Lake Mary Truck Accident Lawyers

Drivers throughout Central Florida must share the roads with 18-wheelers and other commercial trucks. Because these trucks are so much larger and heavier than other vehicles, they pose serious risks to others, since they can inflict severe injuries when they are involved in collisions. People in passenger vehicles can suffer catastrophic injuries in truck accidents, and they may face long-term physical and emotional effects, as well as financial hardship.

At The Doan Law Firm, our attorneys work with victims of truck accidents in Lake Mary, helping them determine the best steps to take to receive full financial compensation. We can perform investigations to identify the causes of these crashes, and we will fight to hold all negligent parties accountable so that our clients will be able to heal properly and move forward with their lives.

Types of Commercial Truck Accidents

Accidents involving large trucks may involve multiple different factors, including road conditions, driver behavior, and mechanical issues. Some of the most common types of truck accidents include:

• Wide Turn Accidents: Large trucks require extra space to make turns. If a driver fails to check their blind spots or swings into other lanes without warning, they can strike nearby vehicles or trap them between the truck and a curb or barrier.
• Blind Spot Accidents: 18-wheeler trucks and other commercial vehicles have large blind spots on all four sides, particularly along the sides of a truck and its trailer. When drivers fail to check these areas before changing lanes or merging, they can cause serious collisions with vehicles traveling in adjacent lanes.
• Rollover Accidents: Truck rollovers often occur when a driver takes a curve too quickly, overcorrects, or experiences a shift in cargo weight. These accidents can crush nearby vehicles or block multiple lanes of traffic.
• Jackknife Accidents: Jackknifing happens when a truck's trailer swings out at an angle from the cab due to a loss of control. This type of accident can involve multiple vehicles and cause significant injuries or fatalities.
• Rear-End Accidents: Due to their weight, trucks require longer distances to stop than many other types of vehicles. If a driver is speeding, distracted, or tailgating, they may be unable to stop in time, and they may crash into the vehicle ahead.
• Falling Cargo Accidents: When cargo is improperly loaded or secured, it can shift or fall onto the road. Obstacles created by falling cargo can cause drivers to swerve and lose control, resulting in collisions or pileups. In some cases, falling items may directly strike other vehicles, causing serious injuries or fatalities.

Forms of Negligence That Cause Truck Accidents

Truck accidents often result from preventable errors or safety violations. Understanding the cause of a crash is critical to determine who may be held legally responsible. Multiple parties may share liability, depending on the circumstances. Common forms of negligence that lead to commercial truck accidents include:

• Speeding or Reckless Driving: Driving too fast for conditions, tailgating, or aggressive maneuvers can increase the likelihood of a crash.
• Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers who exceed their hours-of-service limits may fall asleep at the wheel or suffer from delayed reaction times.
• Impaired Driving: Drugs, alcohol, or prescription medications can impair a truck driver's judgment and coordination.
• Distracted Driving: Using a phone, eating, or adjusting navigation systems while driving can take a driver's attention off the road.
• Improperly Secured Cargo: Unbalanced or unsecured loads can cause rollovers, jackknifes, or falling cargo incidents.
• Mechanical Failures: Faulty brakes, worn tires, or steering issues may be caused by poor maintenance or manufacturing defects.
• Inadequate Driver Training: Employers who fail to ensure that drivers are properly trained and licensed can be held liable when inexperienced drivers cause accidents.

Parties That May Be Liable for Truck Accidents

In many truck accident cases, liability extends beyond the truck driver. Depending on the facts uncovered during an investigation by our attorneys, one or more of the following parties may be held responsible:

• Truck Driver: Negligent or reckless operation of a commercial truck may cause a driver to be liable for injuring others in a collision.
• Trucking Company: When employers hire unqualified drivers, encourage unsafe practices, or fail to maintain vehicles, they may be held liable for poor practices that put others at risk of harm.
• Cargo Loading Companies: When freight is not properly loaded or secured on a truck, the company responsible for loading may be liable for accidents caused by shifting or falling cargo.
• Maintenance Providers: If routine inspections had not been performed, or if a truck was not serviced or repaired correctly, the parties responsible for maintaining the truck may share liability.
• Truck or Parts Manufacturers: When defective components lead to mechanical failures that cause accidents, the product manufacturers may be held liable.

Contact Our Lake Mary, FL Truck Accident Lawyers

When a truck accident occurs, do not wait to seek legal assistance. The attorneys at The Doan Law Firm are ready to investigate your case, determine who was responsible, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call 407-289-0000 or contact us online to set up your free consultation.