Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer

Forty tons of steel, cargo, and fuel traveling at high speed - that is what Florida drivers see every day on the state’s highways and roads. Thousands of massive and fully-laden commercial trucks and tractor-trailers travel alongside cars dwarfed by their sheer size, and when these trucks are involved in an auto accident or collision, tragedy is usually the result. When negligence, recklessness, or illegal conduct by truck drivers and trucking companies lead to injuries or death, a Tampa truck accident lawyer at Alley Clark Greiwe will fight to obtain compensation and justice for the victims of such misconduct.

A Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer Explains Why Commercial Vehicle Accidents are Worse than Car Wrecks

Catastrophic injuries and death caused by big rig accidents are all too common, upending and destroying lives. In 2015 alone, 4,050 Americans were killed in incidents involving large trucks and over 88,000 were injured, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). With 197 fatal truck accidents that year, Florida saw more deaths involving tractor-trailers than all states other than Texas and California.

Sadly, these horrible incidents are often caused by greed and the economic pressures of the trucking industry, which can lead companies and their drivers to ignore safety rules and cut corners to save a few dollars. 

Truck accident cases can be much more complicated than car accident lawsuits as they involve a complex web of laws and regulations, multiple responsible parties, and complicated technical issues. Our lawyers have extensive experience and a track record of success handling these challenging cases, and are relentless in our efforts to hold those who put profits over people responsible for the damage they cause.

Causes and Types of Florida Truck Accidents

Tractor-trailer collisions with cars can happen for a whole range of reasons, many of which are also at issue in car accidents. However, many truck accidents involve failures – often intentional - to follow federal safety regulations. Common causes of truck accidents in Tampa and elsewhere throughout Florida include:

• Overloaded tractor-trailers
• Tailgating
• Hours of service violations
• Driver distraction
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Speeding
• Defective equipment, such as brakes and tires
• Unlicensed and untrained drivers
• Falsified log records
• Failure to inspect and maintain
• Road rage

Any one of these factors can lead to a tragic collision with one or more passenger cars, including:

• Rollover accidents
• Jackknife accidents
• Rear-end collisions
• Underride accidents
• Explosions of fuel or flammable cargo

Death and Serious Injuries From Truck Accidents Leave Devastation in Their Wake

Given the size and velocity of large trucks, the physical consequences of their impact on the drivers and passengers of small vehicles rarely involve just a few scrapes and bruises. As noted, fatalities and serious injuries are often the result, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Head and neck injuries
• Broken bones
• Loss of limbs
• Organ damage

The loss of a loved one in truck accident can leave families struggling emotionally and financially. Serious truck accident injuries may never fully heal, and the surgeries, treatments, rehabilitation that follow may go on for years at costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Lost income, mounting bills, and the challenges of adapting to a changed life can be overwhelming without sufficient resources and support.

You Need a Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer with Experience in Complex and Catastrophic Accident Cases

Alley Clark Greiwe’s attorneys understand the trauma caused by truck accidents, and work closely with individuals and families who are suffering because of trucking company or driver negligence. Our Tampa lawyers are allies and advocates who know how important it is to get our clients compensation which, while not fully restoring the life they once had, can go a long way to helping them move forward.

But getting that compensation requires commitment and hard work. It also requires a full grasp of the unique issues involved in catastrophic truck accidents. There are three primary distinctions that make truck accident and injury lawsuits more complicated than car accident suits:

• Federal Truck Regulations. FMCSA imposes strict requirements on commercial trucking companies and drivers which they must follow. Their failure to do so can not only result in hefty fines and penalties, but can also be crucial evidence of negligence. For example, drivers must comply with specific hours of service rules that limit how long they can drive between shifts. Carriers, owners, and operators must also perform routine safety checks and regular maintenance. Knowing that they are at risk if they are found violating these and other legal requirements, carriers and drivers sometimes make efforts to hide these violations by falsifying records or engaging in other cover-up efforts. We know the rules, we know how companies break them, and we know how to expose any efforts hide this misconduct.
• Vicarious Liability. The legal concept of vicarious liability refers to an employer's liability for its employees' negligence committed within the scope of its workers' employment. This means that even if a truck driver’s negligence was responsible for an accident, the trucking company which employed the driver may also be liable for any injuries that result. Since trucking companies are the entities which have the large insurance policies to cover catastrophic injuries, ensuring that they are found culpable and responsible can be crucial to obtaining compensation.
• Multiparty Litigation. Although car accident cases can be complex, truck accident cases are more so in that they often involve numerous defendants depending on the nature and cause of the accident. Not only may a driver and his or her employer be subject to liability, but the maintenance company, truck equipment manufacturers, and others from far-flung jurisdictions may need to be sued.  

Call a Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer at Alley Clark Greiwe Today to Discuss Your Case

If you have lost a loved one or been injured in a truck accident, please call one of our Tampa truck accident attorneys today at 813-222-0977 or contact us online to arrange for your free initial consultation and case evaluation. You don’t need to face these difficult times alone, and you shouldn’t. Let us help you get the help, compensation, and justice you need and deserve.