What Factors Play a Role in Truck Crashes?
Most truck drivers are serious about their jobs and the responsibilities of staying safe on the road. Still, a moment’s inattention, the pressure of timely deliveries, and long hours of driving can lead to heartbreaking consequences for those involved in truck crashes.
Speeding
Speeding is the most typical cause of all crashes—including trucks. It takes large trucks more time than smaller vehicles to come to a stop because they’re carrying a huge amount of momentum. When a truck driver can’t react in time to avoid a wreck, it’s usually the people in the smaller vehicles who are affected the most.
Driver Fatigue
Tired drivers are another reason trucks get involved in accidents. The maximum number of hours a driver can operate their truck per day and per week is mandated by state and federal regulations. Still, the pressure to get done and go home or make timely deliveries can compel drivers to cut corners. When drivers don’t get enough rest and spend too much time on the road, they can have slower reaction times due to fatigue and cause a wreck.
Overloaded Truck
The truck driver must properly secure his or her load and ensure it does not exceed weight restrictions. An A truck driver has to make sure their load doesn’t exceed weight restrictions and that it’s properly secured. A truck that’s overloaded will have trouble stopping. The truck will be in danger of overturning if a load is unbalanced. The driver may not be responsible in some cases. The vehicle may be unsafe for driving if the equipment, such as brakes and tires, is improperly maintained. In that case, it may be the fleet owner maintaining the truck who is negligent. A defective part may falter when needed and cause a wreck in other situations. Truck part manufacturers are responsible for making sure their products are safe for their intended use.
In some accidents, the driver is not responsible. Poor maintenance, especially on tires and brakes can make a vehicle unsafe for driving. The fleet owner who maintains the truck may be negligent in ensuring its safety for use on the road. In other cases, a defective part may fail when needed and lead to an accident. Manufacturers of truck parts have a duty to ensure their parts are safe for their intended use.
Who Can File a Compensation Claim in St. Petersburg, Florida?
Every motorist must carry a basic amount of insurance coverage, according to Florida state law. A driver must have a minimum of $10,000 in property damage liability and $10,000 in personal injury protection.
If you are in a minor wreck where your medical expenses are less than $10,000 and there’s less than $10,000 in damage, your expenses will be covered by insurance without the need to name someone at fault.
However, truck accidents are often much more serious than other crashes. In these cases, a car that was hit by a truck could be totaled, and the occupants could be facing tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses. In the case of victims who are seriously hurt, Florida law allows for pursuing personal injury claims.
Serious injury, as defined by Florida law, includes at least one of the following:
- At least 90 days of full disability
- A significant limitation of a body function or system
- Permanent limitation of the use of a member or organ
- Significant disfigurement
- Bone fracture
Serious injuries like the ones listed above are not rare in a truck crash. You are not limited to the personal injury protection afforded by your insurance policy if you experience any of these. You may also seek compensation through a personal injury suit in St. Petersburg, FL.
Compensation for Truck Accidents in St. Petersburg Florida
For those suffering a serious injury from a truck crash, medical expenses are often expensive and overwhelming. You may seek reimbursement for doctor bills, prescription medication, hospital expenses, and specialized medical equipment that’s necessary following your hospitalization.
The victim will typically miss time from work due to serious injuries. You may request reimbursement for lost wages during medical treatment. You may also ask for reimbursement for diminished earning capacity if your injury limits you from working in the future.
Victims often deal with endless hours of distress, suffering, and pain because of significant injuries. As part of your lawsuit, you may ask for reimbursement for your pain and suffering. Even though no one can put a price tag on your pain, you are still owed compensation for what you have gone through.
Pain and suffering compensation is negotiated during the settlement phase of your lawsuit. The court will compare your injuries to similar cases and arrive at a fair reimbursement if the case goes to trial.
What if I Were Partly at Fault in the Accident?
In some situations, it’s clear the cause of the crash was due to the negligence of one person. In many cases, however, it’s found that both drivers played a role in causing the wreck.
For example, say a truck driver fails to see a car next to them while changing lanes. But the driver of the car was on their cell phone and didn’t see the truck coming at them until the crash happened. Both drivers played a role in causing the crash in this scenario.
Florida law states the car driver can still seek reimbursement for any injuries. The court may rule the distracted driver was 25% to blame for the wreck, while the truck driver contributed 75% to the crash if the case were to go to trial.
If the distracted driver was seeking $100,000 total compensation, the court would then reduce that number by 25%. They would end up getting $75,000 in reimbursement for their injuries.
If you were partly at fault in an accident, insurance companies may try to coerce you into thinking you don’t deserve any compensation. But that just isn’t the case. Even if they are partially to blame, victims of car accidents are protected under Florida law.
Get the Help You Deserve
You don’t have to take on the insurance company by yourself. Contact Bulluck Law Group today and one of our attorneys will do a free evaluation of your case. With our No Recovery, No Fee Promise, you pay nothing unless your truck accident attorney in St. Petersburg gets a settlement or a winning verdict for you.
You will only pay a small percentage of your settlement because we work on a commission basis. When you have one of our experienced lawyers by your side, the odds of getting what you deserve will drastically improve.
Please allow us to work on your behalf and apply our track record of excellence to your case.
Let us go to work for you and put our track record of excellence on your case.
