During 2012, more than 400 people were injured on Florida roadways when they were involved in a truck accident. An additional 20 of these motorists lost their lives. Hillsborough County alone had more than 1,000 accidents involving a commercial vehicle. Unfortunately, for victims these accidents almost always involve significant injuries due to the sheer size of commercial trucks. Drivers who are injured however, often face numerous issues when trying to file a claim for their injuries, medical care, and the cost of repairing or replacing their vehicles.
Truck Drivers and Accidents
Generally speaking, truck drivers are typically at a higher risk for an accident by the mere fact they spend so much time on the road. Some of the underlying causes for accidents involving trucks include:
- Exhaustion – too often, trucking companies set unrealistic expectations for their drivers meaning many drivers are too tired to drive safely
- Poor road conditions – because most truckers are on a schedule, they drive regardless of the road conditions
- Distractions – oftentimes, truck drivers have only their cell phones to keep in contact with their family. Some truckers have dispatch calls to respond to and others may simply zone out while listening to the radio
Determining Responsibility
In many cases, truck drivers do not own their own vehicle. They rent from or work for a specific trucking vendor. When you are injured in an accident involving a truck, there may be multiple issues to consider including:
- If rules were followed – truck drivers must be allowed certain break periods that are established for their safety and the safety of other motorists
- Trucks maintenance – in order for a vehicle to safely navigate the roadways, the truck must be in good mechanical order
- Capacity rules – if a truck is loaded poorly or too heavily, an accident can occur as a result
If a truck driver has been involved in an accident, there may be more than one party at fault. The driver’s employer, the driver himself and in some instances, the parties responsible for maintaining and loading the vehicle.
Truck accident victims are typically not concerned about who is at fault, they simply want to ensure they are able to pay their medical bills, get the care they need and recover damages for their lost property and wages. Because of Florida’s statutes of limitations, you need to consider contacting a truck accident attorney immediately if you have been involved in an accident involving a truck. An attorney will ask for the facts surrounding the accident to help determine which parties may be liable for the injuries you suffered. Remember to avoid talking to any insurance adjuster before contacting us; they have one goal in mind: Pay as little as possible for your claim.
Truck accident stats found on page 72 of http://firesportal.com / Pages / Public / DHSMVPublishedDocuments / Current_Year / Crash_Facts_2012_as_of_10-7-2013.pdf
