West Palm Beach Truck Accident Lawyer

The trucking industry in the United States is a multi-billion-dollar industry given our continued reliance on trucks to move everything from household supplies to entire houses. Because of the inherent risk imposed by large trucks, we have a plethora of federal rules and regulations aimed at reducing the likelihood of trucks causing or contributing to collisions on the nation’s roadways. Nevertheless, large trucks and buses are involved in about 5,000 fatal crashes each year, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). If you were injured in a truck accident or a truck accident fatally injured a family member, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries or the loss you suffered.

At Demand the Limits, we have witnessed the devastation a truck accident can cause to the victims and surviving family members. We also know that the prospect of pursuing compensation from an at-fault truck driver can be daunting for an injured victim. Let a West Palm Beach truck accident lawyer at Demand the Limits help. We are committed to using our extensive experience and considerable resources in the pursuit of justice for trucking accident victims and family members who lost a loved one in a fatal crash. At Demand the Limits, we are dedicated to making sure the responsible party (or parties) is held accountable and those truck accident victims are fully compensated. Call (561) 220-6723 to schedule a free consultation.

What Are Common Examples of Large Trucks and Busses?

According to the FMCSA, larger trucks and buses comprise about 1.5 percent of all vehicles on the nation’s roadways; however, they collectively travel about 10 percent of all the miles traveled in the U.S. each year. Because large trucks routinely cross state lines and inherently pose a higher risk of injury to other motorists, most large trucks are governed by federal rules and regulations. Some of the most common types of larger trucks are:

• Tractor-trailer. A tractor-trailer is what most people think of when they envision a “semi” truck or an 18-wheeler. It is a truck with a fifth wheel that is powerful enough to pull an attached trailer. The size and weight of a tractor-trailer make it difficult to stop quickly and the higher center of gravity increases the risk of roll-over in an accident.
• Double and triple trailer trucks. These are tractor-trailer trucks with a second or third trailer attached. The additional trailers make the likelihood of the truck “jackknifing” in an accident considerably higher than for a traditional tractor-trailer.
• Garbage trucks. In residential areas, pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles are at risk of injury caused by objects flying out of a garbage truck or being caught in the truck’s blind spot.
• Flatbed truck. These are tractor-trailer trucks that have a flatbed behind the tractor instead of an enclosed trailer. If a load is not properly secured, objects can fly off the back, causing an accident.
• Mail trucks. Mail delivery truck drivers can easily become distracted while looking for an address, resulting in an accident.
• Tanker trucks. Tanker trucks are semi-trucks that haul liquids. These trucks frequently carry hazardous materials, increasing the risk of serious injury or death in an accident.

What Are Some Common Causes of Truck Accidents?

Figures published by the National Safety Council (NSC) tell us that Florida ranks as one of the top three states for fatal truck accidents, with 373 truck accident fatalities in 2021. Common causes or contributing factors in a truck accident include:

• Fatigue. Despite federal rules aimed at regulating the number of hours a truck driver can spend driving, truck drivers remain under pressure to drive past the point of fatigue to get a load delivered on schedule and to increase their pay.
• Driving under the influence. Truck drivers are subject to drug and alcohol testing; however, some still rely on alcohol, illicit drugs, prescription medications, and/or over-the-counter medications to help them stay awake while driving for endless hours, often on desolate roadways.
• Distracted driving. Although federal law prohibits truck drivers from using handheld electronic devices while operating a truck, drivers continue to do so to keep in touch with friends and family or simply as a way to provide entertainment on long drives.
• Reckless driving. Reckless driving can involve things such as speeding, switching lanes quickly or without signaling or failing to yield to other vehicles.

Who Is Responsible for a Truck Accident?

One aspect of a trucking accident that can make it especially difficult for injured victims or surviving family members to pursue compensation is the likelihood that more than one party will share in the fault. To be entitled to compensation, an injured victim or surviving family member must prove negligence on the part of one or more parties. In a trucking accident, several parties may be found to have been negligent, including:

• The driver.
• The trucking company.
• The truck manufacturer.
• The owner of the cargo.
• The company responsible for performing maintenance on the truck.

Am I Entitled to Compensation for My West Palm Beach Truck Accident?

If you were injured in a West Palm Beach truck accident, you may have suffered physical, emotional, and financial injuries because of the collision. If the truck driver, or another related party, caused or contributed to the crash, you could be entitled to compensation for all your injuries, including the emotional trauma you suffered.

If you are the spouse, parent, or child of someone who was fatally injured in a West Palm Beach trucking accident, you may qualify to pursue compensation in a Florida wrongful death lawsuit. If so, you could receive monetary compensation for things such as pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and lost future earnings of the decedent.

The only way to get an idea of the value of your truck accident lawsuit is to consult with an experienced West Palm Beach truck accident lawyer; however, there are some common factors that will likely impact the amount of compensation you receive, such as:

• The severity of your physical injuries.
• The number of physical injuries you sustained.
• The quality of the evidence you have documenting your physical injuries and emotional trauma.
• How many parties are liable and the identity of the parties.
• The extent to which the defendant(s) can pay for your injuries using either insurance or personal assets.

Get Help from an Experienced West Palm Beach Truck Accident Lawyer

You may be entitled to compensation if you were injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident. Retaining the assistance of an experienced attorney right away is the best way to protect your rights and safeguard the compensation to which you are entitled. Our West Palm Beach truck accident lawyers will get to work immediately and can help you in a variety of ways, including:

• Investigating the truck accident.
• Helping you find healthcare providers.
• Calculating the maximum value of your claim.
• Gathering evidence to prove your claim.
• Ensuring that procedures are followed, and documents submitted on time.
• Negotiating an advantageous settlement.
• Advocating on your behalf in court if a settlement is not forthcoming.

At Demand the Limits, we know how to handle truck accident cases. Our experienced West Palm Beach truck accident lawyers have extensive experience with all types of truck accident cases. We fight hard to defend the legal rights of all West Palm Beach truck accident victims and their families. Call (561) 600-3555 or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation. Don’t delay – the sooner you have an attorney fighting for you, the better protected your legal rights will be.