Dedicated Florida Truck Accident Lawyers
Accidents involving commercial trucks and tractor-trailers are a significant concern on Florida’s highways. With 16 seaports and major interstates connecting Florida with California, Maine, and all points in between, drivers in the Sunshine State must contend with a high volume of 18-wheelers on the road at all hours every day of the week. Tens of thousands of truck accidents happen in the state every year, and the consequences are often devastating to the occupants of the smaller vehicles that get hit.
At Chadwick & Chadwick, our personal injury attorneys are dedicated to helping people who have been hurt in a wreck with an 18-wheeler or who lost a loved one in a tragic, fatal truck accident. Based in Tampa and serving clients throughout Florida, our experienced truck accident lawyers understand the unique complexities of truck accident cases and know what it takes to go up against a trucking company and their insurer. Our firm is committed to helping victims navigate the legal process to ensure fair compensation in or out of court.
If you or a family member has been hurt in a truck accident in Florida, call Chadwick & Chadwick for immediate assistance. We’ll get to work right away building your case and seeing that you get the care and compensation you need and deserve.
Understanding the Impact of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can lead to severe injuries and significant property damage due to the size and weight of a big rig, which can weigh twenty times as much as a passenger vehicle. The aftermath can be overwhelming for victims and their families, often involving extensive medical treatments, loss of income, and emotional trauma. Our team at Chadwick & Chadwick is equipped to handle these challenging cases, ensuring that your rights and interests are protected.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Florida
Truck accidents in Florida can occur due to various reasons, including all the same reasons other car accidents happen – distracted driving, drinking and driving, speeding, following too close, failing to signal… In addition, truck accidents often involve other causes directly attributable to the nature of the trucking industry. These leading causes include:
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Driver Fatigue: Long hours on the road can lead to driver exhaustion, reducing reaction time and decision-making ability. Truckers can lawfully be on the road for 11 hours a day or longer for eight days in a row, and many truck drivers violate the federal hours of service rules and drive even longer.
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Overloaded or Improperly Secured Cargo: This can cause trucks to become unstable, leading to accidents. Trucks must be properly loaded and secured at the start of the trip and checked regularly to make sure loads have not dangerously shifted.
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Poor Vehicle Maintenance: Failure to maintain trucks can result in mechanical failures. Annual roadside inspections routinely turn up about one in five commercial vehicles with bad tires, bad brakes, and other safety failures so concerning that the trucks are immediately pulled from service.
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Adverse Weather Conditions: Florida’s wet weather can create hazardous driving conditions for unskilled truck drivers. Truckers who are not properly trained or experienced or who exercise poor judgment on wet roads can cause a jackknife or rollover truck accident by choosing the wrong braking method.
Who Is Responsible for Causing a Truck Accident?
When it comes to truck accidents, many different parties may be responsible for a victim’s injuries, including: the truck’s driver; the owner of the truck or trailer; the person or company that leased the truck or trailer from the owner; the manufacturer of the vehicle, tires, or other parts that may have contributed to the cause or severity of the accident; and the shipper or loader of the truck’s cargo (in cases involving improper loading). The trucking, hauling, and leasing companies often argue among themselves over whose insurance will compensate the victim. In addition, trucking companies often try to avoid liability for trucking accidents by creating distance between themselves and the driver, the vehicle, and the equipment. However, our Florida truck accident attorneys have enough experience in these cases to know how to determine the responsible party or parties and hold them accountable for their negligence in causing the crash.
How Chadwick & Chadwick Can Help
We conduct a thorough investigation to determine how the accident happened and who was at fault, working with accident reconstructions and medical experts as necessary to build a strong case backed by evidence to support your claim. We understand how Florida and federal trucking regulations might apply to your case, as well as general legal principles like Florida’s comparative negligence doctrine that insurance companies use to deflect or lower their liability.
Our team is skilled in negotiating with insurance companies to seek fair settlements and has a great deal of experience litigating cases and trying them in court before a jury. Whatever your case requires to get the results you need, Chadwick & Chadwick has the resources, abilities and dedication to get you there.
Contact Chadwick & Chadwick After a Truck Accident Injury in Florida
If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident in Florida, contact Chadwick & Chadwick today for a free consultation. Our team is ready to provide the legal support and guidance you need during this challenging time. Reach out to us to discuss your case and learn how we can help you on your road to recovery.
