Orlando, Florida’s highways buzz with activity, including a constant stream of commercial trucks transporting goods across the state. While these trucks are vital to our economy, they also pose significant risks on the road. Truck accidents in Florida can result in devastating consequences, causing severe injuries, fatalities, and extensive property damage. If you are a truck driver, your insurance should cover you in the event of an accident, and if you’ve been struck by a truck while driving a passenger vehicle you are similarly insured by the at-fault driver’s insurance or your own. If you have been involved in a truck accident, contact Anthony-Smith Law for a free consultation. Call us at 407-299-8589 or CALL CORETTA 321-900-HELP. There are time-sensitive pieces of information that are critical to your claim, so contact our Orlando truck accident law firm right away.
The Common Types of Truck Accidents in Orlando, FL
Orlando has a larger than average amount of traffic. This traffic includes large trucks and semi-trucks. While each truck accident is distinctive, there are some common types of accidents.
Here is a list of the most common types of truck accidents that occur in Orlando, Florida:
- Rear-End Collisions: Occur when a truck crashes into the vehicle in front due to factors like distracted driving, following too closely, or sudden stops.
- Jackknife Accidents: Happen when the trailer of a truck swings out, forming an L-shape with the cab, often due to sudden braking.
- Rollover Accidents: Involve a truck tipping onto its side or roof, often caused by factors like speeding, sharp turns, or overloaded cargo.
- Underride Collisions: Occur when a smaller vehicle slides underneath the rear or side of a truck, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities.
- Wide Turn Accidents: Happen when truck drivers swing wide while turning, leading to collisions with vehicles in adjacent lanes.
- Blind Spot Accidents: Occur when smaller vehicles disappear from the truck driver’s view, resulting in collisions during lane changes or maneuvers.
- Tire Blowouts: Can cause the truck driver to lose control, leading to accidents, often due to improper maintenance or overloading.
- Lost Load Accidents: Cargo improperly secured or overloaded can shift or fall off a truck, posing hazards to other vehicles and causing collisions.
- Hit and Run Accidents: Involve the responsible driver fleeing the scene without stopping or providing contact or insurance details.
- Override Accidents: Occur when a truck driver literally rolls over a pedestrian, motorcyclist, or smaller vehicle.
- Pileup Accidents: Result from chain reactions, often caused by a truck traveling too fast and unable to stop in time, leading to a multi-car crash.
- Brake Failure Accidents: Happen when a tractor-trailer’s brakes malfunction, especially when traveling downhill.
- Head-On Collisions: Occur when a truck veers into oncoming traffic due to distracted driving or driver fatigue.
- Rear-End Accidents: Result from a speeding truck unable to stop in time for a stopped car, leading to a crash.
- T-Bone Accidents: Happen when one vehicle collides directly into the side of another vehicle, often occurring at intersections.
Understanding the Risks Associated with Truck Accidents
Truck accidents often involve large, heavy vehicles colliding with smaller passenger cars, motorcycles, or pedestrians. The sheer size and weight disparity between trucks and other vehicles amplifies the severity of injuries and damage in these collisions.
Common factors contributing to truck accidents include:
- Driver Fatigue: Long hours on the road can lead to driver fatigue, impairing judgment and reaction times.
- Speeding: Truck drivers may exceed speed limits to meet tight delivery schedules, increasing the likelihood of accidents.
- Distracted Driving: Distractions such as texting, eating, or adjusting GPS devices can divert a truck driver’s attention from the road.
- Improper Maintenance: Neglected maintenance issues like worn brakes or faulty tires can cause mechanical failures leading to accidents.
- Driving under the Influence: Alcohol, drugs, or prescription medication can impair a truck driver’s ability to operate their vehicle safely.
There is an increased risk of damage and injury when it comes to truck accidents.
These risks include:
- Size and Weight Disparity – One of the most significant risks associated with truck accidents is the vast size and weight disparity between trucks and other vehicles on the road. Commercial trucks, such as tractor-trailers or semitrucks, can weigh up to 80,000 pounds (about 36287.36 kg) when fully loaded. In contrast, the average passenger car weighs around 4,000 pounds (about twice the weight of a Clydesdale horse). When a collision occurs between a truck and a smaller vehicle, the results can be devastating due to the sheer force of impact.
- Increased Stopping Distance – Trucks require significantly more time and distance to come to a complete stop compared to passenger cars. The weight and momentum of a fully loaded truck make sudden stops challenging, especially in emergency situations. This increased stopping distance can lead to rear-end collisions if the truck driver fails to brake in time or if the vehicle behind the truck fails to maintain a safe following distance.
- Limited Maneuverability – The size and length of commercial trucks limit their maneuverability, especially when navigating tight turns or narrow roadways. Trucks often need extra space to make turns, leading to instances where they encroach into adjacent lanes or fail to clear intersections completely. This limited maneuverability increases the risk of collisions with other vehicles, pedestrians, or stationary objects along the roadside.
- Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service Violations – Truck drivers often face demanding schedules and long hours behind the wheel. Despite federal regulations governing hours of service, some drivers may push themselves to meet tight delivery deadlines, sacrificing adequate rest in the process. Fatigued driving can impair judgment, slow reaction times, and increase the likelihood of accidents due to drowsiness or falling asleep at the wheel.
- Mechanical Failures and Maintenance Issues – Commercial trucks undergo rigorous wear and tear from constant use and long-distance travel. Failure to properly maintain trucks or address mechanical issues can lead to brake failures, tire blowouts, steering malfunctions, or other mechanical failures while on the road. These mechanical failures can cause loss of control, leading to accidents with potentially catastrophic outcomes.
- Cargo Shifts and Load Securement – Improperly secured cargo poses significant risks on the road. Cargo shifts or falls off trucks due to overloading, inadequate securing, or improper distribution of weight. A sudden shift in cargo can destabilize the truck, leading to loss of control or rollover accidents. Additionally, debris from unsecured cargo poses hazards to other vehicles on the road, increasing the risk of collisions and injuries.
Legal Recourse for Victims of Truck Accidents
After a truck accident, victims often deal with big problems like lots of medical bills, lost income, and not knowing what will happen next. But there’s help available. No matter if you’re the truck driver, another driver, or a pedestrian, contacting an attorney is important after a truck accident. A local attorney can help you understand your legal options and get you the compensation you deserve for your losses.
Personal Injury Claims
One of the primary avenues for legal recourse for victims of truck accidents is through personal injury claims. In a personal injury claim, the victim (plaintiff) seeks compensation from the at-fault party (defendant) for injuries and damages sustained in the accident. To prevail in a personal injury claim arising from a truck accident, the plaintiff must establish that the defendant was negligent or reckless in their actions, leading to the accident and resulting injuries. It is not recommended to represent yourself in a personal injury lawsuit. Insurance companies employ skilled litigators and do whatever they can to avoid paying out on a claim. You need a skilled personal injury attorney to ensure you receive full compensation after a truck accident.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits
Tragically, some truck accidents result in fatalities. In such cases, surviving family members of the deceased victim may pursue wrongful death lawsuits against the parties responsible for the accident. Wrongful death lawsuits seek to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions and provide compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and the emotional suffering endured by surviving family members.
Product Liability Claims
In instances where a defective truck part or component contributes to a truck accident, victims may pursue product liability claims against the manufacturers, distributors, or retailers responsible for the defective product. Product liability claims assert that the defective product was unreasonably dangerous and directly caused or contributed to the accident and resulting injuries.
Insurance Claims
Following a truck accident, victims may file insurance claims with their own insurance companies or the insurance companies representing the at-fault parties involved in the accident. Insurance claims can provide victims with compensation for medical expenses, property damage, lost income, and other damages covered under their insurance policies. Keep in mind, most insurance companies are going to attempt to offer less than you deserve or nothing at all. That’s why an attorney is essential to the process.
The Role of Legal Representation in a Truck Accident Insurance Claim
Navigating the legal process following a truck accident can be daunting, especially for individuals dealing with injuries and emotional trauma. Hiring an experienced attorney specializing in truck accident cases can be invaluable in helping victims pursue their legal recourse effectively. Attorneys play a crucial role in:
- Conducting thorough investigations into the causes of the accident
- Gathering evidence to support the victim’s claims
- Determining liability and identifying all parties responsible for the accident
- Calculating the full extent of damages suffered by the victim
- Negotiating with insurance companies and defense lawyers to secure fair settlements
- Advocating for the victim’s rights and interests throughout the legal process
Truck accidents can have devastating consequences for victims and their families, but legal recourse is available to help them seek justice and obtain compensation for their losses. Whether through personal injury claims, wrongful death lawsuits, product liability claims, or insurance claims, victims of truck accidents have options for holding negligent parties accountable and obtaining the financial support they need to recover and move forward with their lives. With the guidance and representation of experienced attorneys, victims can navigate the complexities of the legal system with confidence and pursue the compensation they deserve. Don’t wait. Contact Anthony-Smith Law today for a free consultation: Call us at 407-299-8589 or CALL CORETTA 321-900-HELP
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