What if My Child is Injured in a Trucking Accident in the State of Florida?

Throughout the United States on roads and highways including but not limited to Interstate 95, Interstate 75, and Interstate 10, semi-tractor trailers are commonly seen by the rest of us. Most semi-tractor trailer drivers are well trained and take their jobs quite seriously. Some bend or even break the rules by failing to maintain their vehicles, by driving over the alloted number of hours, or otherwise drive careless. Due to the size and power of these vehicles, just one moment of inattention or carelessness can result in a castastrophic trucking accident especially if there are small vehicles involved.

When a child is injured in an accident involving a semi tractor-trailer, there can be serious personal injuries and even death resulting from such an accident. If a child is injured in a semi tractor-trailer accident, the first and foremost thing to do is to get medical treatment. It is important that a child is property and evaluated (as needed) by fire rescue and then at emergency room, urgent care center, and / or pediatrician depending on the initial severity of the injuries. When the child and situation are stabilized, the parent should consult with a Florida Child Injury Lawyer to determine the rights of the injured child and the responsibilities of the semi tractor trailer driver and his or her company. Just because an accident involves a commercial vehicle does not mean that the company that owns the vehicle and supervises the driver is going to automatically begin compensation for the child personal injuries caused by the truacking accident.

In Florida, there are series of No-Fault laws that cover the payment of the initial medical bills through PIP (Personal Injury Protectionb) which will usually be covered under the parent's automobile insurance company regardless of fault, . Beyond that there is a second part to the Florida No-Fault laws that involves the severity of the injuries. Florida law allows for compensation for pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and related damages if the child suffered one of the following:

a permament injury;
a permanent aggravation of a pre-existing condition; and / or
scarring.

Because of the complexity of trucking accident cases, a Florida Child Injury Lawyer should be contacted to help guide a parent through the maze of issues including Florida's No-fault laws, medical care and options, automobile insurance, trucking insurance, health insurance, and other related issues. The book - When the Wheels Stop Spinning - Legal RIghts of the Injured Child - What Parents Need to Know After the Accident - has chapters on Medical Bills and Insurance, School and Day Care Transportation, Automobile Accidents, Settlement - Compensation - Damages, and other topics. You can get this book for free at When the Wheels Stop Spinning.