![Recovering Compensation After a Semi-Truck Crash in Orlando]()
Can I File a Lawsuit After Being Hit by a Semi-Truck in Orlando, Florida?
Can I File a Lawsuit After Being Hit by a Semi-Truck in Orlando, Florida?Navigating the roads alongside semi-trucks can pose significant risks for occupants of passenger vehicles. A large portion of fatalities in truck accidents involves occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists. Survivors of semi-truck collisions may suffer severe injuries and permanent disabilities.
If you are involved in a semi-truck accident in Orlando, pursuing a lawsuit against the liable party may be the only way to obtain compensation for your injuries and damages. The specific details of the accident will determine who can be named as a defendant in the lawsuit, with multiple parties potentially responsible for the damages.
Identifying Responsible Parties in a Semi-Truck Accident
Our Orlando, Florida semi-truck accident attorneys conduct a thorough investigation to establish the cause of a crash. Identifying the cause of the crash and how the liable party stepped out of line and acted negligently allows us to determine who is responsible for your injuries and damages, which is crucial before initiating an accident claim or filing a lawsuit.
Possible liable parties in a semi-truck accident often include one or more of the following:
Commercial Truck Drivers
Operating a semi-truck demands adequate training and skill. Handling an 80,000-pound vehicle that towers over other vehicles on the road carries immense responsibility, as a single mistake could result in a catastrophic accident.
However, many commercial truck accidents stem from driver negligence. Instances of truck driver negligence leading to a semi-truck collision include:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Violating federal regulations for hours of service, resulting in fatigued and drowsy driving
- Exceeding safe speed limits to expedite deliveries
- Engaging in reckless or aggressive driving
- Driving while distracted, such as watching videos, texting, talking on a cell phone, eating, or using electronic devices
- Failing to adjust speed during adverse weather conditions or hazardous road situations
Truck drivers who cause accidents may be held personally liable for damages. However, if a truck driver lacks individual insurance or assets to compensate the victim, it might be necessary to seek other parties who share liability for the semi-truck accident.
Trucking Companies
Trucking companies often bear partial responsibility for truck accidents. They are accountable for maintaining trucks, training drivers, and conducting background checks to ensure drivers are qualified to operate a semi-truck.
If a trucking company forces drivers to disregard service hour regulations, operate unsafe trucks, or take other risks that result in a truck accident, the company may be held liable for damages. Numerous factors could indicate trucking company negligence.
Shippers and Cargo Loaders
Improperly loaded commercial trucks are hazardous. Trucks can flip over when turning or navigating curves if the load is too heavy or shifts. A driver may lose control of the vehicle due to an improperly loaded truck, which also takes longer to stop when overloaded.
Maintenance Companies and Repair Shops
Semi-trucks require regular inspections and maintenance to ensure all systems function correctly. Trucks that are continuously on the road also need repairs. If a maintenance company or repair shop is negligent in providing services, they could be held liable for an accident if their actions contributed to the semi-truck crash.
Truck Manufacturers
Semi-trucks are intricate vehicles. A minor defect in any system may result in a devastating accident. Faulty truck components can cause brake failure, steering system malfunctions, or tire blowouts, leading to the driver losing control of the truck. If a defective truck part contributes to a semi-truck accident, the manufacturer may be held liable for damages caused by the crash.
Injuries Resulting from Semi-Truck Accidents
Semi-truck accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries for victims. Common injuries sustained in semi-truck accidents include:
- Spinal cord injuries, such as paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries, including coma and permanent brain damage
- Skull fractures and head injuries
- Multiple fractures and broken bones
- Severe burns, disfigurement, and scarring
- Back injuries, such as broken bones and ruptured discs
- Neck and shoulder injuries
- Significant damage to internal organs
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Wrongful death
In many instances, accident victims endure permanent impairments and disabilities. These consequences can significantly reduce a person's quality of life and may necessitate round-the-clock medical or personal care.
The cost of personal and medical care could amount to millions of dollars over a lifetime. Filing a personal injury claim is the first step in seeking compensation for a truck accident claim.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim for an Orlando, Florida Semi-Truck Accident
Our Orlando, Florida semi-truck accident attorney investigates the crash to gather evidence of fault and liability. During our investigation, we identify all parties that could be responsible for your damages and the insurance companies providing liability coverage for the accident.
A claim is filed with each insurance provider and at-fault party, demanding compensation for damages such as:
- Past and future medical care and treatment
- Past and future loss of income and benefits, including reduced earning potential
- Pain and suffering damages, including mental trauma, emotional distress, and physical discomfort
- Permanent impairments, disfigurements, scarring, and disabilities
- Cost of long-term personal care
- Modifications to a home and vehicle due to permanent impairments
Insurance companies and trucking companies vigorously investigate truck accidents and strive to minimize their liability for claims. If they refuse to negotiate in good faith to settle the claim for a fair amount, it may be necessary to sue the parties.
As an Orlando, Florida-based personal injury law firm, we are dedicated to providing expert legal support to clients in need. If you or a loved one has been involved in a semi-truck accident in Orlando, Florida, we can help you navigate the legal process to seek the compensation you deserve.
Contact Us for a FREE Consultation with a Florida Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in an accident involving a semi-truck, 18-wheeler, tractor trailer, or any other commercial vehicle, you should speak with a skilled, experienced, and aggressive Florida truck accident lawyer as soon as possible because you may be entitled to compensation. We handle semi-truck accident claims for a living. It’s what we do.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us on our website, or you can call our Orlando, Florida personal injury law firm today at (321) 352-7588 to schedule your free consultation by phone. When you schedule a consultation at our law firm, you will get a consultation with a truck accident lawyer, not a customer service representative or intake person.
If you need a South Carolina personal injury lawyer, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at (843) 638-6590. We have at least one lawyer licensed in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, and we handle semi-truck accident claims in all these states. So, if you’ve been injured in the Southeast, we may be able to help you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
For more information on semi-truck accident claims, you can download our free e-book: 10 BIG Questions You Need Answered After a Truck Accident.
