Commercial trucks and tractor-trailers often weigh 20 to 30 times as much as the average passenger car. Every year, thousands of people are killed or sustain serious injuries due to accidents involving them nationwide, and Fort Lauderdale is no exception.
Traffic along I-95, Broward Boulevard, or Andrews Avenue sees numerous large trucks working. Yet due to their large size and weight, most trucking accidents usually cause much greater harm than a traffic accident with an average-sized motor vehicle would. If you are involved in this type of truck accident, a Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer with the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can help you and your family recover from this tragic event.
Truck accident claims are often complex cases with multiple parties and their insurers questioning fault and liability. And with victims suffering severe injuries, these cases require a legal team experienced at handling high-dollar claims.
Call or complete our online form. Our legal team provides accident victims with a free consultation to discuss their case and explain their options. Plus, ourFort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. You pay us nothing up front for legal representation. We only get paid if you win.
Learn more about how we can help by calling(844) 643-7200 today.
We Can Manage Your Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Case
With over two decades of practicing personal injury law, we have handled a wide range of accident types, especially automotive and truck accidents. The common types of truck accidents we’ve seen and managed have included the following:
- Jackknife accidents: When the truck driver brakes suddenly and loses traction, the trailer behind the cab can swing out to the side, folding the vehicle into the shape of a pocketknife and striking vehicles in multiple lanes of traffic. This frequently occurs under slippery road conditions that the driver fails to adjust for.
- Underride accidents: Since the tractor-trailer rides higher than the common passenger vehicle, cars will crash under the rear of the trailer. Injuries can be catastrophic, as victims are caught between their vehicle and the trailer.
- Rollover accidents: Again, due to their higher center of gravity, commercial trucks have a greater risk of rolling over on their side.
- Blind spot accidents: These larger vehicles also deal with issues of line of sight. Cars can easily get lost in atruck’s “no zones.”
- Tire blowouts: Whether due to the millions of miles of wear and tear, or a defective material or process used during manufacture, a tire blowout can have drastic consequences. With a catastrophic tire failure, drivers can lose traction and control, hitting vehicles as their truck careens.
- Lost load accidents: In addition tofederal regulations governing the operation of the truck, there are also regulations for cargo, such as types and securing protocols. Failure to properly secure cargo can cause shifts in balance or the load to be lost, placing hazards directly into the path of other cars on the road.
- Rear-end collisions: Their weight also requires a longer stopping distance, up to 40% more than your average car. Truck drivers who fail to keep a safe distance can cause car drivers significant injury in rear-end accidents.
- Head-on collisions: Probably the most destructive accident is the head-on collision. Occurring when the truck driver crosses over into traffic traveling the opposite direction, the risk of fatality is high.
In addition to these, truck accidents invariably also result in multi-car pileups, which increases the complexity of liability. For example, a jackknife accident could have the trailer strike vehicles in multiple lanes, blocking traffic and creating an opportunity for additional pile-ups behind the incident.
However, our Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorney can investigate your accident and determine how your accident occurred.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Fort Lauderdale
While there are several causes of a truck accident, the most common ones that often lead to a serious crash are the following:
Driver Error Is Often the Main Cause
There are many ways in which driver error can contribute to trucking accidents. For one, fatigue is a frequent cause. Fatigue causes lapses in judgment and slowed reaction times. TheFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), though, places a limit on the amount of time drivers can work.
Additionally, negligent driving behavior can include such things as:
- Distracted driving, such as texting, checking routes on the GPS, or eating
- Impaired driving due to drugs, alcohol, or even prescription medications
- Aggressive driving can include speeding and unsafe lane changes
These errors in judgment are often due to external pressures to meet timetables and quotas.
One negligent practice is de-powering the front brakes of a truck in order to reduce wear and replacement. Such a practice can increase the risk of jackknife accidents.
Trucking Company and Other Errors
As mentioned above, the trucking industry involves multiple people and parties, each with a certain degree of responsibility for the safe operation of the truck. If any one of them is negligent, it can lead to an accident. For example:
- Cargo loaders overloading or improperly loading cargo
- Employers failing to hire qualified drivers or train existing ones
- Maintenance crews failing to change out worn parts, such as brakes and tires
- Manufacturers producing faulty and defective parts
Federal regulations also require that truck drivers and companies keep maintenance records that show that maintenance has been performed according to schedule. Drivers are required to perform a daily pre-trip inspection to ensure that both the tractor and trailer equipment are functioning properly. This includes the brakes and the tires.
Weather and Road Conditions
Poor weather or road conditions do not excuse a driver from their negligence. They are still legally required to adjust their driving to the conditions. However, a local municipality could be at fault due to poor road design or maintenance. They may share in the fault if their negligence contributed to your accident.
If you have been in a truck accident, the Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorneys with our law firm can determine the cause and party responsible for your injuries.
Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Statistics
The trucking industry is extremely vital to the U.S. economy. It is the lifeblood of the nation since it gives employment to more than3.55 million truck drivers. With logistics, construction, and shipping companies owning a major chunk of U.S. trucks, there are large concentrations of large trucks on the highways daily. According to theFlorida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) 2023 Traffic Crash Report, there were over 40,000 truck accidents across the state. Broward County had over 4,500 commercial motor vehicle wrecks, 20 of which were fatalities.
Fort Lauderdale is one of the most populated cities in Florida. Being the 10th largest city in Florida, it has more than 180,000 residents. Since it is known for its warm weather and lovely beaches, tourists add to the beauty of the city. However, the busy congestion keeps the roads busy in the peak hours, leading to a rise in accidents.
Moreover, Fort Lauderdale is a fast-paced business center. A lot of construction work happens routinely, leading to an increased movement of trucks in and around the city. Also, the city iseasily accessible from I-95, I-595, the Turnpike, US Highway 1, and Port Everglades, making it more vulnerable to truck accidents. The intersection at A1A and Las Olas Boulevard, and Atlantic Boulevard and U.S. 1, witnesses regular, serious accidents.
How We Help Truck Accident Victims in Fort Lauderdale Recover
There is no two-way about the fact that truck accidents, especially when a small vehicle is involved, can be merciless. In a matter of a few seconds, you may find yourself struggling with serious injuries and an uncertain financial future. Since dealing with such incidents isn’t your daily job, you may want to contact a truck accident lawyer in Fort Lauderdale at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato to assist you through the legal process.
We Fight for Maximum Compensation
Our staff knows how to provide a compassionate, client-focused approach with personalized attention to your unique needs. When you hire us, a truck accident attorney in Fort Lauderdale from our firm will aggressively negotiate on your behalf. If the insurance companies are unwilling to reach a fair settlement, we can provide trial representation.
We make winning fair compensation our priority.
We Provide Guidance on Your Legal Options
With over 75 years of combined experience, we possess local knowledge of Fort Lauderdale, Broward County courts, Florida statutes, and Federal regulations affecting your truck accident claim. We explain how laws may affect your case and whether you should accept settlement offers. And no matter what, we keep you updated with every step, though.
We Have a Track Record of Successful Clients
The Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato has provided legal services for over two decades. We have experience managing diverse and complicated cases. Our track record of success speaks for our skills and experience, winning over $200 million incase results for over 5,000 clients.
We invite you to read ourtestimonials and learn for yourself why we have a 5-Star rating from Google Reviews.
Compensation Our Truck Accident Injury Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale Will Seek
There are many types of injuries that can occur in an accident with a large truck. Some of the more common include:
- Whiplash
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Broken and crushed bones
- Knee and joint injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Head, neck, and face injuries
- Lacerations, contusions, and burns
A truck accident can have severe consequences to you and your family and may require Level 1 trauma care at Broward Health, but the costs will be substantial.
Florida law gives you the right to recover losses in the form of compensation from the opposing party. You can demand compensation for thefollowing damages:
- Pain and suffering: Discomfort you endured due to the accident
- Reduced quality of life: Chronic pain, disability, and disfigurement that you live with
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Compensation for your inability to live the everyday life you used to have
- Loss of consortium: For the impact on your relationships
- Medical expenses: Current and future medical bills, including surgery, rehabilitative services, medication, and assistive devices
- Lost income: while you recuperate from injuries
- Reduced earning capacity: If injuries inhibit your ability to return to work
- Property damage: Payment to repair or replace your vehicle or personal items
If your loved one did not survive the accident, your family may be able to recover the following damages through awrongful death claim:
- Burial costs and funeral expenses
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of financial support
- Pain and suffering
The truck accident lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, FL, with our firm has worked on cases like yours before. We can compile a complete list of your damages and seek fair compensation for your losses.
Laws That Could Impact Your Truck Accident Claim
According toFlorida Statutes § 95.11, you typically have two years after the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit with the Broward County courthouse. If you miss this statutory deadline, the courts will bar your case, and you will be unable to seek any further legal action against the defendant for compensation.
UnderFlorida Statutes § 768.81, you can still seek compensation for your losses if you are partially responsible for your accident. However, any compensation awarded to you will be reduced by the degree to which you are responsible. Additionally, if you are found to be greater than 50% responsible, you are barred from receiving any compensation.
Defense lawyers and insurance adjusters sometimes use these laws against accident victims. A truck accident attorney in Fort Lauderdale, FL, with our legal team can protect you against questionable tactics that could devalue or deny your claim.
How We Gather and Preserve Evidence
When you hire a lawyer with the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato, we will:
- Investigate the accident scene
- Obtain the black box (Electronic Control Module) data from the truck
- Secure dashcam or surveillance footage, if available
- Review driver logs, maintenance records, and inspection reports
- Interview witnesses
- Consult with accident reconstruction specialists and expert witnesses
- Collect medical records
Unique to truck accident cases is that some of the evidence in your case will be in the possession of possible defendants. We will act quickly to preserve this evidence before it can be lost or destroyed.
From the evidence we collect, we will be able to identify the liable party, which may be:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The owner(s) of the tractor and the trailer
- The cargo loaders
- The truck’s maintenance crew
- The maker of the truck or a defective part
- The municipality in charge of maintaining the road
In some instances, there could be multiple parties at fault. We will address each party and file claims with each insurer.
At the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato, our lawyers have handled numerous truck accidents and understand the usual reasons why they occur. We have access to a network of expert accountants, financial analysts, and doctors who have worked with us on winning cases, accurately assessing losses to obtain fair resolutions for injury victims.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Fort Lauderdale?
If your injuries allow, follow these steps after being involved in a truck accident:
- Check everyone, including yourself, for injuries.
- Remain at the accident site and call 911.
- Obtain a copy of the police report.
- Exchange insurance and contact information with the truck driver.
- Exchange contact information with witnesses.
- Document the accident with photos and notes.
- See a doctor and follow their treatment plan.
You will be naturally overwhelmed after the accident, possibly severely injured. You can hand over these responsibilities to our truck accident lawyer in Fort Lauderdale.
Contact Our Truck Accident Lawyer Serving Fort Lauderdale Today
We advocate for our clients’ full financial recovery. If you have been injured, contact us immediately. We’ll answer all your questions, explain your rights, and help you achieve justice. Our truck accident attorneys can protect your rights with no upfront payment. If you win, our attorney’s fees will be a preapproved percentage of your award.
For a free consultation regarding your claim, contact the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato today at (844) 643-7200.
Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident FAQs
How is a truck accident different from a regular car accident claim?
Truck accidents typically involve more parties and larger insurance coverage. As such, there are more questions regarding liability.
What if the trucking company’s insurance contacts me?
You should direct them to your lawyer. Casual comments and innocent answers can be used against you.
Do I have to go to court for a truck accident claim?
Possibly, it depends on the insurance company’s willingness to negotiate and whether there are any disputes over liability and fault.
How much is my Fort Lauderdale truck accident case worth?It can vary. It really depends on the damages you have suffered. Your lawyer can help identify all your losses, and you should seek compensation that addresses them.
Is it worth getting a lawyer for a truck accident?
Yes, getting a lawyer is absolutely worth it. The opposite party or the insurance party can take advantage of your lack of legal experience. Moreover, our lawyers work on a contingency basis.
When should you contact a lawyer after a truck accident?
You should call a Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorney as soon as possible. They can advise you on your next steps.