Who is Liable for a Truck Accident in Florida?

Determining fault in a truck accident is complicated. In most motor vehicle accidents, liability often falls on the drivers involved in the crash. But in a truck accident, there might be multiple parties involved that may be responsible for the crash such as: 

• The truck driver
• The trucking company 
• The truck owner
• The truck manufacturer 

There are over eleven million trucks operating actively across the United States and many of them are operated by overworked drivers carrying hazardous materials. With so many drivers on the roads, all it takes is one tired or negligent truck driver to upend your life.

In 2020, according to the National Safety Council, 107,000 large trucks were involved in injury-causing crashes and nearly 5,000 deaths were due to large truck crashes. While there are regulations in place to reduce the frequency of these crashes, truck accidents still occur at an alarmingly high rate.

Truck Driver Liability

Truck drivers may partake in dangerous driving behavior such as consuming drugs or alcohol, disobeying traffic laws, or drowsy driving. These actions can lead to an accident resulting in serious injuries. The truck driver may bear obvious responsibility for a crash in such scenarios, but liability might yet be more complicated than it seems. For instance, unreasonable deadlines mandated by trucking companies may be a contributing factor that caused the driver to forgo sleep in favor of company expectations. Dangerous road conditions and other factors may have played a role in the accident.

For those injured in auto accidents involving large commercial vehicles in South Florida, your lawyer plays a critical role in the investigation of the crash. Kogan & DiSalvo’s Boca Raton truck accident lawyers are among the most capable in the area.

Trucking Company Liability

Oftentimes liability can be placed on a trucking company. Trucking companies might push drivers too hard with unrealistic deadlines or fail to complete safety inspections which can lead to an accident. In addition, truck companies can be held liable for the actions of their employees.

Truck Owner Liability

Sometimes a truck may not operate under a trucking company and can be rented out to various organizations. In that case, liability may fall on the truck owner. Truck owners are expected to maintain their vehicles and pass required safety inspections. Failure to do so can lead to a truck accident causing bodily harm. 

Truck Manufacturer Liability 

In some cases, liability can even be placed on the manufacturer of a truck. A defective truck part can lead to a critical malfunction and result in a deadly crash.

Talk to a Truck Accident Attorney Today

Florida’s statute of limitations for filing a claim involving a truck accident is two years from the date of incident. If you fail to file a claim within the given timeframe, you will forfeit your right to obtain compensation. Truck drivers are typically well-insured, and more than one party can be held responsible for a driver’s negligence.

To navigate these nuances, you need a lawyer at your side as soon as possible. Kogan & DiSalvo will help you understand your options and do our best to win the compensation you deserve. Please don’t wait any longer. Contact us today.