Winter Park Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyers

What You Need to Know About Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Safely sharing the road with large trucks, passenger buses, and other commercial vehicles can be a real challenge, as state commercial vehicle accident statistics well show. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), there are more than 40,000 commercial vehicle crashes in the state each year, resulting in thousands of severe injuries and fatalities.

Commercial vehicle accidents often lead to personal injury—or even wrongful death—lawsuits. However, accident and injury claims involving commercial vehicles tend to be more complex than those involving two traditional passenger vehicles. This is due to a number of factors, including the severity of the accident and injuries, as well as the potential for multiple defendants.

If you’re considering pursuing compensation for injuries sustained in a collision, consulting with experienced commercial vehicle accident lawyers in Winter Park is essential to understanding the unique regulations that govern these large-scale operations.

Types of Commercial Vehicles

The term “commercial vehicles” can be used to describe a number of different types of vehicles used for commercial purposes, including public service vehicles, business vehicles, and transportation vehicles. Examples of common types of commercial vehicles include:

• Semi-trucks
• Big-rigs
• 18-wheelers
• Tractor-trailers
• Street sweepers
• Garbage trucks
• Mail trucks
• Police vehicles
• Ambulances
• Fire trucks
• Delivery vehicles
• Construction vehicles
• Taxis
• Ridesharing services
• Airport and hotel shuttles

Kinds of Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Collisions between commercial and passenger vehicles often result in the following types of accidents:

• Head-on collisions
• Rear-end accidents
• T-bone or side-impact crashes
• Rollover accidents
• Underride accidents
• Collisions with pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists

Commercial vehicle accidents can be particularly devastating due to the size and weight disparities between large trucks and smaller vehicles. Head-on collisions often cause catastrophic injuries because of the combined speed and force of impact. Rear-end accidents involving big trucks are especially dangerous since trucks require significantly longer distances to stop, leading to severe injuries or fatalities for the occupants of the smaller vehicle.

T-bone or side-impact crashes frequently occur at intersections where trucks may fail to yield or run red lights, causing life-threatening injuries to passengers in the impacted vehicle. Rollover accidents are common with commercial trucks due to their high center of gravity, especially when negotiating sharp turns or during sudden maneuvers to avoid obstacles.

Underride accidents happen when a passenger vehicle slides underneath the trailer of a truck, often resulting in fatal injuries. These accidents highlight the importance of safety features like underride guards on commercial trucks. Additionally, collisions involving pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists are sadly frequent in areas with heavy traffic and poor visibility, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness and caution from commercial drivers.

Common Causes of Commercial Vehicle Crashes

Truck accidents and other commercial vehicle accidents are often caused by some form of negligence on the part of the commercial driver or the trucking company they work for. Common negligence-related causes of commercial vehicle crashes include:

• Drowsy driving
• Drunk or drugged driving
• Distracted driving
• Aggressive or reckless driving
• Commercial driver error or inexperience
• Unbalanced or improperly loaded cargo
• Poor vehicle maintenance
• Equipment failure
• Improper trucking company hiring or retention practices
• Insufficient training or supervision

Many commercial vehicle crashes stem from driver fatigue, as truck drivers often work long hours and may violate federal hours-of-service regulations to meet tight delivery schedules. Distracted driving, such as texting or using mobile devices while operating large trucks, significantly increases the risk of accidents. Aggressive behaviors like speeding, tailgating, and unsafe lane changes also contribute to collisions.

Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can shift during transit, causing the driver to lose control or leading to cargo spills that create hazards for other motorists. Poor vehicle maintenance, including worn tires, faulty brakes, or defective parts, can result in mechanical failures causing accidents.

Additionally, trucking companies that fail to conduct thorough background checks, provide adequate training, or supervise their drivers properly may be held liable for negligence contributing to crashes.

Injuries Associated With Commercial Vehicle Accidents

When a large commercial vehicle collides with a much smaller passenger vehicle, the injuries sustained—usually by the driver and occupants of the passenger vehicle—can be catastrophic or even deadly. Some of the most common injuries associated with commercial vehicle accidents include:

• Contusions, lacerations, abrasions, and other soft-tissue injuries
• Broken or crushed bones
• Internal bleeding or organ damage
• Burns
• Amputations
• Brain injuries, such as concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord injuries, including partial or total paralysis
• Death

Victims often require emergency medical treatment and long-term rehabilitation due to the severity of these injuries. Traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage can lead to permanent disabilities, drastically affecting the victim’s quality of life. Broken bones and amputations may necessitate multiple surgeries and extensive physical therapy.

Internal injuries and burns can result in prolonged hospital stays and significant medical costs. In many complex truck accident cases, survivors face emotional distress, lost income from missed work, and the need for ongoing medical care. The physical and financial impact of these injuries underscores the importance of seeking legal counsel to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Potentially Liable Parties

Determining who to name as a defendant in a commercial vehicle accident case can be difficult, especially if multiple parties share the responsibility for the accident. Parties who may be potentially liable in this type of case include:

• A commercial driver who was drowsy, distracted, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving recklessly, unsafely loading cargo, or violating federal hours-of-service regulations.
• A trucking company who hires a truck driver without verifying his qualifications and safety record, provides insufficient training or supervision, or encourages drivers to violate state or federal regulations.
• The designer or manufacturer of a defectively designed or manufactured vehicle component that fails, resulting in an accident.

Compensation Available in Winter Park Commercial Vehicle Crash Cases

Victims fortunate enough to survive a commercial vehicle accident often require long-term medical and assisted care services. The cost of such care can add up quickly. Fortunately, Winter Park commercial vehicle and truck accident victims can seek compensation for past, current, and future medical expenses related to the crash, as well as:

• Property damage
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional anguish
• Scarring or disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• And more

Protect Your Rights: Consult Our Winter Park Truck Accident Lawyers

If you were seriously injured in a commercial vehicle accident, there’s far too much at stake to simply go it alone. Large trucking companies and their insurers have teams of investigators ready to minimize your claim.

The knowledgeable and experienced Winter Park truck accident lawyers at Cullen & Hemphill, PLC, serves as the dedicated commercial vehicle accident lawyers in Winter Park that victims need to level the playing field. Our Winter Park truck accident lawyers can help you protect your rights and explore your options for maximum compensation. Don’t wait—contact Cullen & Hemphill, PLC, today to schedule an appointment for a free initial case consultation.