It should be easy to see that a “big rig” tractor-trailer, semi or other commercial truck is not the same as a passenger vehicle. If you have been in or seen a commercial truck accident, you know that is different from a car accident, too. Injuries and damages are likely to be far worse.
Truck accident victims may find out quickly that it is harder for them than it is for a car accident victim to obtain the compensation they are due for their injuries and other losses.
However, at the Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers, P.A., our attorneys are experienced with truck accidents in Tampa and throughout Florida. We can help you after an accident in Tampa, Holiday or anywhere else in Florida. Contact us today for a free review of your case.
Commercial Truck Accidents Are Not Like Car Accidents
Truck accidents differ from car accident because they typically involve:
- More severe injuries – A fully loaded tractor trailer can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. That is far heavier than even the biggest SUV. This means a collision between a car and truck at high speed is likely to cause severe injuries. These potential injuries include traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injuries, internal organ injuries and broken bones. In fatal truck-car accidents, the occupants of a passenger vehicle are about four times more likely than the truck driver to die.
- Multiple responsible parties – It may not be just the truck driver who is responsible for a transfer truck getting into an accident on a Florida highway. Most trucks are owned by companies, or “carriers.” Employees at those companies maintain and load the trucks. Any or all of them may have a role in the cause of a truck crash. The truck manufacturer or a company that made a faulty truck part may be liable as well.
- Federal regulations – Commercial trucks are strictly regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Truck drivers, carriers, cargo handlers and others can be fined or face other penalties if they violate federal FMCSA regulations. Violations are also useful evidence in civil claims against truckers, carriers and others.
- Large companies – The trucking company involved in an accident may be a statewide, regional or national company. Large truck companies, with reputations and bottom lines to protect, can summon large legal teams after a bad wreck. Their objective is to stop a claim from happening. They can do this by denying or obscuring evidence of liability. They may also make quick settlement offers or vigorously fight claims that go to trial.
- Complexity – All of the above factors combine to make truck accidents more complicated than most car wrecks. Truck accidents require investigations that are different from what car accidents require. The physical nature of large trucks loaded with cargo and the FMCSA regulations governing the trucking industry are just two factors that make truck accident investigations more technical and complex.
We Can Handle Your Tampa Truck Accident Case
Investigating commercial truck accidents in Tampa and throughout Florida to determine liability requires specific knowledge and experience specifically with Florida law. It also requires standing up to corporate lawyers who push back at those who would hold truckers and their employers responsible for the harm they have caused.
At the Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers, P.A., we have been investigating truck accidents in Florida for more than 30 years. Our truck accident attorneys:
- Are fully versed in FMCSA regulations
- Know where to look for evidence of significant violations
- Work with forensic consultants and experts.
If you have been injured in a truck accident in Florida, contact the Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers, P.A., to discuss your legal options. Don’t accept a settlement or anything offered by a trucking company’s insurer without the advice of an experienced attorney who cares about your rights.
For More Information
- Rules & Regulations, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
