Helping Victims Hold Negligent Truck Drivers & Companies Accountable
If you were involved in an accident with a large commercial truck in Florida, you may be wondering what you can do to hold the truck driver or trucking company accountable. If the driver or his or her employer violated any type of traffic law or trucking regulation, you may have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim.
At Robert Sparks Attorneys, we have a complete understanding of the various laws, regulations, and safety standards that govern the trucking industry and commercial drivers in Florida. This knowledge gives our Tampa truck accident attorneys the ability to accurately discern whether a collision was caused by negligence.
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident, don’t wait to call Robert Sparks Attorneys. We can help you determine if your crash was caused by another party’s negligence, such as:
- Hours-of-service violations
- Failure to keep a driving/work log book
- Inaccurate or falsified log books
- Failure to properly inspect or maintain a truck and its parts
- Alcohol or drug use by a commercial driver
- Speeding or reckless driving
- Improperly loaded trucks (unsecured, overloaded, unbalanced, etc.)
- Unlicensed or uninsured truck drivers
- Truck registration violations
- Medical certificate violations
- Failure to conduct routine drug/alcohol testing of drivers
- Negligent hiring practices by trucking companies
Semi-trucks, tanker trucks, tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, and big rigs are formidable vehicles that must be operated with experience and care because of the serious threat they pose to other drivers on the road.
Truck drivers and trucking companies that cut corners or violate regulations should be held responsible.
With our experience in this complicated field and the resources to investigate our clients’ cases, we at Robert Sparks Attorneys are well-prepared to help truck accident victims seek justice when these violations occur.
Contact our truck accident lawyers in Tampa to get started on your case with a FREE consultation. Call (813) 606-5050 or contact us online.
Why You Should Hire an Attorney Right Away
Truck accidents cannot be treated the same way as a car accident.
When a serious truck accident happens, the insurance company will dispatch an investigator to examine the scene and collect information. The investigator’s goal is to find a cause that absolves the insured (trucker and trucking company) of any liability. They will often arrive at the scene while you are still there.
While you should tell the police what occurred, you should never talk with insurance company personnel. Any information that you provide may be twisted and used against you. Instead, you should contact a truck accident attorney who can come to the scene of your accident and conduct a separate investigation.
When you contact a lawyer from our firm, we can take immediate steps to prevent vital evidence from being lost or destroyed, including the driver’s logs, truck inspection records, maintenance records, and the truck itself. This is very important, as trucking companies are only required to retain records for a short period of time.
Determining Fault & Identifying Liable Parties
If you were injured in a truck accident, it is important to determine fault – meaning the party that caused the accident should be identified so you can seek financial compensation from that individual or company.
Although Florida uses a “no-fault” system when it comes to traffic accidents, meaning each party will collect compensation from his or her own insurance policy, those who suffer serious or permanent injuries may still seek damages from the at-fault party. This exception is crucial because it provides seriously injured parties with a means of recovering money for extensive medical treatment, ongoing medical bills, lost earnings, and more.
Robert Sparks Attorneys can offer knowledgeable insight regarding potential liability in your case. With a Tampa truck accident lawyer from our firm overseeing an investigation of the accident and the extent of your injuries and losses, you have the opportunity to not only hold the at-fault party responsible but to recover maximum financial compensation for the harm you have experienced. We can help you through this process.
Truck Driver Liability
There are countless scenarios where the truck driver may be to blame for a collision.
A few examples of truck driver negligence include:
- Driving while distracted
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Speeding or making dangerous maneuvers
- Driving in violation of hours-of-service regulations
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Failing to inspect the truck and its parts
If a truck driver is to blame, the trucking company (or its insurance company) may be responsible for paying your claim. This will depend on whether the driver is an employee or an independent contractor, as well as other factors. We can offer guidance in situations where a negligent truck driver caused your crash.
Trucking Company Liability
Companies can also be liable for a truck accident, whether caused by their drivers or direct negligence on the part of company managers or other personnel.
Common examples of negligent trucking company conduct include:
- Failure to perform routine drug and alcohol testing
- Failure to perform driver background checks
- Failure to investigate a driver following an accident
- Overlooking or encouraging hours-of-service violations
- Negligent truck inspection, maintenance, or repair
- Improper balancing or securing of truck cargo
Other Potentially Liable Parties
There are other parties that may be held responsible for causing truck accidents. This may be a loading company that improperly loaded a truck, a truck manufacturer that produced a defective part, or perhaps a mechanic that performed substandard repairs or maintenance. Because there are various individuals or entities that could be liable, it is important to conduct a thorough investigation of the accident to accurately determine its cause.
Get a Free Review of Your Truck Accident Claim
For a free review of your claim, take this opportunity to schedule a consultation with our truck accident attorneys in Tampa. We are prepared to investigate, negotiate, and litigate on our client’s behalf in order to help them recover the money they need to move on with their lives. Whether your accident was caused by a truck driver, trucking company, truck manufacturer, or shipping company, we can help you seek the best possible result.
Call (813) 606-5050 to take advantage of a free initial consultation.
Issues Related to Tampa Truck Accidents
