Miami Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer

Motor vehicle accidents involving delivery trucks often raise a number of complex legal issues for the victims. This can include determining who is actually responsible, as a matter of law, for the accident as well as sorting out liability among multiple corporate entities and insurance companies. If you are an accident victim faced with this scenario, the Miami delivery truck accident lawyers at Pike & Lustig, LLP, are here to help.

Who Pays When a Delivery Truck Causes a Crash?

Florida’s no-fault insurance laws guarantee insured accident victims a certain amount of medical and income replacement benefits regardless of who was responsible for the crash. Accidents involving delivery trucks, however, often lead to what the law classifies as “serious injuries,” which allow the victims to seek full compensation for their losses from the responsible parties.

But who are those responsible parties? Obviously, every case is different, but in general we look at the following parties as potential defendants in a delivery truck accident lawsuit:

• the truck driver — Delivery truck drivers must obey the same rules of the road as everyone else; if their negligence causes an accident, the driver can be held financially responsible.
• the delivery truck owner — If the delivery truck driver works for another person or legal entity, that employer is vicariously liable under Florida law for an accident caused by their negligent employee.
• the truck’s mechanic — Many delivery truck accidents are the result of a mechanical breakdown in the vehicle itself. If the driver or owner hired a third-party company to inspect or repair their delivery truck, that mechanic might be legally responsible if a defect in their work led to a crash.
• the cargo loader — Large delivery trucks may carry thousands of pounds of cargo. Such cargo must be carefully loaded and secured to ensure items do not become loose during transit or a sudden shift in weight causes the driver to lose control. A company that hires and loads a truck’s cargo may be on the hook for any damages if their failure to do their job properly creates such a dangerous situation.
• other drivers — Even if all of the individuals and companies responsible for the delivery truck did everything by the book, a third-party driver’s negligence can still set off a chain reaction that ensnares the truck and other vehicles, creating a multi-car accident with multiple victims.

Florida follows a comparative fault rule in personal injury cases. So if there are multiple defendants whose actions contributed to a delivery truck accident, a judge or jury can apportion blame accordingly. This also means, however, that the defendant or defendants can try to shift the blame onto the accident victim, which is why it is critical to work with an experienced Miami delivery truck accident lawyer.

Our Miami Delivery Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help

If you, or someone in your family, has been injured in a crash involving a commercial vehicle and you would like advice or representation from a qualified Miami delivery truck accident attorney, contact Pike & Lustig, LLP, today at 561-291-8298 to schedule a consultation.