Book Free Consultation
Schedule a Complimentary Consultation to Discuss Your Legal Needs with Our Experienced Team
Accidents involving commercial trucks are far more dangerous than a typical motor vehicle accident. This happens due to a number of factors, though mainly due to the weight and the massive size of the truck. Truck accidents are serious in nature and often result in death or serious personal injuries to the occupants of the passenger vehicle/s that is/are in collision. Though, there are some measures you can take to help prevent truck accidents when you are on the road. Hence, it is important to understand the situations that most often lead to truck accidents..
Negligence on the road is common among all drivers, and, while truck drivers are no exception, it may surprise you to learn that studies show approximately 81% of truck accidents are actually caused by the passenger vehicles.
Other causes include:
One of the most common causes of trucking accidents is motor vehicles traveling in a truck’s blind spot. This is avoidable if you learn about the four most common blind spots. The spots include:
It’s not possible to predict an accident settlement amount. The compensation for a truck accident depends on various factors. The amount can usually range between hundreds to millions of dollars based on the severity of the accident.
The legal procedure after a truck accident demands a thorough investigation to determine the fault. This process involves inspecting the accident scene, reviewing the police reports, talking to the witnesses and other parties involved in the accident, assessing vehicle condition, investigating the truck’s maintenance records and driver’s performance, and more. Investigating all these aspects can determine who is at fault in a truck accident.
The most common causes of truck accidents include distracted driving, reckless driving, driving under intoxication (DUI), fatigue, poor vehicle maintenance, overloaded cargo, adverse weather and poor road conditions, extreme hurry, lack of driver’s training and experience, violation of traffic rules and signals, sudden lane changes, highway hypnosis, failure to stop the vehicle on time, and many more.
Our team of experienced truck accident lawyers at Injury Assistance Law Firm is dedicated to protecting one’s rights to compensation after a truck accident. Truck accidents can cause the most devastating injuries or even death due to the size and weight of the vehicles. Our attorneys’ team has recovered billions of settlements for accident victims for years. I.A.L.F. is your go-to law firm when you are seeking the best legal assistance.
Truck accident settlement costs consider several factors: medical expenses (current and future), loss of work and income, property damage, physical pain, mental anguish, adverse effects on daily life and activities, punitive damages, comparative negligence, insurance coverage limit, etc. Our truck accident attorneys calculate all the losses to determine the settlement amount.
The best tips for avoiding a truck accident are to be aware of blind spots, maintain a safe distance from trucks, be patient, adhere to traffic rules, drive carefully around turning trucks, use caution, anticipate weather conditions, and so on. Drivers need to be careful of these factors during their journey to avoid a collision.
Hiring an attorney immediately after a truck accident is highly crucial. The sooner one does, the more it benefits the case. A truck accident victim must consult a truck accident attorney to increase the chance of receiving maximum compensation. Evidence can be lost or lose relevance over time. An experienced attorney builds a strong case on the victim’s behalf, accumulating all the proof and evidence available with solid legal guidance.
A truck accident lawyer fights for the rights of a truck accident victim and leaves no stone unturned to recover the losses suffered. From analyzing the accident, collecting evidence, fighting for the victim’s rights, negotiating with the insurance company, and representing the victim in court to receiving fair compensation from the liable parties - our truck accident attorneys do it all.
You can ask your friends and family for recommendations on attorneys (who have handled similar truck accident cases like yours), check online reviews, review the lawyer’s experience and success record, verify their license, and schedule a consultation to decide on the best big truck lawyer for your case in the U.S.
The steps of a truck accident investigation include checking the accident scene, collecting evidence and police reports, talking to the witnesses and other parties involved in the accident, examining the vehicle, obtaining medical records, and proceeding further in building a strong personal injury case based on the information. Our attorneys at I.A.L.F. run a strategic accident investigation to ensure the victims receive fair compensation.
Trucks run many miles a day. The long time drive can lead to a high rate of wear and tear on these vehicles that require continual maintenance. Some maintenance concerns include:
Worn out brake pads:
Failure to regularly check and replace brake pads after running a certain mile is a common cause of truck brake failure.
Tire issues
Truck drivers are expected to check their tires before beginning every drive. Trucking companies take on heavier responsibility than individual drivers. They are obligated to replace tires that are worn out or defective. Unfortunately, this does not happen all the time, which leads to tire blowouts. Blown-out tires are one of the leading causes of truck accidents.
Cargo Overload
The trucking industry has very specific rules that the truckers must abide by when it comes to a commercial truck bed. There are length, height, width, and weight restrictions and limitations on the size of the load placed on the bed and also special methods to secure the cargo for transportation. Mistakes during the loading process can cause a load to pull into another traffic lane, resulting in an accident. The balance of the truck can be thrown off if the cargo is overloaded, is not properly loaded or if it is not balanced.
Drivers are also expected to check their trucks at the start of their shift and file a maintenance report. Unfortunately, drivers do not always follow these steps, and skipping them can sometimes be catastrophic.
Failure of Equipment
Since trucks feature a more complex braking system compared to regular motor vehicles, even the slightest glitch can cause the entire system to fail. This is different from faulty brake pads, where the issue is a design defect or product liability matter than a maintenance issue with the truck itself.
Many companies fail to properly maintain their trucks, which can result in equipment failure, especially when that equipment is needed the most. Manufacturers can also be held responsible for any negligent product defects that result in an accident. The manufacturers of vehicle parts, the company that sold the truck, the truck manufacturers, and the mechanic/installer who completed the truck repairs can all be held accountable. Even though safety inspections come under routine check in the trucking industry, some trucks pass inspection even when they shouldn’t. This means these trucks are unsafe on the road, exposing themselves and the passenger vehicles to danger, and there are accidents happening that could have been avoided. In such cases, Florida Truck Accidents Lawyer at Injury Assistance Law Firm backs you up with the best legal assistance to prove the negligence of the liable party or parties.
Inclement Weather
Trucks travel through the night in all kinds of inclement weather. Training and preparation to drive in such conditions should not be lightly regarded. Heavy rain, snow, ice, rain, fog, sleet, wind, and hail can create conditions that cause the driver to lose control of the truck, resulting in major accidents.
Lack Of Skill
Lack of experience in operating a large commercial truck is often the cause of many truck accidents. A commercial driver’s license is not too hard to obtain. A new truck driver certainly requires an adjustment period when developing the skills to maneuver such a large truck in challenging weather conditions across difficult and steep terrain.