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The forces involved when two passenger vehicles are involved in an accident are already enough to cause severe damage, injuries to the occupants, and in some cases, even death. But when a car, SUV, van, or even a pickup truck are involved in an accident with a larger commercial vehicle, the results can be catastrophic.
A typical SUV will weigh between 2,000 to 6,000 pounds. However, an 18-wheeler can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. Combine that with high speeds found on Florida’s highways, and it’s easy to see how accidents involving trucks are significantly different than typical car accidents.
When large commercial trucks are involved in accidents, it’s often the occupants in the other vehicles that sustain serious injuries and incur high medical expenses.
If you are suffering from the pain of a truck accident injury, a personal injury attorney can help get the compensation you deserve.
Accidents involving commercial vehicles and trucks are different from traditional auto accidents.
For one, the impact between a sedan and a flatbed truck or 18-wheeler is far more catastrophic (and often deadlier) than a collision between two average-sized vehicles.
Secondly, because the trucking industry is highly regulated, drivers are held accountable for their conduct on the road. If you were involved in an accident with a large truck, it is crucial that your attorney understands the many State and Federal guidelines affecting the industry.
At Beers & Gordon, our attorneys have handled truck accident cases involving all types of commercial transport vehicles, including semis, tractor trailers, 18-wheelers, dump trucks, and even concrete mixers. We have seen truck accidents caused by a variety of factors, including improper or negligent maintenance, inadequate or poor training, driver exhaustion, and operator error (such as failure to obey traffic signs), or simply driving too fast for the conditions of the road.
Truck drivers are usually backed by large corporations, each with their own team of legal experts whose job it is to protect the interests of their employer. Going up against these corporations without an experienced truck accident lawyer of your own typically leads to an uphill battle and (eventually) a negative outcome for you.
At Beers & Gordon, we handle all cases on a contingency basis. This means that our fees are a percentage of your settlement amount.
We understand that your medical bills have likely placed you under a significant financial burden, so we don’t charge any upfront costs and our consultations are always free.
One of the most important things to remember in your trucking accident case is that the other insurance company is not on your side—they work for themselves and their client.
If you plan on hiring an accident attorney (and you should!), it is in your best interests to let your lawyer do the talking. Do not provide a statement to the insurance company—either your own or the other party’s. If they contact you directly, tell them to get in touch with your attorney instead.
Most trucking companies have procedures in place on how the driver should handle a crash. Many of the companies have accident kits in the truck directing the driver what to do. Or the driver will call a supervisor who will send a Safety Director to the scene.
All of these steps are done to protect the trucking company. The driver or supervisor will likely take photographs of the vehicles and scene. They may even try to get a written or recorded statement of you. Do not give them any such statement.
Oftentimes, the trucking company will insist that all of the photographs are work products and will not allow you or your attorney access to the information without court intervention. So, having an attorney involved early can assist in collecting evidence.
The facts of the crash may necessitate the downloading of a host of electronic information that the truck may have captured. It can be important to gather that information early in the case before such data may be lost.
In order to estimate how much to expect from your car accident settlement, your attorney will need a thorough understanding of the details of your specific case. The type and extent of your injuries, your medical treatment, pain and suffering, lost wages, and insurance coverage will all play a role in the value of your case. Additionally, determining who is at fault for the crash will be important.
While you are unable to control most of these factors, the one thing you can do to increase the likelihood of a fair settlement is to work with an attorney who is experienced in trucking accident cases, such as Beers & Gordon.
Every Florida driver is required by law to have at least $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage on their car insurance, which will pay for a portion of your medical bills and lost wages following a car accident.
However, many accident victims find that their medical treatment far exceeds this amount. In the absence of MedPay coverage, you may have to turn to your health insurance policy or pursue the at-fault driver for the remainder of your costs.
If you don’t have an active car insurance policy, Beers & Gordon may be able to write you a Letter of Protection, which will defer the costs of medical treatment until your case is completed.
For more information, read our blog post titled “How Medical Bills Are Paid After an Accident.”
Truck collisions present a host of issues that differ from traditional car accidents.
For one, insurance works differently with commercial trucking accidents. Trucks are insured by commercial insurance, which is much more complex than a personal auto policy and usually has much higher coverage limits. Additionally, we have seen companies fail to disclose all of the available insurance. When trucks operate in interstate commerce, for example, they usually are required to have certain coverages that must be explored.
The trucking industry also has to follow certain federal and state requirements regarding their hours of operation, weight limits, and maintenance requirements—things the average Florida driver does not.
Because the industry is so complex, it can be difficult determining who was responsible for the accident: the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loaders, or the manufacturer. Or possibly a combination of all of them. Many of the parties will point the blame to the other party making it important to look at the facts from all of the angels.
It takes a law firm experienced in trucking accidents to understand which questions to ask to get you the best possible outcome for your case. You also want an attorney who will listen to you, guide you through the process, and be an advocate for you.
The trucking industry has been called the lifeblood of our economy, delivering goods and products across the country to ensure that stores are fully stocked with the items we all need. Because of this, the trucking industry is highly regulated.
Florida has a lot of say about what happens on the roads in the Sunshine State because many trucking companies travel across state lines, but the federal government is also heavily involved.
Hiring a truck accident law firm in Orlando who understands not just the local rules and regulations but the federal guidelines as well is critical to making sure that you are able to receive the appropriate amount of compensation that will help you recover from an accident.
With truck accident claims, not only must you deal with several different local, state, and national laws, you’ll also be facing off against the legal teams for large businesses and corporations. Many truckers on the road are either working for or supported by giant corporations that can afford to hire a team of defense lawyers that handle cases just like this every day.
Don’t try to face the situation alone. Too often, we hear stories where individuals thought they were offered a fair deal from an insurance company, only to find out they received just a fraction of what they were entitled to.
Truck accident claims lead to much more significant medical bills than a typical car accident. That’s why you need an Orlando truck accident lawyer on your side who understands the laws at play and can be your advocate and guide through this complicated process.
When looking for a truck accident lawyer in the Orlando, Florida area, look no further than Beers & Gordon, led by two highly experienced attorneys, David Beers and Jim Gordon. With nearly 60 years of experience between the two of them, David and Jim spend every day representing individuals who have been injured and damaged in the Central Florida area.
David and Jim are uniquely qualified to represent you in truck accident claims. Before establishing Beers & Gordon in 2009, David and Jim worked as defense lawyers for the insurance companies. Their experience and knowledge of how the system works will work to your advantage while trying to secure proper and fair compensation.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, don’t wait any longer. Call Beers & Gordon today to schedule your free consultation.
Motor vehicle accidents are incredibly disrupting to your daily life. In fact, the primary thought in your mind is probably “When will this all be over?”
We totally understand, but we caution each of our clients not to settle for an unsatisfactory resolution of their case simply because they are too tired to fight anymore. This is what the insurance companies want—to wear you down until you give in.
By working with an experienced Oviedo car accident attorney who has worked both sides of the law you increase the chances of getting a more favorable outcome for your case, without having to do all of the hard work yourself.
At Beers & Gordon, you will always work directly with an attorney—not an investigator or case worker—who will give you an honest and professional evaluation of your case.
Schedule a free consultation today to see how we can help.
Contact us for a free consultation to see how we can assist you.
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