Truck Accident Lawyer Serving Greenacres

Anyone that has driven on a Greenacres roadway can say that they have seen a large number of trucks driving alongside them. In this case, we’re talking about 18-wheeler commercial trucks. Sadly, these large commercial trucks can be involved in accidents with other motor vehicles. There are a number of reasons why these accidents occur including: negligence on the part of a driver, bad weather conditions, worn out parts on a truck and a variety of other reasons. Because of the size of a commercial truck, about 10% of highway accident deaths will have a large truck included in the accident. Because of this fact, truck accident lawyers who serve Greenacres will see many different cases in which a large truck is involved.

As mentioned before, a large truck accident might be caused by poor weather or a part that has simply worn out. Yet, there are other reasons why they happen, as well. This has to do with a common problem that affects many different motorists and can lead to many different roadway accidents. This problem is known as negligence. When a driver’s behavior is negligent accidents with potential serious injuries and fatalities can happen. Here are a few of the reasons for these types of accidents.

Truck driver error – Out of all the reasons why a large truck accident can occur, this one is seen as the most common. To truly understand this, you need to take into account the nature of an 18-wheeled commercial truck. Here we have a huge machine that can travel at a very high rate of speed. Including a “small” steering wheel, there are many other things that are involved with controlling that machine, including a single driver. Any mistake, even a minor one, can make all the difference between driving safely on the road and causing a terrible (and deadly) accident. This means that the driver must remain completely alert and in control every second of the trip. Unfortunately, there are drivers who don’t understand the difference between staying “awake” and staying “alert”. If a driver takes drugs in order to stay awake, they can remove their ability to use good judgment. This is certainly true if they should run into a situation in which they need to make an emergency decision while they’re driving at a high rate of speed. Other reasons for commercial truck accidents include:

• Trucks that haven loaded past their legal weight limit
• Driving on a road that is too small for the truck to travel safely on
• “Blind spots” that prevent a driver from seeing another vehicle
• Disobeying traffic laws
• Ignoring the legal break laws
• Ignoring the legal number of driving hour restrictions
• Trucks that have not been regularly inspected
• Drivers that are not qualified
• Drivers that are not managed correctly
• Too little driver training
• Using a poor trucking company with bad driving records

Paying strict attention to fixing worn truck parts – It’s no secret that trucks are on the road for many more miles than your average small truck or passenger car. Therefore, truck parts (like brakes and tires) will usually get a lot more wear and tear than other types of vehicles. If regular inspections and parts replacements are not made, then those parts can fail somewhere down the road.

Poor quality parts – Of course, you can’t blame a truck driver for the quality of the parts on the truck they’re driving. But that doesn’t stop the fact that a poorly made part can cause an accident. This is why truck accident attorneys in Greenacres make it a point to find out if a truck part was the cause of the accident. If this happens to be the case, then the company that made and sold the part can be named in a lawsuit.

Overloading commercial trucks – The amount of weight and the way that a truck is loaded is very important when it comes to it being driven safely. If too much weight is loaded on a truck or if the weight isn’t loaded properly, then the driver of the truck can lose control at any time. There are also cases in which cargo has fallen off a truck and caused a major roadway hazard. Unfortunately, there are companies that try to get away with placing too much cargo on a truck in order to increase profits.

An overweight truck problem is a major issue on Greenacres’ highways. Even with inspection stations and strict state and federal laws, you can still find trucks that have been loaded past their legal limit on a Greenacres’ roadway. You can find federal truck weight limits at: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. These weight limits have been created by figuring in a truck’s; braking ability, load limit design and other factors. Some of these weight limits are:

Semitrailers – The maximum weight that a semi is allowed to carry is:

• 20,000 lb (9,100 kg) on a single axle
• 34,000 lb (15,000 kg) on a tandem
• 80,000 lb (36,000 kg) total for any vehicle or combination
• The maximum weight, per axel, is 20,000 pounds with the axels spaced no less than 40 inches apart and no more than 96 inches apart.

Its maximum width is 8.5 ft (2.6 m) and no maximum height.

U.S. Semitruck – The maximum weight (with full trailer) is 80,000 pounds that is distributed over 18 wheels. (23 U.S.C. 127).

Trucks must also be equipped with a rear-end underride protection device according to 49 C.F.R. s. 393.86

It is equipped with a substantial rear-end underride protection device meeting the requirements of 49 C.F.R. s. 393.86, “Rear End Protection.”

In Greenacres (and the rest of Florida), the law s. 316.550 states:

• In a truck tractor-semitrailer combination, the semitrailer cannot exceed 48 feet in its overall outside dimension. This is measured from the unit’s front to its rear. This will usually exclude energy conservation and safety devices that have been approved to be utilized on open roads, by the Greenacres Department of Transportation.
• In order to operate a semitrailer that is over than 48 feet in its lengths, may only operate in Greenacres if a special permit is used s. 316.550.

National statistics, for large truck and bus accidents have discovered:

• With fatalities for large truck crashes, 68% of those killed were riding in the smaller vehicle, also 15% were bicyclists, motorcyclists and even pedestrians. This is compared with only 16% of truck occupants who were killed.
• From the years 2009 to 2014, an increase in the number of truck accident fatalities amounted to 16% of reported accidents.
• About 59% of the deaths involving commercial trucks have occurred on major roadways that were not part of any interstate or freeway system. Also, 9% have occurred on smaller roadways.
• Truck accidents occur most frequently during the hours between 6 a.m. - 3 p.m., when 47% have been documented. Also, during those times, 47% of fatalities have also been reported.
• About 16% of commercial truck accidents happen on the weekend (Saturday and Sunday).

First of all, you need to know about the statute of limitations on a truck accident lawsuit. This means that you will just have 2 years, from the time of the accident, in order to file the lawsuit (under most cases). If the lawsuit is being filed where a fatality has happened, you will then have just 2 years to file your lawsuit. Since the first appointment with an experienced truck accident lawyer is free, you will have nothing to lose by speaking with an attorney. An accident lawyer may help you when it comes to determining what your options are in the case of a Greenacres truck accident.

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The damages that a truck accident victim may claim generally fall into 2 groups. These are:

• Economic damages
• Non-economic damages

These damages include:

• Medical expenses
• Therapy and rehabilitation
• Vehicle or home modifications to accommodate a disability
• Current and future lost wages
• Lost of earning capacity
• Mental anguish
• Loss of Consortium - losing a spouse, parent or child
• Pain and Suffering
• Repair or replacement of your vehicle
• Other accident-related expenses

It’s also important to remember that you may be approached by a lawyer that represents the trucking company. They might offer you what appears to be a large sum of money for your accident. Never take that money or sign anything from them. This is very important, since the money that is offered will almost never be enough to cover all of your accident-related expenses. If you sign a release, it can also potentially mean that you will no longer have the legal right to file a lawsuit against them. Should you find yourself in this situation, you should contact an experienced truck accident attorney for guidance.

Overloaded/overweight truck accidents can cause severe and permanent injuries. These may occur in Greenacres at any given time. In addition, it’s important to understand that while high speeds are often a factor, there are also many times when this isn’t the situation. There have been a number of cases in which a very low speed truck crash has resulted in an injury that eventually led to a person’s death. If you are involved in a Greenacres overloaded/overweight truck accident that occurred at any speed, it is advised that you seek medical care and the advice of a truck accident personal injury attorney.

Seeking the advice of a personal injury truck accident attorney, who can try to assist in receiving the best care and compensation that you rightfully deserve. Therefore, when you or a loved one are involved in a Greenacres overweight/overloaded truck accident, contact a personal injury attorney.

Discuss your case with an Overloaded/Overweight Truck Accident Personal Injury Attorney Serving Greenacres Today! Our investigation and negotiation processes is backed by years of experience.T urn to Frankl Kominsky for comprehensive legal guidance. Call 561-800-8000 or use our Contact Form to set up a free consultation.