On the surface, car and truck accidents in Davie and other Florida communities look very much alike. They both involve drivers and insurance companies and both take place on the roadways. In both cases, there are likely to be injuries or even fatalities. Even the laws are similar, in that if a driver was negligent they can be held liable under Florida law.
Despite these similarities, truck and car accidents in Davie differ in a few significant ways:
1) Truck accident injuries are far more likely to be severe.
A broadside collision between two passenger vehicles can be serious, but when one of the vehicles involved is a commercial truck the accident is even more likely to lead to devastating injury or fatalities. More severe injuries can mean more compensation required to pay for medical bills. Unfortunately, it can also mean that some insurance companies are more likely to balk at the cost.
2) Trucks are subject to federal regulations.
Truck drivers and trucking companies are required to obey certain laws . For example, commercial truck drivers must have special licenses and must keep a log showing that they have taken the required rest breaks and have performed basic visual inspections of their trucks. If truck drivers and truck carriers violate federal rules, they can be held liable for those violations as well as for other instances of negligence. In comparison, passenger car drivers need to follow fewer rules and may be held liable for a smaller number of infractions.
3) Insurance in car and accident cases is different.
Truck companies and truck drivers carry different levels of insurance coverage than passenger car drivers. On the surface, it seems to be a good thing that truck drivers carry more insurance, as it theoretically should mean that if anyone is injured in a truck accident they can be compensated for their injuries, medical bills, and other losses. This is not always the case, unfortunately. In many cases, plaintiffs face a legal battle to recover fair compensation for damages.
4) There are more likely to be multiple liable parties in a trucking collision.
In a collision involving passenger vehicles, liable parties usually involve include the two drivers, the municipality where the accident took place, and the car manufacturers. In a trucking accident, these same liable parties are a possibility, but liable parties can also include the truck carrier, the company renting the truck, the mechanic tasked with fixing the truck, and other liable parties. In addition, some of the liable parties are quite powerful. Truck carriers, for example, may have entire legal departments at their disposal. Both the number and the power of the liable parties in these types of cases can make truck accident claims more complex.
If you are in a minor car accident, you may decide to let your insurance company handle it. If you are in a crash involving a big rig or tractor trailer, however, you will want to contact a personal injury attorney in Davie or your community right away. This is because the legal and financial impact of this type of roadway crash is likely to be complex, and you will want to have a legal professional by your side to ensure that you get the fairest benefits possible.
If you would like to speak to a personal injury attorney about your injuries and traffic collisions today, contact Flaxman Law Group. Our law firm has a team of professionals who are proud to represent the South Florida community.