Fort Myers Truck Accident Attorneys
Although improvements in vehicle safety technology and driver training have been made, the number of truck accidents and fatal truck crashes has been increasing every year since 2009. Unfortunately, these crashes often result in serious, life-threatening or fatal injuries, since commercial trucks typically weigh 25 times as much as cars and are not as responsive.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, you may be suffering physically, emotionally and financially. The experienced Fort Myers truck accident attorneys at Dennis Hernandez & Associates, PA know how devastating truck accidents can be and are committed to helping injured victims like you hold the party or parties responsible for the accident accountable for their negligence and recover the monetary compensation you deserve.
Causes of Fort Myers Trucking Accidents
Several factors can contribute to a single truck collision. However, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the main causes of trucking accidents are:
- Driving when drowsy
Despite federal laws restricting the number of hours a truck driver can drive, drowsy driving is still a leading cause of trucking accidents in the U.S. According the U.S. Department of Transportation, 87% of crashes caused by trucks are due to driver fatigue. Moreover, if a driver is on the road for more than the allotted eight hours, the risk of crashing is doubled when compared to drivers on the road for less than eight hours.
- Distracted driving
Distracted driving is a common cause of all motor vehicle accidents; however, it can be deadly when the distracted driver is a truck driver. Federal law prohibits all truck drivers from texting while driving. Nevertheless, many truck drivers continue to use handheld electronic devices while driving.
- Impaired driving – Alcohol and drugs, including over-the-counter and prescription medications can impair a driver’s ability to avoid dangerous situations and collisions.
- Speeding – When truck drivers speed, they endanger everyone on the road. Trucks cannot stop quickly to avoid crashes, and speeding worsens the situation.
- Maintenance problems – State and federal laws require pre-trip inspections of a large truck prior to operating the truck. In addition, owners/operators must perform routine maintenance on the truck. When an inspection is rushed, or bypassed altogether, a catastrophic accident can occur. Common inspection and maintenance issues that result in collisions include tire/wheel defects, brake defects, and unsecured or overloaded trailers.
Who Is Legally Responsible in a Fort Myers Truck Accident Injury Case?
Identifying the legally responsible party in a trucking accident can be a complex task because the negligent party (or parties) could be any of the following:
- Driver
- Trucking company
- Owner of the cargo
- Truck manufacturer
- The company responsible for maintenance/repairs
An experienced truck accident attorney will identify all possible defendants and bring each one into the lawsuit to ensure that you are fully and fairly compensated for your injuries or loss.
Compensation for Truck Accident Injury Victims
You may be entitled to recover damages to help compensate you for your physical and emotional injuries if you were involved in a Fort Myers truck accident, including compensation for:
- Income lost because of time off because of accident injuries
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and other care costs
- Loss of earning capacity in the future
- Disfigurement and permanent scarring
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Diminished qualify of life
- Other damages recoverable under Florida law
As a surviving family member of someone killed in a truck accident, you could also be entitled to file as the claimant in a wrongful death lawsuit. As a claimant in a truck accident lawsuit, you could be entitled to compensation for loss of consortium if a spouse or parent can no longer provide the companionship, care, and support they did prior to the accident.
Help Is Available from an Experienced Fort Myers Truck Accident Attorney
If you or a family member has been injured in a truck accident, please contact the experienced Fort Myers truck accident attorneys at Dennis Hernandez & Associates, PA as soon as possible. We are committed to helping accident victims obtain justice and get compensated fully and fairly for their injuries.
Getting help from the attorneys at Dennis Hernandez & Associates, PA means you will have expert support through the entire legal process – from gathering evidence, through filing a lawsuit, to going to trial, if necessary. We assure that we’ve collected all the evidence needed to prove negligence and filed all forms in a timely manner, and we negotiate directly and vigorously with insurance companies on your behalf. We build a powerful case demonstrating your need for compensation for physical, emotional, and financial damages resulting from the truck accident.
Many injury lawyers try to avoid going to trial by settling early with insurance companies, but we won’t let you down in this way. We will put our trial experience and litigation skill to work fighting for maximum compensation for you.
Call us at 855.529.3366 or fill in the FREE CASE EVALUATION form on our website to get started on your case.
Sources:
Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. (2018). Traffic crash facts.
https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/crashreports/crash_facts_2018.pdf
U.S. Department of Transportation. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. (2018). Large truck and bus crash facts 2018.
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts-2018#A1
U.S. Department of Transportation. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. (2020). Our roads our safety. Tips for truck and bus drivers.
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ourroads/tips-truck-and-bus-drivers