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Florida Truck Accident Lawyer

Located in Orlando, Ocala, Daytona, Melbourne, Tampa, Bradenton, Fort Myers, Naples, Jacksonville, Miami, Fort Lauderdale & West Palm Beach

Car accidents are inherently traumatic. This trauma, however, can sometimes reach new heights when trucks, especially large ones, are involved. These vehicles are bigger, longer, heavier, and more difficult to steer and slow than ordinary ones. Over ten people are killed every day in a large truck accident, in part because many of the accidents involve head-on collisions. Even in non-fatal truck-related accidents, injuries can be severe. In either scenario, it is important to consult with an experienced Florida truck accident lawyer regarding your legal options. The Pendas Law Firm has offices in Orlando, Fort Myers, Tampa, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale & Miami.

The Science Behind Large Truck Accidents

One of the most terrifying types of truck accidents to be involved in is a rollover crash. These types of accidents occur most frequently when a truck driver fails to adjust the truck’s speed to any one of a number of factors, including curves in the road, the load being carried, condition of the truck’s brakes, road surface, and intersection conditions. Besides speed adjustment mistakes, inattentive driving and steering errors are other causes of rollover crashes. Furthermore, rollover crashes are also a function of forces that are more likely to affect larger vehicles driving at high speeds on curved surfaces. Centrifugal force, specifically, can cause a large track to lean away from the direction of a road curve as the truck travels on a curved lane.

What to Do If You Have Been Involved in a Truck Accident in Florida

Virtually all automobile accidents result in damages to persons and/or property. When trucks, especially very large ones, are involved, these damages can be immense. An accident involving a large truck will often result in medical bills, future medical treatment costs, lost income from missed work, pain and suffering, and in the worst cases, death. In the aftermath, it is imperative that victims in a truck accident obtain the services of an experienced Florida truck accident lawyer to file a timely claim against the parties at fault. Because automobile accidents, especially those involving large trucks, can involve multiple parties engaged in a chain of events at high speeds in traffic, the skill of such an lawyer will be needed in establishing the element of causation – an essential component of most all accident-related claims. The Pendas Law Firm – one of Florida’s most prominent in the area of personal injury – provides precisely the highly effective and experienced lawyers needed to handle truck accident related personal injury claims. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today to learn how we can serve you in this time of need. The Pendas Law Firm has offices in Orlando, Fort Myers, Tampa, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale & Miami, and is dedicated to serving the community with its highly effective and experienced team of injury lawyers.

In 2012, 33,561 fatalities occurred on U.S. roadways as a result of motor vehicle crashes. A much larger figure accounts for non-fatal motor vehicle accidents. The number of collisions in which commercial vehicles were involved increased from 2014 to 2015 as well. While total annual miles travelled in the U.S. increased by just 3.5 percent, the increase in fatalities was more than double that. Commercial vehicle trends followed the increasing trend as well; there were 4,067 fatalities in crashes that involved large trucks in 2015, which was a 4.1 percent increase from 2014. This marks the highest number of fatalities involving commercial vehicles since 2008. Only 16.4 percent of those fatalities were those of the large trucks, while 73.5 percent of fatalities involving large trucks were occupants of passenger vehicles and 10.1 percent were nonoccupants (pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists), according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Truck Driver Fatalities Due to Crashes in Which Driver was Not Wearing Seatbelt

Fatalities involving the occupants of large trucks increased three years in a row, then became one of the only categories of drivers that had no increase from 2014 to 2015. Tragically, despite the proliferation of statewide messaging about the importance of wearing a seatbelt while driving or riding in a motor vehicle, a majority of fatally-injured passenger occupants were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of accident. Additionally, more than 60 percent of large truck occupant fatalities occurred during crashes in which no other vehicle was involved.

If a loved one has been the victim of a fatal truck accident in the state of Florida, the personal injury lawyers at the Pendas Law Firm are prepared to help you seek compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit. We can help you secure a settlement to pay for medical bills, lost current and future wages, additional recovery costs, and any loss of support due to the death of a loved one. Don’t hesitate to contact us immediately for legal representation.

Sleep Deprivation is a Major Cause of Large Truck Crashes

Sleep deprivation is one of the leading causes of commercial vehicle collisions. To a trucker, miles are money, and miles take time. In their minds, they are not paid to sleep or rest, and the faster and farther they drive, the more profit they take home. Therefore, federal regulations are routinely disobeyed by truck drivers. Drivers are only allowed to driver a maximum of 11 hours in one day, in which a 30-minute break must be included. The maximum hours a truck driver can work in one week is 70 hours. This 70-hour work week must be followed by a mandatory 34-hour rest period in which no truck driving can take place. Additionally, the federal restart of the work week includes regulations enforcing two periods between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. Truck lobby groups have repeatedly tried to battle these regulations to boost their profits, while safety advocates are calling for more enforcement and stricter regulations to save lives.

The Department of Transportation estimates that 13 percent of all large truck crashes are caused by fatigued drivers, based off of the Large-Truck Crash Causation Study. While the American Trucking Association cites police report statistics of just two percent of large truck crashes being caused by fatigued truck drivers, transportation safety experts of the National Safety Council argue that because truck drivers facing criminal charges often invoke their Fifth Amendment rights, and that there is no blood test that can detect fatigue levels, police reports will always under represent the problem of fatigued drivers. However, there is hope yet to prove negligence on the truck driver’s behalf. If you were injured by a negligent truck driver, the cause may have been lack of sleep. We will look through the records of the trucker’s driving logs to find out if sleep deprivation was the cause of the crash. Regardless of any federal rules that the driver violated or did not violate, we will work to prove that the driver handled their vehicle in a careless, unsafe fashion that resulted in the crash and injuries to you and/or your family.

Practical Steps to Take After a Florida Truck Accident

As is all too apparent from the foregoing statistic, truck accidents are not uncommon on American roadways. In order to strengthen your case, it is necessary to take certain measures in the direct aftermath of an accident. Most importantly, speak with the police and make sure an accident report is created at the scene of the accident. A police report can be an invaluable piece of evidence in a future case. Also, attempt to preserve any evidence from the accident, and exchange information with the other driver and with any witnesses. Finally, seek medical treatment for any injuries, and contact an lawyer immediately thereafter. Contact our Florida truck accident lawyers right away.

You May Be Able to Recover Compensation for Damages Suffered During Your Truck Accident in Florida

All Florida truck, car, and motorcycle operators are required to drive responsibly on roads. More specifically, drivers owe others a duty of care, and must not drive negligently or in a reckless fashion. If another driver operates their vehicle negligently or recklessly, and subsequently injures you, you may be able to seek compensation. Or, if you have lost a loved one as a result of another’s failure to observe the rules of the road, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the deceased. For help in your case, contact a skilled and experienced Florida truck accident lawyer today. We are prepared to advocate on your behalf in your case, and are ready to begin today. To understand your legal options, contact a skilled and experienced Florida truck accident lawyer.

Contact our Experienced Florida Truck Accident Lawyers Today

The Pendas Law Firm – one of Florida’s most prominent in the area of personal injury – provides precisely the highly effective and experienced Florida truck accident lawyers needed to handle truck accident related personal injury claims. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today to learn how we can serve you in this time of need. The Pendas Law Firm has offices in Orlando, Ft. Myers, Tampa, Jacksonville, and West Palm Beach, and is dedicated to serving the community with its highly effective and experienced team of lawyers.

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