Fort Lauderdale Heavy Truck Accident Attorney
Any time two vehicles collide, devastating injuries may result. While even an accident between two small cars can cause catastrophic and life-threatening injuries for victims, the risks become even greater when there is a severe discrepancy in size and weight between the two vehicles. This is often the case when a smaller passenger vehicle is involved in a crash with a large, heavy commercial truck.
Commercial trucks can weigh 40 tons or more and can literally crush smaller cars in the event of a crash. While injured victims have the right to seek compensation from the liable party in the truck crash, these cases can be extremely complicated because of the unique types of vehicles and the unique legal questions that may arise. It is important to have a Fort Lauderdale heavy truck accident attorney on your side with the experience and resources to successfully pursue a legal claim on your behalf. Call Boone & Davis for help today.
Common Issues in Heavy Truck Accidents
Crashes involving heavy trucks can result in substantially more complex legal issues than a standard car accident case. First, there are many types of extremely heavy trucks that may be involved in collisions, some of which include the following:
- Tractor trailers;
- Big rigs;
- 18-wheelers;
- Semi trucks;
- Mack trucks;
- Flatbed trucks;
- Garbage trucks;
- Rental or moving trucks;
- Tanker trucks;
- Dump trucks.
Each type of heavy vehicle will raise its own concerns for how it was supposed to be operated and maintained, which may show possible negligent mistakes or omissions by the driver or company that owned the truck.
In addition, different heavy trucks have specific weight limits set out by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These weight limits are specially calculated considering many factors, including the number of axles on a truck, the body style of the truck, and how the truck must be operated. Weight limits often go up to 80,000 pounds in comparison to the few thousands pounds that a standard car or SUV might weigh. There should be no surprise that this large weight discrepancy can cause devastation in a crash.
Additional risks may be created if a heavy truck is overloaded and exceeds the weight limit set by the FMCSA. When a truck is too heavy, it can be extremely difficult to slow down or stop the truck. This is especially dangerous if the driver is unaware that the truck is overloaded. The driver may not realize they need extra space and time to slow down or stop and, as a result, may crash into traffic in front of them. In addition, excessive weight can cause a runaway truck situation on hills or a rollover accident on turns.
Consult With a Fort Lauderdale Heavy Truck Accident Attorney for Free Today
After any accident with a large commercial vehicle, it is essential to speak with a skilled Fort Lauderdale heavy truck accident attorney regarding your rights. At the law firm of Boone & Davis, we are here to help you recover for your injury-related losses, so please call for a free consultation at 954-566-9919.
