West Palm Beach Work Truck Accident Attorneys Helping Clients Get Compensation for Commercial Vehicle Accidents
We all know the types of commercial vehicles that we commonly see on the Florida roadways: semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, city buses, tour buses, construction vehicles, delivery trucks—all generally large vehicles capable of causing even more severe injuries and property damage than an accident involving privately owned motor vehicles. Drivers of commercial vehicles often operate those vehicles under a high level of stress due to pressure to meet deadlines, keep their jobs, or earn overtime pay. Unfortunately, high-stress levels can also lead to an increase in commercial vehicle accidents caused by distracted driving, overly aggressive driving, and driver fatigue. These are all forms of driver negligence that can support an injured party’s right to recover compensation from the driver, the insurance companies, and even the company that owned the commercial vehicle. Our Florida commercial vehicle accident lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a Florida commercial vehicle accident, let the experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. advocate for your right to recover compensation from the responsible parties. In cases involving commercial vehicle accidents, it is important to remember that you are not simply dealing with another individual and his or her private insurance carrier. A company that owns a fleet of commercial vehicles may employ a large team of defense attorneys to help them escape liability when a driver causes an accident. At Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A., our Florida commercial vehicle accident lawyers offer bilingual legal services to protect the members of our local community following a commercial vehicle accident. We are here to level the playing field, and we are committed to helping you recover financially while you focus on recovering physically and emotionally.
Establishing Liability After a Commercial Vehicle Accident
The complex nature of the commercial trucking business in the United States can make establishing liability following a commercial vehicle accident a complicated endeavor. While our clients focus on their physical recovery, our commercial vehicle accident attorneys will evaluate all of the evidence to establish whether liability rests with one or more of the following parties:
- The commercial vehicle driver
- The owner of the vehicle or the commercial vehicle driver’s employer
- A company that is leasing the vehicle
- A company that manufactured a defective part of the vehicle
Identifying the responsible party involves determining the cause of the accident while remembering that the owner of the commercial vehicle or employer of the driver can often be held liable for the driver’s actions or omissions.
AV-Rated Personal Injury Attorneys Give Voice to Clients Injured in Commercial Vehicle Accidents
At Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A., our attorneys are skilled in handling the specific issues that arise in a commercial vehicle accident, which may or may not overlap with issues that arise following a typical motor vehicle accident. Specifically, following a commercial vehicle accident, we will evaluate:
- The “black box.” Similar to the black boxes found in airplanes, commercial vehicles may be equipped with a type of data-recording device that can provide important evidence in establishing liability following a commercial vehicle accident.
- Company records. The company that owns the commercial vehicle is legally obligated to follow prescribed regulations that apply in their business, and they must, therefore, maintain records to establish that safety procedures are followed. These records may contain evidence of the vehicle driver’s work schedule, which can help to establish that the driver’s fatigue caused the commercial vehicle accident. These records can also show whether the company properly maintained the vehicle in question.
- Cell phone records. Commercial vehicle drivers spend an extensive amount of time driving under tight deadlines, and they may be more inclined to text or otherwise use their phones while driving—potentially leading to a distracted driving accident.
Contact an Aggressive and Trustworthy Personal Injury Attorney to Discuss Your Commercial Vehicle Accident Case Today
The Florida commercial vehicle accident lawyers at Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. are ready and willing to fight for your rights following a commercial vehicle accident. We understand that a commercial vehicle accident can cause severe injuries, and we want you to focus on your physical and emotional recovery while we work to secure your financial future. We offer a free consultation in our fully bilingual offices, and we pride ourselves in offering a safe environment for all of our clients, regardless of immigration status. Contact our offices at 561-898-0497, or toll-free at 888-888-3903, to schedule an appointment today. We have our main office located at 813 Lucerne Ave, Lake Worth, FL 33460, as well as an office in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Frequently Asked Questions About Commercial Vehicle Accidents
No. Even though the commercial vehicle company’s insurance adjuster may seem friendly and willing to help you, it is important to remember that they are working for the company that owns the vehicle. First and foremost, it is their job to minimize the amount that they are required to pay to compensate for your injuries. It is therefore important to let your attorney handle negotiations. Remember not to accept anything or agree to anything the other side’s insurance company offers, as this can implicitly block your right to recover additional compensation, regardless of the severity of your injuries.
Classification as an independent contractor can reduce the commercial vehicle owner’s liability for damages sustained in an accident in certain circumstances. A company-employer is legally responsible for the actions of its employees, but they are generally not responsible for independent contractors. However, the commercial vehicle owner’s insurance may still provide coverage for independent contractors, and the contractor may have his or her own personal insurance coverage as a self-employed individual. Further, many independent contractors are actually employees, but they are mischaracterized as independent contractors for liability and tax purposes. An experienced attorney may be able to challenge this characterization and hold the commercial vehicle owner liable as an employer.