What is it?
While some truck accidents are just that – accidents – others are due to negligence on the part of the driver or other parties. Because of the sheer size and weight of trucks and tractor-trailers, they are incredibly dangerous. Truck accidents almost always cause serious, catastrophic injuries. It is the responsibility of both the truck driver and the trucking company to insure that drivers are alert and in control of their vehicles, and to keep their vehicles as safe as possible. This means following proper procedures in the loading, maintenance, and operation of their vehicle.
What causes it?
Some of the factors that may be involved in a truck accident include:
- Truck driver negligence
- Dangerous road conditions
- Defective truck parts
- Bad brakes
- Improper loading
- Failure to use proper reflectors
- Lack of a rear guard necessary to prevent under-riding
Truck driver negligence is a particular problem. Although laws limit the amount of hours a driver can spend behind the wheel, many drivers are paid by the mile, not the hour, giving them an incentive to falsify their records or keep two sets of records in order to boost their profit margin. Some take drugs to stay awake or continue driving despite overwhelming fatigue. Some of the problems associated with careless or negligent driving include:
- Excessive speeding
- Falling asleep at the wheel
- Driving under the influence
- Drifting across lanes
- Making wide-angled turns
- Failing to fully pull off to the side of the road
Why Jacobs and Goodman?
We’re motor vehicle collision experts. We have handled numerous truck collision cases successfully. Our lawyers work with experienced accident investigators to collect evidence from the scene of a truck accident, interview eyewitnesses, and review a driver’s logbook and driving record. We also look at the maintenance schedule for a commercial truck or tractor-trailer to expose any failure to perform truck inspections, maintenance, or required repairs.
We’re “no-fault” experts. Florida is a “no-fault” insurance state, which means that when you’re injured in a truck accident, your own insurance pays for your health care costs. We’re recognized experts in every aspect of Florida’s “no-fault” law. Our attorneys have appeared numerous times before committees of the Florida legislature to testify about “no-fault” insurance policies and have worked to help craft laws to make “no-fault” friendlier to consumers. We write and lecture on the topic regularly, and are even called to testify or serve as co-counsel on complex cases. We can guide you through the complexities of the law and help you reach the best possible settlement.
We know the other side. After many years litigating these kinds of cases, we know how the insurance companies work, and how they try to deny claims. We use that knowledge to get the best possible outcome for you.
We’re experienced trial lawyers. We approach each case as though we’re going to trial. While many of our cases settle out of court with satisfactory financial reward for the client, it’s only because the defense knows we can take it to trial effectively.
At Jacobs & Goodman:
- You always get an attorney, never a case manager like at other firms.
- We take a personal interest in your case, and help you through every aspect, including helping you deal with medical leins and debts.
- We work on a contingency basis, which means if we don’t win your case, you don’t pay.
If you or a loved one has suffered injury in a collision with a truck, talk to us before you accept any agreement from the insurance company