A Florida truck accident differs from a passenger vehicle accident in many ways, and not just because of the magnitude of damage that can occur in a truck crash. The cause of a truck accident is often attributed to a factor that is unique to the nature of maintaining and operating such a large and powerful vehicle.In the interest of reducing fatal truck accidents, the federal government and many states have enacted laws that govern how trucking companies may operate. A breach of trucking law regulations constitutes negligence and if that breach of responsibility resulted in your serious injury or the death of a loved one, you may be eligible for compensation through a Florida truck accident claim.
Types of Trucking Company Negligence
In addition to determining if the truck driver’s negligence played a role in your Florida truck accident, your lawyer will investigate the details of your crash to see if trucking company negligence was a factor.Listed below are types of trucking company negligence that may come into play in your injury claim:
- Oversights related to ensuring the loads on each tractor-trailer are safely loaded and properly secured;
- Lax hiring practices that result in sub-par or unqualified truck drivers;
- Poor training of drivers or lack of disciplinary action against drivers who have violated critical safety measures;
- Inadequate safety devices on trucks, including a lack of underride protection;
- Allowing, encouraging or scheduling drivers to spend more time on the road than what is allowed by federal regulations which includes required break times; and
- Failing to maintain proper upkeep and inspection of tractor-trailers.
Any breach of protocol can lead to a serious, or even fatal Florida truck accident. Listed below are a few examples of common truck accidents that can occur because of trucking company negligence:
- An improperly loaded semi may be prone to rolling over;
- A driver who has been scheduled to work past the regulated amount of hours may become so exhausted that they make critical driving errors; or
- A deadly underride may occur in the absence of federally-mandated preventive devices.
Contacting a Florida Truck Accident Lawyer
A Florida truck accident lawyer will look at the details of your accident, the trucking company’s records as well as the driver’s testimony and log books among other evidence to determine any trucking company negligence involved.
A Florida truck accident lawyer at Lilly, O’Toole & Brown can help you sort through the often overwhelming issues that may present themselves in the course of a truck accident claim. We are committed to protecting your best interests and helping you collect the damages you and your family need and deserve to move on with your lives. Contact our firm today to schedule your consultation; 863-533-5525.