Maitland Truck Accident Attorney
Trucks only make up a small fraction of vehicular traffic, but are involved in one out of ten fatal crashes. Because of the average box truck or semi-truck’s size and weight, passenger vehicle occupants and other road users stand to suffer catastrophic injuries whenever they are involved in a collision with a truck. If you were injured in a truck crash, the Maitland truck accident attorneys at The Hornsby Law Group can help you file a personal injury claim for damages.
The Seven Most Common Types of Truck Crashes
- Rear-Enders—Whether the driver was distracted, tailgating, or driving aggressively, a rear-end crash with a truck is never a minor incident. Victims often sustain serious whiplash, concussion, and broken bones.
- Merging and Lane Changing Collisions—Trucks have massive blind spots, and despite camera technology existing to mitigate these blind spots, most trucks are not outfitted with anything other than two side view mirrors.
- Jackknife Collisions—When a truck driver brakes hard, there is a chance of a jackknife crash, which occurs when either the trailer or truck tires lose grip on the pavement as the trailer pushes the truck forward, causing the two-part vehicle to fold up like a jackknife.
- Worn Out or Defective Brakes—Crashes caused by ineffective brakes are much more common with trucks than other vehicles due to the wear and tear that truck brakes go through on a monthly basis.
- Fatigued Truck Driver—Truck driver fatigue and drowsiness is a real problem. Despite federal standards, many trucking companies encourage truck drivers to break the law by skipping rest brakes or manipulating their time logs.
- Speeding Related Crashes—Truckers speed like everyone else, unfortunately. Impatience and attempting to make quotas are two common reasons truckers speed, and when they do, others pay the consequences.
- Improperly Loaded or Overloaded Truck Crashes—If a truck is overloaded, its center of balance can be thrown off, or its braking distance becomes increased. Improperly loaded trucks have the risk of rollovers, or objects flying off the back if they are towing a flatbed.
Damages in a Maitland Truck Crash
Victims of truck collisions are entitled to damages for their medical expenses, pain and suffering, property damage, emotional distress, lost income, and much more. In order to receive fair compensation, you must file a personal injury claim with the at-fault trucking company’s insurance carrier, and potentially file a lawsuit if the insurer does not cooperate with your demands. Most lawsuits are settled out of court, though there is always a chance of litigation. As such, you need to work with a law firm that is willing and prepared to defend your rights in the courtroom.
Call a Maitland Truck Accident Attorney Today
Whether you suffered catastrophic injuries such as a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or multiple fractured bones, or your injuries were more modest—though still serious—such as whiplash, concussion, and soft tissue injuries, we can help you file a claim for compensation. Call the Maitland truck accident attorneys at The Hornsby Law Group today to schedule a free consultation.
