Miami Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer
Commercial trucking accidents often claim many innocent victims in their wake. Those victims have the right to seek financial compensation under Florida law. The Miami semi-truck accident lawyers at Pike & Lustig, LLP, can represent you in such efforts.
What You Need to Know About South Florida Semi-Truck Accidents
A commercial semi-truck may weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds when fully loaded with cargo. This means that in the event of a collision with a smaller passenger vehicle, the people in the latter are far more likely to sustain serious, life-threatening injuries. On top of that, sorting out legal liability for semi-truck accidents poses an additional barrier to these victims receiving compensation.
To that end, our team at Pike & Lustig looks at every person or company who may be held legally accountable for causing a semi-truck accident. This includes:
- The Semi-Truck Driver — Ultimately, most semi-truck accidents come down to the driver’s negligence, whether it was a mistake caused by inattention or a deliberate violation of the rules of the road.
- The Semi-Truck’s Owner — When semi-truck drivers work for a trucking company, that employer is vicariously liable under Florida law for an accident caused by that driver’s negligence. And in many semi-truck accident cases, the trucking company may incur additional liability for its own negligence in failing to properly hire, train, and supervise their drivers.
- Third Party Drivers — Not all semi-truck accidents are the fault of the truck driver. In some cases, a third-party driver is at-fault. For example, if someone in a passenger vehicle cuts off a semi-truck, that can set off a chain reaction that ensnares multiple additional vehicles.
- Maintenance Companies — All semi-trucks need regular servicing and maintenance. If a company hired to perform inspections or repairs fell down on the job, such negligence may be the underlying cause of a semi-truck accident resulting from a mechanical failure of the vehicle itself.
- Cargo Companies — Semi-truck cargo is often loaded by companies that act independently from the truck’s driver and owner. If the truck is loaded above its maximum safe weight, or the cargo is not properly balanced inside the trailer, a sudden shift in the vehicle’s center of gravity during transport can force the driver to lose control, resulting in a serious accident
Demanding Compensation Following a Semi-Truck Accident
While Florida’s no-fault insurance law provides quick benefits for people who only sustain minor injuries in a car accident, semi-truck accident victims often have far more serious injuries that entitle them to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible parties. Compensation in such cases includes both economic damages–a victim’s medical bills, lost income, rehabilitation expenses, et cetera–as well as non-economic damages to cover their ongoing pain, suffering, and emotional trauma as they struggle to rebuild their lives.
Your first step in seeking compensation should be to speak with an experienced Miami semi-truck accident lawyer. At Pike & Lustig, LLP, we have the knowledge and proven track record to help you and your family fight for every last dollar you are entitled to under the law. Contact us today at (561) 291-8298 to schedule a consultation.
