If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, you know how devastating it can be. A tractor-trailer is much larger, heavier, and more destructive than a standard car, truck, or SUV. When a large truck collides with a smaller vehicle, the occupants of the smaller car usually bear the brunt of the collision. That’s why we see so many severe injuries in these accidents.
After a life-altering truck crash, you need an attorney to fight for the settlement or court award you and your family need. With our legal representation, we have helped many truck accident victims get the maximum compensation possible. Put our experience and resources to work for you. Reach out to the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine and get one of our Boynton Beach personal injury lawyers to work on your case today.
Common Causes of South Florida Truck Accidents
Commercial truck accidents are common in our area and cause thousands of injuries annually. Under Florida law, victims are entitled to financial compensation when someone’s negligence causes injuries.
Injured auto accident victims can always seek legal advice if they think another party could be at fault in a collision. Below are some of the most common commercial truck accident causes that entitle victims to compensation:
Distracted Driving Has Become More Pervasive
Because truckers spend many hours on the road each day, they can easily get bored and want to multitask. Smartphones that text, email, and play movies have exacerbated this problem. Distracted drivers often weave, fail to spot vehicles ahead, speed, and break traffic laws.
Driver Fatigue Is Common to the Industry
Not only are the hours long, but the job is also physically demanding. Exhaustion behind the wheel can have similar effects as intoxication, dulling the reflexes and cutting reaction times. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has enacted hours of service to help eliminate accidents as a result of driver fatigue.
Driving While Intoxicated Is Unacceptable
Whether it is alcohol or prescription medication, intoxication is still a common cause of accidents involving trucks. As stated in driver fatigue above, the truck driver is incapable of making sound judgments or operating his vehicle safely while intoxicated. In fact, FMCSA sets the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level at 0.04 percent as the designated value of a truck driver driving under the influence of alcohol.
Speeding and Reckless Behavior Can Have Serious Consequences
Many commercial truck accidents involve speeding. Truckers often have tight delivery schedules and work long hours. Both of these factors tempt them to take risks and speed to get to their destination faster. Speeding increases the risk of an accident.
Inclement Weather Also Plays a Role
Truckers often drive at or above the speed limit in rain, snow, and ice despite federal regulations requiring “extreme caution” in hazardous conditions. The resulting accidents can be devastating when drivers fail to adjust to the weather.
Other common factors can include poor truck maintenance, improperly secured cargo, and defective parts such as tires and brakes. If you believe any of these to be the cause of your truck accident, or something not mentioned here, speak with our truck accident team. We can review the circumstances of your accident and explain your possible next steps.
We Identify the Liable Parties in Your Boynton Beach Truck Accident
When our legal team takes your case, our first goal is to understand what happened in your accident. That way, we can identify all parties who might bear responsibility. We do this by thoroughly investigating the circumstances of your crash.
We look at police reports, talk to witnesses, examine photos and video footage from the accident scene, reconstruct the collision, and consult expert witnesses. Once we prove negligence in your case, we can hold the responsible party or parties liable for your losses.
Often, multiple parties share liability for a truck accident. If this is the case, we will go after them all. Even if you are partly to blame, that doesn’t disqualify you from pursuing compensation. We can navigate the many complexities of your case and steer it toward the best outcome.
Here are some of the parties who might share in the responsibility:
The Truck Driver Is Frequently At Fault
Truckers in South Florida owe the same duty of care to other drivers as the rest of us. In addition, they must follow strict rules on the number of consecutive hours they can drive, how much rest they must receive, and other safety guidelines.
They are required to record this information in a logbook. If the truck driver’s logbook is incomplete, contains inaccurate information, or reveals the driver violated a regulation, we will use this as evidence against them.
The Trucking Company Is Responsible for Their Trucks and Drivers
Under the concept of vicarious liability, employers are responsible for their employees’ actions while they are on the job. That principle means if we can prove the truck driver was partially or fully at fault in your accident, we can hold the trucking company that employs them liable for their employee’s negligence.
Trucking companies tend to have deep pockets, meaning they have more money than most individuals. Going after the company gives you a far better chance of winning the full value of your damages, which can add up quickly after a trucking accident.
The Manufacturer Is Responsible for the Products They Sell
Suppose a defective part in either your vehicle or the truck caused or contributed to the accident. In that case, there’s a good chance that the part manufacturer shares liability. We can also pursue them for compensation.
We Gather Evidence and Build an Airtight Case Against the Responsible Parties
We can identify all parties responsible for your truck accident with a thorough investigation. With enough evidence, we can prove they are liable and win compensation. We know how to build a solid case by collecting the following proof:
Police Reports Are the Foundation of the Evidence File
The police report can be a great source of evidence, particularly if it cites the truck driver for a traffic violation or implicates them in some way.
Eyewitness Statements Give an Another Perspective
We talk to anyone who witnessed the crash about what they saw. We go over everything they observed or heard at the accident scene.
Accident Reconstruction Validates the Events
We work with accident reconstruction experts to recreate the crash and everything that preceded it in accurate detail.
Truck Logs Give a History of the Truck and Driver
As previously mentioned, we always subpoena the truck driver’s logbook to identify any law or regulation they might have violated at the time of the accident.
Medical Records Connect Your Injuries to the Accident
It is vital to seek medical attention as soon as possible after being injured in an accident. Your health is important, and doctors can examine you for any apparent and obscure injuries you may have. It also protects your claim. Using your medical bills and records, we can provide a definitive link between the truck accident and your injuries.
Reach out to the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today.
We Pursue All Recoverable Truck Accident Related-Damages
Truck accidents are often life-altering due to the severe injuries victims sustain.
Our Boynton Beach personal injury attorneys go after the responsible party for every type of compensation the law allows, including:
- Medical expenses, both current and future
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Vehicle repairs
- Replacement vehicle
- Disability accommodations like wheelchair ramps
- Pain and suffering
The Importance of Contacting an Attorney Soon After an Accident
When you hire a personal injury lawyer from our law firm, we will begin working immediately, gathering evidence and building your case. The sooner you reach out to our legal team, the sooner we can start on your recovery, and you can begin to move forward with your life.
Statute of Limitations on Truck Accident Cases
Florida has a statute of limitations on filing lawsuits against negligent parties. You generally have two years to file your lawsuit if you were injured, as set forth in Florida Statutes § 95.11. This window of opportunity begins when you suffer the injury or discover your condition.
After losing a loved one in an accident, you normally have two years to file a lawsuit for wrongful death. This deadline begins on the date of your loved one’s passing.
You lose your right to sue if you fail to file within the allowable time frame. Some exceptions may apply, and our attorney can explain how the statute of limitations affects your specific case.
A Boynton Beach Truck Accident Lawyer Can Handle the Claims Process for You
After we collect the evidence we need and calculate the full value of your damages, we will file a truck accident claim with the liable party’s insurer. Trucking companies carry large liability insurance policies for their drivers.
This is good news for truck crash victims. Even if the trucking company lacks the financial resources to pay a settlement, its insurance policy should cover your damages.
That said, insurance companies try to pay as little as possible. They may even deny your claim outright if they can get away with it. Our truck accident attorney will go up against them and fight for a fair settlement.
Our South Florida Lawyers Accept Cases on a Contingency- Fee-Basis
Our attorneys love taking on insurance companies and winning big for our clients. If we come across an insurer unwilling to offer a fair settlement, we do not hesitate to file a lawsuit and protect the interests of our clients in court.
When we say our law firm handles cases on a contingency-fee-basis, that means you owe us nothing unless we win your case.
Call to Speak With a Truck Accident Lawyer in Boynton Beach
It’s important to hire a reputable truck collision lawyer who understands the laws governing Florida accidents. Our Boynton Beach truck accident lawyers know where to look for information, such as police reports, medical records, and witness statements, and can help you build a strong personal injury claim.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine offer skilled and experienced personal injury representation in South Florida. We have a strong track record of winning big settlements for our clients and can do the same for you. Contact us today for a free consultation.