Online shopping has become an increasingly popular trend in recent years, with 25% of Americans now making online purchases at least once per month. As a result, the roads are becoming increasingly saturated with delivery trucks in order to meet this demand.
Although less common than car accidents, accidents involving delivery trucks are becoming more and more common. Due to the sheer size and heavyweight of the vehicle, the extent of damage and injury caused as a result of a truck accident is often catastrophic and can have life-changing consequences.
If you or a loved one has been unfortunate enough to be involved in a truck accident that wasn’t your fault, then you may be entitled to compensation. Here at The Law Place, we have a team of highly skilled criminal defense lawyers with over 75 years of combined experience in handling cases like yours. We offer all our customers a free consultation where we will assess the legitimacy of your claim and offer comprehensive legal advice on the best way to proceed. Our North Port phone lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so our attorneys can be on hand to help whenever you need it. Call us today at (941) 444-4444 and get started with your case.
DHL Trucking Company Statistics
DHL is one of the largest international courier, package delivery, and express mail service companies. As a company, they employ over 380,000 members of staff who deliver over 1.3 billion parcels every year. The number of trucks taking to the roads each day is increasing and therefore making the chances of an accident increasingly likely to occur.
What Are The Most Common Causes for Delivery Truck Accidents in North Port?
There are a number of reasons why delivery truck accidents occur. Some of the most common causes for delivery truck accidents in North Port are:
- Poor maintenance of the truck or defective vehicle parts – Due to the frequency that delivery trucks are used, it is important to regularly check the vehicle to make sure they are roadworthy.
- Trucking company negligence – Truck companies such as DHL have a duty of care to look after their drivers and vehicles. When this is neglected, truck accidents are more likely to occur.
- Truck driver negligence – Truck drivers are often required to work long hours on the road. On occasion, truck drivers can become too comfortable and not pay as much attention to the road or their surroundings, increasing the chances of an accident.
- Fatigued drivers – When drivers spend long hours behind the wheel, they become tired easily. This decreases their awareness of the road and ability to react quickly.
- Driver’s under the influence (DUI)– If drivers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, then it is likely to have a negative impact on their ability to focus and make decisions.
- Overloaded or poorly loaded cargo – When cargo is loaded onto a truck incorrectly, it can make the vehicle difficult to steer and control.
- Unrealistic schedule – Trucking companies often place enormous pressure on drivers to reach their targets and meet their delivery schedule. As a result, truck drivers often look to cut corners where possible in order to meet these unrealistic expectations, meaning that accidents are more likely to occur.
- Stopping and standing hazards – In order to meet their targets, delivery drivers often stop their vehicles in inappropriate locations to deliver packages. This presents a hazard to other road users and pedestrians who are left to navigate around the heavy goods vehicle, increasing the risk of a road accident.
No matter the cause of the truck accident, here at The Law Place, we have a team of attorneys ready to help. Call our law firm today to arrange a free consultation and receive comprehensive legal advice on the best way to proceed with your claim.
What Are the Most Common Injuries Sustained as a Result of a Trucking Accident?
Due to the weight and size of a delivery vehicle, trucking accidents have the ability to cause catastrophic and life-changing injuries. Some of the most common injuries sustained as a result of a truck accident are:
- Head, back, or neck injury.
- Burns.
- Cuts or lacerations.
- Broken or fractured bones.
- Emotional trauma, pain, and suffering.
- Injury to internal organs.
- Internal bleeding.
- Loss of life or wrongful death.
If you have been unfortunate enough to be involved in a trucking accident, and have sustained an injury as a result, then our attorneys at The Law Place are here to help ensure you receive the compensation you are entitled to. Call us today to arrange a free consultation with an adept accident lawyer.
What Damages Can You Claim for Following a Truck Accident?
In addition to injuries, truck accidents are also likely to cause severe property damage, as well as lasting emotional, physical, and financial damage. A personal injury lawyer will investigate your case and will work to identify possible damages you may be entitled to receive compensation for. Such damages may include:
- Medical bills for past, present, and future expenses, including any rehabilitation costs or travel costs incurred going to and from medical appointments.
- Any loss of income or wages, as well as the loss of future earning capacity.
- Any pain and suffering caused, including undue distress.
- Wrongful death, including funeral expenses as well as any loss of income to the household.
- Any other costs, including childcare support or travel expenses.
At The Law Place, our truck accident lawyers fully understand how stressful facing a legal battle can be, which is why our attorneys are here to guide and support you every step of the way. We pride ourselves on developing trusting attorney-client relationships built on honesty and transparency. Call our offices in North Port today to get started with your claim.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident?
Truck accident cases can often be complex when it comes to establishing liability, as it is possible for multiple parties to be held accountable for damages. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the truck accident, a lawyer may be able to identify any of the following parties as being liable for a truck accident:
- The truck driver.
- The truck company, such as DHL.
- The manufacturer of the truck.
- The truck parts manufacturer.
- The insurance provider.
- A third-party company.
It is worthwhile noting that it is a legal requirement in Florida for all trucks to be fitted with an Event Data Recorder. This device, more commonly known as a black box, records crucial information before, during, and after an accident and can prove vital in establishing which parties are liable for a trucking accident.
As noted in Florida Statute 768.81, Florida works under a comparative negligence scheme. This means that each party that is found to be liable for the accident is held accountable to pay for damages according to the percentage that they are found to be at fault. For example, if the driver of the truck is found to be 40% liable, and the manufacturer of the truck is found to be 60% liable, then the truck driver would pay for 40% of damages, and the truck manufacturer would pay for 60%.
Here at The Law Place, our team of highly skilled accident lawyers can help establish who was at fault and is therefore liable to pay for damages for the truck accident in North Port.
How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
If you have found yourself involved in a truck accident that wasn’t your fault, then it is strongly advised to seek legal advice from a reputable law firm. At The Law Place, you can feel assured that our personal injury lawyers are well equipped to offer support and legal guidance. A personal injury lawyer will be there to guide you through the legal process and will do their utmost to ensure that you receive the compensation that you are entitled to.
Unfortunately, large trucking companies, such as DHL, often have strong legal teams within their business and will most likely have dealt with a number of truck accident cases prior to yours. Therefore, they are likely to be highly skilled and experienced in dealing with claims like yours. Here at The Law Place, we believe that the sooner you take action and seek legal advice, the better your chances of achieving a successful outcome.
At our law firm, we pride ourselves on being able to offer all our customers a free initial consultation. At this consultation, a skilled North Port truck accident lawyer will assess the legitimacy of your claim and offer valuable legal advice on the best way to proceed, all at no obligation. Many of our attorneys are AVVO rated 10.0, which is the best possible ranking. This AVVO rating is awarded based on trial skills, length of practice, awards, as well as client reviews and testimonials.
When it comes to legal fees at The Law Place, all our North Port truck accident lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means that a legal fee will only be deducted from your settlement once we win your case. Therefore, if your case is unsuccessful, you won’t be required to pay any legal fees.
In Florida, all contingency work is moderated by the State Bar Association. This organization assigns limits on the amount that a personal injury attorney can charge. At your initial consultation with The Law Place, we will ensure we run through our legal fees so you are aware of what may be deducted from your settlement at the end of the case. There aren’t any surprise bills with us.
Contact The Law Place in North Port Today!
If you have been involved in an accident involving a truck and it wasn’t your fault, then The Law Place in North Port is here to help. Our law firm has over 75 years of collective experience in successfully handling cases similar to yours, so you can relax in the knowledge that your case will be in adept and competent hands.
Our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you can call us at a time most convenient for you, and rest assured one of our trucking accident attorneys will be on hand to offer legal advice and support when you need it most. What are you waiting for? Call our offices today on (941) 444-4444, and arrange a free consultation with one of our highly skilled truck accident lawyers.