Common Truck Accident Causes
Don’t sign your rights away – talk to a Central Florida lawyer first
There are around thousands of truck accidents in Florida every year - and many of them are avoidable. When a truck crashes, it’s almost always the people in passenger cars, bicycles, and pedestrians who pay the highest price. Central Florida is home to many roads where the risk of getting in a truck accident is heightened, including I4 and E Colonial Drive in Orlando, as well as I275-Downtown and S 50th Street in Tampa.
If you or a loved one was in a truck accident, you’re probably in pain, out of work, and uncertain about what to do next. While still reeling from the shock of a collision with an 80,000-pound truck, you may start getting calls from insurance adjusters eager to have you agree to a settlement. The Cerasa Law Firm LLC knows that these are almost always lowball offers.
It doesn’t matter how serious your injuries are or that you did nothing to cause the accident. Insurance companies want to pay you as little as possible. Taking an offer may be tempting – especially as the medical bills pile up and everyday expenses are put on credit cards – but don’t fall for it. Get an experienced attorney on your side.
Truck accident causes
Truck accidents are influenced by numerous factors but are often caused by sheer negligence. There are hundreds of factors that can lead to truck crashes reasons why trucks crash, but the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has identified the most common crash causes. They include:
- Brake problems
- Traffic jams or congestion
- Prescription drug use
- Speeding
- Unfamiliarity with roadway
- Missed a required stop like a stoplight, stop sign or crosswalk
- Roadway problems
- Over-the-counter drug use
- Fatigue
- Inadequate surveillance, lack of driver education.
Digging deeper into the cause of truck accidents, the FMCSA found that the biggest risk factor for determining the likelihood of a crash is cargo placement. If a truck is overloaded, improperly loaded, and/or overweight the chances that it will cause a crash skyrocket.
In addition to cargo-shift and weight, other factors that often contribute to truck crashes include:
- Illegal truck-driving maneuvers
- Tailgating, following too close
- Driver illness
- Distracted driving
- Tire problems
- Illegal drugs and alcohol.
Central Florida’s Orlando Metro area sees more commercial motor vehicle accidents than almost anywhere else in the state.
Get Cerasa. Get results.
Whatever caused the truck accident that led to your injuries, vehicle or other property damages, if negligence led to the crash that left you hurt, you deserve compensation. This includes compensation for medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning potential, and future accident-related costs, among other things.
It’s unfair, but most insurance companies don’t care about the promises their policies make, how important you are to your family, or if you ever recover. Their first settlement offer is likely to be far less than what your case is worth. Attorney Cerasa knows that without strong legal representation, there is virtually no pressure on them to budge from their first too-small offer.
Our firm represents most accident victims on contingency, which means that there is no down payment, no hourly wage, and no retainer for you to cover. Our fee is calculated into your final settlement or verdict. The at-fault person’s insurance company pays your compensation as well as our legal fee. We only get paid when we win.
Contact attorney Cerasa today for a free consultation.