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According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, large trucks are involved in 11 percent of fatal vehicle crashes in the United States. Because of their size and weight, large trucks usually cause much more damage in vehicle crashes than ordinary traffic accidents.
Discovering exactly who is liable for damages in a trucking accident can be a challenge because trucking companies attempt to distance themselves from liability by leasing the equipment it uses to haul loads and hiring drivers as independent contractors, not employees.
Fortunately, there are now federal laws that enable injured parties to bypass the confusion and attach liability directly to the trucking company that owns the permit, no matter what name is on the vehicle or whether or not the driver is a direct employee of the trucking company.
If you have been involved in a truck accident, it is important to determine the cause of the accident in order to assign liability. Beyond police reports and witness accounts, valuable data can be obtained via a truck’s “black box”, which records speed, length of time the driver has been on the road, and more.
Federal and state laws also require that a certified inspector examine any commercial truck or trailer that has been involved in an accident before it is removed from the accident scene. The inspector’s report is not part of the official police report, but can be obtained from the appropriate government agency.
Driver inattention accounts for many trucking accidents in the State of Florida. Unfortunately driver inattention or negligence by a truck driver can have life changing consequences to other drivers and passengers traveling Florida highways and roads. Serious personal injuries and wrongful deaths result from these trucking accidents. These serious personal injuries and wrongful deaths impact family, friends, and the community.
If you or a member of your family have been in a Florida truck accident and suffered any physical or emotional loss, contact our Jacksonville personal injury law firm.