Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer
Commercial trucks transport goods all over the country and are a constant sight on many of Florida’s highways, metro thoroughfares, and rural routes. While truck drivers must have a special commercial license and training to operate the vehicle safely, they are also under work pressure when on the road. They may speed or drive drowsy in order to deliver cargo on time, which makes them more likely to cause a crash. If you have been in a truck accident and have suffered injuries that you believe the truck driver is liable for, you need to speak to a knowledgeable Tampa truck accident lawyer.
How Truck Crashes Differ From Car Accidents
Not only is a truck much larger than a passenger car, it weighs significantly more. This means more force going into the impact of a crash. As a result, truck accidents are more likely to result in life-threatening and life-altering injuries. When the damages in a collision are more severe, the case is worth more and the process leading up to compensation is likely to take longer. Truck accidents are also more complex because of how many parties may be involved. In car accidents, the personal injury claim is typically a simple affair with both drivers’ insurance companies. When a truck is involved in a crash, there may be more parties involved in the claim resolution such as the trucking company, the company’s insurance, workers’ compensation people, other injured passengers from other vehicles, and more. It is important that an injured victim in a truck accident is represented by an attorney who has experience handling complex cases with multiple parties.
Proving liability in a Florida commercial truck accident
If you or a loved one has been injured in a commercial truck accident, you may believe the law is in your favor, but unfortunately, a semi-truck’s involvement in a crash is not, by itself, evidence that the truck caused the crash. Common causes of truck accidents include:
- Defective equipment, e.g., brakes
- Driver error
- Driver fatigue
- Faulty truck maintenance
- Passenger car driver error
- Road conditions
- Unbalanced or unsecured loads
Sorting through all the possible liability issues is a complex task. Responsible parties can include the truck driver, the trucking company, the loading company, the maintenance company, government entities charged with building and maintaining highways, and the drivers of other vehicles. As with motorcycle and car accidents, The Matassini Law Firm works closely with experts in accident reconstruction to ascertain who or what caused your accident, and to build the case that will hold the proper parties accountable.
Truck Driver Must Follow Federal Regulations
Commercial truck drivers and their companies must adhere to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. These regulations put restrictions on how many hours a truck driver can be behind the wheel before resting. They also require drivers to regularly inspect their vehicle’s brakes, tires, steering, and other components to make sure the truck is safe for the road. There are even regulations for how a truck should load cargo to prevent an unstable weight that could cause a rollover. If a truck driver has failed to comply with any of the federal regulations, it may be used as evidence that they are liable for the accident. A skilled attorney will be able to help investigate your case to prove liability.
The role of trucking regulations in accident cases
Because 18-wheelers and other commercial trucks are capable of tremendous destructive force, federal and state laws require trucking companies to carry high levels of insurance and to comply with numerous safety regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation, sets rules for the number of continuous hours a driver may operate a tractor trailer and how often the company must perform maintenance. We subpoena and scrutinize all service logs to uncover violations that may have caused or contributed to your accident.
Let the Truck Accident Attorneys at Matassini Law Firm Help You
Truck accidents are horrific and anyone involved is likely to be facing months of intense recovery. While a personal injury claim can not take away the recovery process, it can help with all of the mounting medical bills and ease the financial burden of being unable to work. If you or a loved one has been injured from a commercial vehicle, it is time to seek the expertise of a truck accident lawyer at Matassini Law Firm. Our Tampa truck accident lawyers will help collect evidence in your case, compile what your claim is worth, and fight for compensation from the insurance companies involved. Call us at 813-217-5715 to learn more and to schedule a free consultation.
