Orlando Commercial Vehicle Lawyers

Commercial vehicle drivers face some unique challenges that put them at a higher risk for accidents. The commercial trucking industry puts enormous pressure on drivers to deliver truckloads quickly. The stress of those deadlines, and in some cases employer mismanagement, can incentivize drivers to ignore safety best practices, causing accidents.

In particular, some of these issues include:

Fatigue/Drowsy Driving
Commercial vehicle drivers are especially prone to drowsy driving. Although the government mandates rest periods for drivers, these regulations don’t really go far enough to prevent driver fatigue.

Additionally, drivers sometimes ignore these rules. Per-mile pay structures and pressure to meet delivery timelines motivate drivers to work when they should be resting. In some cases, employers even encourage drivers to falsify rest records.

Drowsy driving is very dangerous. In fact, drivers who only get four to five hours of sleep a night have similar crash rates to those operating vehicles under the influence. Driver fatigue plays a part in an estimated 21 percent of fatal accidents, according to statistics cited by the Insurance Information Institute.

An Orlando commercial vehicle accident lawyer can help you by investigating the circumstances that contributed to your accident and requesting documents that can help prove your case for drowsy driving.

Drugs and Alcohol
Drugs and alcohol also factor into a large number of commercial vehicle accidents. Drivers face immense pressure on the job and spend a lot of time away from home, which increases their risk of substance abuse.

Drivers may take methamphetamines or other “uppers” to help them stay awake while driving, or they may abuse alcohol and other drugs to help them cope with the stress of being on the road.

Of course, this increases the risk of an accident. Driving while under the influence is considered gross negligence, and any drunk or drugged driver who causes an accident may be responsible for paying damages to other parties involved.

Speeding and Reckless Driving
Commercial drivers may also engage in risky driving. Drivers may feel pressured to meet a delivery deadline and speed to make up time. Or they may fail to take proper precautions when passing, braking, and so on.

Reckless driving can have dire consequences. Many large trucks weigh over 10,000 pounds, so their impact on another vehicle — particularly when traveling at high speeds — can cause devastating injuries or even death.

Improper Training
Operating, loading, and offloading large commercial vehicles requires specialized safety training. Carriers have a legal duty to train drivers, even if they already have a commercial driving license.

It may be more challenging to prove, but if you can clearly show that carriers neglected this duty or performed training improperly, then you may have a case for compensation. An Orlando commercial vehicle accident lawyer can help you make that determination and obtain evidence to prove it.

Injuries in commercial vehicle accidents can range from mild scrapes and bruises to devastating spinal and brain injuries. If you have been seriously injured in a truck accident, you may have a stronger case for compensation, since those injuries will have a larger effect on your finances and livelihood.

Examples of these types of commercial vehicle accident injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Back injuries
• Neck injuries
• Herniated disc
• Bulging disc
• Pinched nerve
• Broken arm
• Other injuries

The types of damages and losses you can claim in a commercial vehicle accident lawsuit will depend on the severity of your accident and its impact on your life, specifically your health and financial welfare.

While some damages, like medical bills, are obvious, there may be some expenses, losses, and harms that are more subtle or harder to assign a value to. Some common categories of damages in commercial vehicle accidents include:

• Medical bills, including rehabilitation
• Household expenses
• Property damage
• Mental anguish
• Pain and suffering
• Lost income/loss of earning ability
• Punitive damages
• Damages associated with wrongful deaths, including loss of companionship, loss of inheritance, and the like

Some of these damages can be very difficult to calculate. It’s hard for accident victims to estimate the cost of future medical care or assign a value to pain and suffering, for instance.

This is where a lawyer can provide immense value to your case. They will be familiar with injury outcomes and can work with medical providers to assess your injury’s impact on your abilities and well-being in the long term.

Determining liability in a commercial vehicle accident case can be especially difficult. Unlike car accidents, where there are usually only two drivers and two individual insurance policies, commercial vehicle accidents may involve not only the driver and their insurance provider but also their employer, who may have a separate insurance policy.

Insurers will almost always argue that another party is liable for paying for damages, which can cause a lot of finger-pointing between different providers.

Additionally, it’s not always easy to understand exactly the true underlying cause of the accident and who is responsible for what. For instance, if an employer was improperly training drivers or enforcing illegal policies, they may bear some or all of the responsibility of paying for the accident.

Last, your role in the accident may also factor in. If you share some of the responsibility for the accident, then the amount of compensation you can claim may be limited. In Florida, accident victims who are found to be partially responsible for an accident are subject to the rule of “comparative fault.” That means they will be assigned a percentage of blame for the accident and have their damage award reduced by that percentage.

Accident victims involved in serious commercial vehicle accident cases almost always require the advice of an accident and injury lawyer. Commercial vehicle attorneys provide expert knowledge and guidance. And, should you decide to pursue an accident case, hiring a lawyer will make you much more likely to win damages and receive a higher settlement or award.

Specifically, an Orlando commercial vehicle accident lawyer can help you:

• Assess the value of damages. A lawyer can calculate damages and estimate the monetary value of intangible losses.
• Educate yourself on your rights and options. A lawyer will help you understand whether or not you have a viable case and what you may be entitled to under the law. They can also explain the potential next steps. Most Orlando commercial vehicle accident attorneys offer free consultations so you can learn about these things without an obligation to pay.
• Obtain medical care and identify ways to pay for it. Getting care for your injuries is one of the most important things you can do after an accident. It will not only ensure your health but also protect your case. Lawyers can help you find medical providers that will work with you to document your injuries and can also help you negotiate payment plans and other options that will help you afford medical care until your case is resolved.
• Investigate your accident and obtain evidence. When there is a great deal of compensation involved in an accident, it’s absolutely imperative to present an airtight case with a strong legal strategy. A commercial vehicle accident lawyer has the expertise needed to perform a thorough investigation of your accident and request documents and statements that will strengthen your case.

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