Experienced Plantation Truck Accident Attorney Nerina Smart
Being involved in a truck accident in South Florida, can leave you injured—possibly severely—unable to work and make a living, and facing a mountain of medical expenses that seem to grow daily. Truck accidents not only can cause more severe injuries than car crashes, but they can also result in more vehicular fatalities. They are by nature much more complex as far as determining liability. It is important that you have a strong advocate in your corner following a truck accident—a Plantation truck accident attorney that will ensure your rights and your future are protected from start to finish.
Attorney Nerina Smart is that advocate. At The Law Offices of Nerina Smart, P.A., we believe strongly in personalized attention for every client. We will break down your case so you have a clear understanding of the personal injury process as well as the potential options you may have. In the end, we want to help create a situation where the negligent party financially compensates you for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
How Are Truck Accidents Different from Car Accidents in Liability and Injuries?
Because trucks can be 20 to 30 times the size of a smaller passenger vehicle, the injuries to those in the smaller vehicle are likely to be much more severe, even fatal. Injuries sustained from a truck accident often include serious traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. Both of these can potentially lead to lifelong medical issues and an inability to ever return to work. When an accident is this severe, having a highly-skilled truck accident attorney in your corner is crucial. Proving liability following a truck accident can also be significantly different than for an accident involving two smaller passenger vehicles.
The truck driver may bear responsibility for the accident if he or she was distracted, overly fatigued, driving aggressively or carelessly, or impaired. Although there are federal laws for the number of hours a driver can remain behind the wheel, drivers only make money when they are actually driving. This means truck drivers often spend more time behind the wheel than they should, leading to fatigued driving. The trucking company could be liable if they are aware the driver is exceeding hours. The trucking company can also be liable if they did not conduct a thorough background check or if they put an inexperienced driver on the road.
Other potentially liable parties include the maintenance company (if they failed to keep the truck properly maintained and it led to an accident), the loading company (if improperly loaded cargo caused the accident), or the manufacturer of the truck or truck parts (if a defective part was responsible). It can be extremely complex to determine which parties are liable in a truck accident—yet another good reason to have a knowledgeable Plantation truck accident attorney on your side.
How Many Accidents Are Caused by Semi-Trucks?
According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 4,110 people died in large truck accidents in 2019. Only sixteen percent of those deaths were truck occupants, with 67 percent the occupants of the passenger vehicles, and 15 percent pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists. There has been a 52 percent increase in truck accidents since 2009, and nearly three-quarters of all fatal passenger vehicle accidents include a large truck. Most truck accidents appear to occur between noon and 3 p.m., and as many as 30 percent of all truck accidents are the result of tire defects. In 2018, 6.7 percent of all fatal truck accidents in the U.S. occurred in the state of Florida, yet per capita, Florida does not rank among the top five states for truck accidents.
FAQs Regarding Plantation Truck Accidents
Why are trucking accidents such a serious issue?
The primary problem with truck accidents lies in the fact that those traveling in smaller vehicles are extremely vulnerable to injury and death. Not only are commercial trucks bigger and heavier, but the increased ground clearance of a commercial truck can also result in smaller vehicles under-riding the truck during a collision. Although underride bars are now required on the back of large trucks thanks to Federal Law, they are not required on the sides. Hazardous cargo is present in at least 4 percent of fatal collisions involving large trucks. The hazardous cargo can include flammable liquids, combustible liquids, explosives, oxidizing substances, and radioactive materials.
What should you do after a truck accident?
There are certain things you should do immediately after a truck accident, however, since so many of those involved in a truck accident are severely injured, you may not be able to do all these things. Of course, obtaining medical attention is your first priority for yourself and all those involved in the accident. The police must also be called. If you are able, exchange information with the truck driver, obtain witness contact information, and take photos of the scene of the accident and the vehicles. When you are home, write down everything you can remember about the accident. This information could be invaluable later on. Keep every medical receipt and keep a log of every time you speak to the trucking company’s insurance company. Never agree to a recorded statement without speaking to your attorney, and do not try to handle a truck accident on your own. This is a situation where having a strong legal advocate in your corner is crucial.
How Can a Plantation, FL Truck Accident Attorney from The Law Offices of Nerina Smart Help You?
The mission of the legal team at The Law Offices of Nerina Smart is to provide quality service and to deliver success through experience, hard work, and dedication to your cause. Like all of our clients, you will receive highly personalized attention with the goal of the best possible outcome. We understand that this is a challenging, difficult, even traumatic time. Although money will not change your injuries, it can help you get the medical attention you need as well as money to pay your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact the Law Offices of Nerina Smart, P.A. today so that you can focus on your recovery while we work to get you the compensation you deserve