Because of their size and weight, truck accidents can cause life-changing injuries to everyone involved in the collision. Further, the trucking industry is subject to specific state and federal laws and regulations, so recovering compensation in a personal injury lawsuit can be highly complex – especially if you have severe injuries. Finally, identifying who is responsible for causing the accident and proving liability can also be challenging.
Additionally, trucking companies have the budget and legal teams to heavily defend against injury lawsuits in and out of court. Our Jacksonville 18-wheeler truck accident lawyers are here to level the playing field. We stand against opponents of any size and fight to get you the results you deserve to protect your current and ongoing health, financial stability, and well-being.
Who Is Responsible for My Injuries in an Accident Involving a Semi-Truck?
Trucking accidents can involve multiple parties, so there may be more than one party to blame for what happened. This can add complexity to the legal process but provide additional avenues from which to seek compensation. Examples of potential defendants in cases involving large rigs can include the following:
- Truck drivers
- Trucking companies
- Vehicle or part manufacturers
- Third-party truck maintenance companies
- Truck cargo loaders
- Government entities responsible for the upkeep of the roads and highways
- Other motorists
One of the ways our semi-trailer accident attorneys can help is by investigating your case to identify potentially liable parties so that you do not miss out on additional sources of compensation to cover your financial damages.
Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer to Recover Compensation After a Truck Accident?
Trucking accidents can be legally complex due to complex state and federal trucking laws, big budgets to defend against victims’ claims, challenges identifying liable parties, and the difficulty of litigating cases involving multiple parties. Without legal representation from attorneys who lead this kind of case, you could struggle against powerful defendants if you go it alone.
Our lawyers have the drive, determination, and experience to win cases against big companies to draw upon to help you recover the compensation you deserve. In practical terms, this could involve the following legal services:
- Conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident
- Identifying potentially liable parties
- Gathering and organizing the evidence required to prove your case
- Assessing your current and anticipated financial damages
- Negotiating for an appropriate settlement out of court
- Taking your case to trial if it is in your best interest to do so
We are also here to support your needs as your case progresses, so we always promptly respond to your emails or calls and keep you regularly updated about how your case is going.
How Much Compensation Can I Recover in a Jacksonville Commercial Truck Accident?
If your injuries are serious, you will likely require significant compensation to make up for the harm you have suffered and the impact this has on your future. As such, the following damages may be awarded in your case:
- Medical expenses and treatment costs
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Compensation for pain and suffering, including emotional anguish
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity if your injuries limit or prevent you from working
- Diminished quality of life
- Disability or disfigurement
- Property damage repair or replacement
If the truck accident caused the death of a loved one, we are sorry for your loss. While no amount of money can make up for your grief, our wrongful death attorneys are here to support you at this difficult time. We can help you to seek justice for your loved one by building a claim for damages related to funeral and burial expenses, medical expenses, emotional anguish, loss of income, and loss of companionship.
Why Are More Accidents Happening Involving Big Rigs?
Due to an increase in online shopping and playing catch-up due to the disruptions caused to global supply chains during the pandemic, we are experiencing a surge in the number of 18-wheelers sharing our roads and highways. Unfortunately, this means big rigs use our residential streets to keep up with tight delivery schedules. While this is good news for the economy and accommodating our ever-growing consumer demands, it also increases the risk of accidents.
Additionally, a nationwide shortage of truck drivers means more pressure for those already on the job who move around our nation’s freight (by weight) each year. The recent uptick in accidents involving large rigs could be related to several factors, which can include the following:
- Driver fatigue from long driving hours and failure to take sufficient rest breaks.
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Distracted driving by using in-cab technologies or smartphones.
- Large rigs have significant blind spots- if you cannot see the driver in their side-view mirror, they are also unable to see you.
- Large rigs require a much longer braking distance. Sudden braking can overtax the truck braking system or cause the driver to lose control, especially when carrying full cargo loads.
- Manufacturing defects on trucks or vehicle parts.
- If trucking companies cut costs in their maintenance budgets, critical safety features on the truck may not function as well as they should, increasing the risk of an accident.
- Speeding and other traffic violations can be caused by the pressure of meeting tight delivery schedules.
- Adverse weather conditions can decrease driver visibility and tire traction.
- Poor road conditions can affect a driver’s ability to control their truck.
- Unsecured or overloaded cargo can increase the risk of trucks rolling or jack-knifing.
- Unrealistic delivery schedules could force drivers to avoid taking rest breaks or committing traffic violations like speeding.
- Lack of driver training – operating a large truck safely requires increased skill, training, awareness, and physical ability.
- Insufficient employee background checks to check for issues that could affect a driver’s ability to do the job safely.
Remember, injured parties have a limited time to file a lawsuit per Florida law. The state allows two years in personal injury cases and two years in wrongful death cases. Missing this strict deadline could result in you being unable to file your lawsuit with the courts. If we handle your case, we will file your case on time.
Contact GED Lawyers Today for A Free Truck Accident Consultation
If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one in an 18-wheeler truck accident, the attorneys at GED Lawyers will fight to recover every dollar of the compensation you deserve. We provide our legal services on a contingency fee basis, meaning we are only paid if we win your case.
Call for a free consultation with our team to learn more about your legal options in a truck accident claim and how our Jacksonville 18-wheeler truck accident lawyers can help you today.
