 'N' Country, West and East Lealman, and other communities in Pinellas County.

St. Petersburg truck accident attorneys for injured truckers are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a St. Petersburg 18 wheeler accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.