Table of Contents
2. Fire Truck Collisions
3. Cargo Debris Accidents
4. DUI
5. What Should You Do if You Have Been Injured in a Truck Accident?
Tuck accidents are generally quite serious because they are typically far larger than the rest of the vehicles on the road and thus have a far bigger momentum and impact. Also, the vehicles are far more sturdy and strongly built than normal cars, which means that they can easily crush the vehicle with which they collide.
If you have been involved in a truck accident without any fault of yours, you are entitled to file claims in a court of law against the parties responsible for the accident. In case, there are multiple parties, you can file multiple claims for compensation.
Common Types of Truck Collisions
Florida negligence laws apply to all truck accidents under which, drivers are expected to be responsible while on duty and exercise a reasonable level of care while on the road. An accident may take place if a driver fails to act responsibly or violates the rules of the road. In such a case, if a party is injured, then the driver can be held liable for the accident, the injury, as well as the injuries suffered by anyone else traveling with him. While there are many types of truck accidents, the following are the most common:
Fire Truck Collisions
When a fire breaks out, the fire department usually responds to the emergency by sending out a fire truck to handle the situation. As may be expected, with many lives potentially at stake, the fire truck will travel at a very high speed and this may sometimes, result in accidents. While it is not expected that despite the emergency, drivers of fire trucks will drive recklessly, it can often be very difficult to judge the road conditions, the traffic, and the speed at which he needs to drive. It can be quite easy to misjudge any of the three and the result can be a horrendous crash
If a fire truck has injured you or a loved one in an accident, you are entitled to file a claim in the court against the fire department as well as the city for your injuries. However, the onus is on you to prove that the accident did not happen because you failed to get out of the way and instead, the truck crashed into you or your vehicle outright without any warning.
Cargo Debris Accidents
It is expected that when heavy loads are being carried on semi-trucks and open-bed trailers, they will be properly secured. However, it is not uncommon for these trucks to shed a few items especially when they are traveling at speed because the cargo had not been secured adequately. It is easy to see the consequences of cargo falling off trucks moving at high speed on the traffic that is following the truck; vehicles are likely to crash due to the sudden impact, which can lead to severe injuries and even death.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident caused by cargo debris, it may be possible for you to file a lawsuit against both the driver and the trucking company as well as the company responsible for loading the cargo. The driver, however, can only be held responsible for accidents arising out of cargo falling off from the truck if it can be proven that he knew that the cargo was not secured adequately and decided to drive regardless of the fact.
DUI
Drunk driving involving truck drivers are frightening due to the potential of grievous accidents, but tragically, it is extremely common. If an accident has occurred because the driver had got behind the wheel of the truck while being under the influence, both the driver and the trucking company employing the driver can be held liable in a court of law. However, the law allows relief to the company if the driver has been hired under a contract and is not its employee, as defined by the law. Despite not being legally liable for the accident, it is clear that it should have exercised a better level of control over its drivers to ensure that its drivers behaved more responsibly on road.
What Should You Do if You Have Been Injured in a Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has been involved in a trucking accident that has resulted in an injury, you may be entitled to file a claim in the court for damages. Since these cases can be quite complex and it is important to identify who was actually responsible for the accident, the case needs to be scrutinized by a competent attorney for merit and deciding the legal strategy that will fetch the best possible award by the court.
Skilled auto accident attorneys at Lavalle, Brown & Ronan, P.A., among most experienced personal injury law firms in Boca Raton with a history of over 45 years, have assisted innumerable victims of truck and auto accidents. Possessing more than 130 years of accumulated personal injury litigation experience, our attorneys have both the skills and the competence to assist you to meet your legal needs. Call us today!