A semi-truck without a trailer can weigh anywhere from 10,000 to 25,000 pounds. That’s far more massive than your standard vehicle, even for a large pickup truck! This huge weight is why driving these vehicles is so dangerous to other cars on the road.
A Melbourne, Florida, truck accident lawyer can help you and your family in the aftermath of a trucking accident. The odds are high that whoever was in the car suffered severe injuries, or even died, as a result of the crash. Andrew Pickett Law can answer your questions and tell you all you need to know.
Training Is Not Enough for Truck Drivers
The drivers of trucks and other commercial vehicles have to take special training and get a different license to operate them legally. Yet, despite the training, many drivers and their employers push the envelope of safety in the name of profits and cause crashes.
Truckers are paid by the amount of miles they drive and the loads they deliver. However, there are limits to how long you can be behind the wheel without needing a break or uninterrupted sleep. Also, some drivers skimp on safety inspections and maintenance in their quest for more pay.
No amount of extra pay is worth it if they crash into another car and cause someone’s death or lifetime disability. Worse, they don’t have to be speeding to cause huge injuries. The weight of the truck multiples the force significantly, even at low speeds.
For a free legal consultation with a truck accidents lawyer serving Melbourne, call 321-503-4014
Who Can Be Sued for a Truck Accident?
One silver lining in commercial truck accidents is that the compensation can be substantial. The policy limits for commercial drivers are far higher than a standard policy. Furthermore, there are many possible parties that can be sued, including:
- The trucker or driver
- Their employer
- The manufacturers of the truck and its parts
- The last mechanic that worked on the truck
- The company that attached the last load onto the truck
Part of the role of your truck accident lawyer in Melbourne, FL, is investigating the cause of the crash to identify who needs to be sued. It’s extraordinarily rare, and highly illegal, if there were absolutely no insurance company to pay for compensation.
Melbourne Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me 321-503-4014
What If I Was Responsible for My Truck Accident?
First, never admit if you are responsible to the other driver or the insurance company. This is a matter for your lawyer to discuss with them. The reason is because of Florida’s pure comparative fault rules.
Put simply, your amount of compensation will be adjusted by the percentage of fault you have in the accident. The pure part of the rule means that you can still get damages even if you were 99% responsible for the accident.
Other states have a modified comparative fault rule that limits it to 49% or less, and a few will completely deny you coverage if you had any role in the accident. Let your lawyer argue for how much you were at fault instead.
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Understanding Florida’s No-Fault Rules
Per Fla. Stat. § 627.7407, Florida is a no-fault state, which means that your own PIP insurance, a requirement by Florida Law, will cover some of the damages in your accident. In theory, it should cover them all, but the policy limits haven’t been updated in decades, and often aren’t enough in truck accidents.
Just because it’s a no-fault state doesn’t mean you can’t sue the trucking company to cover additional costs. However, you will need to have a truck accident lawyer in Melbourne or elsewhere in Florida to argue why you need more compensation.
If you can afford it, we recommend carrying PIP coverage that covers $100,000 of the costs of an accident at a minimum. If you can carry enough coverage, you could be able to skip the messy process of a settlement or lawsuit entirely.
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Our Melbourne Truck Accident Lawyers Are Ready to Help You
Were you involved in a commercial truck accident? Our Melbourne, FL, truck accident lawyers want to hear your story and help you get compensation. If your loved one died, we can also tell you if you qualify to bring a wrongful death lawsuit.
Contact Andrew Pickett Law legal firm by phone or by using our online contact form to request a case evaluation today. Your consultation is free and without obligation, and our law firm works on a contingency basis. You’ll owe us nothing unless you win your case.
Call or text 321-503-4014 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
