Our Trusted Orlando Truck Accident Attorney Helps Central Florida Crash Victims Recover Fair Compensation
Truck Accident Lawyer in Orlando, FL
Truck accidents can be devastating, and sadly, when big-rigs and passenger vehicles collide, it’s the driver and occupants of the passenger vehicle who tend to bear the brunt of the injuries and damages. After a Central Florida truck accident, you may find yourself severely injured and out of work for weeks or months as a result while your household and medical expenses mount.
It’s a distressing situation, and if it was caused by another person’s or company’s negligence, it could be particularly difficult to accept. No one wants to get stuck paying for someone else’s mistake. Fortunately, with skilled legal representation, you may not have to.
At Louis Berk Law, our knowledgeable, experienced, and trusted Orlando truck accident attorney has helped countless truck crash victims protect their rights and recover the compensation they deserved for their injuries and losses. We may be able to do the same for you.
Florida Truck Accident Case Basics
Considering taking legal action to seek compensation for injuries and damages sustained in a Florida truck accident? Here’s what you should know:
- Florida is a no-fault insurance state. This means that, after an accident, you’ll file a claim with your own insurance company, rather than filing a claim with the at-fault party’s insurer.
- Florida allows truck accident victims to sue the at-fault party directly if they suffered a permanent injury, significant permanent scarring or disfigurement, significant permanent loss of a bodily function, or the death of a loved one. Truck accident victims often meet one of these criteria due to the catastrophic nature of these accidents.
- Think you may have contributed to the accident? Florida follows comparative negligence rules, which means you may still be entitled to compensation. However, your settlement or financial award may be reduced to reflect your role.
- Florida gives you four years from the date of the truck accident to file an insurance claim or lawsuit. Waiting too long to take legal action can cause your case to be dismissed without being heard. Don’t risk it. Act quickly to preserve valuable evidence and your right to pursue a legal remedy.
Common Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents in Florida
The negligence that leads to truck accidents can take many forms. Some of the most common causes of Orlando truck accidents include:
- Drowsy driving: Truck drivers spend much time working days and hours, leading to drowsy driving. According to Law, truck drivers have to abide by their service hours over a specific period. In case the driver violates the laws in the course of the mishap, they can be found liable in the truck accident.
- Distracted driving: According to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), distracted driving occurs when the driver focuses somewhere while driving on the road. The truck driver may need to pay proper attention on the road to avoid the hazard on the way, which may lead to a fatal collision.
Factors responsible for distracted driving include:
- Smartphones
- Food
- Music
- Printed materials
- Video screens
- Animals on road
- Climate changes
- Other passengers in the vehicle
- Drunken Driving: As per the Florida Statutes §316.193, drivers with an alcohol level of 0.08% in blood or higher may be held liable for driving under the influence (DUI). Consumption of both drugs and alcohol applies according to Florida Law. Under such influence, the drivers may fail to control their vehicles to maintain safety. The factors that lead to an accident include,
- Less time to react to avoid a road mishap
- Imbalance in hand-eye coordination
- Failure to see an upcoming hazard on the roadway
- Restricted ability to calculate time and distance, which obstructs the driver’s vision to see other vehicles on the road
- Speeding: Truck drivers, at times, may feel they have no other choice to cover the road other than speeding up the vehicle. Drivers who are under pressure to deliver items as fast as possible become overstressed in the course of the journey and become impatient and infuriated towards the drivers of other vehicles on the road. Factors like recklessness, changing lanes randomly, and not giving signals to the other vehicles that merge on and off highways.
- Improper hiring practices: Companies often send inexperienced drivers on the road, and the process puts the other drivers at risk of facing an accident. If you or anyone you know has been hit by a truck where the driver turns out to be inefficient. With our Orlando truck accident attorneys, you can take action against the trucking agencies where the hiring practice is not properly supervised. Trucking companies turn out to be careless when the drivers,
- Don’t have valid commercial driver’s licenses
- Have poor driving records
- Who fail in drug and alcohol testing
- Whose criminal records are not checked
- With issues like vision problems or sleeping disorder
- With accident records
- Insufficient Driver Training or Supervision: Drivers with less or no experience don’t understand how to steer their 50-foot truck through heavy traffic, sharp turning corners, and in emergencies. Truck accidents are mostly catastrophic, which results in small vehicle damages. In such cases, the truck drivers are held accountable for their carelessness. Our truck accident lawyer in Orlando is at your back as you deal with a truck accident case.
- Inadequate truck inspections and maintenance: Trucking companies are held responsible if the trucks involved in the accident are found to have faulty parts or if the issue is a lack of maintenance. According to Florida Law, the drivers must do safety inspections on their vehicles before starting each journey. Most trucks on U.S. roadways have been found with poor electrical systems, bald tires, and lack of brakes after a truck accident, leading to fatal truck accidents.
- Improperly loaded cargo: Each truck or cargo comes with a specific loading capacity. Despite strict regulations, some companies overload trucks to make more trips and earn more revenue. It affects the balance of a vehicle when the driver fails to turn or stop the vehicle suddenly.
Injuries Incurred in Truck Accidents
The seriousness of Injuries varies from accident to accident. As per the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), specific truck vehicles must weigh specific tons. The trucks or semi trucks naturally overweigh typical passenger cars. In case a vehicle and a truck collide, the weight of the truck might cause fatal damages to those who are in the passenger vehicle. Accidents can change one’s life forever. Injuries a truck accident victim might experience include:
- Head Injuries: A truck accident victim may incur traumatic brain injuries, concussions, or loss of senses.
- Back Injuries: Truck accidents can result in spinal cord injuries, such as broken backs, that might lead to paralysis or loss of movement.
- Neck Injuries: Neck injuries sustained in truck accidents can cause whiplash, impacting the victims’ ability to move their heads.
- Broken Bones: Truck accidents can break or even smash the victim’s bones. The damages include fractured ribs, collarbones, arms, and legs.
The severity of the injuries can paralyze the victim’s body, which, as a result, reduces the quality of the victim’s everyday life. At Louis Berk Law, we do not want you to suffer in the future due to a truck driver’s negligence. Thereby, our truck accident lawyers in Orlando stand by you to protect your rights and bring you the best compensation that includes your future losses.
How Truck and Car Accident Cases Differ
Though they both involve types of motor vehicles, there are significant differences between truck and car accident cases. For example, compared to car accident cases, truck accident cases tend to have:
- More serious injuries and damages. Injuries in truck accident cases can be catastrophic, resulting in a long absence from work or even permanent disability. The greater the injuries, the greater the financial losses.
- Increased potential for a sizable settlement or financial award. The greater the losses, the larger the possible recovery. However, with the potential for a substantial recovery comes more resistance from the insurer or at-fault party. They will fight hard to avoid paying it.
- More potentially liable parties. In car accident cases, the defendant is often the other driver. In truck accident cases, there are a number of parties who could be liable, including the truck driver, trucking company, truck owner, truck or parts manufacturer, truck maintenance providers, cargo loaders, and others.
- More evidence. Evidence like the truck driver’s logs, phone records, and personnel files can help you build a strong case for damages. Unfortunately, the trucking company has this evidence, and you’ll need a truck accident lawyer in Orlando to send a spoliation letter to ensure they don’t destroy it.
What Is the Worth of Your Case?
Our expert Orlando truck accident attorneys calculate your damages, both on economic and non-economic terms. Factors that add to your case worth:
- Physical Pain and Suffering
- Medical Bills
- Rehabilitative therapy; physical therapy, speech therapy, cognitive therapy
- Disfigurement and Scarring
- Loss of Enjoyment
- Loss of Income
- Less Income due to Reduced Capacity
In case, unfortunately, you have lost a family member in a truck accident, you can recover the amount that covers:
- Funeral or burial costs
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of Income
- Loss of enjoyment
- Loss of balance in family life
- Medical expenses of the deceased person
- Physical pain suffered by the victims before passing away
Money can neither bring back the life of your loved one nor replace their loss. In any case, what fair compensation can do is support you during the tough time when you are fighting to cope with the difficulties you and your family face. The Florida truck accident attorneys help you count what your fair compensation is and fight for it.
Timing is Important
Be Aware of the Florida Statute of Limitations if you want to file a lawsuit after you have been in a truck accident. According to Florida Statutes §95.11(4)(d), you are allowed two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. Our truck accident lawyer in Orlando guides you to follow the deadline to file the lawsuit.
Know More About Truck Accident Cases Florida
- Choose the right truck accident attorney – Comprehensive Guide
- Contact Our Truck Accident Attorneys
- What information do the witnesses provide to help truck accident victims?
- Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Florida
- What to Expect in a Truck Accident Settlement
- Know About the Truck Accident Claims
- Reasons behind the Increase in Truck accidents during Holidays
Consult Us About Your Orlando Truck Accident Case
Hurt in a Florida truck accident? Truck accidents directly result from the negligence of the truck drivers or the trucking companies. The truck companies take fast action to collect and remove the evidence to eliminate your chances of receiving fair compensation. Our Florida Truck Accident Attorney can help you recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation. We are all set to start working on your case after you hire us. We only receive payment once only when we settle your claim.