Orlando Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accidents are often traumatic experiences that cause catastrophic injuries and fatalities because of their sheer size and weight. Truck accident victims are often left with traumatic emotional scars that outlast the physical ones. If you were injured in a truck accident in Orlando, FL, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical expenses and other losses. 

The Orlando truck accident lawyers at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law have over 75 years of experience helping accident victims. Our Orlando truck accident attorneys have helped our clients recover the compensation they need and deserve. We have recovered tens of millions of dollars. Contact us today at 407-801-3000 for a free and confidential case review of your Orlando, Florida truck accident case. 

How Our Orlando Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help After a Crash

How Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law Can Help After a Slip, Trip, and Fall Accident in Orlando, FL

Truck accidents in Orlando, FL, often leave devastation in their wake. Commercial trucks are much bigger and heavier than passenger vehicles, so accident victims often suffer catastrophic injuries. You will need to be able to focus on your recovery. Meanwhile, an experienced Orlando injury lawyer can handle your claim while you recover. 

When you hire Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law, we can:

  • Assess your claim during a free case review
  • Explain the complex laws that apply to your case
  • Advise you of your legal rights and options
  • Investigate your accident
  • Gather evidence to prove who is responsible for your injuries 
  • Negotiate aggressively with insurance companies and at-fault parties
  • Work to secure the highest amount of compensation available for your case 
  • Take prompt legal action in your case

Contact our Orlando truck accident attorneys today for a free case review and to learn more about your options.  

What Damages Are Available In Truck Accident Cases? 

Many truck accident victims want to know what kind of compensation they might be able to recover. This compensation can make a meaningful difference in their lives. However, compensation in truck accident cases depends on many factors. 

Some of the most common damages awarded in truck accident cases include:

  • Medical expenses for past medical bills, including ambulance charges, emergency room costs, and doctor visits
  • Ongoing medical care costs, including physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Future medical costs 
  • Damage to your personal property, including costs to repair or replace your vehicle and any other property damaged in the accident, such as a phone or laptop
  • Lost wages due to missed work, including any loss of employment benefits, overtime pay, tips, and commissions 
  • The loss or reduction in your long-term earning potential 
  • Pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life for the negative physical, mental, and emotional effects the accident caused

An experienced truck accident lawyer can investigate your case and determine all of the potential damages you might be able to recover. 

What Is My Truck Accident Case Worth?

Determining an appropriate amount of compensation in a truck accident claim can be challenging. Many factors can affect the potential value of your claim, including the nature and severity of your injuries. Your personal injury lawyer may advise you to wait until you have fully recovered or reached maximum medical improvement so that your damages can be more accurately estimated. 

Your medical team may be able to give a better idea about the future medical care needs at this time. Additionally, economic experts could more accurately estimate the effect of your injuries on your earning potential. 

Your lawyer will ensure that all of your damages are calculated and included in a demand package so you do not settle your claim for less than it is worth. An attorney can advise you if a settlement offer is fair or if your interests would be better served by going to trial. 

We Help Accident Victims Who Have Suffered All Types of Injuries 

Truck accident victims may suffer various types of injuries, such as:

  • Traumatic brain injuries – The force of impact can result in traumatic brain injuries that forever alter victims’ lives. Traumatic brain injuries can happen when a vehicle occupant hits their head into the steering, dashboard, or other hard objects. 
  • Burns –  Trucks often include hazardous materials, many of which are flammable. When a crash occurs, there could be fires or explosions that cause painful burns. 
  • Whiplash – Whiplash is a painful neck injury when the neck suddenly snaps forward and back because of an external force. 
  • Facial injuries – Cuts, scrapes, and bruises to the face may require reconstructive surgery. The force of impact can also result in dental trauma. 
  • Broken bones – The force of a truck accident can result in complex and multiple fractures. These could require surgery in some situations.

An experienced attorney can work with you to ensure all of your injuries are properly diagnosed and documented.  

Federal Trucking Laws

Trucking companies are required to follow various federal laws that dictate everything from: 

  • Driver qualifications
  • Speed limits 
  • Hours truck drivers can work 
  • When drivers must take breaks
  • How cargo must be secured

When a crash occurs, it is important that an experienced team work to determine the cause of the accident and who is responsible. 

Common Causes of Trucking Accidents

Many different reasons can cause trucking accidents. 

Some of the most common causes of trucking accidents in Florida include:

  • Drowsy driving – Truck driving can be exhausting. Additionally, truckers may find it difficult to sleep during transit. This can lead to many tired drivers on the road, who pose a risk to other motorists. 
  • Speeding – Truck drivers must meet tight and often unrealistic deadlines to get their goods quickly to their destination. These pressures often encourage truckers to speed. 
  • Impaired driving – Some truck drivers turn to drugs and alcohol. Drunk driving is dangerous in any vehicle, but it is even more so in a truck weighing up to 80,000 pounds. 
  • Cargo shifts – Cargo that is not properly secured can shift during transit, making the truck imbalanced and causing the truck to jackknife. Cargo could also fall off the truck into the pathway of unsuspecting motorists.
  • Driver error – Trucks are difficult to operate. When trucking companies have unqualified drivers, accidents may occur because drivers turn too widely, fail to check their blind spots, or commit other driving errors. 

Many different parties could potentially be responsible for these types of accidents.

Who Is Responsible for My Truck Accident?

One of the factors that could make a truck accident claim much more complicated than a car accident claim is that many parties may share in the responsibility for a truck accident, such as:

Truck Driver

The first party you might turn to for financial accountability is the truck driver. The driver may have been distracted, speeding, or impaired and responsible for your injuries. 

Trucking Company

Trucking companies are responsible for the negligence of the drivers they hire. 

Trucking companies can also be held responsible for their own negligence, such as:

  • Hiring unqualified drivers
  • Keeping unsafe drivers on the road
  • Failing to maintain their fleet
  • Encouraging truck drivers to violate hours-of-service rules
  • Violating federal, state, or local laws

An experienced truck accident lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation to find evidence of the trucking company’s negligence. 

A Manufacturer

Truck and part manufacturers may be held liable for injuries caused by a defective part in the truck. 

Cargo Loading Company

Cargo loading companies can be held responsible for accidents caused when the cargo is not secured properly and shifts during transit.

Because each party may try to shift the blame to other parties for any accident, it is essential to work with an experienced truck accident lawyer. Doing so can help you gather evidence to establish fault in your case. 

Proving Fault in a Truck Accident Case

Many truck accidents arise out of negligence. In order to establish negligence, you must prove that a duty was owed and breached, causing your accident, and you suffered damages. Experienced truck accident lawyers know the type of evidence that can help establish liability in a truck accident.

An Orlando truck accident lawyer will work quickly to identify, preserve, and gather compelling evidence such as:

  • The damaged truck and parts
  • Accident reports
  • Doctor’s notes
  • Witness statements
  • Lading information 
  • Inspection reports
  • Onboard camera footage
  • Personnel records
  • Event data recorders 
  • Cell phone records
  • Reports from expert witnesses

A lawyer can also ensure you take legal action in a timely manner.

What if I’m Being Blamed for My Truck Accident? 

Florida is a modified comparative negligence state. This allows you to recover compensation if you are partially at fault for your truck accident. However, the amount of compensation you receive will be reduced in proportion to your fault. You will be barred from recovering damages entirely if you are 51% or more to blame for the truck accident. 

Time Limit To File a Truck Accident Case in Florida

If you were injured in a truck accident, you generally have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida. You may have less time if your claim is against a governmental entity, such as if a city dump truck was involved in the accident. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can investigate your case to determine the time limit that applies to your lawsuit. 

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Compassionate Orlando Truck Accident Lawyers 

If you were injured or lost a loved one in an Orlando, FL truck accident, Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law can help. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation with our Orlando truck accident attorney.