In Florida it seems that we don’t have to travel much before we find ourselves sharing the road with a large commercial truck or semi-truck. Even though this can intimidate some more than others, there is no denying that being involved in a collision with one of these massive vehicles can leave the driver and passengers of the smaller vehicle with serious injuries or death.

Truck accidents in Florida happen often. Many will agree that the length of the state and lack of scenery change on long highways like Interstate 95, Interstate 75 and the Florida Turnpike can make a driver bored, tired and enter a mental autopilot mode where their attention on the road is greatly diminished. Another contributor to truck accidents in Florida could be the ongoing road construction on highways like Interstate 595, the Palmetto Expressway (826) or the Dolphin Expressway (836). Combining any of these two factors with possible long travel distances and work hours and there is no surprise Florida has its fair share of truck accidents.

So who is at fault?

Truck accident cases are unique in several ways including determining who was responsible. A skilled truck accident law firm will understand that these cases are much more complicated than a car accident and require a skilled approach in determining the negligence of one or more parties involved.

Truck driver negligence: Examples of truck driver negligence can include speeding, reckless driving, driving fatigue, texting while driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving and eating, distracted on their smartphone or navigation system, not paying attention to rules of the road, not properly securing cargo and not yielding the right of way.

Truck company negligence: It is obvious and simple to blame the truck driver when their negligence caused a truck accident, but a skilled truck accident firm will also know to look at the role of the truck company or driver’s employer in the accident. In many truck accident cases, the driver’s fatigue may be due to unreasonable work and travel deadlines from the employer. There can also be negligence on the employer’s part if the driver was under the influence of drugs and the company does not give periodic drug testing. Truck companies are also responsible for providing proper training to its drivers and maintaining the trucks and its parts to make sure they work properly.

Manufacturing company maintenance: There are also cases where an accident happens due to a defective part on a truck. The vehicle and\or part defect could cause a truck tire blowout, brake malfunction or more.

On an average, a large truck weighs more than 10,000 pounds. Sharing the road with one of these will get the attention of most regular size car drivers. Unfortunately, the same cannot always be said for the truck driver who is sharing the road with the much smaller vehicles we drive. When a truck hits a car, this usually results in serious injuries or a truck accident death. The Fort Lauderdale and Miami truck accident attorneys at MADALON LAW understand the intricacies and efforts needed to make sure all negligent parties are held liable. Choosing the right truck accident firm can be the difference between an incredibly large settlement – and no settlement at all.