Lakeland Truck Accident Attorneys
Despite the myriad of state and federal regulations that are intended to make large trucks safe to operate, the number of accidents involving large trucks continues to increase. In fact, in only one year, Florida has more than 30,000 truck accidents each year.
These accidents can be very serious, given the size and weight of most trucks. Accident victims often suffer serious, life-changing physical injuries and life-long trauma. They may be unable to work and could require ongoing medical treatment and care.
The experienced Lakeland truck accident attorneys at Dennis Hernandez & Associates, PA know how devastating truck accidents can be and are committed to helping injured victims hold the party or parties responsible for the accident accountable for their negligence and recovering the monetary compensation their victims deserve.
Common Causes of Lakeland Truck Accidents
The causes of a truck accident can be complicated to determine, since several factors may contribute to an accident. However, the most common causes of truck 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. - Poor maintenance – 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.
- 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.
Who Is Responsible for a Lakeland Truck Accident?
When another party’s negligence caused or contributed to a truck accident, an injured victim may be entitled to compensation. Sometimes, however, determining who the negligent party (parties) is can be a complex task because it could be any of the following parties:
- 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 claim to ensure that you are fully and fairly compensated for your injuries or loss.
Compensation for Lakeland Truck Accident Injuries
As the injured victim of a Lakeland truck accident, you could be entitled to compensation for the injuries you suffered because of the collision, including compensation for:
- Loss of earning capacity in the future
- Income lost because of time off because of accident injuries
- Rehabilitation and other care costs
- Medical expenses
- Diminished qualify of life
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Disfigurement and permanent scarring
- Other damages recoverable under Florida law
If you lost a family member in a truck accident, you may be entitled to file as a claimant in a wrongful death lawsuit. As a claimant in a truck accident lawsuit, you could also 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.
Get the Help You Need after a Lakeland Truck Accident
If you or a family member has been injured in a truck accident, please contact the experienced Lakeland 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.
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