Semi-Truck Accident Attorney Palm Beach Gardens

According to the Florida Traffic Crash Statistics Summary, in 2021, there were over 400,000 vehicular accidents in the state. In Palm Beach County, in 2021, there were 2,970 crashes involving commercial motor vehicles, weighing over 10,000 pounds. Due to the weight of these vehicles, the consequences of an accident involving a semi-truck can be devastating, and often fatal. Palm Beach, Broward, and Duval counties are among the most dangerous in Florida in terms of accidents involving commercial vehicles.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicular accident with a semi-truck, you need to promptly consult with an experienced semi-truck accident attorney to preserve all of your options. First, it’s important to document all of the medical and rehabilitative costs, the loss of income, and the loss of future opportunities. Second, it’s necessary that an independent investigation occur to determine what happened, and why, in order to identify all culpable parties. Lastly, you and your family deserve to be guided through the trauma of an accident by compassionate and determined attorneys who understand how to rigorously pursue your claims and defend your interests to maximize recovery in the shortest time period possible.

That’s why you should call the Swan Law Firm to arrange for a free consultation to discuss all of your options as soon as possible.

Why Choose Blake Swan as Your Semi-truck Accident Attorney

The reputation of a personal injury attorney matters, especially in the early stages of a claim for semi-truck accident injuries. Blake Swan has the credentials that impress insurance companies and defense attorneys. They know that claims filed by the Swan Law Firm are legitimate causes of action. We get results for our clients.

The Swan Law Firm is a top-ranked attorney among the National Trial attorneys Top 40, recovering over $90 million on behalf of clients from around the country.

The Swan Law Firm will fight till you get paid!

A successful personal injury attorney has a combination of skills:

• Up-to-date knowledge of Florida semi-truck accident law and civil procedure
• Compassion and dedication to our clients
• Trial experience that backs up aggressive negotiating strategies
• A reputation among insurance companies and defense counsel
• Professional, strategic, and effective

This professional attitude means that we will aggressively, and ethically, advocate for our clients so that we can recover the compensation you deserve.

Common Causes of Semi-truck Accidents

Truck driving is a dangerous profession. Drivers work long hours, often drive when fatigued, and are known to use stimulants to extend the period of time behind the wheel. Driving on unfamiliar or monotonous roads can lead to accidents. There are federal regulations governing the length of time behind the wheel. Truck drivers are limited to driving 14 hours in a stretch after ten days off. They are required to take a 30-minute rest after an eight-hour stretch of driving. However, In a study conducted by the National Traffic Safety Board, in collaboration with the National Institute of Drug Abuse, published in the 1990s, in accidents causing the death of a truck driver, one of more drugs were found in the blood of 67% of drivers and 33% of drivers had detectible amounts of psychoactive drugs or alcohol in their systems. Another study published in 2013, found stimulants a factor in many truck crashes.

Unfortunately, many semi-truck accidents are preventable.

Some common causes of semi-truck accidents include:

• Unqualified semi-truck driver
• Semi-truck driver has a medical condition that impairs driving abilities
• Weather-related road conditions
• Poorly designed, constructed or maintained roads and highways
• Improperly loaded cargo that shifts or spills during transit
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or both
• Distracted driving, speeding or other reckless driving
• Other motorist driving in a large truck blind spot
• A tire blowout, engine failure or other equipment malfunction

Types of Semi-truck Accidents

The sheer size and weight of a commercial motor vehicle transforms a poorly driven or maintained truck into a lethal weapon. Semi-truck accidents can take many forms, all possibly life-threatening. Here are some common types of semi-truck accidents:

• Blind spot accidents: the height and length of a semi-truck creates blind spots where the truck driver cannot see around the vehicle. Another motor vehicle—a car, truck, or motorcycle—that enters a truck blind spot becomes invisible. Although safe drivers avoid truck blind spots, it is not always possible. The safest way to pass a semi-truck is to alert the truck to your intention by using a turn signal, but waiting until you receive come confirmation that the driver has actually seen you.
• Jack knife accidents: Jack-knifes can happen when a truck brakes suddenly causing the trailer to swing out at a 90-degree angle. The truck driver can lose control of the vehicle, causing the trailer to overturn or rollover, or cross the highway divide imperiling on-coming traffic.
• Rollover accidents: When a truck driver loses control of the vehicle, it can roll over, making both the vehicle and its cargo a road hazard. The cargo alone can be hazardous to everyone else on the highway and the surrounding area, if the cargo is chemical and toxic.
• Tire blowouts: Even a well-maintained truck might experience a tire blowout if dangerous debris is in the roadway. However, many semi-truck accidents are caused by preventable tire blowouts: uneven weight in the trailer, worn or damaged tires, dangerous driving, especially speeding, and poorly maintained roads.
• Underride accidents: If a truck stops abruptly, vehicles traveling behind might not be able to stop in time, causing these vehicles to get stuck under the tractor trailer.
• Wide turn collisions: The length of a truck can make turns particularly difficult for drivers. A miscalculation or reckless driving can cause the truck driver to hit another vehicle or a stationery object, such as a building, tree, or post.
• Rear end and front end collisions: Driving a safe distance away from other vehicles is the best defense to a road accident. However, any number of causes are behind rear and front end collisions: weather conditions affecting visibility, brake failure, erratic driving, unpredictable or unsignaled lane changes.

Semi-truck Accident Damages You May Be Entitled To

The size and weight of a semi-truck turns it into a lethal weapon when driven negligently or recklessly, or when road conditions warrant more cautious attention. If you or a loved one has been injured in a semi-truck accident, you may be entitled to damages that cover:

• Medical expenses and the cost of rehabilitative services
• Lost wages and lost future income and opportunities
• In the event of death, wrongful death claims cover lost income to the surviving family, along with loss of companionship
• Emotional and physical pain and suffering from enduring medical conditions, physical pain from permanent injuries, and emotional suffering from the trauma and loss of income and opportunities
• Punitive damages, if recklessness or other contributing factors are found

How Blake Swan Can Help You

Every potential client who approaches the Swan Law Firm for a free consultation will be interviewed to determine the viability of your claim. This process involves reviewing the evidence, medical records, and perhaps conducting a brief investigation to locate the responsible parties and their financial assets, including insurance policies, and any prior claims based on dangerous driving or failure to maintain equipment.

Once a case is taken, and a retainer agreement drafted and signed, the Swan Law Firm will contact the insurance carriers, if any, to feel out whether negotiation or litigation is the best course of action for you. If the insurance carrier has undervalued the damage, and not offered an appropriate pre-filing settlement, then the Swan Law Firm will file suit on your behalf. Our goal is to maximize your recovery in the shortest period of time. However, not all cases can be settled without a trial. Especially complicated semi-truck accident cases alleging equipment failure or suing multiple defendants require a trial before a jury. And Blake Swan and his team have the experience and fight you want in a trial attorney.

We Fight Until You Get Paid

At the Swan Law Firm, we will guide you through the legal process and aggressively pursue your claim, maintaining integrity and offering you compassion and understanding during this difficult time. We are committed to providing our clients with legal representation based on your needs and our professionalism. Your case will begin with a Free Consultation.

We are standing by ready to assist you 24/7. Call us now at Swan Law Firm 561-291-7492 or fill out the contact form below to schedule your free consultation.

Our Florida office is located at:

11410 Jog Road, Suite 100
Palm Beach Gardens, FL, 33410

Our telephone number is: 561-291-7492

Or email Blake Swan at: bswan@swanlawfirm.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do after a semi-truck Accident? Most importantly, do not try to negotiate with an insurance adjuster before you contact an experienced semi-truck accident attorney. Insurance adjusters can sound like they are going to help you, but their job is to minimize the payout from the trucker’s insurance policy. They often offer small yet fast settlements that cheat you and your family out of the damage compensation you will need to fully recover from the accident.

Keep track of all of your medical expenses and lost wages. Get the names and contact information of all of the witnesses to the accident. Seek professional help as soon as possible from a semi-truck accident attorney so that you will be guided through the process to secure a maximum return.

When should I engage a semi-truck accident attorney? As soon as possible. You want to preserve all of your options, and in order to do that, you need professional advice and guidance.

How does liability work in Palm Beach Gardens truck accident cases? A full investigation of a semi-truck accident is required to reveal all of the culpable parties. Possible defendants who would be financially responsible for your injuries might include: the driver, the trucking company, the truck manufacturer or subcontractor of a specific failed part, the company owning the cargo, the municipality responsible for road upkeep, or other drivers on the road. By finding culpable parties, many of whom have current insurance policies, you can increase the possibility of full compensation for any injuries and permanent damage.

What are common truck accident injuries? Unfortunately, many accidents involving semi-trucks can be fatal or cause permanent injury from disfigurement, amputation, or head injuries.

The most common injuries include: broken bones, seatbelt and airbag injuries, internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, concussion, whiplash, and back injuries ranging from herniated discs to spinal cord injuries that result in loss of the ability to walk, bladder function and more.