The Difference between Car Accident and Truck Accident Cases
All traffic accidents are dangerous, and this includes both car and truck accidents. Nevertheless, truck accident claims are far from identical to car accident claims. In fact, they come with their own complicating factors that can make these claims that much more difficult. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you need a skilled St. Petersburg truck accident attorney on your side who has experience handling this particular type of claim.
Truck Accidents Are More Deadly
The immense size and weight of the semis with which we share our roads make any accidents involving them even more dangerous. In fact, the occupants of the other vehicle involved in the truck accident are far more likely to be seriously injured or killed than the truck driver himself or herself is. All told, truck accidents tend to be far more serious than other kinds of traffic accidents.
Liability Is More Likely to Be Shared
When it comes to truck accidents, it’s far more likely for liability to be shared with (or to be directly shouldered by) an entity other than the truck drivers involved. While most car accidents are predicated on driver negligence, truck accidents are often more complicated, and liability may rest with any one of or any combination of the following:
- Truck driver negligence
- Negligence on the part of the trucking company
- Negligence on the part of the truck manufacturer (such as faulty design or defective manufacture)
There Are Laws that Apply Specifically to Truck Accidents
Car accident claims, while complicated in their own right, are actually much simpler, more straightforward affairs. Truck drivers and trucking companies face specific laws and regulations that directly address their actions, including:
- Truck drivers need a special commercial driver’s license in order to man a big rig.
- Truck drivers are subject to far more restrictive rules, including laws related to hours of service that dictate how many consecutive hours they can spend behind the wheel, stricter laws related to impairment, and clear restrictions related to smartphone usage.
- Trucking companies shoulder heavy responsibilities related to maintaining a safe fleet of rigs, implementing and enforcing careful truck maintenance schedules, scheduling their drivers within the parameters of all safety requirements, and much more.
Your Time Frame Is Brief
The statute of limitations for truck accidents in Florida is the same as it is for any other kind of accident (four years from the date of the injury-causing accident), but truck accident claims tend to be far more complicated.
To bring a successful claim, your dedicated truck accident attorney will need to gather highly specific evidence and documentation that takes considerable time and skill. There are specific time frames in which your attorney must request this documentation to ensure that you have all the evidence you need to prove your claim. Unless a lawyer has handled this type of case, they might miss the deadline to request documentation and records needed.
Further, the trucking companies themselves are adept at using their vast resources to prevent liability and minimize settlement offers. In order to obtain the compensation to which you are entitled and that you need to fully heal, you are well-advised to consult with a savvy truck accident attorney sooner rather than later.
Discuss Your Case with an Experienced St. Petersburg Truck Accident Attorney Today
Truck accident claims are exceptionally complicated, but the intrepid St. Petersburg truck accident attorneys at Tragos, Sartes & Tragos understand the serious nature of your claim and are dedicated to employing the full force of their experience in pursuit of an optimal case resolution. To learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at (727) 441-9030 today.