Truck & Tractor-Trailer Accidents

Attorney in Jupiter, FL

The Law Offices of Todd Cash Alofs, P.A. helps people throughout the state of Florida, including, but not limited to Palm Beach County, Martin County, St. Lucie County, Broward County, Miami-Dade County and Monroe county, as well as out-of-state.

To learn more about our services and how we can protect your rights,
contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with Mr. Alofs.

Truck & Tractor-Tailor Driver Negligence

Truck and tractor-trailer driver’s negligence typically plays at least some if not all of the cause in truck and tractor-trailer accidents. For example:

Speeding. Truck drivers’ jobs often depend on reaching their destinations at a certain time, therefore, it is not surprising that speeding is a common occurrence. Unfortunately, when truck drivers exceed the speed limit or drive too fast for conditions, serious truck wrecks can happen.

Distractions. Distracted driving is a leading cause of all motor vehicle collisions, and truck and tractor-trailer accidents are no exception. Eating and drinking while driving, texting, talking and/or searching the web on Mobile phones, tablets, radios and GPS equipment help truck drivers do their jobs during long trips. But when a trucker uses technology while driving they are putting not only themselves but others at serious risk.

Reckless Driving. Excessive speed, improper turns, erratic driving, tailgating, and switching lanes too quickly, or too often puts everyone at risk. A Florida truck accident lawyer will help you hold a reckless truck driver and the company he drives for responsible for your accident.

Sleep deprivation. Federal laws restrict how many hours a truck driver can be on the road, but that does not prevent many from driving too long, too far, and when they are drowsy. Many truck drivers suffer from sleep apnea or other sleep disorders making the problem of sleep deprivation even worse. 

DUI. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is always a recipe for disaster, but even more so when the driver is operating a huge truck or tractor-trailer which are capable of causing catastrophic injury to other drivers and their passengers. While consuming alcohol and illegal narcotics is certainly a problem, many truckers who take prescription and over-the-counter medicines can also become dangerously impaired. 

Truck & Tractor-Tailor Driver Negligence

Trucking companies have the legal responsibility to ensure that they create a safe environment for everyone on the road when their trucks are in operation. If a trucking company fails to meet this responsibility, your Florida truck accident lawyer can hold it legally liable for any accidents and injuries that occur. Common ways that trucking company negligence contributes to accidents include: 

Negligent hiring practices. It is the responsibility of the trucking company to put its trucks in the hands of competent and healthy drivers who have the appropriate licenses to operate big rigs on the road. If the trucking company bypasses proper hiring procedures or takes shortcuts — something that typically happens in times of driver shortages — then it is liable for the actions of its employees and/or contractors.

Driver training failures. It is also up to the trucking companies to ensure that their drivers are properly trained in operating the vehicle in question. Failure to do so constitutes negligence.

Hours of service violations. Federal law restricts how many hours a driver can operate a vehicle in any 24-hour period. Requiring drivers to meet schedules that necessitate a violation of these restrictions can result in accidents.

Vehicle maintenance issues. It is up to the trucking company to make sure that its fleet is properly maintained and that all of its rigs are in good working order. Meticulous maintenance records are required to be kept by all commercial vehicle owners.

If you or a loved one is involved in a collision with a truck or tractor-trailer, and immediately after you retain The Law Offices of Todd Cash Alofs, P.A. to represent you, we will immediately

• talk with any witnesses and gather preliminary statements and contact information; examine and photograph physical evidence, including skid marks, guardrails, debris scatter and distances of signs and posts from the road,

• Take note of the surroundings, weather, malfunctioning traffic lights or other factors that may be of importance.

We also take immediate steps to ensure that all evidence is preserved, including the entire truck, its cargo, the driver’s cell phone, and any other electronics or items that will help us piece together how the crash occurred. We have experts on hand to review and analyze the contents of the truck’s event data recorder (EDR) — often referred to as the black box — that contains some of the most important details required to make our case. This indestructible instrument will tell us important facts such as the speed the semi truck was traveling, whether brakes were applied, details about the driver’s steering, and the exact events leading up to and time of the crash. 

Not every personal injury lawyer or car accident law firm has the knowledge, resources, experience, and reputation needed to successfully represent a client in a catastrophic truck accident case. Because truck accident cases are taken on a contingency basis — which means you do not pay anything for expenses or fees unless and until you recover damages — hiring a firm that lacks financial depth or experience can lead to premature and low settlements.

The bottom line is you need a firm like The Law Offices of Todd Cash Alofs, P.A. and an attorney like Todd Cash Alofs, Esq. who not only has extensive experience investigating, litigating, and settling truck and tractor-trailer accident cases, as our proven track record demonstrates, but that can also absorb all the expenses until you win your court case or reach a settlement you are happy with.