Navigating the aftermath of a commercial truck accident in West Palm Beach can be overwhelming due to the severity of the injuries associated with these crashes and the complex legal issues involved.
With a deep understanding of the unique challenges these accidents present, the experienced West Palm Beach injury attorneys at Redondo Law are dedicated to fighting for your rights and helping you receive just compensation after a truck accident.
Our team is here to guide you through every step, from initial consultation to final resolution, ensuring that your rights are protected and your voice is heard.
Why choose Redondo Law for your West Palm Beach truck accident case?
Depth of experience
Our firm boasts extensive experience in managing complex truck accident cases specific to West Palm Beach, Florida.
Impressive success rate
We have a consistent track record of successful outcomes in truck accident claims, ensuring our clients receive maximum compensation for their injuries.
Client-focused approach
At Redondo Law, we emphasize transparent communication, ensuring we’re always accessible to clarify any questions and alleviate your concerns.
Risk-free representation
Our services are provided on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are zero fees if we don’t win. We never get paid unless you do.
The epidemic of truck accidents in Florida and across the U.S.
In recent years, the number of vehicle crashes involving large commercial trucks has been on the rise across the U.S. and Florida.
In 2021 alone, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported that large trucks and buses were involved in approximately 494,000 police-reported crashes. That’s almost half a million crashes across the U.S.
These accidents led to:
- 5,904 crashes involving fatalities, an 18% increase from 2020
- 117,000 crashes involving nonfatal injuries, an 11% increase from 2020
- 401,000 crashes involving property damage only, a 25% increase from 2020
Interestingly, while more than half of all crashes involving large trucks and buses (about 54%) occur in urban areas, only about 26% happen on interstate highways, according to data from the National Safety Council.
Florida is, unfortunately, following a similar trend as the rest of the U.S. The FMCSA reported that 373 people died in crashes with large trucks and buses in Florida in 2021. This is an increase from previous years, in which 344 fatalities occurred in 2020 and 349 fatalities occurred in 2019.
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of these statistics is that the vast majority of these accidents and wrongful deaths were preventable.
Why are truck accidents so dangerous?
When commercial trucks are involved in accidents, the outcomes can be significantly more severe, with a higher likelihood of fatalities and serious injuries to the brain and spinal cord compared to crashes involving only passenger vehicles.
Some key factors that increase the severity of these crashes include:
- Size and weight. The biggest factor is the immense size and weight difference. A commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when loaded to full capacity, compared to a car’s average weight of only 4,000 pounds. This massive difference in mass creates a much greater force of impact in a collision.
- Blind spots. Large trucks have extensive blind spots around the sides and rear of the vehicle. Drivers of smaller vehicles can easily disappear into these blind spots, increasing the risk of unseen turns or lane changes.
- Maintenance issues. Commercial trucks require regular maintenance, and any failure to maintain brakes, tires, and other critical components can lead to catastrophic failures on the road.
- Cargo shift. Trucks carry a variety of cargo, and if it’s not secured properly, it can shift during transit. Loose cargo that spills onto the road can create an additional hazard for other vehicles, causing multi-vehicle accidents due to swerving maneuvers to avoid debris.
- Braking distance. Due to their weight, trucks require a much longer distance to come to a complete stop. This can be especially dangerous when sharing the road or if the truck driver needs to react suddenly. If a car cuts in front of a truck or the truck driver is following too closely, the extra stopping distance can lead to a catastrophic rear-end collision.
- Driver fatigue. Truck drivers often operate on tight schedules and may be pressured to drive for long hours. This can lead to fatigue, which can impair their judgment and reaction time, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Complexity of operation. Operating a commercial truck requires special skills and training. Misjudgments or errors by the truck driver, like improper turning or braking, can lead to serious accidents.
Overall, the combination of these factors makes collisions involving commercial trucks much more likely to result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities for those in smaller vehicles.
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Who may be liable for a truck crash?
In any vehicle accident, the person or party found liable is typically the one whose negligent behavior directly caused the crash to occur. In a truck crash, multiple parties may be liable, depending on the circumstances.
The truck driver could be held responsible if the accident resulted from their personal negligence, such as speeding, driving while distracted, or driving under the influence. The trucking company may also be liable, particularly if they failed to enforce proper safety standards, provided inadequate training, or violated regulations regarding driving hours.
Additionally, the manufacturer of the truck or its parts could be at fault if a mechanical failure, like a brake failure or tire blowout, contributed to the crash. Sometimes, liability even extends to cargo loaders or shippers, especially if improperly loaded or secured cargo led to the accident.
Each case varies, and determining liability often requires a thorough investigation to uncover all contributing factors. Additionally, Florida applies a modified comparative negligence rule to accidents, in which your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, making the process of determining liability even more complicated.
Because of this, it’s highly recommended that anyone injured in an accident involving a commercial truck consult a truck accident attorney as early on in the process as possible to ensure their rights are protected.
Looking for the best West Palm Beach truck accident attorney to help with your claim?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in West Palm Beach due to someone else’s negligence, don’t settle for less than you deserve.
At Redondo Law, we want you to have a thorough and realistic understanding of your legal options, which is why we take the time to listen to your story and provide you with an accurate estimation of your claim’s value.
Our skilled West Palm Beach injury attorneys are dedicated to maximizing your compensation, covering both economic and non-economic damages. Let us help you secure the justice and financial support you deserve.
Reach out today for a free consultation and learn how we can help with your truck accident claim.
References
LARGE TRUCK AND BUS CRASH FACTS 2021. (2023, November). https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/2023-12/LTBCF%202021-FINAL%20508_0.pdf
Large Trucks. (n.d.). Injury Facts. https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/road-users/large-trucks/
