The most common causes of trucking accidents in Fort Lauderdale include dangerous driving by truck operators, distracted driving, defects in the truck or cargo trailer, and hazardous driving conditions. When these wrecks happen, it’s critical to determine fault. Only then can you establish responsibility for your accident-related losses.
Allow a Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer to investigate who caused your accident. They will then determine who owes you compensation. Finally, your attorney will relentlessly pursue the compensation you deserve.
A Fort Lauderdale Trucking Accident Lawyer Will Determine Why Your Collision Happened
Your Fort Lauderdale trucking accident attorney will investigate your accident without preconceived conclusions. They will let the evidence lead them to at-fault parties.
Here are some typical reasons that a truck accident happens in Broward County.
Truck Driver Carelessness Or Recklessness
A truck driver may cause an accident by:
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Merging into an occupied lane
- Stopping without reason
- Pulling into traffic without the space to do so safely
- Passing dangerously
Your attorney will determine if the truck driver contributed to your crash in any way. If so, the driver may be personally liable—and their employer may be liable, too.
An Unfit Truck Operator
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) imposes uniform drug and alcohol policies for every driver and trucking company. However, drug and alcohol use are not the only forms of impairment your lawyer might find.
A truck operator might also be unfit if they:
- Have a poor driving record.
- Are emotionally unstable, making them prone to road rage.
- Drive while fatigued.
- Engage in distracting behavior while driving.
- Don’t know how to operate the truck or cargo trailer safely.
When an unfit truck driver causes a crash, you could hold the driver, trucking company, or both accountable.
A Defective Truck Or Trailer
Flaws in trucks and trailers can result from the following:
- Defective design
- Defective assembly
- Using substandard materials
- Failure to inspect
- Failure to repair
If any defect contributes to your accident in Fort Lauderdale, a truck accident attorney will determine who is responsible.
Dangerous Road Conditions
A roadway may become hazardous when:
- Traffic lights malfunction
- Traffic signs disappear
- Workers improperly mark a construction zone
- Poor lighting diminishes visibility
A Fort Lauderdale commercial vehicle accident lawyer will conduct a complete investigation of your collision. They will identify all parties whose negligence contributed to the crash.
Is A Trucking Company Liable If Its Driver Caused My Crash In Fort Lauderdale?
When a truck driver causes an accident, a lawyer must evaluate the employer’s behavior. Our Fort Lauderdale lawyers always consider whether the trucking company increased the likelihood of an accident.
Examining The Fitness Of Truck Company Employees
It’s a fundamental duty for trucking companies to:
- Ensure their drivers get their commercial driver’s license (CDL) and necessary certifications
- Evaluate drivers’ medical fitness
- Train employees so they are competent and safe in every aspect of their jobs
It is not generally enough for a truck driver to have a CDL. The trucking company must train that driver in organizational best practices. A failure to train is a common reason why drivers make costly mistakes.
Failing To Monitor, Inspect, And Service Equipment
A truck driver can only be as safe as their equipment allows. Therefore, it is critical that trucking companies:
- Adequately train drivers about the mechanics of their vehicles and cargo trailers
- Teach drivers about properly loading cargo
- Emphasize the importance of immediately reporting vehicle-related issues
- Order drivers to get maintenance as soon as an issue arises
- Regularly inspect vehicles
- Repair and replace vehicles and cargo trailers as necessary
Your attorney will consider the possibility of defective equipment causing your accident.
Looking The Other Way To Policy Violations
A trucking company’s failure can cost lives. Thus, trucking companies must remain vigilant and have a zero-tolerance policy for:
- Drug or alcohol misuse
- Dangerous driving
- Distracted driving
- Non-compliance with FMCSA regulations
- Any other act, or failure to act, that endangers the truck driver or others
Trucking companies can be liable for victims’ damages. Your attorney will determine if a trucking company is responsible for yours.
Motor Vehicle Accidents—Including Truck Collisions In Fort Lauderdale—Can Cause Devastating Injuries
You can tell merely by looking at them that trucks are a life-threatening force. If these multi-ton vehicles hit you or your vehicle, the risk of catastrophic injury is immense.
Your Fort Lauderdale commercial truck collision attorney will identify every economic and noneconomic damage that results from your collision, with some common damages including:
- Healthcare costs
- Pain and suffering
- Mental health services
- Lost income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Vehicle repair costs
- Temporary transportation costs
A Fort Lauderdale trucking accident lawyer should treat their client as the unique human being they are—that’s certainly our approach. Each victim deserves a fair settlement, so let us fight for yours.
Your Lawyer Will Manage Every Aspect of Your Case In Fort Lauderdale
Your Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorney will lead your case from start to finish, with some of their many duties including:
- Collecting evidence of negligence
- Documenting all your accident-related damages
- Pursuing a fair settlement on your behalf
- Negotiating with insurance adjusters
- Representing you in any necessary lawsuit and trial
Call The Law Offices Of Anidjar & Levine Today For Your Free Consultation About A Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Attorney
You should prioritize hiring a Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorney following a devastating crash that leaves you with mounting medical bills and no way to pay for them. Filing deadlines and other time-sensitive duties demand it.
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can determine whether one of the common causes of truck accidents led to your crash in Broward County. Contact us today for your free consultation.