Because commercial trucks are so much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, they can cause life-altering injuries in a crash. Some truck accident injury victims do not survive. Those who do are often left with permanent disabilities and pain.
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident, you may have the right to recover compensation. However, truck accident insurance companies and defense attorneys will work hard to avoid paying your claim or to pay you as little as possible.
You need the help of an experienced Naples personal injury lawyer to protect your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve. You need Garvin Injury Law.
Call our dedicated truck accident attorneys in Naples at (239) 277-0005 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation.
The Garvin Injury Law Advantage
- Our truck accident lawyers have a deep knowledge and extensive experience helping victims and their families recover maximum compensation in truck accident cases.
- We have recovered numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for our injury clients and their families.
- You will receive personalized legal representation tailored to the facts of your case.
- You pay nothing until we win compensation for you.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents In Naples?
There are numerous causes of truck accidents. Some of the most common ones in Naples include:
- Distracted driving: Truck drivers can be distracted by texting, talking, and reading on their cell phones or by adjusting vehicle controls.
- Impaired driving: Truck drivers may get behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound loaded truck and trailer while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
- Speeding: Large trucks can’t stop suddenly. When a driver exceeds the speed limit and then needs to stop suddenly, tragedy can happen.
- Blind spots: Commercial trucks have large blind spots that make them more likely to crash into a vehicle they can’t see in their mirrors.
- Improperly loaded cargo: If cargo shifts during transport, the truck may become unstable and crash. Loose cargo may also spill onto other vehicles or highways, causing widespread damage.
- Equipment failure: If equipment fails while driving, it can cause a sudden loss of control and lead to an accident. Equipment and parts can fail because they are defective or have not been adequately maintained or repaired.
- Dangerous road conditions: When roads are not properly designed or adequately maintained, they can contribute to accidents.
If negligence by another driver or a third party contributed to the crash, a skilled Naples car accident attorney can also help you determine liability and pursue full compensation.
Are Most Truck Accident Injuries Severe?
Many truck accidents cause fatal injuries. Others often result in severe, life-altering injuries.
Some Naples truck accident injuries include spinal cord damage, brain injuries, organ damage, internal bleeding, severed limbs, and severe burns. Other damages caused by truck accidents are back and neck injuries, facial damage, broken bones, scarring, and disfigurement.
Many truck accident injury victims require long-term medical care and may be permanently disabled. Your Naples truck accident lawyer must fight to recover every dollar they are owed.
How Long Do I Have To File a Truck Accident Claim in Naples?
You only have a limited amount of time to take legal action after a truck accident in Naples. Florida’s statute of limitations sets strict deadlines for filing a personal injury lawsuit. In most cases, you have two years from the date of the crash to file your claim in court. If a loved one passed away due to a truck accident, a wrongful death lawsuit must also be filed within two years.
Missing this deadline can mean losing your right to recover any compensation, no matter how strong your case may be. However, there are exceptions that can shorten or extend the filing window, such as cases involving government-owned vehicles or minors. It’s best to consult with an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your claim is filed on time.
What Compensation Is Available in a Naples Truck Accident Case?
Truck accidents often result in catastrophic injuries that bring overwhelming financial and emotional costs. A successful claim can provide compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages cover the tangible financial losses caused by the crash, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical care for long-term or permanent injuries
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket costs related to your recovery
Non-economic damages address the harder-to-measure consequences of an accident, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
In rare situations, punitive damages may also be awarded if the truck driver or company acted with gross negligence, such as knowingly violating safety laws or driving while intoxicated.
Regulations Affecting Commercial Drivers
Commercial truck drivers aren’t just expected to follow ordinary traffic rules; they are also governed by strict federal and state regulations designed to protect everyone on the road. These rules, enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Florida state agencies such as the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), play an important role in many truck accident cases.
Some of the most important regulations include:
- Hours of service limits, which restrict how long a driver can stay behind the wheel without rest
- Weight and cargo limits, ensuring trucks aren’t overloaded or improperly loaded
- Vehicle inspection and maintenance requirements, which mandate regular checks to keep trucks safe and roadworthy
- Drug and alcohol testing programs, aimed at preventing impaired driving
- Commercial driver’s license (CDL) standards, requiring specialized training and testing before operating large trucks
When a trucking company or driver ignores these rules, accidents are far more likely to happen. Proving that a violation occurred can strengthen your claim and increase the chances of holding the responsible parties fully liable. Our legal team can investigate whether these regulations were followed and use violations as evidence of negligence in your case.
Who is Liable in a Naples Truck Accident Case?
Determining liability is vital to a successful Naples truck accident claim. Our truck accident lawyers in Naples carefully investigate truck accidents to determine all their causes and the liable parties.
Some potentially liable parties in a Naples truck accident include the truck driver, the driver’s employer, the truck owner, and the trucking company. Other potentially liable parties include the manufacturer of a defective part, negligent maintenance or repair companies, and the cargo loading parties. In some cases, other drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians could be liable.
Our attorneys work hard to identify the liable parties and to hold them accountable for paying the compensation you deserve.
Why Hire a Naples Truck Accident Attorney?
Trucking insurance companies have a lot at stake. Insurance coverage limits are usually much higher in a trucking accident claim than in other motor vehicle accidents. The insurer and defense attorneys will fight to deny or devalue your claim.
You need an experienced truck accident lawyer to level the playing field and defend you against insurance companies and defense attorneys. Being represented by an experienced truck accident lawyers in Naples significantly improves your chances of a successful outcome.
Take the First Step To Recovering Maximum Compensation
Garvin Injury Law has the experience, skills, and resources to help you recover maximum compensation in a Naples truck accident injury claim. Call our firm at (239) 277-0005 or complete the form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.