Large trucks and other commercial vehicles form an essential part of the Orlando and national economies. It is a rare company that does not rely on some form of shipping to move their products. As a result, it is nearly impossible to drive anywhere without encountering these massive vehicles.
Sadly, the sheer size and number of trucks on the road increases the chances for collisions that can result in serious injuries. No matter how severe injuries may be, plaintiffs must still show that a trucker’s negligence was the source of the accident.
An Orlando truck accident lawyer is prepared to take the lead in the claim. They can work to thoroughly investigate the crash and to gather evidence that points to a trucker as being at fault and legally liable.
Efficiency is the primary goal of all shipping companies. As a result, they purchase trucks that carry the maximum available loads and hire drivers who are able to drive as many hours a day as possible. Unfortunately, this often creates many hazardous situations on Orlando’s roads that could lead to accidents.
Many accidents are the product of distracted driving. Truckers have the same duties to keep their eyes on the road as all other travelers. Texting while driving, changing a radio station, or eating while behind the wheel all place people at a severe risk of harm.
Other collisions are the product of scenarios that are unique to the commercial trucking industry. The size of these vehicles creates substantial blind spots that even advanced mirrors cannot penetrate. Additionally, trucks have maximum weight allowances on highways and local roads that exist to allow for adequate mobility. Finally, federal regulations limit how many hours a commercial driver may be behind the wheel in any given day or week. A driver who flouts these laws may be presumptively at-fault for a collision. An Orlando truck accident attorney could provide more information about how trucking accidents occur and the resulting legal bases for filing claims.
Collisions with commercial trucks can have a devastating impact on a person’s life. Most pressing are the physical injuries that can threaten an individual’s life or jeopardize their ability to even return to normal. Truck crashes can break bones, separate joints, sever spinal cords, or cause traumatic brain injuries. A trucker, their insurance company, and their employer are all liable to provide payments to cover the costs of all necessary medical care. This includes both past, present, and future treatment.
However, a comprehensive claim must also evaluate how the incident has affected the plaintiff’s overall quality of life. Physical injuries often result in significant pain, and a claim for damages should attempt to put a dollar amount on this suffering. Additionally, the incident may leave a person with emotional traumas that may cause nightmares, an inability to leave the house, or PTSD.
Lastly, many claims demand economic compensation. If an accident forces a person to miss time on the job to seek treatment or to make a recovery, defendants are liable to provide reimbursement. More severe injuries may forever change a person’s ability to hold a job or to provide for their family. Here, the plaintiff can demand payments for all future loss of income. An Orlando truck accident attorney can form demand packages that seek payments necessary to set things right.
An attorney can also help to pursue the case on time. Florida Statutes §95.11 says that injured plaintiffs have four years from the date of injury to demand compensation. This applies both to lawsuits in court and settlement negotiations. Contact an attorney immediately so that this law does not bar recovery.
Collisions with tractor-trailers and other commercial trucks rarely end well for people in smaller cars. Commercial vehicles can easily crush these cars and inflict severe injuries on the people inside. The resulting physical injuries, emotional traumas, and economic losses can form the basis of a demand for compensation.
An Orlando truck accident lawyer could take the lead in these claims. They could work to explain the relevant laws, to gather evidence that names a trucker as being at-fault for the collision, and to represent your interests during settlement talks and while in court. Contact an Orlando truck accident lawyer today to let them get to work for you.