Truck accidents happen every day. With major interstates such as I-75, I-275, and I-4 all crossing through Tampa, truck accidents are a scary, all-too-common reality. They are often the most serious accident cases we see. Unfortunately, truck accidents, especially when they involve a passenger vehicle, are likely to leave their victims in pain, facing rising expenses, and under the overwhelming stress of not knowing what to do next. Many result in serious physical injury and property damage, and some even end with wrongful death.
It can take a significant amount of time and money to recover from an accident of this nature. The team of Tampa truck accident lawyers at Hancock Injury Attorneys is here to help. You may be eligible to file a personal injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit to recover compensation for your injuries and losses. Our Tampa office serves clients throughout Central Florida, including Tampa, Spring Hill, and Wesley Chapel. Call us at 813-915-1110 to schedule a free consultation.
Why Choose Hancock Injury Attorneys?
The aftermath of a truck accident can be a challenging time for you and your family. You may be uncertain whether you have a valid legal claim arising from the accident. You may be at a loss for how to proceed. You need advice and counsel that will help you move forward.
With so much to worry about, you don’t need the added stress of wondering how you will pay for medical treatment and other expenses or dealing with dozens of calls from the insurance company.
If a collision with a truck resulted in serious injury, Hancock Injury Attorneys can investigate to determine if the driver, trucking company, or another party was negligent. A skilled truck accident attorney can make sure all you have to worry about is healing. We will take care of everything else. Contact us today to discuss your case and discover how we can help you on your path to justice.
Our Office Locations
Our primary offices are located in Tampa at 1317 W Fletcher Ave., Tampa, Florida 33612. You can reach us by phone at the Tampa office at 813-915-1110. We have additional offices in Wesley Chapel at 2224 Ashley Oaks Circle, Suite 102-E, Wesley Chapel, Florida 33544. Call the Wesley Chapel office at 813-537-6927. We serve clients in Tampa, Spring Hill, Wesley Chapel, and throughout central Florida.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Tampa
For truck drivers and the companies that employ them, time is money. When those commercial drivers are hurrying or driving aggressively to meet a deadline, they put other motorists and pedestrians at risk. There are many contributing factors to large truck accidents. Common causes include:
- Careless Driving: One of the leading causes of truck accidents in Tampa is due to careless driving on behalf of the truck driver. This can include the driver eating or drinking while driving, playing with their radio, or doing anything else that takes their eyes away from the road.
- Failing to Yield: Another cause of semi-truck collisions is when they fail to yield to passenger vehicles that are coming on or off highways. They may also ignore vehicles as they are changing lanes or moving through the intersection. Larger trucks need more space to maneuver, but drivers may fail to appreciate the distance required to drive safely with other vehicles.
- Driver Fatigue: Long hours on the road can lead to tired or drowsy truck drivers. Unfortunately, there are a lot of drivers who are held to outrageous schedules and required to meet demands that are only possible if they limit the amount of time they sleep. This often results in extreme drowsiness, which means the trucker could accidentally fall asleep at the wheel or at least have delayed reaction times. Drowsy driving is just as dangerous as drunken driving, and a leading cause of fatal large vehicle wrecks in Tampa, the state, and throughout the rest of the country.
- Speeding: Excessive speed can reduce a driver's ability to react to sudden changes in traffic.
- Distracted Driving: It is easy for a truck driver to become distracted while operating a large commercial vehicle. Sometimes the driver may be talking on a cell phone, adjusting their navigation, playing with the radio, or even reading and sending text messages. Any time a truck driver’s eyes or cognitive abilities are removed from the road, they pose a danger to the rest of the public.
- Impaired Driving: Alcohol or drugs can impair a driver's ability to operate a semi-truck safely.
- Inadequate Maintenance: Neglected maintenance can lead to equipment failures. Trucks are supposed to be well-maintained and safe though that doesn’t mean all commercial fleets follow such practices. There are numerous instances where a semi-truck will cause an accident due to malfunctioning brakes, poor windshield wipers, or other fatal maintenance errors that are easily prevented just by frequently checking the vehicle.
- Inexperienced Drivers: Lack of experience can result in poor decision-making on the road.
- Improper Loading: Incorrectly loaded cargo can cause a truck to be unstable.
- Mechanical Failures: Brake failures, tire blowouts, and other mechanical issues can lead to accidents.
- Aggressive Driving: Tailgating, aggressive lane changes, and road rage can be dangerous.
Cars vs. Trucks – An Unfair Fight
For occupants of a passenger vehicle, crashes involving commercial trucks are among the most dangerous. Much of this is due to the size differential between most trucks and passenger vehicles. Even large SUVs and pickups are no match for a loaded semi-truck.
Compare a Chevrolet Suburban with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 7,400 pounds to the 80,000 GVW of a tractor-trailer. At over 10 times the weight, in a crash involving a tractor-trailer and a Suburban, the Suburban doesn’t stand a chance. A dedicated Tampa truck accident lawyer could be key in forming a strong claim, even in horrific situations like these.
Because of their extreme weight and massive size, large truck accidents tend to cause more fatalities than any other type of vehicle accident. Approximately 12 percent of all accidents are caused by large trucks. These trucks are also referred to as semis, tractor-trailers, and transfer trucks.
Types of Truck Accidents
We handle truck accident cases involving:
- Tractor trailers, flatbed semis, and other over-the-road trucks
- Construction vehicles and heavy equipment
- Delivery trucks and other commercial vehicles
- Buses
There are several types of truck accidents that can occur on the road. Here are some common ones:
- Rear-End Collisions: When a truck hits the vehicle in front of it.
- Jackknife Accidents: The trailer swings out to the side, forming an L-shape with the truck.
- Rollover Accidents: The truck tips over onto its side or roof.
- Underride Accidents: A smaller vehicle becomes partially or completely trapped underneath the truck. Underride crashes can occur when a vehicle collides with the back or side of the truck.
- Head-On Collisions: Trucks colliding with vehicles traveling in the opposite direction.
- Side-Impact Collisions: Also known as "T-bone" accidents, where a truck strikes the side of another vehicle.
- Tire Blowouts: Sudden tire failures can lead to loss of control and accidents.
- Wide Turns: Trucks making wide turns may collide with vehicles in adjacent lanes.
- Runaway Trucks: Loss of brake control can result in a truck speeding downhill.
- Cargo Spills: Improperly secured cargo can spill onto the road, causing accidents.
Each of these accidents can have varying degrees of severity and can result in different types of injuries.
Truck Accident Injuries
Truck accidents can lead to a wide range of injuries, some of which can be severe or even fatal. Here are some possible injuries that may result from a truck accident:
- Wrongful Death: In the most tragic cases, truck accidents can lead to the loss of a loved one's life.
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Head injuries, including concussions and more severe traumatic brain injuries, can occur when the head strikes an object or the vehicle's interior.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can result in paralysis, loss of sensation, and long-term disabilities.
- Fractures and Broken Bones: The impact of a truck collision can cause fractures and broken bones throughout the body.
- Internal Injuries: Injuries to internal organs, such as the liver, spleen, or kidneys, can be life-threatening.
- Burn Injuries: Fires and explosions in truck accidents can cause severe burn injuries, leading to scarring and disfigurement.
- Amputations: Severe accidents may require amputations of limbs due to crush injuries or extensive damage.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Whiplash, sprains, strains, and contusions can cause pain and discomfort.
- Cuts and Lacerations: Sharp objects, shattered glass, or metal can cause cuts and lacerations.
- Psychological Trauma: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and emotional distress are common after truck accidents.
- Herniated Discs: The force of impact can lead to herniated or bulging discs in the spine.
It's essential to seek immediate medical attention if you or someone you know is involved in a truck accident, as injuries may not always be immediately apparent.
Who May Be Responsible for A Commercial Truck Collision?
Commercial truck accidents in Tampa are often much more complex to litigate than an average automobile accident involving two private parties. With a large vehicle collision, multiple parties could be responsible for the accident. Potentially liable parties include:
- Trucking Companies: Respondeat Superior is the legal concept that one who hires another to perform some task is responsible for any injuries to third parties caused by the person or entity hired. In commercial truck accidents, ultimately, the trucking company that owns the truck and hires the driver has overall responsibility for crashes involving their vehicle and driver. The problem may be determining who “owns” the truck. Often, the truck may not even be owned by the company whose advertising is printed on the side of the truck. The truck and trailer may be leased, possibly by two different companies.
- The Truck Driver: The driver may be an employee of the leasing company, or he may be an independent contractor hired by the leasing company to drive the shipment.
- Truck Repair/Mechanic Shops: The truck or tractor and/or trailer may be maintained by a third-party maintenance firm, instead of the work being done by company mechanics. Figuring out who repairs the truck could be important.
- Cargo Companies: Depending on the product the truck is carrying, the company that loaded the truck may be responsible for part of the accident.
- The Government: Federal, state, county, or city governments could also be held responsible for aspects of the commercial vehicle accident due to their involvement in the design, construction, and maintenance of the highway where the crash occurred. This element can be further complicated by the fact that some governmental entities have sovereign immunity and cannot be sued, while others have limited or no immunity.
- Truck Manufacturers: The crash could also be due to a design or manufacturing defect in the truck itself. This question can become very complex if the allegedly defective part or parts could also implicate one or more contractors or subcontractors and could be answered with the help of a Tampa truck collision lawyer.
How Can a Truck Accident Attorney Help Me?
The aftermath of a truck accident can be a challenging time for you and your family. You may be uncertain whether you have a valid legal claim arising from the accident. You may be at a loss with how to proceed. Our Tampa truck accident lawyers can help! We can give you the advice and counsel you need to move forward.
You are not obligated to work with an attorney to file an accident claim after being injured in a truck accident, but there are many ways an experienced personal injury attorney can greatly benefit you in your physical and financial recovery. Just some of what we take care of includes:
- All communication with the insurance companies.
- Keeping track of all medical records and bills.
- Collecting and reviewing evidence that helps prove liability.
- Help find you doctors and specialists who will determine how your injuries will affect you in the future.
- After the investigation, we can give you an accurate estimate of the claim and negotiate for a fair settlement.
- If the insurance companies are unreasonable, we have the means to take your case to trial.
Establishing Fault
Our attorneys may use any of the following evidence to help prove fault:
- Eyewitness statements
- Police reports
- Black box recorders
- Truck cameras
- Drug and alcohol test results
- Truck driver logs
- Internal records from the trucking company
- Reports from accident reconstruction experts
After an accident, our attorney will conduct an immediate investigation to determine if trucking companies and drivers did everything they were required by law to do. We will investigate the driver’s background and ensure that evidence such as the truck’s GPS and driver logbook were preserved and filled out accurately. Even with safety measures in place, trucking accidents still occur.
What Damages May Be Available for a Truck Accident Claim?
Depending on the circumstances surrounding a truck accident, remedies may be available for injured victims. If driver negligence is implicated, monetary damages can generally be recovered to pay for medical bills, loss of wages, pain, and suffering. In some circumstances, punitive damages may be awarded, if the negligence was egregious. Typical damages may include:
Economic Damages
- Medical Expenses: Compensation for past and future medical bills related to the accident.
- Property Damage: Repair or replacement costs for damaged vehicles and personal property.
- Lost Wages: Reimbursement for income lost due to injury and recovery time.
- Loss of Earning Capacity: If the accident results in a reduced ability to earn income in the future.
- Rehabilitation Costs: Expenses for physical therapy or other rehabilitation services.
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical and emotional distress caused by the accident.
- Emotional Distress: Damages for psychological trauma, anxiety, and depression.
- Loss of Consortium: Compensation for the impact of the accident on personal relationships.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Compensation for the inability to enjoy life as before the accident.
Punitive Damages (in some cases)
Punitive damages are awarded to punish the at-fault party for gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
Consult an attorney experienced in personal injury and truck accident cases to evaluate your specific situation and determine the types of damages you may be eligible to recover. Truck accident claims can be complex, and a legal professional can help you navigate the process and maximize your potential compensation.
Contact Hancock Injury Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one has been involved in a devastating truck accident resulting in injury or loss of life, you don't have to face the legal complexities and emotional distress alone. Hancock Injury Attorneys in Tampa are here to support you. Our experienced team of dedicated professionals specializes in handling truck accident claims, and we are committed to securing the justice and compensation you deserve. We understand the pain and suffering you may be going through, and we're here to guide you through this challenging time. Contact us by calling 813-915-1110 or filling out the contact form on this website.