Over eleven million semi-trucks operate in the United States, carrying large loads and potentially hazardous material. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, an accident between a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck is 10 times more likely to result in a death than a car accident between only two passenger vehicles.
With such a high demand for transport and so many semi-trucks on the road, accidents with large commercial trucking vehicles are inevitable. If you have been injured in an accident with a semi-truck, contact a Florida semi-truck accident lawyer from The Landau Law Group today at (866) 703-4878 to find out your rights and how you can get the compensation you are owed for the injuries you suffered.
Leading Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents
While this list is not exhaustive, the following are the most common types and causes of accidents with semi-trucks in the United States.
- Driver Error: to meet deadlines, drivers sometimes, whether consciously or not, make safety errors, drive recklessly, push their physical limits too hard, and ultimately fall asleep at the wheel. This preventable cause of semi-truck accidents is also the largest cause of collisions resulting in severe injuries and even death.
- Poor Maintenance of Semi-Trucks: trucks are often pushed to their capacity to get the most shipments to the most destinations. Semi-trucks can be driven thousands of miles in a week. If the driver or company does not complete regular safety inspections, the semi-trucks can become dangerous or deadly.
- Semi-Truck Equipment Failure: faulty, defective, or worn out semi-truck components and parts can cause serious injuries and death. Product recalls happen on semi-trucks just as they do on passenger vehicles. If a driver or company is not maintaining the equipment on a semi-truck, it can be the cause of a serious or deadly accident.
- Improperly Loaded Cargo: drivers are required to pass tests certifying that they can load specific cargo into semi-trucks correctly to maintain balance and safety. Improperly loaded cargo in a semi-truck can lead to imbalance and swaying, which can lead to an accident. Additionally, improperly loaded cargo can cause the contents of the semi-truck to spill onto the roadway and cause accidents, injuries, or death.
Common Injuries in Semi-Truck Accidents
Injuries with semi-trucks are always more violent and create more severe injuries simply because of the sheer force of the collision between a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle. These are the most common personal injuries that stem from a semi-truck accident.
Head and Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are common in semi-truck accidents due to the sheer impact of a crash. According to Mayo Clinic, brain injuries leave a victim with confusion, nausea, and the inability to think clearly. These injuries can last months or years. It is well established that traumatic brain injuries can permanently affect your personality, motor skills, ability to communicate, and ability to think correctly.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can result in either partial or complete paralysis. The spinal cord is the communication link between your body and your brain. If a spinal cord is injured, the damage is often permanent and requires life-long physical and medical therapy.
Amputations
Accidents with semi-trucks are violent and often catastrophic. Unfortunately, amputations are a common injury as a result of a semi-truck accident.
Whiplash
When a person’s head snaps sharply during the impact of a crash with a semi-truck, all of the soft tissues, muscles, tendons, and bones are damaged. Whiplash is not a minor injury but may require weeks, months, or years of care.
Internal Injuries
While the outward appearance of a victim of an accident with a semi-truck could appear as just minor scrapes and bruises, there could actually be a much more serious, or life-threatening medical issue. Internal injuries are common in these serious and severe accidents, and you should obtain a medical evaluation as soon as possible to determine if any injuries are not visible on the surface.
Wrongful Death
Unfortunately, not every victim survives a semi-truck accident. If the accident involves a fatality, the legal term is “wrongful death.” If your loved one was a victim of wrongful death in a semi-truck accident, contact a Florida semi-truck accident lawyer to find out how to receive compensation for your loved ones’ wrongful death.
Contact The Landau Law Group today at (866) 703-4878 to learn your legal options.
Responsibility in Semi-Truck Accidents
If you or a loved one were in a semi-truck accident, we can help you determine which parties are at fault and responsible for your personal injuries and any compensation you are owed. Liable and responsible negligent parties can include the following:
- Semi-truck driver
- Semi-truck company
- Semi-truck leasing company
- Trailer leasing company
- Shipper of the transported cargo
- Manufacturer of the semi-truck, trailer or any defective or faulty components
Contact a Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer
Your first step following a semi-truck accident is to seek immediate medical attention. Additionally, before you speak to the trucking company or their insurance company, contact a Florida semi-truck accident lawyer familiar with these types of accidents. An attorney can help you develop a strong case to restore your losses from your personal injury, lost wages, and medical expenses. From reviewing police statements, medical records, camera footage, to consulting with experts and interviewing witnesses, the semi-truck accident lawyers at The Landau Law Group will work to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact our legal team today at (866) 703-4878 for a free consultation.