If you’ve sustained injuries in a truck accident in Jacksonville, Florida, you might be entitled to compensation. At Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we can determine who is responsible for your accident, enabling you to pursue damages from the correct parties.
Our team handles investigations and litigation after all types of commercial truck accidents, delivering outstanding results for injured individuals and grieving families.
Contact our Jacksonville personal injury attorneys today at (904) 396-1100 for a complimentary consultation. We’ll review your case and discuss your legal options. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t owe any attorney’s fees unless we secure a victory for you. Get in touch with us now to begin.
How Can Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers Help After a Truck Accident in Jacksonville, FL?
Commercial truck accident cases differ from those involving only passenger vehicles, primarily because the truck driver is typically employed by a trucking company. As the employer, this trucking company (or carrier) might be legally responsible for the actions of its drivers and the safety of its trucks. Besides the truck driver and the carrier, several other parties could also be liable for a truck accident.
At Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers, our legal team brings over 100 years of combined experience and has secured tens of millions of dollars for our clients. We are skilled at identifying all parties potentially responsible for your accident.
Once you choose us to handle your truck accident case, we will quickly:
- Initiate an in-depth investigation of the crash
- Collect and analyze all relevant evidence, including police reports and medical records
- Work with respected Florida experts
- Assess the full scope of your damages
- Craft a tailored legal approach
- Handle negotiations with insurance companies
If necessary, we are fully prepared to represent you in court. Our dedicated truck accident lawyers in Jacksonville will defend your interests and support you during this difficult period. Contact our law offices today to arrange a free case evaluation.
Determining Liability Following a Truck Accident
Various data must be examined to ascertain the details of the accident and to determine the parties legally responsible.
This includes evidence from the crash site, police reports, and data from the truck’s “black box” or electronic logging device. In certain situations, accident reconstruction experts might be called upon for a detailed interpretation of the crash.
It’s also important to secure the truck driver’s logs—which are legally required to document their driving and rest periods—and other records from the trucking company. Witness statements and testimonies from select trucking company employees could also be collected.
Often, obtaining these records and accessing the damaged truck for further inspection may require a court order.
Potentially Liable Parties in a Florida Truck Accident Case
After the majority of truck accidents, a comprehensive investigation is essential to determining the cause and identifying who is at fault. A detailed examination of the evidence could reveal that any number of parties were responsible for the accident. These parties could include:
Truck Driver
Negligent behaviors, including speeding, fatigue, or driving while distracted, may lead to an accident. Additionally, truck drivers are often tasked with inspecting their rigs to ensure they are well-maintained and properly loaded. If the accident is caused by issues like maintenance problems or cargo shifts, the trucker could share in the liability.
Trucking Company
Trucking companies are responsible for their vehicles and drivers. This includes ensuring proper hiring/training. If a company hires drivers with infractions or fails to provide adequate training, and this leads to an accident, the carrier could be liable. Company records might also reveal that the company encouraged practices that bypassed regulations on service hours or maintenance, contributing to the accident.
Cargo Shipper and Loader
In some cases, carriers may transport cargo for different companies under an arrangement where they don’t handle the cargo directly but are still responsible for its safe transport in compliance with state/federal regulations. If a shift in cargo or other issues with it causes an accident, records from all parties involved must be examined.
Other Vendors
For larger carriers, various vendors may handle outsourced tasks, like administrative duties, truck maintenance, or dispatch operations. Vendors responsible for recruiting, background checks, or truck repairs can be liable if an accident results from their negligence.
Manufacturers
Truck manufacturers and makers of parts may be liable if an accident is caused by the failure of the truck or its components, such as brake failures, tire blowouts, or steering issues. These types of defects could lead to a product liability claim.
Contractors/Government Agencies
If a road condition like a pothole causes a rollover or other accident, the entity responsible for maintaining that roadway could be liable. Contractors performing maintenance that leads to accidents may also be held accountable if their work caused the issue.
What If the Truck Accident Was Caused by Multiple Parties?
If it is determined that multiple parties are potentially responsible for a truck accident, injured parties may have the opportunity to maximize their compensation by pursuing claims against each liable party. Often, carriers will swiftly settle potential claims following serious accidents, sometimes offering settlements that appear generous.
However, settling before a thorough independent investigation can result in receiving less than what is deserved. It may also restrict the right to pursue additional compensation later.
Our Jacksonville truck accident attorneys are skilled in conducting comprehensive investigations and building strong cases against negligent trucking companies, drivers, distributors, manufacturers, vendors, and other involved parties.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Experienced Florida Truck Accident Attorneys To Learn More
Never agree to a settlement before first consulting a Florida truck accident lawyer.
The Jacksonville attorneys at Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience securing financial awards for clients involved in various types of truck accidents.
We have the necessary resources to thoroughly investigate your accident and present strong claims against those liable. Discuss your case with us prior to agreeing to any documents provided by insurance or trucking company attorneys.
