The state of Florida takes road safety very seriously, with hundreds of preventative measures in place to avoid accidents and keep road users safe on the road. Despite this, road accidents still occur. This is usually down to drivers’ negligence. If you find yourself a victim of reckless driving, you may be owed compensation.
The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Department report 340,607 crashes in Florida in 2020, and 2,182 were in Port Charlotte County. Although Trucks may only account for a small proportion of road accidents, the effects of these accidents can be much more severe than regular car accidents due to their size and weight. Passenger vehicles are also more likely to get caught underneath trucks as they are very high. This can have devastating effects on smaller vehicles.
An intersection is a point where traffic flowing in different directions meets to pass each other. Therefore this is commonplace for truck accidents to occur.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a truck accident at an intersection, the results can include anything from vehicle damage, injury, and even death. After intersection accidents, it can be confusing as to what steps to take next. We recommend speaking to a personal injury lawyer from us at The Law Place. We have years of successful legal cases in getting victims the compensation they are owed.
For a free consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers, contact us today at The Law Place on (941) 444-4444.
What Causes Truck Accidents at Intersections, Port Charlotte, FL?
In Port Charlotte, accidents at intersections are common as many road users find intersections one of the most difficult aspects of driving. The causes of a truck accident at an intersection include speeding, ignoring stop signs, or driver negligence.
The pain and suffering caused to people who have been in an accident can be avoided if everyone obeyed the rules of the road, but unfortunately, this is not always the case.
If you have been in an accident, the lawyers at our law firm will look into every aspect of your incident to gather evidence and find who was at fault for the accident.
Specific causes of a truck accident could be:
- Truck driver fatigue – Truck drivers often have to drive long distances due to the nature of their work. Under federal hours-of-service regulations, drivers are allowed to be behind the wheel of a truck for 11 hours before a rest is required. This can cause slow reaction times and therefore increases the risk of accidents.
- Truck braking capability – When compared to passenger vehicles such as cars, trucks stopping distance is much longer, especially if the road surface is wet or there are underlying problems with the brakes. This means that a truck may not be able to stop as quickly as another vehicle, such as a car.
- Not following traffic lights or signals – If a driver is caught ignoring a stop sign, then this could mean a lot of compensation for you. Running a red light or ignoring traffic signals is taken very seriously. These actions risk the lives of not only the truck driver but other road users or pedestrians.
- Driving under the influence –Driving under the influence of alcohol or any other mind-altering substance means that the driver will not only have slower reaction times but will have poor judgment. Spatial awareness will also be altered, risking the lives of everyone involved.
- Harsh weather – As driving a truck is usually part of someone’s job. This means that a truck driver will face severe weather conditions at some point, be this extreme, wind, rain, or snow.
- Negligent driving – This refers to anything that could be seen as careless or reckless driving, including road rage, avoidable distractions, racing, changing lanes when it is not safe to do, and anything else that is considered dangerous.
Common Injuries from Truck Accidents?
Trucks in Port Charlotte, FL., can be extremely large. This is usually the case in the USA due to long-haul drives around the country to deliver goods and products.
A truck accident can often cause much more damage and injury to a person due to their size and weight. Trucks can weigh up to 30 times that of a car, and if your car was to get stuck under it, the results could be fatal. The ultimate price you could pay is your life. However, there are other common injuries that you may suffer from if you end up in a truck accident.
Common injuries include:
- Broken bones.
- Neck and back traumatic injury.
- Spinal cord injury.
- Brain Injury.
- Quadriplegia.
- Herniated discs.
- Burns.
- Internal bleeding and organ damage.
If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a trucking collision, you may have suffered serious injuries physically and mentally, and financially. Medical bills can add up, and you should not be liable to pay for your suffering. If you have been in an accident resulting in an injury, you should seek legal advice right away. You never know how much you could be owed in compensation!
Legal Help for Port Charlotte Truck Accident Victims
The first thing to do if you are involved in a truck incident at an intersection is to seek a personal injury lawyer. If you are in Port Charlotte, we have lawyers who are well versed in the steps to take when you have been wrongly harmed. It can be overwhelming to deal with the legal aspect of an accident yourself, especially if you have been injured.
At The Law Place, we think the last thing you should have to do is worry about the cost of bills. That is why we offer free case evaluations. You can call us anytime as our lines are open 24/7 and speak to an accident attorney to help you decide the next steps to take in your case.
We’re Florida’s top litigation team with over 75 years of combined experience
When Should I File a Personal Injury Claim?
An important aspect of your claim is timing. According to Florida Statute 95.11, you have four years to file a personal injury claim in Florida. If you decide to claim after this time period, it will not be possible unless you have suffered extreme injuries that have prevented you from claiming within those four years. For example, maybe you were in a coma for four years after a truck incident. In this case, exceptions could be made.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers.
Establishing Fault
Establishing what actually happened in a truck accident can be very difficult, especially if the drivers of the two vehicles do not agree. Exploring all the complexities and trying to work out who is liable can be very time-consuming. However, we have dealt with many clients in your position and know exactly how to handle complex collisions and trucking accidents.
There are a few parties other than the truck driver who could be at fault. These include:
- The Trucking Company – A common tactic by trucking companies is to hire drivers as independent drivers. That way, they can lower their chances of being held liable when an accident does occur. However, the trucking company is still liable for the maintenance of their vehicles, so if the problem is with the truck itself, the trucking company will be held responsible.
- Vehicle Mechanics – Often, a truck or car accident is not caused by either driver; rather, it may be caused by a mechanical fault. This would mean that the mechanics whose job it was to maintain the truck would be liable for any issues. Mechanics can face this liability as they are freelance and not covered by trucking companies themselves.
- The Cargo Loaders– It may be the fault of the people who have loaded the goods or cargo onto the truck. It is known that some trucks can carry up to weights of 40 tonnes. If the cargo is loaded incorrectly or much more weight is added, it can cause a loss of control, resulting in an accident. This means that the cargo loaders will be held responsible.
Pinpointing causation and identifying liability is not often something you would think about if you or a loved one has been in a truck incident. However, our law firm has skilled lawyers with the know-how in finding liability.
At The Law Place, we provide you with the best Florida personal injury lawyers to help you with the legal sides of a truck accident while you recuperate after a crash.
What Can a Port Charlotte Truck Accident Lawyer Do for Me?
If you are in an accident in Port Charlotte, it is highly recommended that you seek advice and help from a lawyer. Especially if you or a family member end up in an incident involving a truck. The trucking company will send out their own investigator who will be looking for evidence that the accident was not the fault of the driver to avoid liability for insurance claims.
This means that you need a team on your side who will work for you to find liability. At The Law Place, we will provide you with an attorney who will start their own legal investigation on your behalf, looking for evidence that the accident was not your fault but rather the fault of someone else.
To ensure that you have the best chance of receiving compensation for your injuries, we will take the following steps if you have been in a truck accident:
- Immediate responding – With injury claims, the quicker you act, the better. This is so our accident lawyers can gain as much evidence as possible close to the time of the accident. The quality of evidence may be diminished the longer you wait, and therefore less effective. Our accident lawyers will visit the scene to gather information; they may do this through photographs, measurements, and assessing specific details of your accident.
- Inspecting your vehicle – Before you go for any repairs on your vehicle, a lawyer from The Law Place will want to investigate your vehicle. This is so that they can examine your car for any other evidence or clues as to what may have gone wrong. An accident attorney also has the right to access the black box in your car to gather further evidence to help you claim.
- Reconstructing your auto accident – It is often the case that both parties involved in a truck accident will have conflicting opinions on what happened. If this is the case, your claim may require more time and evidence than usual. At The Law Place, we have accident reconstruction specialists who will determine as best they can the series of events that lead to your collision.
Contact The Law Place Today!
If you are unlucky enough to be involved in a truck accident at an intersection in Port Charlotte, Florida, then we recommend getting in touch with one of our attorneys.
Trucking collisions can have life-altering effects on you and your loved ones. Unfortunately, we cannot bring back people who are lost in a truck accident or undo any serious injuries. However, we can look after the financial aspect of your accident by getting you compensation and handling insurance claims on medical bills, hospital fees, and loss of wages due to your injuries.
Contact us today at The Law Place and schedule a free consultation. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain! Call on (941) 444-4444.