Pensacola, Florida, is home to the Port of Pensacola, a significant shipping location in the Florida panhandle. As such, there is substantial commercial truck traffic in and around Pensacola that puts every other driver on the road at risk of a trucking accident. Any accident is a dangerous and traumatic experience, but an accident with a semi-truck or tractor-trailer can be devastating due to the size difference between these massive vehicles and a passenger vehicle. This is one reason why a commercial truck driver is required to have additional licensing and certifications before operating such a large vehicle. While a commercial driver has proof that they are highly skilled at what they do, no amount of licensing will guarantee that they will never cause an accident, which is why their insurance premiums are so much higher than a typical non-commercial driver policy. This is also why it is so important to know that you can contact an experienced Pensacola personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident to help you get the money you rightfully deserve after a collision.
Contact Us For a Free Consultation With a Pensacola, FL 32502 Truck Accident Lawyer
The award-winning truck accident attorneys at Fasig | Brooks are here to walk through your situation during a free consultation as soon as possible. Understanding the type of support our law firm can offer during this difficult time is an important first step in fighting for the money that you rightfully deserve. During our consultation, we will be able to discuss all of the details of your accident, such as the events that led up to the accident, what the truck driver was doing while driving, the extent of your injuries, and much more. We will be able to help you understand your situation in the context of personal injury law and can give you an idea of what to expect moving forward by providing you with a number of examples of similar cases we have successfully represented in the past. While no two accidents are alike, knowing that you are not alone in your experience can be a comfort.
Read more about trucking accidents in Pensacola, FL, and contact us as soon as possible to get started on your case today.
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Common Causes of Trucking Accidents
According to the National Safety Council, there were a total of 5,005 fatal accidents involving tractor-trailers and other large trucks and 118,000 accidents where non-fatal injuries were reported. Alarmingly, the number of trucks involved in fatal crashes has increased 16%, and the involvement rate per 100 million large truck miles driven has increased 11%. The following are just a few of the many causes of accidents involving commercial trucks, both in Pensacola FL, 32502 and across the United States.
Driver Fatigue
There are federal laws that limit the hours a truck driver can operate a commercial vehicle within set windows of time, intended to reduce the risk of driver fatigue leading to additional accidents. While these restrictions are helpful, especially in an industry with a main goal of expedient deliveries, there is nothing that ensures a driver will not be fatigued due to any other number of factors. Fatigue can impact driving even more than drunk driving in some instances.
Drunk Driving
While fatigued driving is a major concern on the roads, driving drunk is extremely dangerous and can lead to avoidable accidents and serious injuries. Due to the complex nature of commercial trucks, CDL drivers are limited to a 0.04% BAC while driving a commercial vehicle, although they are still subject to standard federal laws and a 0.08% BAC while driving passenger vehicles. If you suspect that alcohol played a role in your motor vehicle accident, inform the police at the scene of the crash.
Distracted Driving
When a driver is using a phone, eating, reading, or engaging in other behavior that takes their eyes, mind, or hands off of their driving, an avoidable collision is more likely to occur. In a trucking accident, there may be evidence like an on-board camera that films the driver, which is less common in a passenger vehicle accident and can be a big help in truck accident cases.
Speeding
Speed limits are set for each road in consideration of a range of factors, including upcoming obstacles, merges, intersections, and much more. These limits are set into law in order to keep drivers from losing control of their vehicles and are important to respect. When a truck driver disregards these limits in a large vehicle, they will need a longer distance to brake and may encounter a number of other problems that lead to a collision. If a trucker is cited for speeding at the scene of the crash, this citation can support your personal injury claim significantly.
Mechanical Failures
Commercial trucks are highly complex vehicles, and in combination with the long distances they travel under heavy load, the likelihood that a mechanical failure may occur is higher than in a standard passenger vehicle. This is why these trucks have strict maintenance and inspection schedules that must be adhered to. Failure to do so, or a failure to properly address potential hazards, can lead to an accident and serious injuries. Your trucking accident attorneys will review all maintenance logs to determine whether or not this played a factor in your trucking accident.
Inclement Conditions
Many truck accidents happen because of bad weather like wet or icy roads or low visibility. Trucks have heavy cargo behind their tractors and can lose control or jackknife while trying to navigate these dangerous conditions, leading to serious injuries for others involved in these trucking accidents. Working with a Florida truck accident attorney, you will be able to lay out all of the details of your crash clearly to prove that you are the victim in this Florida personal injury case and fight for the money you are rightfully entitled to.
There are many other situations that contribute to Florida trucking accidents, and working with experienced personal injury lawyers can ensure that you are able to tell your story and get the money you deserve for this dangerous and traumatic experience. Contact our law firm now to speak with a lawyer who can help you make sense of your situation today.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Trucking Accidents
The following are just a few of the many questions that truck accident lawyers focus on answering for their clients. Many of these questions require extensive research before lawyers can reach a definitive answer, so keep in mind that the following answers are only meant to give you a general idea of how your own situation may be handled. No two truck accidents are alike, which is why it is so important that you work with experienced attorneys who can be sure to fight for the money you deserve.
Do I need to hire attorneys after a truck accident?
You are under no legal obligation to hire a lawyer after a Florida truck accident, but working with a skilled legal professional can give you the boost you need to get the money you deserve. Whether you are a victim, or if you are filing a claim after the wrongful death of a loved one, the insurance company is focused on one thing: settling your claim for as little as possible. Attorneys understand this goal and work with their clients after truck accidents to negotiate a settlement that fairly compensates them for their many damages.
Should I accept the insurance company’s initial offer?
We highly recommend speaking with a truck accident attorney before accepting any offers from the insurance company. Adjusters will commonly overlook or omit damages like pain and suffering in order to save money, leveraging the fact that such subjective damages can be complex and confusing for someone who is not well-versed in accident law. Contact us now to review your case.
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