Florida roads are almost always busy, with the majority of people relying on their own personal vehicles for travel. This means, unfortunately, that accidents are not uncommon. All types of motor vehicle accidents have the potential to cause serious damage and severely injure, or sometimes even kill, the people involved. However, truck accidents are some of the most dangerous. This is because trucks are larger and heavier than most other vehicles on the road, which can cause a strong impact and extreme destruction, especially if they’re involved in a crash with smaller vehicles. Because of this, truck accident victims are commonly left suffering from grave injuries or trauma and also struggling financially.
Therefore, it’s crucial that you contact The Law Place if you or your loved one have been injured in a truck accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence. You may have sustained huge damages, which you can claim compensation for with the help of our truck accident lawyers. Our team at The Law Place has over 75 years of combined experience in working with the Florida legal system and helping clients just like you, so you can trust that we have the skill and knowledge needed to handle your case and help you. We won’t back down from a fight, and we will stand up to the trucking companies on your behalf to ensure that you get the justice you deserve.
So, for support and legal advice that you can trust, contact The Law Place today. We offer a free consultation to anyone who thinks they may have a valid claim, so call us now at (941) 444-4444 and arrange yours today!
What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Florida?
There are many reasons why a truck accident might occur. In some instances, it’s a driver error, but sometimes it’s the fault of the trucking company or even the mechanic. While you might not know what the specific cause of the truck accident that you were involved in was, our team of dedicated attorneys will thoroughly investigate your case and gather evidence to determine the cause as soon as you hire us.
However, some of the most common causes of truck accidents have been listed below to give you some information on each cause:
Distracted Driving
In today’s world, there are many things that can distract drivers, such as using a cellphone to text or check social media, changing the radio, and more. Eating, drinking, and speaking to other passengers also diverts the truck driver’s attention from the road, making it more likely for truck accidents to occur. Because truckers spend a lot of their life on the road, they often end up eating, drinking, and performing other similar tasks in order to continue driving and keep to their deadlines. Unfortunately, this means that the truck driver is distracted from his surroundings, which places all other drivers at risk. Even though most distracted driving activities are illegal under federal trucking regulations, distracted driving continues to be a leading cause of trucking accidents.
Reckless Driving
Sadly, it’s not uncommon for truckers to drive recklessly, such as by running red lights, speeding, tailgating, changing lanes without signaling, or failing to yield to cars that are merging on and off highways. There are numerous reasons why a truck driver may drive recklessly, but it’s usually because they are expected to adhere to strict break requirements and may feel as if they don’t have another choice but to make up time in other ways. Sometimes, they may break the rules of the road because of overconfidence in their driving abilities. No matter what the reason, if a truck driver drove recklessly, and caused an accident because of it, then they should be held liable for their actions.
Driving Under the Influence
A lot of truck drivers may use stimulants to try and keep them awake and alert, and some also rely on prescription painkillers and other medications. This can inhibit their abilities to drive.
Some truckers may also take illegal substances or drink alcohol while driving to combat pain or boredom, which places others at risk.
Fatigued Driving
Truck drivers often spend long hours behind the wheel, especially if they are traveling long distances. This can make the driver tired, which slows their reflexes and lengthens response time. This is a much more common issue than you make think – in fact, it became such a problem that federal laws were passed to ensure truck drivers take regular rest breaks in order to reduce the likelihood of them falling asleep at the wheel. Despite this, many truckers still drive through their rest periods or shorten their sleep time to make deliveries faster. As drivers are often paid premiums to make their deliveries quickly, they are choosing profit over safety, which puts the trucker and other drivers in danger.
Poorly Maintained Trucks
It is the responsibility of the trucking company to ensure that the trucks their drivers operate are fully functioning. However, despite laws that require regular safety inspections made before each journey, many trucks on the road have inadequate breaks, bald tires, poor electrical systems, and other mechanic issues, all of which could result in a truck accident.
In some cases where the truck experienced a mechanical problem, which then resulted in a truck accident, the accident may not have been the truck driver’s fault. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer will be able to determine who is liable for the malfunction, and therefore the accident, and will support and guide you in filing an accident claim against the at-fault party so that you receive the compensation that you deserve.
Poorly Trained Truck Driver
All truck drivers need some specific training when it comes to driving such a large vehicle. Driving a commercial truck is not the same as driving a small car. Without sufficient training, truck drivers are more likely to cause dangerous and severe accidents, which leave victims suffering from serious injuries.
Overloaded Trailers
Some companies may overload their vehicles as it means their driver will need to make fewer trips, even though there are strict regulations regarding how much cargo a truck can carry. If a truck is overloaded, the balance of the vehicle will be affected greatly, which may compromise the driver’s ability to stop or turn suddenly.
Common Types of Truck Accidents
The type of the truck and the cause of the accident are just a few factors that impact what type of truck accident you were involved in. Our personal injury lawyers have helped clients who have been involved in a wide range of truck accidents, but some of the most common ones include the following:
- Jackknife – If the trailer of a truck swings out perpendicular to the truck, then this is known as a jackknife. When trailers jackknife, they have the potential to crash into other vehicles in the adjacent lane, which can result in widespread destruction and serious, sometimes even fatal, injuries.
- Runaway truck – If a truck driver is unable to slow or stop their truck, then this is known as a runaway truck. This often happens when semi-trucks or commercial trucks are traveling downhill. The vehicle crashes into anything in its path, which can cause serious injury.
- Rollover – It’s not uncommon for large trucks to tip onto their side when a truck driver travels too fast around a corner or bend. These large trucks can also tip over if they’re driving in high, strong winds.
- Override – This is a rear-end crash, where a truck crashes into the back of a passenger vehicle. When this happens, the truck may end up driving onto the back of the car and sometimes even onto the back seat, which is usually fatal for passengers sat there.
- Underride – When smaller passenger vehicles crash into the back of a commercial or semi-truck, the small vehicle may become wedged underneath the truck. This is known as an underride and is usually lethal for the driver and passenger in the front seats.
- Cargo spills – When cargo spills off the back of a truck, this can cause severe injuries. The cargo may land on another vehicle, or it can cause an obstacle in the road.
If you were involved in one of the truck accidents listed above, or any other, then you may be entitled to compensation. To find out if you have a valid claim, contact The Law Place today and schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with one of our skilled accident lawyers.
We’re here to serve you. Our phones are open 24 hours a day. Common Truck Accident Injuries
Because large trucks, such as commercial trucks and semi-trucks, are so much larger and heavier than passenger cars, vans, and SUVs, they often cause more serious injuries to accident victims. Some of the most common injuries caused include the following:
- Soft tissue injuries.
- Traumatic brain or head injuries.
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Neck injuries, such as whiplash.
- Broken or fractured bones.
- Paralysis.
- Dismemberment.
- Disfigurement.
If you were injured in a truck accident that was not your fault, then you may deserve compensation. Large truck accidents can often completely change the lives of victims, and if this is the case for you, then we want to help. Speak to an experienced attorney today.
We’re Florida’s top litigation team with over 75 years of combined experience Who Is Usually Liable for Truck Accidents?
Before you can file a lawsuit, you need to know who caused the truck accident and so is liable for your damages. This can be a complicated process because multiple parties can be at fault and also because insurance companies and the trucking company will argue to try to avoid the blame. There are also multiple laws and statutes in the State of Florida that protect the trucking industry. Because of this, you need the help of an experienced lawyer when trying to determine who is at fault.
Our injury attorneys know the Florida legal system like the back of their hands. With plenty of experience and skill, you can trust that they will thoroughly investigate your crash to work out which parties are at fault and should be sued.
Every truck accident is different, but some of the parties that are found to be at fault are listed below:
- The truck driver if it was a driver error.
- The owner of the truck if the truck had been inadequately maintained, causing the accident.
- The trucking company if the driver error was caused by poor working conditions.
- Truck manufacturers if the truck or trucking equipment was defective.
- Cargo shippers if they loaded the truck incorrectly.
Our lawyers will investigate your crash and examine all relevant evidence and documents to determine who caused your truck accident. If they can successfully prove that someone else was negligent, then you and your lawyers will be able to hold them liable for the losses you suffered and claim compensation from them. To begin the legal process, call The Law Place today and book a free consultation.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers. What Damages Am I Entitled to After a Truck Accident?
If you were involved in a truck accident, then there’s a range of damages that you may be able to claim, depending on the specific crash and the suffering you endured. The most common damages that victims of truck accidents are awarded compensation for are:
- Medical bills.
- Property damage.
- Loss of income.
- Pain and suffering.
- Wrongful death.
While we know that no amount of compensation can help the injuries and trauma that you’ve sustained, we also know that it will help you manage the financial burdens caused by the accident and also serve as proof that some justice has been served.
Because of this, it’s important that you get in touch with The Law Place for help and advice. Our team will work to make sure that you get the compensation you deserve while you focus on healing and resting. So call The Law Place today to ensure that your case is in the hands of experienced and trustworthy accident attorneys.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
Immediately after being involved in a truck accident, you should get medical attention, even if you don’t feel hurt. This is because there are many injuries that don’t have symptoms until a few days or even weeks after an accident, such as concussions. As well as this, if you decide to file a claim, medical records will be vital evidence in proving the injuries that you sustained. If you are able to, you should also ensure that everyone else involved gets medical attention if necessary.
You will also need to get in touch with your insurance company as soon as possible. However, remember, insurance companies are not on your side. When speaking to your insurance company, be sure to keep any answers short and to the point – avoid going into detail or sharing any more information than necessary. Insurance companies regularly deal with truck accidents and so will be searching for reasons not to pay you the money you deserve. They will use your words against you.
Once you are ready, you should contact The Law Place. In Florida, there is a statute of limitations, meaning that you can only file a claim or lawsuit within four years of the accident occurring. This is explained in Florida Statute 95.11. Because of this, it’s best to get in touch with a lawyer as soon as possible to ensure that they have plenty of time to thoroughly investigate your case and build a strong argument.
They will be able to help you further. If you have any questions or need any help, contact The Law Place today. Our truck accident attorneys have decades of experience and so will be able to help you.
Contact The Law Place, Florida
Unfortunately, devastating truck accidents happen far too often in Florida. The victims of these accidents are usually left suffering from serious injuries and trauma for years to come, even though the accident was not their fault. If this is the case for you, then we want to help you secure the compensation and justice that you deserve.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a truck accident, then you should consider hiring a reputable law firm to represent you and fight on your behalf for the compensation that you’re owed. Our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so contact us now! Call us at (941) 444-4444 and schedule your free consultation.
