Florida Truck Company Negligence Lawyers
Trucking Company Negligence
A large truck used for commercial transport is defined as weighing over 10,000 pounds. That is a lot of metal rolling down the road and it is vitally important to keep that big-rig in good shape. Failure to be a responsible carrier or driver leads to almost 150,000 large truck collisions every year.
It is the responsibility of the trucking company to send large trucks on the road that are properly maintained. While most trucking companies are responsible, there is much more competition today than 30 years ago. Some companies are willing to cut corners to increase profits. Unfortunately, the push to deliver loads quickly can also cause carriers to overlook large truck maintenance. Big-rigs are sometimes dispatched without regular maintenance and with a known mechanical problem.
A failure to transport goods responsibly can shift the liability for a crash to the carrier who is negligent.
Brakes must enable the driver to stop suddenly. Tires must be in good shape to avoid a blowout or tire tread separation. A truck weighing up to 80,000 pounds is extremely difficult to handle in a blowout situation. The trucking company is responsible for buying new tires, not retreads, and tires must be inspected regularly.
Exceeding a load limit is a violation of state and federal law and the trucking company is negligent when it exceeds the limits.
The load must be balanced so that the driver can stop suddenly if he needs to and the cargo does not continue a forward momentum. That is the condition that can lead to a jackknife, a roll over, or an out-of-control truck, frequently causing a head-on collision.
It is also considered negligence if safety equipment such as headlights, taillights, and side reflectors is missing on the big-rig. A motorist needs to be able to ascertain the parameters of a truck on a dark night. If, for instance, reflecting strips are missing, it is difficult to safely pass the large truck. If a rear view mirror is missing from the big-rig, the truck driver may not see a motorist trying to pass on the right.
When the trucking company is negligent, it can and should be held accountable. A disregard for safety is a violation of state and federal laws and amounts to gross negligence.
When an accident occurs, the trucking company will send investigators and a legal representative to conduct an investigation. Their job is to protect the company and minimize liability. A Florida truck accident attorney will work to preserve crucial evidence such as driver logs before they go missing. Evidence from the accident scene can be impossible to collect once the road is opened again to traffic. It is crucial to immediately collect evidence and interview witnesses.
Farah and Farah will dispatch a team to the scene to determine whether the trucking company was negligent therefore at-fault for the accident and ascertain the level of compensation due to the Florida truck accident victim. In some circumstances, an accident victim may be able to collect punitive damages.