Truck Accidents

Commercial trucks are often seen on the roads and highways in and around Pensacola. While tractor-trailers help companies transport their goods in a cost-effective and expedited manner, their immense size presents a risk of harm to other people on the road. Certain rules and regulations apply to the operation of commercial trucks to mitigate the potential for accidents, but unfortunately, truck drivers do not always comply with them. Accidents involving commercial trucks typically cause catastrophic losses, and in many instances, both the trucking company and the driver can be held accountable. If you suffered injuries in a truck accident, you should speak to an attorney about your possible claims. The seasoned Pensacola truck accident lawyers of Cardoso Law, PLLC, are proficient at aiding people harmed by the negligence of others in the pursuit of justice. We understand the life-altering damages truck accidents can cause, and if you hire us, we will fight for you to get the compensation you deserve.

Parties operating commercial trucks in Florida must abide by numerous laws and regulations. Specifically, they must comply with both Florida Motor Carrier Regulations and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations. These Regulations stipulate, among other things, the maximum hours per day and per week people are permitted to drive, to avoid collisions caused by fatigue. The Regulations also establish what inspections are required and when they must be conducted to prevent crashes caused by faulty parts. They define the maximum weights of the loads trucks can carry as well in an effort to reduce accidents caused by tire blowouts and rollovers. In addition to adhering to the Regulations, truck drivers have to follow the laws that apply to all Florida motorists, like those defining speed limits and lane changes, and if they do not, it can lead to collisions.

People injured in truck accidents can often pursue negligence claims against the driver of the truck. In Florida, to prove negligence, a plaintiff must prove that the driver owed the plaintiff a duty of care, but he or she breached the duty. The plaintiff also has to show that the breach proximately caused the plaintiff to suffer quantifiable harm. In other words, that the accident would not have happened without the breach. In a case arising out of a truck accident, the duty owed is typically to abide by the Regulations or any other traffic laws, and evidence that the driver neglected to do so can be used to demonstrate the driver’s negligence.

If a trucking company employed a truck driver at the time of a collision, a plaintiff might be able to pursue damages from the company as well, under a theory of vicarious liability. Generally, employers will be deemed vicariously liable for the negligence of their employees if the employee was acting within the course and scope of his or her employment at the time the accident occurred. Depending on the circumstances, the plaintiff may be able to pursue negligent hiring and negligent supervision claims against the driver’s employer as well.

A plaintiff that successfully demonstrates a truck driver or trucking company’s liability for a collision may recover compensation for the economic harm suffered, such as lost wages, the cost of medical care, and out-of-pocket expenses, and for the non-economic harm sustained, like pain, suffering, and mental trauma.

Commercial trucks provide a convenient means for shipping products, but if they are not operated in a safe manner, it can lead to devastating collisions. If you were injured in a truck accident, you could be owed substantial compensation, and it is wise to speak to an attorney. At Cardoso Law, PLLC, our skillful Pensacola attorneys can advise you of your rights and help you to seek any damages available. Our office is in Pensacola, and we are accepting new clients that have been hurt by truck accidents in Pensacola, Ferry Pass, Brent, Cantonment, Bellview, Century, Milton, Navarre, Gulf Breeze, West Pensacola, Jay, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, and Niceville. We also represent injured people in lawsuits throughout Florida, including in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa Counties. You can contact us via the form online or at (850) 466-2073 to set up a meeting.