Holding Negligent Parties in the Trucking Industry Responsible for Your Losses
Being involved in any car accident can lead to disastrous results. Unfortunately, the risk of such an outcome is much higher when collisions involve large commercial vehicles. If you or a loved one have been involved in a truck accident, you’re likely wondering how to move forward. These crashes can result in serious injuries, extreme medical expenses, lost wages from work, severe pain and suffering, and many other detrimental outcomes. If you’ve found yourself in this situation due to another party’s negligence or wrongful acts, truck accident attorneys in Hollywood, FL may be able to help.
At The Law Offices of James Jean-Francois, P.A., you’ll work directly with a personal injury lawyer who is committed to securing maximum compensation on your behalf. We know the toll that severe injuries can take on a person, and if you’ve lost a loved one in an accident involving a tractor-trailer, we know how devastating the loss can be. That’s why we’ll handle your Hollywood truck accident case from start to finish. Whether through settlement negotiations with an insurance company or taking your case to court, we’ll fight hard to ensure you get fair compensation.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Can Hollywood Truck Accident Lawyers Help Secure Compensation?
Statistics show that personal injury victims secure higher compensation on average when they are represented by an attorney. This is typically reason enough to work with a lawyer. However, what do they have to do to secure compensation? It all comes down to establishing liability. This is critical during truck accident litigation, but proving fault to an insurance company can also help avoid a lawsuit altogether.
These are three elements of liability that must be established when obtaining compensation:
- Duty of care: This is a responsibility to avoid wrongful acts that could harm others. Truckers, trucking companies, and others within the industry have a high duty of care. This is because of the high level of risk that results from negligent or reckless acts within the industry.
- Violation of duty: To establish liability, it’s also necessary to show that a duty of care has been violated. Was there improperly loaded cargo due to negligent loaders? Were dump trucks improperly maintained to a point they kept breaking down on city roads?
- Causation of harm: From violating traffic laws to improper loading, violations of duty occur every day. However, it’s only when these violations lead to harm that liability can be established. Harm could include hospital bills, future medical expenses, emotional distress, and more.
Determining fault in South Florida truck accidents can be complex. In fact, there are many cases where multiple parties share liability. For instance, mechanical failures could result from neglect of maintenance — but perhaps the trucker could’ve avoided an accident had they not been speeding. That simple act could’ve changed the victim’s life.
If you’ve been involved in a collision with a semi-truck, it’s important to work with a Hollywood truck accident lawyer to seek compensation. A legal professional can guide you through this complex process.
Is the Truck Driver Always at Fault?
Following a trucking accident, it’s not uncommon to suspect that the trucker is the at-fault party. After all, they were behind the wheel when the collision occurred. In reality, this is rarely the case. Federal trucking regulations are strict, and the primary goal of these rules is to reduce the likelihood of a collision. They’re clearly effective, and that’s why truck drivers are at fault in less than 20% of all trucking accidents. If this is the case, who else might be liable for injuries?
The list is long. Perhaps a cargo company failed to load a truck properly. Maybe the trucking company didn’t conduct routine maintenance on their fleet. It’s even possible that government agencies are the responsible parties due to a failure to maintain public roads. Police reports also show that the injured motorists in these accidents are often partially responsible. Fortunately, Florida law recognizes comparative negligence. This means you could pursue fair compensation even if you share fault.
The primary lesson here is that liability can be complex. This is why it’s so important to work with an experienced truck accident lawyer in Hollywood, FL. Contact The Law Offices of James Jean-Francois, P.A. today to get started.
What Damages Are Available in Truck Accidents?
Following a commercial truck accident, there’s a good chance injury victims can secure compensation. This is particularly true when they work with Hollywood truck accident lawyers who can gather evidence, work with accident reconstruction experts, identify additional liable parties, and handle the other difficulties of a personal injury case. Even after all this work, insurance companies may still refuse to properly compensate you.
When this happens, litigation may become necessary. In such a case, you may be entitled to the following:
Economic Damages
Most damages in personal injury cases are meant to reimburse victims for financial loss. This could include long-term care for catastrophic injuries, medical bills immediately following the accident, property damage, therapy costs for temporary or permanent disability, and more.
Non-economic Damages
An accident involving a large truck rarely only results in financial loss. An experienced legal team may be able to help you secure damages for non-financial losses. These could include pain and suffering, loss of companionship due to wrongful death, emotional distress, and other intangible losses.
Punitive Damages
These damages are meant to punish the at-fault party — rather than reimburse the victim — for their gross negligence or egregious acts. Such damages are rare, but your legal representation can review your case and help you understand if you qualify.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer in Hollywood, FL Today
If you’ve been involved in an accident with a commercial truck, no one has to describe the potentially devastating consequences to you. You’ve lived them and know how difficult the road ahead seems. Fortunately, many victims in truck accident cases are entitled to substantial compensation. Parties within the industry — ranging from trucking companies to the trucker themselves — have a high duty of care to protect others on Florida roadways. When they fail to do so and commercial vehicle accidents occur, it’s important to have a dedicated legal advocate on your side.
At The Law Offices of James Jean-Francois, P.A., our personal injury attorneys are here to help. Commercial trucks are essential for our economy, but they also create a disproportionate level of risk along Florida roads. From minor injuries to wrongful death claims, every successful claim starts at the accident scene. Of course, victims are often unable to do much right after a collision — and that’s why our team will investigate every aspect of your case to ensure you get justice.
Contact us at (954) 516-1353 to schedule your free consultation. At our law firm, you’ll have a committed truck accident lawyer in Hollywood, FL on your side.