Commercial Trucking Accidents
Orlando Truck Accident Attorneys
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is charged with managing the laws and regulations that control trucking in America. In 2017, the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission (NHTSA) identified 37,133 people died in motor vehicle crashes nationwide. Those who died in incidents related to only Trucking Crashes were 4,761 or 12.8% of all deaths on the highways. This represents a very large percentage compared to the total number of trucks versus the total number of cars involved in overall trucking and car accidents.
Trucking transports over 10 billion tons of freight every year over America’s roadways. As you drive along a major highway like Interstate 4 through Orlando, or Interstate 95, through Brevard County, you may wonder: are certain trucking companies involved in more accidents than others? If so, what does it say about those companies? Is it the size of the company (number of trucks), is it the age of the equipment, or is it that some companies have safety issues that they ignore or fail to address altogether. Some of these companies are clearly putting profit over safety.
Commercial carriers are supposed to employ only highly skilled and trained drivers for these positions behind the wheel. Driver’s must be trained and specially licensed with a CDL (commercial driver’s license.) However, too often, we at First Choice Law have seen where had a thorough background search been attempted, the company would have learned of serious violations of these driver’s, including those with known drug and alcohol histories.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Due to the huge difference in size and weight that exists between a truck and a car, most of the time car passengers suffer devastating injuries when involved in an accident with a truck or a semi-truck. These injuries often include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Loss of limbs
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Death
How We Can Help
When we at First Choice Law represent someone injured in a Trucking Accident, we find out did the trucking company follow routine maintenance checks on the trucks? This includes inspection reports before and after every trip, as well as timely routine vehicle maintenance? Did the company load the cargo correctly? Did the driver get a thorough background check before being hired? Did the driver follow the DOT regulations for hours of operation? How is the driver compensated and/or bonused? Based on delivery, miles travelled or is there a safety component to compensation? In answering these questions, we often learn that driver fatigue is a problem, vehicle inspection never occurred, or the motivation of placing profit before safety is dictated by policies put in place by corporate officers.
Jason Recksiedler, as Founding Partner of First Choice Law, is certified as an expert in Civil Trial Law by the Florida Bar and is highly experienced in representing those injured by the negligence acts of Trucking Companies and their drivers in trucking accident cases. He has obtained results of millions for his clients. Call for a Free Consultation and put the expertise of First Choice Law to work for you.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
There are many different factors that can be involved in a commercial trucking crash. Among the most common causes of truck accidents in Florida are:
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Driver's fatigue
- Truck driver errors
- Impairment
- Improperly maintained trucks
- Improperly secured cargo
Call Jason Recksiedler or Caroline Fischer Espi at First Choice Law to help you get fully compensated from your Trucking accident.
Injured In A Truck Or Semi-Truck Accident?
The truck accident attorneys at First Choice Law represent victims from truck accidents in Orlando, Central Florida and throughout the state. We work on a contingency basis, which means that if we do not obtain a favorable verdict or settlement, our clients do not pay any legal fees. Consultations with prospective clients are always free. Contact our Central Florida Commercial Truck Accident Attorneys today for a consultation. With our track record of impressive verdicts and settlements, we have gained a reputation for standing up to insurance companies and fighting for just compensation on our clients' behalf.