Semi-Truck - Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney

Written and edited by our team of expert legal content writers and reviewed and approved by Daniel Harwin

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Florida is a major trucking destination, with tens of thousands of commercial trucks traveling in and out of the state year-round. As the primary transporter of goods, large trucks are an essential part of the nation’s economy. Yet trucking also comes with major risks and potentially catastrophic consequences. Major highways such as Interstates 75, 275, 10, and 4 are not only used heavily by commuters, but are also rife with large and heavy commercial vehicles. And because commercial trucks are large, heavy, and often difficult to control, accidents involving them can often end in serious injury or even tragedy. If you’ve been in an accident with a truck recently, call the lawyers at Freedland Harwin Valori, PL today for a free consultation.

Why Do Truck Accidents Happen?

Truck drivers and trucking companies have a long list of strict state and federal laws they must obey for the safety of workers and the population as a whole. These laws deal with hours of service regulations, cargo-loading procedures, driver training and hiring, fleet maintenance, electronic data logging, and more. Breaking any of these rules, resulting in a preventable truck accident, is negligence. Examples of negligence-related accidents include:

  • A trucking company fails to maintain its vehicles properly. While on the road, a large truck suffers a tire blowout, causing the vehicle to lose control and collide head-on with oncoming traffic.
  • A truck driver drives past his hours of service regulations to meet a deadline because his employer has pressured him to do so. He falls asleep behind the wheel and drifts into another lane of traffic, causing an accident.
  • A trucking company rushes through a driver’s training to get him or her on the road faster. The driver doesn’t know how to properly drive the vehicle and ends up rear-ending someone due to improper braking techniques – or worse, ends up flipping his vehicle due to poorly-trained evasive procedures.

In these and similar situations, injured victims would have grounds to file lawsuits against both the truck driver and the trucking company. Trucking companies are vicariously liable for the actions and behaviors of their on-duty drivers. If the trucker was off-duty at the time of the crash, victims may be able to bring a claim against the individual driver instead. Other defendants, such as vehicle part manufacturers, third-party drivers, or the city in charge of roadway maintenance, also may be responsible.

With so many potentially responsible parties in the picture, it can be difficult to determine exactly who is culpable for your injuries and damages. Because of these complexities, it is ideal to contact the lawyers at Freedland Harwin Valori, PL for a consultation.

What to Do in a Truck Accident

If you were the victim of a truck accident in Florida, it is imperative that you take action immediately to build your case. If you suffered only minor injuries, document everything at the scene that occurred. That includes visual evidence in the form of pictures of both your vehicle and the truck involved, and also written evidence. That includes names, license plate numbers, ID numbers, and any specifics regarding the truck driver, including the trucking company, any trucking company ID numbers, and other important details.

Next, go to the doctor as soon as possible after an accident. Some serious injuries may not show themselves until a few days later, due to shock or a rush of adrenaline. Additionally, prompt medical care can help your prognosis, as well as show insurance companies that you suffered injuries in the crash. Keep copies of your medical bills and records. Next, call a legal team specializing in truck accidents, such as the lawyers at Freedland Harwin Valori, LP, to discuss ways to secure maximum compensation from the truck company and/or other parties.

Our lawyers can help you go up against large truck company insurers, navigating the many related laws to your best advantage. If necessary, we are not afraid to take your claim to court to retrieve maximum compensation for any and all damages. If your crash caused more than $10,000 in damages, you can file a personal injury claim instead of only going through your insurer. Call us today to explore all of your options, and get the recovery you deserve.

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