Stuart Truck Accident Attorney

Personalized & Reputable Legal Advocacy with 25+ Years of Experience

Unfortunately, truck accidents involving commercial vehicles are all too common and can leave victims paying the price for catastrophic injuries. Trying to put your life back together after a serious trucking accident can feel overwhelming, particularly if you have sustained severe injuries. If you or someone you know has recently been injured or wrongfully killed due to an accident involving a commercial truck, you may be able to hold the truck driver or the trucking company financially responsible. Lance P. Richard, P.A. has over 25 years of experience handling complex legal cases (some of which have appeared on the news, and he is more than equipped to take on your case). He aims to provide personalized, one-on-one attention to clients to build a legal strategy unique to their goals and situation.

Consult with an experienced trucking accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact Lance P. Richard, P.A. today.

Common Causes of Trucking Accidents

Truck drivers and the companies that employ them are responsible for maintaining safety as a top priority. There are many state and federal regulations that govern how and when commercial drivers can operate a vehicle, such as requiring trucking companies to appropriately train all their employees to handle the truck safely in all circumstances. Unfortunately, not all trucking companies are as diligent about safety and training as they should be, and it is the victims who ultimately pay the price in the event that an accident happens. 

There are many different reckless and negligent actions that can compromise the life of a victim. Some of the most common causes of trucking accidents include:

• Reckless driving, such as speeding
• Distracted driving
• Drowsy driving
• Drunk driving

Common Trucking Accident Injuries        

Injuries for a trucking accident victim can run the gamut from minor cuts and scrapes to significantly painful injuries like spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries. The costs and the commitment required to recover from an injury can seem nearly impossible to manage for a victim. 

Some of the most common injuries in trucking accidents include:

• Lacerations
• Cuts
• Burns
• Fractures
• Broken bones
• Internal organ damage
• Head injuries
• Whiplash

Who Is Liable?

A trucking accident victim may be able to pursue damages by suing the liable party. Trucking accidents are particularly complex from a legal perspective because they may involve multiple liable parties. For example, the trucking company may be responsible for improperly training the driver, but the driver may also have some liability for the actions they did or did not do that led to the accident. 

To determine the trucking company’s liability, the court will examine whether the driver was acting within the scope of their employment at the time of the accident. 

This includes looking at:

• The driver’s intentions 
• The nature of the driver’s conduct at the time
• The nature of the work that the driver was hired for
• The employer’s expectations for their employee

If the driver was not acting within the scope of their employment, they may be liable — not the trucking company. For example, if the driver commits intentional acts on the road (e.g., colliding with another vehicle in an act of road rage), the trucking company is not responsible for these actions not related to the employee’s job performance.

There’s no doubt that you’ll have questions about your rights going forward in such a situation but consulting a dedicated lawyer as soon as possible after the accident is the best way to determine your next steps. Trucking accident lawsuits must be filed within four years of the date of the accident in order for you to claim damages for your injuries. If the accident involved wrongful death, you have two years from the date of the death to sue.

A Stuart trucking accident lawyer can help you with all the complicated questions about liability and your next steps as an accident victim. Lance P. Richard, P.A. knows how stressful it can be to recover from an accident, but he can guide you through the legal process toward recovery.

Schedule an initial consultation with Lance P. Richard, P.A. to learn more.