Boynton Beach Truck Accident Lawyer
Thousands of large commercial trucks travel across Florida each day, making sure that our shelves are stocked, we have fuel for our cars, and packages arrive at our doorsteps when we expect them. The logistics behind the trucking industry are complicated, and the pressure on truck drivers and trucking companies to deliver is often great. This can often lead to mishaps and errors, which can then result in truck crashes.
When a large and potentially 80,000-pound semi-truck collides with a passenger car or SUV, the damage and injuries are often devastating. Dealing with serious injuries and medical treatment is often only the beginning of a long journey post-accident for many victims. During this time, you want a Boynton Beach truck accident lawyer from Demand the Limits Personal Injury Attorneys protecting your rights and future.
What Causes Truck Accidents in and around Boynton Beach?
Truck accidents are an unfortunately common event in our area, and they are responsible for thousands of injuries every year nationally. They can occur for any number of reasons, but what’s important to victims is that when they occur because of someone else’s negligence, victims are typically entitled to compensation under Florida law. The fact is that most truck accidents are the result of someone’s negligence, so victims should always talk to an attorney after being involved in one. Some of the more common causes of commercial truck crashes that usually entitle victims to compensation are discussed in detail below.
Speeding
Speeding is a factor in a significant number of commercial truck accidents. Truckers often spend long hours on the road and run tight delivery schedules. Both of these facts make it tempting for them to drive faster than the speed limit to get to where they are going sooner. Unfortunately, speeding significantly increases the risk of a serious accident.
Distracted Driving
Because truckers often spend several hours on the road each day, it’s easy for them to get bored and want to engage in other activities while driving. This problem has only gotten worse with smartphones that can play movies, text, receive and send emails, and even browse the web. When drivers are distracted, they can engage in a number of dangerous behaviors, including weaving, failing to see obstacles or vehicles ahead of them, speeding, or failing to follow traffic laws.
Ignoring Adverse Weather Conditions
Truckers often continue to drive at or above the speed limit in conditions like rain, snow, and ice, despite federal regulations that require them to use “extreme caution” in hazardous conditions that affect visibility or traction. When they cause accidents as a result of failing to adjust their driving to the conditions around them, victims can usually recover compensation from the driver or the driver’s employer.
The Importance of Contacting a Truck Accident Lawyer as Soon as Possible
In many cases, accident victims get into their treatment plan and let all the dust settle before they start thinking about the legal process. However, when it comes to truck crashes, it is critical to get a lawyer on your side as soon as you can. This is because you are likely not only going up against the truck driver who caused the crash but also the trucking company. The law holds employers liable for harm caused by the negligence of their drivers, so trucking companies regularly come into play in truck accident claims.
The trucking company and its insurance companies have one goal: to avoid or limit liability as much as possible. This means that they might launch investigations right away to begin gathering evidence. This evidence is meant to challenge the liability of the truck driver, and it can jeopardize your case. You want someone gathering evidence on your behalf as soon as possible, as well, to support your claim for compensation.
In addition, truck accident investigations can be complicated, and there are many types of evidence that might be involved. This might include reviewing:
- Data from the truck’s black box
- Footage from in-cab cameras
- Electronic logging devices (ELDs)
- Employment records of the driver
- Cargo-loading records
- Truck maintenance records
The longer you wait to begin your case, the greater chance that some or all of this evidence might disappear. Once you have a knowledgeable truck accident attorney on your side, they can issue demands to the trucking company to preserve key evidence for your claim.
Seeking Compensation for Your Truck Accident Losses
The first steps of your claim for compensation include gathering evidence and calculating your losses. Losses from truck crashes can be significant due to the severity of injuries that commonly result, and some losses might include:
- Bills for all medical treatment you received
- The estimated cost of medical treatment you still need in the future
- Income you lost from missing work due to your injuries
- Future earnings you will lose if you cannot return to work
- Permanent disabilities or impairments
- Physical and mental pain and suffering
The insurance company will likely be unwilling to pay the full amount your truck accident lawyer demands. Instead, there might be several rounds of negotiations that ensue to obtain the highest settlement offer possible.
In the event the insurance company refuses to make a fair offer in relation to your losses, your lawyer can begin the process of filing an injury lawsuit in civil court. The litigation process involves many steps, including ongoing settlement negotiations. In some cases, simply filing a lawsuit is enough to get the insurance company to settle. In others, you may need to litigate your case in court to pursue the compensation you deserve under the law.
Reach Out to Our Boynton Beach Truck Accident Lawyers Right Away
If you have suffered injuries in a truck accident caused by the negligence of another person, you should contact a lawyer as soon as you can. At Demand the Limits Personal Injury Attorneys, we know how to get insurance companies to pay up and never collect legal fees unless we win your case to schedule a free case evaluation. Contact us online or call 561-853-2137 today.