As shipping demands rise and the region’s highways stay packed with commuters, trucking accidents remain a concern for anyone who drives through Fort Lauderdale. The leading causes of truck accidents in Fort Lauderdale include speeding, distracted driving, driving while impaired, and hazardous conditions.
Truck accidents can cause devastating injuries. If you were injured in a crash with a truck, a Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer can help you obtain a fair settlement.
Leading Causes of Truck Accidents in Fort Lauderdale
Truck crashes in Fort Lauderdale have a variety of causes, many of which relate to driver negligence. Here are the most common causes of collisions in Fort Lauderdale trucking accident cases:
Driver Fatigue
Truck drivers spend long hours behind the wheel, and even though there are federal limits on driving hours, many push themselves past the point of safety. Fatigue slows reaction times, reduces awareness, and increases the risk of drifting between lanes or failing to brake in time.
Distracted Driving
Anything that takes a driver’s eyes, hands, or attention away from the road can cause a severe crash. Phone use, GPS adjustments, eating, doing paperwork, and communicating with dispatch often contribute to distracted driving accidents.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving
Fort Lauderdale’s congested highways often tempt drivers to speed or weave through traffic. A fully loaded truck needs a much longer distance to stop, so speeding significantly increases crash severity.
Improper Vehicle Maintenance
Trucking companies are supposed to keep their fleets in safe working condition, but not all do. Brake failures, worn tires, broken lights, and steering issues can all lead to catastrophic accidents on busy roadways.
Cargo Loading Errors
Overloaded or unevenly distributed cargo can make a truck difficult to control. Shifting cargo can cause rollovers, jackknife accidents, or lost-load spills that endanger everyone nearby.
Driving Under the Influence
Alcohol or drug impairment can impair a truck driver’s judgment and coordination. Because of the size and weight of commercial trucks, intoxicated driving is especially dangerous.
Inexperienced or Poorly Trained Drivers
Some trucking companies rush new drivers into service without adequate training. Inexperienced drivers may not know how to handle tight turns, heavy traffic, or emergency situations.
Hazardous Road or Weather Conditions
Rain, standing water, construction zones, and sharp curves can create hazards that inexperienced or inattentive truck drivers fail to navigate safely.
How Negligence Plays Into Fort Lauderdale Trucking Accidents
To recover compensation after a trucking accident, you must prove negligence. This means showing that the driver, trucking company, or another party failed to act safely and that their actions caused your injuries. Negligence can occur at several levels, including:
- Driver-related negligence, such as fatigue, distraction, speeding, impairment, and violations of traffic laws
- Company-related negligence, such as poor hiring practices, inadequate training, pressure to meet unrealistic deadlines, or skipped maintenance
- Manufacturer negligence, which may involve manufacturing defective truck parts that lead to mechanical failure
- Cargo-loading negligence, which may entail loading practices by warehouses or shipping companies
Trucking cases often involve multiple negligent parties, which is why it’s important to work with an experienced attorney.
What to Do After a Trucking Accident in Fort Lauderdale
The steps you take after a truck accident can affect your ability to build a strong claim. Here’s what you should focus on immediately after the collision:
- Call law enforcement: A police report helps document what happened and may include citations or evidence that supports your claim.
- Gather proof at the scene: Photos, videos, skid marks, debris, and vehicle damage can strengthen your case.
- Collect the driver’s information: Get the driver’s name, employer, truck number, license, and insurance details.
- Get medical attention: Even if you feel fine, get evaluated by a doctor. Some injuries don’t show symptoms right away, and medical documentation will be important to your case.
- Avoid talking to the trucking company’s insurer: Their goal is to reduce your payout. Stick to the basic facts and never admit fault.
- Contact a Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer: An attorney can help collect evidence, deal with insurance adjusters, and protect your right to compensation.
Types of Compensation You Can Recover
If someone else’s negligence caused your crash, you can pursue several types of damages, including
- Medical expenses: You can recover compensation for hospital treatment, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, and any future medical care tied to the accident.
- Lost income: You can claim lost wages if your injuries keep you out of work or compromise your ability to earn a living in the future.
- Pain and suffering: You can seek compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress the accident caused.
- Property damage: You can seek compensation for repairing or replacing your vehicle and any other damaged personal property.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: You can recover damages if your injuries limit your ability to participate in activities you once enjoyed.
- Punitive damages: You can receive punitive damages if the at-fault party’s behavior was reckless or intentional.
Consult a Truck Accident Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale
Truck accident evidence can disappear quickly, and insurers will look for any reason to deny your claim. A Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorney from Anidjar & Levine can help collect critical evidence, negotiate with the insurance company, and pursue the compensation you need to move on.
Schedule a free consultation to find out how you can get justice for your truck accident.
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