Tampa Truck Accident Attorneys
Hancock Law Firm, P.A.
A passenger vehicle is no match for a big truck. In a collision, sideswipe or rear-end crash, the occupants of the car may suffer severe injuries or death, while the truck driver may be relatively unscathed. If your family member was involved in such a crash, you are probably wondering how this happened and who pays for the destruction.
The Hancock Law Firm, P.A., in Tampa has the proven capacity to hold trucking companies accountable for the financial hardships and the emotional toll of a car-truck accident. We know how to dissect the complex crash scene and other clues to reveal negligence.
Contact us promptly if your loved one was injured or killed in a truck crash in Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Hernando County, Citrus County and throughout Florida or anywhere in Florida. We provide a free consultation and there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation.
Determining the Cause of a Tractor-Trailer Accident
Over-the-road truckers and other commercial drivers must be specially licensed, and 18-wheelers and other large trucks are strictly regulated by federal and state agencies. Unfortunately, truck drivers and their employers often violate the rules and cut corners in pursuit of profit.
With the help of accident reconstructionists and trucking industry experts, accomplished trial lawyer Mike Hancock conducts a thorough investigation to uncover negligence:
- Driver fatigue — Truckers are restricted to a maximum number of hours behind the wheel in one day and are required by law to rest for specific periods between shifts. These rules are commonly ignored, resulting in horrible crashes when the drowsy driver loses focus or actually falls asleep at the wheel.
- Driver error and distraction — Many truck accidents are caused by speeding, driving too fast for road and weather conditions, following too closely, unsafe passing or lane changes, turning or pulling out into oncoming cars, or divided attention such as talking or texting on a cell phone.
- Poor maintenance — Bald tires or worn brakes substantially increase the truck's stopping distance or may cause the truck to veer suddenly into the path of another car. Broken headlights or trailer lights and poor condition of mud flaps, hitches, doors or tarps also contribute to crashes.
- Freight loading and weight — The Department of Transportation regulates maximum total weight and specifies how cargo should be tied down. An overloaded truck is harder to stop in an emergency situation. An overweight or unbalanced load can shift and cause the truck to flip or jackknife into other vehicles. Unsecured freight falling from a truck can hit following cars or cause them to swerve and crash.
- Negligent hiring — A trucking company that has trouble attracting qualified drivers may hire truckers who are not trained to handle an 18-wheeler or have a history of accidents, traffic violations, drunk driving or other red flags.
Mike Hancock and Claire Hancock each have more than 20 years of experience in motor vehicle accident litigation, and Mr. Hancock formerly worked for the insurance industry. He knows that the defense will pour resources into fighting the claim and that truck accident cases are more likely to go to trial than the typical auto crash.
Our legal team acts quickly to preserve evidence and dig into the background of the truck and its driver. We have the truck and its cargo inspected. We obtain logbooks, maintenance records, employment records and driving histories and match them against witness accounts, truck stop receipts, cell phone records and other evidence. In short, we know where to look to prove liability in pursuit of compensation for severe injuries or wrongful death.
West-Central Florida Trucking Accident Lawyer
Contact our Tampa office for a free, confidential consultation at 888-975-1110 (toll free) or 813-915-1110 . Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also reach us by e-mail for answers to your questions.
