Largo Commercial Truck Accident Attorney
Large trucks are perhaps the most efficient way, and most dangerous way, to transport goods to market. A fully-loaded semi-truck weighs more than 80,000 pounds and carries hundreds of gallons of highly-flammable diesel fuel. Additionally, truck drivers are under more pressure than ever to deliver their loads on time, no matter what it takes. Finally, regulators are often more than willing to look the other way when it comes to some safety violations.
These things all add up to negligent operation. That’s especially true since truckers, as common carriers, have a high duty of care in Florida. Driving defensively isn’t sufficient. Instead, commercial operators, including truck drivers, must take affirmative steps to avoid wrecks. Traffic laws often reflect this higher duty. For example, the large truck speed limit is usually lower than the noncommercial operator speed limit.
The diligent Largo commercial truck accident attorneys at The Reep Law Firm understand that time is of the essence in these cases. The sooner we get started, the better the final result usually is. Therefore, we hit the ground running with a set plan of action. This plan includes a thorough case evaluation, diligent evidence collection, and strong legal advocacy. We also understand there is no one-size-fits-all. So, we adjust to your needs and the specifications of your case. This combination of planning and flexibility usually produces results that exceed our clients’ expectations.
What Causes Truck Accidents?
Most truck crashes aren’t “accidents.” The A-word implies that the incident was unavoidable and inevitable. A few wrecks, like sudden lightning strikes, fall into this category. However, bad weather usually only contributes to crashes. Instead, most truck crashes are caused by:
- Aggressive Driving: Speeding is a common cause of truck crashes, since as mentioned, many drivers are in such a hurry to deliver their loads. On a related note, many truckers fail to conduct basic pre-departure inspections, or they don’t immediately take care of bad brakes and other operational issues.
- Impaired Driving: Fatigue is a serious problem among truck drivers. That’s especially true since, as mentioned, federal regulators have recently diluted some important HOS (hours of service) regulations. On a related note, many truckers take amphetamines to counteract the effects of fatigue. These drugs impair judgment ability. Additionally, when they wear off, users often crash fast and hard.
Individuals are legally responsible for the wrecks they cause. A Largo commercial truck accident lawyer can often hold the company that owned the truck financially responsible for damages, thanks to the respondeat superior rule.
These damages usually include compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Evidence in Truck Crash Claims
Advanced electronic evidence is often the key to maximum compensation in a Pinellas County truck crash claim.
All commercial vehicles have Event Data Recorders. These gadgets resemble the black box flight data recorders inside commercial jets. EDRs measure and record operational information, like vehicle speed and steering angle. An attorney can fit these nuggets of evidence together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
Furthermore, all commercial trucks have Electronic Logging Devices. ELDs track and record hours of service. So, they provide almost bulletproof evidence of truck driver fatigue. Trucking industry lawyers fought the ELD mandate all the way to the Supreme Court. They know how valuable this evidence is in the hands of a skilled and dedicated lawyer.
Contact a Hard-Working Pinellas County Attorney
Injury victims are usually entitled to significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced commercial truck accident attorney in Largo, contact Reep, Coleman & Stubbendorff. We routinely handle matters throughout the Tampa Bay area.
