Attorneys Helping Truck Accident Victims
Tractor-trailers are an integral cog in America’s economy. We depend on them to move cargo within and between states. They are a permanent fixture on Florida’s roads. As truck companies compete for business, there is bound to be increased pressure on truck drivers to beat deadlines and test the limits of traffic laws. The result is a push to maximize profit while paying scant regard to the safety of other road users.
Trucks are the heaviest vehicles on the road. Getting involved in a truck accident is therefore a scary thought. In its annual report, the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) noted that there were 249 fatalities and 7,411 injuries due to accidents involving light, medium or heavy trucks.
Death or permanent disability is a real possibility especially for the person in the smaller vehicle. Tractor-trailers can weigh up to 30 times as much as a passenger car and require a much longer distance to come to a halt in the event of an emergency. A 2008 federal report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed that among nationwide truck accident fatalities, only 16% were occupants of the truck; 74% were drivers or passengers of a smaller vehicle.
Given the vast distances that trucks often cover, it is probably not surprising that driver fatigue is one of the most common causes of truck accidents. Overworked and unrested, truck drivers are likely to crash into unsuspecting motorists and pedestrians. There will however be instances where the truck manufacturer is responsible for the accident due to an equipment defect.
If you have been injured following a Florida truck accident, the team at Badgley Law Group can help. In several ways, a truck crash is no ordinary accident. Your potential adversary is usually more formidable than the one you would face in a “normal” car crash. The driver is often the employee of a large trucking company that will do all that is legally possible to avoid being held liable for the accident.
Immediately following the accident, the trucking company together with its insurer will commence its own investigation of the crash. As an organization that probably deals with dozens of accidents per year, large trucking companies have elaborate policies and procedures for addressing accident claims. This will include examining the vehicles to ascertain the amount of damage, talking to witnesses and taking photographs of the scene.
The trucking and insurance companies will deploy their best resources to find out whether there is a loophole that would provide sufficient grounds to release them from all liability. You will therefore need a strong partner by your side when filing a claim.
Contact Our Orlando Truck Accident Attorney Today
Badgley Law Group’s team of Orlando truck accident lawyers has vast experience representing the victims of road collisions. Depending on the nature and severity of the accident, you can sue both the driver of the truck and their employer. Even when you believe that you partly caused the accident, do not suffer in silence. You can still seek compensation under Florida’s laws. Talk to an Orlando truck accident lawyer at Badgley Law Group today.
Contact us online or call us for a free consultation at 407-686-1819.