Truck accident representation
A truck crash can cause serious injuries and raise questions that do not exist in a typical car accident claim. The Jaspon Firm investigates the crash, identifies potentially responsible parties, and helps injured people understand their options.
Florida semi-truck accident attorney
Commercial trucks, tractor-trailers, delivery vehicles, and 18-wheelers are larger and heavier than passenger vehicles. When a truck driver, trucking company, maintenance provider, cargo company, or another party may have contributed to a crash, a careful investigation is important.
Jeremiah Jaspon represents people injured in truck accidents in Orlando and throughout Central Florida. He remains directly involved with the firm’s clients from the initial consultation through the resolution of the case.
What to do after a truck accident
- Get medical help and report the crash. Call 911, seek medical care, and follow the instructions of emergency responders.
- Preserve what you can. If it is safe, take photographs, collect witness information, and keep copies of medical records, bills, and crash-related communications.
- Be careful with insurance communications. Avoid guessing about fault or the extent of your injuries before you understand the situation.
- Speak with a truck accident attorney promptly. Electronic data, driver records, vehicle inspection information, and witness evidence may not remain available indefinitely.
Why truck accident claims are different
Truck accident cases can involve commercial insurance policies, federal safety rules, company records, electronic logging data, vehicle inspections, and multiple businesses. A trucking company may have investigators, insurers, and lawyers working quickly after a serious crash.
- Driver qualification, training, and licensing records
- Hours-of-service and electronic logging information
- Maintenance, inspection, repair, and tire records
- Vehicle event-data recorder or “black box” information
- Cargo-loading records and communications between the driver and company
Federal trucking rules can affect how a case is investigated, including rules concerning driver hours, vehicle safety, and recordkeeping. A violation may be important evidence when evaluating negligence.
Who may be responsible for a commercial truck crash?
Liability is not always limited to the truck driver. Depending on the facts, an investigation may identify one or more responsible parties.
- The truck driver
- The trucking company or motor carrier
- A company that leased the truck or employed the driver
- A maintenance or repair provider
- A cargo-loading company
- A manufacturer of a defective truck part, tire, or safety system
Common causes of truck accidents
Every crash is different. Some of the issues commonly examined in truck accident investigations include:
- Speeding, following too closely, or unsafe lane changes
- Driver distraction, fatigue, intoxication, or drug impairment
- Failure to brake or react safely to traffic conditions
- Inadequate training or inexperienced drivers
- Defective equipment, tire failures, or poor maintenance
- Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo
- Jackknifing, wide-turn, or blind-spot collisions
- Unsafe driving in poor weather or low-visibility conditions
Injuries and losses after a truck crash
Truck crashes can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, neck and back injuries, broken bones, burns, internal injuries, and other serious harm. A claim may involve past and future medical care, lost income, reduced earning ability, property damage, pain and suffering, and other losses supported by the evidence.
Florida laws that can affect a truck accident claim
Florida’s no-fault insurance law may provide personal injury protection benefits when qualifying initial services and care begin within 14 days after a motor vehicle accident. Those benefits are limited and may not cover the full impact of a serious truck-crash injury. Read Florida Statute §627.736.
Florida negligence cases can also involve comparative fault. A person’s recovery may be reduced by their percentage of fault, and a party found more than 50% at fault generally may not recover damages in covered negligence actions. Read Florida Statute §768.81.
Deadlines can apply to injury claims, and the correct deadline can depend on the facts of the case. It is important to seek legal guidance promptly rather than relying on a general rule alone.
Related personal injury representation
Learn more about the firm’s representation for car accidents, Uber and rideshare accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip-and-fall injuries, and wrongful death claims.
Truck accident questions
Who can be responsible after a truck accident in Florida?
Potentially responsible parties can include the truck driver, trucking company, motor carrier, maintenance provider, cargo company, leasing company, or a manufacturer. The facts and available evidence determine which parties may be involved.
How are truck accidents different from regular car accidents?
Truck claims can involve commercial insurance, federal safety rules, business records, electronic data, and multiple layers of liability. The injuries can also be more severe because of the size and weight of commercial trucks.
What should I do immediately after a truck accident?
Call 911, get medical care, follow safety instructions, preserve photographs and witness information if possible, and avoid making assumptions about fault. Prompt legal guidance may help preserve important evidence.
Can black-box data help prove a truck accident claim?
Many commercial vehicles have event-data recorders that may contain information about speed, braking, and driver actions. Whether that information is available and useful depends on the vehicle and the circumstances of the crash.
What if I was partly at fault for the truck accident?
Fault can affect a claim. Florida’s comparative-fault rules may reduce recovery by a person’s percentage of fault, and the result depends on the facts and the applicable law.