Fort Lauderdale Truck Wreck Law Firm – How Truck Accidents Differ From Car Accidents
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 can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and get 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 that 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 under-pay 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.