Altamonte Springs Truck Accident Lawyer
Due to their sheer size, accidents involving large trucks are almost certain to be serious, if not fatal, to the occupants of the cars they hit. While commercial trucking is an important part of the Florida and national economies, large trucks are dangerous vehicles when operated negligently or recklessly. People who are injured in large truck crashes often require extensive and long-term medical care and observation, and they may face temporary or permanent disability, limiting their capacity to work and pay back the bills and other expenses generated by the accident. An experienced truck accident lawyer can help you after your Florida truck crash, ensuring that you are left alone dealing with these expenses and other hardships.
Altamonte Springs truck accident lawyer Sarah Goldman Geise has more than a decade of experience handling personal injury matters in Florida courts. She has represented both insurance companies and injured plaintiffs, fielding major cases and recovering millions of dollars for her injured clients. If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in an accident involving an eighteen-wheeler, semi, tractor-trailer, or other large truck in Altamonte Springs or across Central Florida, you can trust Goldman Law, P.A., to fight for justice on your behalf.
Trucker Fatigue and Hours of Service Regulations
One of the biggest contributing factors to driver-related errors in truck accidents is driver fatigue. Truckers are expected to work long, punishing, and often tedious hours to haul materials from one end of the state or country to the other. Drivers who work long hours without proper rest in between shifts are liable to doze off at the wheel and may self-medicate with pharmaceuticals to keep themselves alert. Drowsy or intoxicated truckers pose a serious danger to other individuals on Florida roadways.
For that reason, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets specific rules regarding the hours truckers are permitted to work. There are limitations on the number of hours a trucker can drive each day and each week, as well as mandatory amounts of rest required in between shifts and jobs. These are known as “hours of service” (HOS) regulations. Unfortunately, drivers trying to make ends meet may flout these regulations to get more paid hours, and their employers are known to encourage such behavior in order to be more profitable.
Dedicated truck accident lawyer Sarah Goldman Geise knows how these regulations work and knows how to investigate whether these rules have been violated. If a negligent driver or unscrupulous freight company disregards safety to protect their bottom line and you or a loved one are hurt as a result, you are entitled to compensation for your harm. The Altamonte Springs personal injury firm Goldman Law, P.A. will fight to ensure that you get justice for the damages you have suffered.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
As discussed above, driver fatigue is one of the biggest dangers that truck drivers pose to other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians on Florida roadways. There are, however, a variety of factors that may contribute to a given large truck crash. The FMCSA estimates that driver-related factors play a role in 31 percent of all truck accidents.
Some of the more common factors contributing to truck collisions include the following:
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Driver fatigue
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Manufacturing or design defect
- Illegal driving maneuvers
- Insufficient training or general inexperience
- Unfamiliarity with the truck
- Unbalanced loads
Get Help After Your Florida Truck Crash
Crashes involving large trucks are nearly always serious and are often fatal. If a negligent truck driver has killed your loved one or if you have suffered an injury in a truck accident, call the experienced and passionate Altamonte Springs truck accident lawyer at Goldman Law, P.A. We will evaluate your claims and help you maximize your potential recovery. You do not have to face this challenge alone. Let us fight your battle for you so that you can focus on yourself and your family. Reach out to Central Florida truck accident law firm Goldman Law, P.A. for a free consultation.
