Semi-Truck Accidents in Miami Florida
Roughly 65% of all goods delivered in Florida and throughout the United States are transported by large trucks and other commercial vehicles. Given the fact that Miami is home to some of the leading shopping centers in the state of Florida, it is no secret that we see our fair share of tractor-trailers, box trucks, and various commercial vehicles every day. Although we hope that these vehicles are able to share the road safely with others, this is not always true.
In fact, thousands of people are injured in semi-truck accidents in Florida each year. Unfortunately, nearly 5% of all fatal truck accidents in the United States happen right here in the Sunshine State. Not only are people losing their lives at an alarming rate because of Florida truck accidents, but tens of thousands of people involved in these collisions are often left with serious injuries.
Being injured in a truck accident can have a debilitating impact on a person’s life. Quite often, people require immediate medical attention for injuries. Many victims are left with severe injuries that require long-term treatment. What’s worse is that countless people are all-too-frequently left with permanent disabilities due to these injuries, as well. We firmly believe that no one should be forced to spend thousands of dollars on medical treatment while being forced out of work due to the actions of a negligent driver.
For this reason, we provide aggressive and responsive legal representation to ensure our clients are able to hold wrongdoers accountable. If you have been injured in an 18-wheeler accident, it is crucial that you reach out to our semi-truck accident attorney in Miami Beach as soon as possible. You may have an array of legal options available to help you move forward and recover.
The semi-truck accident attorney at Piedra Law Injury Attorney have extensive experience helping victims from Fort Lauderdale to Miami and throughout Southeast Florida protect their legal rights following a truck accident. Our team strives to help accident victims recover in the best way possible after being seriously injured. We provide responsive and effective legal representation to ensure our clients are able to hold wrongdoers accountable and get the justice they deserve. If you have been injured in an accident, due to the negligence of another motorist, contact our truck accident attorney in Miami right away to get started on your case.
How Common Are Truck Accidents?
Each year, many truck accidents take place across the state of Florida. In fact, our state remains one of the highest contributors to truck accident fatalities in the country. Commercial vehicle accidents take place roughly every 16-minutes in the United States. In our state, more than 32,000 accidents take place annually that involve semi-trucks.
Those most affected by truck accidents are people traveling in passenger vehicles. This is primarily due to the fact that semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles are around 30-times larger than small cars. Semi-trucks have undercarriage clearances, which increases the likelihood of smaller vehicles getting trapped underneath.
Although we want to believe that motorists are always safe while traveling, this is far from true. When it comes to truck accidents, driver actions are the leading cause. Drivers who act irresponsibly while operating their vehicles can cause serious injuries or even death to others sharing the road. Some of the leading causes of truck accidents that we help victims with include:
Distracted Driving: Distracted driving is the leading cause of collisions from Fort Lauderdale to Miami and across Southeast Florida. Drivers who take their attention off the road for even a second can cause life-altering accidents. When motorists text, chat on their phones, eat, or engage in distracting activities while operating their vehicles, they can quickly cause a serious collision.
Driving Impaired: Drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol can cause horrific collisions. Although the majority of motorists are required to maintain a blood-alcohol concentration level of under 0.08%, semi-truck and commercial vehicle drivers are not allowed to have over 0.04% BAC. Driving a semi-truck impaired can drastically impact a person’s ability to respond to conditions and other vehicles while out on roadways.
Fatigue: Without a doubt, semi-truck drivers spend seemingly endless hours out on the road. Although there are strict federal rules and regulations surrounding the required breaks and maximum hours for drivers, pressures placed on drivers often cause them to engage in risky and dangerous behaviors. These behaviors are often encouraged or even required by trucking companies to keep deliveries on schedule. When drivers are tired, they are likely to have slowed reactions. Not being able to stop or react quickly can lead to a major accident in the blink of an eye.
Speeding: Driving at a high rate of speed can impact any driver’s ability to maintain control over their vehicle. When it comes to semi-trucks, which can weigh over 80,000-pounds, controlling a speeding vehicle can be nearly impossible. Under normal driving conditions, a semi-truck traveling at 65 miles per hour requires around 525 feet to stop. Driving at an even higher speed increases the length needed, which makes it extremely dangerous when these vehicles drive at high speeds in heavy traffic.
Aside from these leading causes, improper maintenance, inadequate training, and faulty auto parts are some other common contributors. When people are seriously harmed in truck accidents, it is crucial to determine what caused the accident. Working with a responsive truck accident attorney in Miami Beach can help you get the justice you deserve.
Liable Parties in Miami Truck Accidents
Being harmed in a motor vehicle accident can lead to overwhelming mental and physical issues. To make matters even worse, a lot of victims have to go through emergency surgery and long-term care. Victims are often unable to work, which only makes the financial burdens they face much worse. If you are injured in a truck accident due to the actions of another motorist, there are several parties who may be liable for your damages. Some of the potential defendants in a semi-truck accident case include:
- The driver of the truck
- The owner of the truck (if different than the driver)
- The trucking company
- The shipper or cargo owner
- The manufacturer of auto parts
- Mechanics who work on the vehicle
- Other motorists involved in the accident
You should never claim to be at fault following an accident. The police and insurance companies are required to carry out detailed investigations surrounding the accident to determine what led to the crash taking place. Instead of moving forward alone, it is crucial that you retain the guidance of a legal team at your earliest convenience. Working with a knowledgeable Miami Beach truck accident attorney from Piedra Law Injury Attorney can ensure you are in the best position possible to hold all liable parties accountable for their actions.
The Consequences of a Truck Accident in South Florida
People who are involved in truck accidents face an array of consequences. A large number of people sustain injuries that require some type of medical treatment. When it comes to semi-truck accidents, the size and weight of these vehicles increase the likelihood of catastrophic injuries. Some of the most common injuries sustained by victims of truck accidents include:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Cuts, scrapes, and abrasions
- Neck and soft tissue injuries
- Torso and chest trauma
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Burns
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis, either temporary or permanent
Depending on the type and severity of an injury, victims can be forced to deal with immediate and long-term consequences. Not only do victims sustain injuries from their accidents, but they often face an array of financial consequences as well. For this reason, our team at Piedra Law Injury Attorney works aggressively to help our clients get the maximum amount of compensation after their accidents. We are committed to helping victims secure the financial means necessary to cover an array of damages, including:
- The costs of medical treatment, both current and anticipated
- The cost of long-term care, therapy, and rehabilitation
- Lost wages due to taking off work for medical appointments and recovery
- Lost earnings from being forced out of work indefinitely
- The cost of property repairs
In addition to economic damages, our Miami Beach truck accident attorney strive to help our clients get full and fair compensation for non-economic damages, including:
- Mental anguish
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment/quality of life
- Loss of benefits
There are various factors taken into consideration when it comes to calculating non-economic damages. Court and insurance companies often take the following factors into consideration:
- The severity of the injuries sustained by the victim
- The duration of medical treatment necessary for the injuries
- The length of recovery the victim is expected to endure
- Whether the victim faces any permanent consequences
The state of Florida also provides victims with the ability to obtain punitive damages following a truck accident. These awards are generally provided in cases where gross negligence played a role. The court uses punitive damages as a way to punish the at-fault driver for their disregard for the safety of others sharing the road.
When victims lose their lives in sudden accidents, their families are afforded the ability to pursue a wrongful death claim on their behalf. Although there is no way to guarantee how much you will obtain for a lawsuit, working with a responsive and knowledgeable truck accident attorney in Miami Beach can drastically improve your chances of recovering.
If you have been injured in an accident, it is crucial that you seek legal guidance from a team of personal injury attorney in Miami that is committed to protecting both your legal rights and best interests. Contact our team at Piedra Law Injury Attorney as soon as possible to see how we can help you.
The Attorney at Piedra Law Injury Attorney Can Help You
Truck accidents in the state of Florida leave thousands of people injured each year. These accidents often result in far more severe injuries than other accidents, which force people into hospitals and require them to undergo long-term treatment. Being injured in a truck accident can have a life-altering impact on a person’s life.
Not only are accident victims forced to endure overwhelming mental and physical pain and suffering, but the financial burdens related to lost wages and towering medical costs can have a crippling impact on both victims and their families. For this reason, it is imperative that victims reach out to a truck accident attorney in Miami Beach as soon as possible. When a person is injured as a result of someone else’s negligent actions, they may be entitled to compensation to help alleviate some of the financial burdens they face moving forward..
Our team at Piedra Law Injury Attorney has a proven track record of success in helping accident victims hold wrongdoers accountable for their actions. We strive to provide superior service to our clients with the highest quality legal representation imaginable. We provide knowledgeable and responsive representation to our clients to help them understand the legal process every step of the way..
We are available to answer questions for our clients and fight to protect their legal rights and best interests. If you have been injured in a semi-truck accident, due to the negligence of another party, contact our Miami Beach 18-wheeler accident attorney at your earliest convenience to see how we can help you. By calling our team at (855) 881-4878, we can schedule a free, no-obligation case review to discuss your case and the legal options that are available to help you recover.
