As you drive on Florida’s highways and interstates, you will notice you are sharing the roads with a lot of huge semi-trucks and other trucks. Certainly, these vehicles are a vital part of the economy, carrying essential goods to the places where they are needed.
However, it probably does not make you feel any better as huge trucks drive within inches of your car. It just takes a split second mistake on the part of a truck driver to create a massive pileup on the roadways, leaving those involved with significant injuries that could lead to a reduction in the quality of life they will enjoy going forward.
If this happened to you, consider retaining a Largo truck accident lawyer. The team at Distasio Law Firm is ready to begin studying and investigating your crash as soon as you choose to retain us, working to show that you deserve a fair settlement for your pain, suffering, and emotional trauma. For a free consultation, contact us to learn more at (813) 259-0022.
For a free legal consultation with a truck accidents lawyer serving Largo, call (813) 259-0022
The Frequency of Truck Accidents
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), fatalities in large truck crashes are increasing across the United States. In 2009, 3,147 deaths occurred in crashes involving large trucks. The number of fatalities increased to 4,136 in 2018 in the United States.
In these fatal crashes in 2018, occupants in the truck suffered 678 fatalities or about 16% of all the fatalities. Meanwhile, occupants in a motor vehicle involved in the crash with the truck had 2,786 fatalities. Pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists had 619 fatalities after a large truck hit them in 2018.
These numbers show the danger that occurs when the truck driver makes an error while driving. Because the truck is so much larger than a typical passenger car, and because motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians have no protection from the truck, these groups are in significant trouble when a truck hits them. Tens of thousands of victims suffer significant injuries in a truck crash each year too.
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Truck Accident Statistics in Florida
Truck accidents involving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) frequently occur in Pinellas County in Florida.
According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), the county had 1,445 crashes involving CMVs in 2018, which is a nearly 10 percent increase over the 1,315 CMV accidents in 2016.
With the frequency of trucking accidents in the area, retaining an attorney after being involved in this type of crash is a good strategy to protect your rights. Count on the Distasio Law Firm to study the facts in your truck accident case and determine a fair settlement amount to request for your personal injuries. Call us today at (813) 259-0022 for a free review of your claim.
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Determining Liability in a Truck Crash
One way a Largo truck accident lawyer can help with your case is by determining exactly who is at fault. In some cases, your truck accident attorney may discover that more than one party should be part of your claim, which may give you a better chance of receiving the settlement that you truly deserve.
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Truck Driver
Most of the time, the truck driver will be at fault in a crash with injuries. If the trucker makes an error behind the wheel, and if that error leads directly to the crash, they will be found negligent, and the driver’s insurance company will be liable for any judgment in the case.
Some of the ways a truck driver can be found negligent include:
- Speeding
- Driving recklessly
- Driving while intoxicated
- Driving while distracted
- Fatigued driving
- Changing lanes without signaling
- Violating traffic signs or signals
- Failing to yield right of way
Trucking Company
The ownership of the company that employs the truck driver who hit you may have shown negligence that played a role in the crash and your personal injuries.
For example, if the trucking company did not ensure that its driver had the proper training and commercial driver license to operate a commercial truck in Florida, the company could be found liable if that driver causes an injury accident.
Maintenance Department
If the repair shop or maintenance department that worked on the truck failed to catch a mechanical problem for the truck, this could lead to an equipment failure, resulting in an injury accident.
A common situation where this may occur is with the braking system on the truck. Without proper maintenance on the brakes, they could fail as the truck is hauling a heavy load, resulting in a severe crash.
Trailer Loaders
When workers are loading the truck’s trailer, they must do so correctly. With an improper loading technique, the cargo could shift as the trucker turns a corner or attempts to stop suddenly, causing the driver to lose control.
Contact a Truck Accident Attorney in Largo for Help Recovering Compensation You May Be Entitled To
It can be a lonely feeling when you are trying to recover from injuries suffered in a trucking accident that was not your fault. Not only are you likely struggling with significant pain and limited mobility, forcing you to change the way you live your life and leaving you unable to travel to visit loved ones, but you also may be unable to work.
These factors may leave you without your normal lines of support, such as family members or co-workers. This can create a feeling of intense loneliness, leaving you afraid that you never will be able to return to your normal life again.
Count on Distasio Law Firm to remain on your side throughout the process. When you retain us, we will take over the negotiations with the trucking company’s insurance company, leaving you more time to heal. Should the insurer refuse to settle the case fairly, we will represent you in a court case.
As a Largo truck accident lawyer, we have seen far too frequently how insurance companies try to treat victims in truck crashes, attempting to convince the victim to accept a far lower settlement than is deserved. We will work to ensure the insurance company treats you fairly. Call us at (813) 259-0022 today for a free case review.
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