Commercial truck drivers spend a significant portion of their lives on the road and many drive over 100,000 miles each year. This is just one of the many reasons why they are held to such a high standard, including holding a commercial driver’s license (CDL), as well as a range of certifications and restrictions pertaining to the size of the vehicle they can operate, the type and weight of the cargo they can haul, and much more. The size of a commercial truck is intimidating when you are driving alongside one on the road, and for good reason: 18-wheelers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, and an accident between a passenger vehicle and commercial truck can be absolutely devastating.
If you have been in an accident with a commercial truck, especially an accident that the truck driver is responsible for, then you have rights to compensation. Working with a commercial insurance company can be difficult though, especially when you are trying to recover from serious injuries after an accident. 1-800-Injured is an attorney and medical referral service. Instead of needing to take on the additional burden of seeking out an attorney to take your case, we can connect you with a lawyer who is ready to take your case today.
Read more below about truck accidents, and contact us now to be connected with an attorney as soon as possible.
Common Causes of Jacksonville Truck Accidents
With commercial truck drivers spending so much of their time on the road, there are many different ways that they can be involved in (or cause) a car accident. The following are some common causes of truck accidents, but whether or not you see your own situation below, contact us now so that you can speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Distracted Driving
Truck drivers, just like passenger vehicle drivers, can fall prey to the siren song of bells, dings, and notifications on their smartphones. Between smartphones, GPS units, radios, eating while driving, and all sorts of other things that can take a truck driver’s attention off the road, there are many opportunities to engage in distracted driving that can end in disaster.
Operating under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
CDL drivers have a .04 max blood alcohol concentration (BAC) while operating a commercial vehicle (they have the standard .08 BAC when operating a passenger vehicle), due to the complex nature of their work, and the constant attention that these massive vehicles require to stay safe and on the road. Regardless of these limitations, truck drivers are not perfect, and some choose to engage in dangerous behavior by operating these enormous vehicles under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
Fatigue
If you have ever been tired at work, then you can empathize with a fatigued truck driver. Unfortunately, falling asleep at your desk is a lot safer than falling asleep at work when your office is a truck on the highway, meaning that tired drivers pose a major threat to themselves and all those around them. The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration has strict Hours of Service that drivers must adhere to, but even these limitations do not guarantee that drivers will not be tired at the wheel.
Speeding
Oftentimes drivers must fight the urge to speed so that they can make quicker deliveries, log more miles, and ultimately earn more money. As we all know, speed is a major contributing factor to many car accidents, and truck accidents are part of this problem, and the problem is more complicated since it takes more to stop such an enormous vehicle on short notice. Speeding truck drivers (and all other speeding drivers) pose a danger to everyone on the road.
Maintenance Failures
18-wheelers and semi-trucks are very complex machines, and since they so much use they require nearly constant maintenance. Some drivers are responsible for the maintenance of their own vehicles, while other trucks are part of a fleet that is maintained by a company garage. Regardless, commercial trucks have extremely detailed maintenance logs and will be an important document if you are the victim of something like a brake failure, tire blowout, or other maintenance issues.
How Much Is My Truck Accident Case Worth?
One of the central questions of your case will be about the amount of money that you are entitled to, and you will be met with significant resistance from the insurance company as you try to advocate for a fair settlement. Damages in a personal injury claim are called compensatory damages and are divided into two parts, each of which we will discuss below. In certain cases, a judge or jury may award additional punitive damages at the end of a trial, but these are rare, and your attorney will have no say in the decision, so they are never factored into your calculations.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the basis of any personal injury case because they include the most obvious and simple to calculate of the damages. They include anything that comes with a measurable dollar value, such as your medical bills, lost wages, and any other financial impacts that you can trace back to your accident.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are equally important in a personal injury case, but they are much more complicated to calculate. They seek compensation for things like the pain and suffering of your injuries, the emotional impacts that the accident has on your life, and other intangibles that still deserve fair compensation. Your attorney will have a variety of methods to choose from to calculate the dollar amount of these damages.
Why Hire an Attorney After a Truck Accident?
After an accident, trying to deal with an insurance company can be a nightmare, especially as they try to do everything possible to reduce the amount of money that they ultimately pay you. While this is frustrating in any situation, it can be even worse as you are struggling to recover from your injuries and trying to stay stress-free. Your attorney will be able to take on this entire process for you so that you can stay focused on your personal needs while they bring the fight to the insurance company.
1-800-Injured can connect you with a Jacksonville lawyer who is ready to take your case today. Contact us now so that you can take the next step in the process of getting the money that you rightfully deserve. Call now to start fighting for what you are entitled to.