Truck Accident Lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Truck accidents in America are prevalent and cause some of the worst damages or injuries on the road. There were over 45,000 commercial vehicle accidents on Florida’s roads in 2018. Trucking accidents are different from passenger vehicle crashes in a few different ways. First, the aftermath of a truck accident is usually more devastating than with passenger cars. Second, the legal process is more complicated than passenger car claims and often requires a Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer to help you.

In this article, we will take a more in-depth look at the most significant factors you want to know about truck accidents and what filing a claim after one looks like.

After A Truck Accident

Since truck accidents are typically more severe than other types of crashes, the healing and recovery period tends to be more lengthy. As you work on your recovery, you may find “filing a lawsuit” lower on the totem pole of priorities. While we certainly can’t argue this important step in your recovery, time passing can hurt you if you later decide to go forward with a claim.

All trucking companies are required to retain accident documents for a particular time frame. However, if you don’t file a claim within that time, they can “legally” destroy the materials. This is important in cases where the truck driver was negligent and could be held liable. The day that the time limit is up, those documents will likely disappear. If you hire a truck accident lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, they can investigate your claim and prevent this from happening.

Hiring a Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Law Firm

After an accident, even if you have limited time and resources, hire an attorney to start investigating your case. This move can help preserve crucial evidence that can be used in your accident claim. An experienced attorney will know that waiting to see how your injuries manifest or your job is impacted, isn’t an option. A trucking company will eliminate documents once the deadline arrives, even if there are severe injuries or a fatality.

What should be telling, and is somewhat alarming, is that trucking companies will even “train” drivers about these kinds of accidents and how to handle them. This is to minimize liability and losses.

Hire a Truck Accident Attorney in Fort Lauderdale with Experience 

Any legal professional won’t do when it comes to trucking accidents. There are specific laws and legal processes that have to take place that many “jack of all traded” lawyers don’t understand or know about. This can do more damage to your accident case than trying to file a claim on your own.

Truck Drivers and Their Insurance Coverage

Truck drivers are required by law to carry a certain amount of coverage depending on the weight and material they are carrying. For example, a driver who has a truck that weighs less than 10,000 pounds has to hold at least $300,000 in insurance coverage. If that truck weight goes over just one pound (10,001) that insurance has to cover $750,000 in coverage.

The amount of coverage is significant because studies show how devastating accidents are with these types of vehicles and lawmakers have required this kind of coverage to compensate victims adequately.

Truck Accident Lawyers

As we mentioned earlier, trucking companies will train drivers on how to avoid massive liability with diversion tactics. The same sentiment occurs with lawyers who work for drivers and trucking companies. Their Lawyers will work overtime trying to prove you are not as injured as you claim and look for any way possible to discredit your case. In fact, trucking company lawyers will hire private investigators to follow victims to make sure they go to medical appointments and aren’t lying about that. For example, lawyers may raise questions about you attending a softball game, even if it was just to watch it.

How a Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help Your Case

Now that you have some insight into how the trucking companies are working against you, let’s dive into how a lawyer with “your interests” can totally change the outcome of your claim.

• Resources and Strategy – An experienced law firm will have resources to help position your case for success. This can include their own private investigators, crash recreating specialists, chemical experts and plenty of other legal professionals. Since your lawyer will know how these companies do business, they can play just as aggressively to prevent them from taking advantage of you. Working with a truck accident lawyer in Fort Lauderdale will ensure that your rights are protected.

• Communication and Evidence Collection – Truck accident lawyers will be able to do the majority of communication on your behalf, so you’re not having to worry about what you say in front of the insurance company. Also, getting evidence can be tricky at times if you’re trying to navigate a legal claim like this. The insurers may avoid you or claim they can’t find what you need. They may also try to string you along to see if you fold under the weight of your bills, and take a smaller settlement.

• A Network of Professionals – A truck accident lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida who has a track record will have an extended network of resources to help you through this process. Since this kind of case can take months or even years, you will likely feel the financial pressure of work loss or medical bills. Your attorney will have ideas, strategies, and resources to help you through these hard moments. This can include medical specialists who can postpone payments potentially, or the attorney can call your bill collectors and get them to give you a grace period to pay your bills.

Can we help you with a truck accident case? Please call or connect with the Madalon law office to schedule an appointment and let’s get started on your case.

 

Fort Lauderdale Truck Wreck Lawyers

In the legal system, truck accidents are not handled in the same way as passenger car accidents. The stakes are often higher and there are different factors to take into account that we will discuss in this article.

First and foremost, if you have been injured on a Florida roadway by one of these types of vehicles, we encourage you to speak with a Fort Lauderdale truck wreck lawyer. These cases can get complicated, and you will want an experienced attorney working effectively to ensure you are compensated properly.

The Most Significant Differences Between Truck and Car Accidents

There are two major differences between these types of accidents which come down to impact and cost. Since semi trucks are immense in scale and weigh considerably more than a car, the amount of damage that is done to both passenger cars and people tends to be substantial. A semi-truck weighs up to 80,000 pounds and gets as long as 80 feet. That is a lot of weight being moved at 60-70 miles an hour with a 400-600 horsepower engine.

The other notable difference, as you might imagine, all of this damage comes at a higher financial loss. This is just one more way that these accidents differ from car crashes. Not only will you have to recover physically from this sort of accident (which can be life-altering), but chances are your vehicle will be a total loss if you get tangled up with one of these commercial semis. This is why hiring a Fort Lauderdale Truck wreck law firm can make a real difference in the compensation you receive as a result of this kind of crash.

Establishing Fault in Trucking Accidents

Almost 16-thousand crashes involving commercial trucks have been recorded in Florida in just the first four months of 2019; that is virtually 4-thousand crashes a month. Florida is a no-fault state, and you’ll likely file your truck accident claim with your own insurance company. But, there are times when negligence plays a role in your claim and you can bring suit against other parties involved. The only way to determine this is by working with a truck wreck attorney in Fort Lauderdale who can walk you through those specific details.

The most common cause of trucking accidents is due to human error. This might be from improper signaling, merging into traffic too fast or too slow, or not applying the brakes fast enough because the driver was distracted.

The investigations into these types of accidents tend to be different than regular car accidents. This is partly because trucks have several parties involved in getting them on the road. They include drivers, insurers, trucking companies, truck manufacturers, parts manufacturers, and the company that loaded the trucks. Common causes of trucking accidents linked to these third parties are mechanical errors or failure. Trucks are notorious for having some sort of equipment failure which is sometimes by sheer unfortunate luck, or from negligent maintenance. If mechanical failure is at fault, there are instances where you can bring suit against the maker of that piece of equipment. The driver might also be at fault if they failed to do a pre-trip inspection.

Other parties who might be liable could be the trucking company if they were responsible for maintaining the vehicle, or the company who loaded the truck if an investigation reveals the truck’s weight was improperly distributed.

Damages and Compensation with a Truck Accident

When seeking compensation from a trucking insurance claim, there are more complicated hurdles to jump over than those of standard car accidents. You’ll need specific details from the trucking company or driver to file a legitimate claim, and you’ll have to work quickly to get this accomplished. By law, the trucking company only has to hold on to this data for about 6-months. After that, they can legally “get rid of it.” This is why it’s a good idea to work with a Fort Lauderdale truck wreck lawyer so you can acquire the data you need to file a thorough claim.

The amount of damages you receive is directly linked to how significant the damages you experienced. Your lawyer will be considering many factors when trying to come up with the appropriate dollar amount to seek in damages. This will include things like your range of injuries, what those injuries prevent you from doing, the impact the wreck has had on your ability to work, and the impact you’ll feel in the future as a result of the accident. Your attorney will also consider your legal fees, the medical bills you have today, and those you’ll face in the months ahead.

Finally, Your attorney will also look at what you’ve lost as a result of your injuries. This is often referred to as pain and suffering. This is a unique calculation and depends heavily on the extent of damage the accident has caused mentally, physically, and financially.

Why Work with A Fort Lauderdale Truck Wreck Attorney

You will need to work with an attorney who is skilled, knowledgeable, and adept at fighting truck wreck accidents. Specific guidelines and laws need to be followed and there are strategies that can be used to help you win your case. Here are the top three reasons to work with a truck wreck accident law firm in Fort Lauderdale.

They Know the Insurance Game – Truck driver insurers have some of the most relentless lawyers working on their behalf, which means you need someone equally relentless working for you. An experienced attorney knows the tactics truck company lawyers use to deny or underpay victims; you can avoid this game by using your own qualified attorney.

They Have a Team of Experts – Experienced lawyers helping victims have a team of investigators, crash experts, chemical specialists, and other legal professionals to help position your case for success.

They Won’t Let You Accept a Bad Settlement – One of the more prominent mistakes victims make is settling for far less than they should. Your lawyer will know the value of your case and will help you through the lengthy claims process while you await the appropriate settlement.

Can we help you with a truck accident claim? No matter where you are in the process, the team at Madalon Law would be happy to learn more about your case. Please call or connect with us today to schedule an appointment.

 

Semi-Truck Accident Lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

According to Popular Mechanics, there are 5.6 million tractor-trailers on U.S. roads. Semi-truck refers to the front part of the truck, the part of the truck where the driver’s cabin is located. The trailer is the part of the truck where the transported goods are stored. The truck is comprised of two parts, the semi-truck, which is where the driver is located, and the semi-trailer, where the goods are stored. The average semi-truck will cover approximately 45,000 miles in a given year, but the estimates put forth by the Federal Highway Administration are also much higher.

These trucks are heavy. The average trailer can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. It is no wonder why accidents involving these trucks can be so devastating. With the sheer weight involved and the sheer number of miles these trucks travel, yearly accidents are inevitable across the industry, though many can be avoided. Truck accidents can be devastating for victims and their families. Victims may suffer serious and life-altering injuries, families may struggle to pay bills, and many may not know where to turn after a crash. If you or a loved one was hurt in a semi-truck accident, contact Madalon Law. Our semi-truck accident law firm works closely with victims and families to help them seek damages and protect their rights after a crash. We offer clients a free case review and we only get paid if you win. Contact us today to learn more.

Types of Semi-Truck Accidents and Their Causes 

There are many different types of truck accidents. The vast majority of truck accidents occur due to human error. These accidents can result in serious injury or death. Here are a few:

• Jackknife Accidents. If a truck driver brakes hard and fast or is traveling too fast, the truck can jackknife. In an accident like this, the semi-truck’s trailer turns and forms a 90-degree angle with the truck’s cabin. Jackknife accidents can occur because a driver is speeding and needed to suddenly brake, or when a truck’s anti-lock brake systems fail. Anti-lock brakes can fail because of poor maintenance, a failure of the truck company to maintain its vehicles, or due to errors of repair or manufacture. Jackknife accidents can be incredibly deadly to other drivers on the road because they can be unexpected and can affect multiple lanes of highway traffic.
• Rollovers can occur if a truck driver accidentally goes off the road and then tries to correct it by going back on the road. These accidents can be deadly, both for truck drivers and for others on the road. Truck drivers can drift off the road due to fatigue or due to a failure to abide by federal hours of service laws. If you or a loved one was hurt in a truck rollover accident, the semi-truck lawyers at the Madalon Law Firm in Fort Lauderdale, Florida can review the truck driver’s logs and shipping schedules to see whether the driver was following hours of service laws.
• Tire Blowout. If a truck company or driver fails to check tires and change tires regularly, the truck can be at risk of a blowout. Sometimes truck companies try to cut corners by using used tires, which can lead to a blowout. Tire blowouts are often the result of an overloaded truck. Another cause of tire blowout occurs when tire pressure isn’t regularly checked. If the tire pressure is too low, the rubber can overheat, eventually leading to a blowout. The risk of a tire blowout is that the driver can lose control of the vehicle. Drivers must be properly trained to manage blowouts, but because they are so rare, drivers may not always react properly. Interestingly, when a tire blowout occurs, drivers should not hit the brakes right away but instead should accelerate a little to maintain proper momentum, regain control, and then slow down steadily before pulling over. If you were hurt in a semi-truck accident due to a tire blowout, the Madalon Law Firm are semi-truck accident attorneys in Fort Lauderdale, Florida who can review maintenance schedules to determine whether a blowout might have been the cause of your accident.
• Blind Spot Accidents. Trucks need to change lanes. However, if the driver does not see another driver in its blind spot, tragic accidents can occur. Drivers can decrease their risk by only passing trucks on the right side, and by understanding where truck blind spots are located. Still, truck drivers have a responsibility to be trained in how to manage their blind spots safely.
• Lost Loads. Semi-trucks are at risk of lost loads. If trailers are not properly secured, a truck can lose its trailer on the road, which can lead to accidents with other vehicles.
• Under Ride Accidents. If a truck stops suddenly, and a passenger vehicle behind the truck cannot stop in time, the passenger vehicle can become pinned under the car. These under-ride accidents are often deadly because the top of the car becomes crushed.

These are just some of the kinds of truck accidents that can occur. As you can see, in many cases, these accidents occur due to driver error, due to improper maintenance, or due to improperly loaded trucks. If you or a loved one was injured in a semi-truck accident, you may have important rights under the law. For example, you may be entitled to seek damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Madalon Law is a semi-truck accident law firm in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that works with families and survivors of these accidents.

Protect Your Rights 

Truck companies make billions every year. If you or a loved one was hurt in a semi-truck accident, the truck company, driver, or insurance company may be responsible for paying you for your damages and losses. Semi-truck accident claims can often be complex because of the laws and regulations that govern truck drivers. Madalon Law is a semi-truck accident law firm in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that understands the laws that truck companies must follow and can hold companies accountable when they cut corners or violate the law. If you’ve been hurt, contact a compassionate and caring truck accident lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida today. Madalon Law offers free case reviews and only gets paid if you win.

Fort Lauderdale Semi Truck Accident Lawyers

The impact a trucking accident can have on an individual and their family is often significant. The recovery is usually lengthy and can be a real challenge financially. What’s worse, the trucking insurers will attempt all kinds of tactics to try and avoid paying you what you deserve. In this article, Madalon Law will uncover the top four ways insurance companies try to avoid paying victims or the strategies they use to underpay on settlements.

We hope that you know that there is help if you’ve been involved in this kind of accident, and we welcome your calls and inquiries at our office. This is not the time to try and take matters into your own hands, as you may leave a significant amount of money on the table if you don’t have the proper legal guidance. With that being said, let’s look at how these trucking insurers can hurt your chances of a fair settlement.

Friend Before Foe

Most truck insurance adjusters will take on a friendly role when they first attempt to speak with you about the accident. They will say they care deeply about what happened and that they’ll work towards getting a resolution to your claim. They are trained to do this. They will attempt to get you to make a statement about the accident and use a line of questioning that will work in their favor.

The truth of the matter is, that adjusters exist almost solely to find a way to pay you less or deny your claim altogether. This is also the case for adjusters at your own insurance company who you will likely file a claim first. They will ask a lot of questions to see if they can poke holes in your story or find some kind of data point that suggests you might be liable.

After they get the details they need, they will turn foe, and start using what you’ve told them against you. This is to scare you or get you to cave for a smaller settlement.

• The Takeaway – Don’t speak with the insurer until you’ve consulted with a semi-truck wreck lawyer in Fort Lauderdale.

They Play Dumb

These adjusters know that you will need evidence from them in order to build your case. They will try to either push that information off or even tell you they can’t find it. By law, truck drivers have to keep logs about their time on and off the road. Their log-book data is crucial information to build a case, and the insurer knows this. Within that data, the reason why you were in an accident can be revealed.

For example, if the driver failed to take the rest stops required or didn’t do pre-check inspections on their truck, that can point to negligence. Some companies have been caught tampering with electronic or paper records or not handing over black box data from the trucks to avoid paying out higher damages.

If the truck insurer isn’t asked for data, chances are they are not going to hand it over freely. This means, if you don’t have a semi-truck wreck attorney in Fort Lauderdale retrieve this information, the trucking company adjuster isn’t likely going to offer it up to help your case.

• The Takeaway – A Fort Lauderdale semi truck wreck law firm will know how to recover this critical data, so you get what you need to build a successful claim.

Delay in Game

One of the most common ways to deny victims compensation is to delay the game. This means they will avoid phone calls, give you excuses as to why things aren’t moving faster, they’ll site company policies that put off a resolution, etc. This is all in the name of trying to wear you down, so you either abandon the whole claim or get you to settle for less. While your medical bills pile up, they will see just how far they can push you around before you take whatever they offer.

Your Fort Lauderdale semi-truck accident law firm will be familiar with these tactics and won’t let the company take you on a ride. Their job is to be aggressive for you, so you’re not consumed with trying to manage your case on your own.

• The Takeaway – An attorney will place pressure on the company, so you’re not taken advantage of. Thorough legal guidance will go a long way to get you the financial damages you deserve.

Lowball Offers

Another typical game the insurance company will play is making a lowball offer. They will make it sound compelling and that you’re getting a great offer, but chances are, it’s a pittance for what your claim is worth. They might even run down all of the ways you can use the money to recover, leaving off things that you might not have thought about.

For example, with their poor offer, you might be able to cover the MRI you had to get but what about the earnings you lost while out of work? Further, what if your spouse had to go back to work or find a second job to make up for the loss in income? These are just two small examples of things that you should be compensated for.

• The Takeaway – Chances are if the insurer made an offer right out of the gate, they know they are at fault. Don’t take the first offer until you speak to an experienced semi-truck accident attorney in Fort Lauderdale, so you don’t take less than you deserve.

It’s unfortunate, but trucking insurers try all kinds of ways to get you from pursuing your claim. They may even state that an offer, is their final one, leaving you feeling helpless and with a pile of unpaid bills. Don’t fall for it. Call or connect with the Madalon Law office today so we can get you the money you deserve.

FREE CONSULTATION FOR TRUCK ACCIDENT VICTIMS

The Fort Lauderdale law firm of Madalon Law has been fighting for the rights of truck accident victims throughout the state of Florida. We understand that anyone involved in an accident involving a truck will be left rattled and full of questions. The first thing is to have those questions answered by an attorney – not the insurance company that is trying to minimize the compensation for your accident. When you contact our firm, you will speak to an accident attorney who will gladly go over your case with you and explain all of your options to you. There is no commitment for this free consultation and if we do move forward with your case, you will owe us nothing unless we win.

WIDE-TURN TRUCK ACCIDENTS CAN BE DEADLY

Large commercial and industrial trucks are much more difficult to drive and maneuver through the streets than other passenger vehicles. When a big truck has to make a tight right-hand turn, they oftentimes are forced to swing the front of their truck to the left first in order to clear obstacles. These wide turns are frequently seen in highly populated areas with many side streets.

A problem that occurs when large trucks attempt these wide right turns is they end up impacting a vehicle to their left between a curb and their rig. This sandwich effect is referred to as a squeeze, and a truck’s extreme weight can really create a dangerous situation for a trapped driver. At times, a large truck can weigh more than fifteen times that of a passenger vehicle, and this significant difference in size leaves no chance for the smaller vehicle to avoid being crushed.

If you have experienced a squeeze like a truck accident due to a wide turn and received an injury because of it, you should seek legal advice on how to pursue your personal injury claim.

LIABILITY INVOLVING SQUEEZE-PLAY WIDE TURN TRUCK ACCIDENTS

There is intense training and continued education that a truck driver undergoes in order to remain current with their specialized licenses. The training that truck drivers receive provides them with the knowledge of the proper distance needed for making a safe wide turn. It is clear negligence on the part of a truck driver when they fail to gauge distances and cause a squeeze-play truck accident. If a truck driver has failed to make sure that it is safe for them to make a wide turn, and they collide with another vehicle, they are liable for any injuries made by their decision.

Truck drivers are required by law to look out for passenger vehicles and others who share the roads with them. Using appropriate signaling and waiting for a clear opportunity are basic rules for truckers when attempting a wide right turn. Being informed on the rules and regulations of truck drivers can help you in your squeeze-play truck accident case.

EFFECTS OF SQUEEZE-PLAY WIDE TURN TRUCK ACCIDENTS

Given the fact that wide-turn truck accidents that cause squeeze-play scenarios generally occur at a low speed, the number of fatal incidents are significantly lower than other trucking accidents. However, there are serious injuries that can come from a squeeze-play truck accident. Some of the injuries include:

• Bone Breaks
• Loss of Limbs
• Internal Bleeding
• Spinal-Cord Injuries
• Severe Lacerations
• Trauma to the Head and Brain

When a wide turn, a squeeze-play truck accident causes a person an injury, truck company owners and their attorneys begin to play the blame game. If the scare tactics used by trucking company attorneys are successful in getting you to drop your personal injury claim, or settle for an amount much less than you are deserving of, then they have won. Allow the truck accident attorneys at Madalon Law to review your case with you and discuss all of your legal options.