Truck Accident Attorney in Orlando, FL
A truck crash can change your life in an instant. Beyond the painful and often catastrophic injuries, you may also face overwhelming medical bills, lost wages, and uncertainty about how you’ll support your family. Unlike typical car accidents, truck accidents often involve complex laws, powerful insurance companies, and trucking corporations with aggressive legal teams working to minimize their liability. Without experienced representation, you could be left paying the price for someone else’s negligence.
That’s why having a dedicated Orlando truck accident lawyer on your side is so important. An attorney can investigate the crash, hold the responsible parties accountable, and fight for the compensation you need to cover your medical treatment, lost income, and the pain and suffering you’ve endured.
Get help from Meldon Law’s Orlando personal injury attorneys today.
Get the Compensation You Deserve – Talk to an Orlando Truck Accident Lawyer Now!
Call UsWhat Damages Can I Recover in an Orlando Truck Crash Claim?
After a serious truck accident, victims are often left with financial hardships and emotional burdens that extend far beyond the immediate medical treatment. If another party’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be entitled to recover compensation for a wide range of damages. These damages are meant not only to cover your current expenses but also to account for the long-term impact of the crash on your life. Common recoverable damages in a truck accident claim include:
- Medical expenses for emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, medications, and rehabilitation
- Future medical costs related to ongoing treatment or long-term care needs
- Lost income if your injuries prevent you from working temporarily or permanently
- Reduced earning capacity if you can no longer perform your previous job or earn at the same level
- Property damage for the repair or replacement of your vehicle and belongings
- Pain and suffering for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident
- Loss of enjoyment of life if your injuries limit your ability to take part in daily activities or hobbies
In the tragic event of a fatal truck accident, Florida law also allows surviving family members to pursue wrongful death damages, which may include funeral costs, loss of financial support, and compensation for the emotional pain of losing a loved one.
Obtaining these damages can be difficult, as the truck driver or trucking company likely has a large, formidable insurance company. However, they’re no match for us. We’re a force to be reckoned with both inside and outside the courtroom.
Trucking Rules and Regulations Can Complicate Your Case. We Can Clear Up the Confusion.
Truck accidents are often complex due to the state and federal rules and regulations that apply. We break some of those down here.
Hours of Service Regulations
Truck drivers and the companies that employ them must follow strict federal Hours of Service (HOS) regulations designed to prevent fatigue behind the wheel. These rules, enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), limit the number of hours a trucker can drive in a day and require mandatory rest periods. For example, most commercial drivers:
- May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty
- Cannot drive beyond 60 hours in a 7-day workweek or 70 hours in an 8-day workweek
Electronic logging devices (ELDs) are now required in most trucks to track driving time and help ensure compliance.
Unfortunately, not every driver or trucking company follows these rules. Some may pressure drivers to exceed their limits to meet tight delivery deadlines, leading to dangerous levels of fatigue. Drowsy driving can be just as risky as drunk driving, slowing reaction times and increasing the likelihood of devastating crashes.
When hours of service regulations contribute to an accident, both the driver and the trucking company may be held liable. Proving these violations often requires reviewing logbooks, electronic records, and company schedules, something an experienced truck accident lawyer can do on behalf of injury victims.
Drunk Driving Laws
The legal limit for drivers in Florida is 0.08. However, the legal limit for truck drivers is half that at 0.04. If a truck driver blows a BAC at or above 0.04, they are driving while intoxicated and have broken the law.
Texting and Driving Laws
A driver who reads or sends a text message while driving can pass the length of a football field in seconds. It is dangerous enough for the driver of a passenger vehicle to do so, but the driver of a heavy truck can leave a path of catastrophic destruction if they decide to text and drive.
To prevent serious or even fatal crashes, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) prohibits most cell phone use behind the wheel. Per this law, drivers cannot:
- Text while driving (e.g., reading a text message, typing out a text message, sending an email, or reading an email)
- Type anything into a search engine
- Make a voice call if they need to do more than press one button
Get Help from Meldon Law’s Truck Accident Lawyers in Orlando Today
Recovering after a truck accident is never easy, but you don’t have to face the aftermath on your own. From severe injuries to mounting bills, the challenges can feel overwhelming. An experienced Orlando truck accident attorney from Meldon Law can guide you through the legal process, protect your rights, and fight for the compensation you need to rebuild your life. We have recovered over $250 million for past clients, and we want to help you, too.
Whether your case involves serious injury or the tragic loss of a loved one, having a dedicated advocate on your side can make all the difference in your ability to move forward. Don’t wait to get the help you deserve; reach out today for a free consultation and take the first step toward justice and financial recovery. Hire the team that Won’t Back Down.
Truck Accident FAQs
Can I Still Recover Compensation if I Was Partially At Fault for the Orlando Truck Accident?
Yes, you may be able to recover compensation if you contributed to the accident or your injuries. However, there are a few conditions you should be aware of:
- You must be less than 51% at fault. If you are more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover any compensation.
- Your percentage of fault decreases your potential settlement or award. For example, a drunk truck driver unsafely merges into your lane, causing you to rear-end the truck. The investigation deems the truck driver was 80% at fault; however, because you were texting at the time of the crash, it assigned you 20% of the fault. You would be entitled to 80% of your final damage award. If that award was $5 million, you could recover $4 million.
Can I Sue the Trucking Company and the Driver After an Orlando Truck Accident?
Determining who you can sue for an accident can be difficult, as many parties can share liability. For example:
- The truck driver can be liable if they did something to cause or contribute to the accident.
- The trucking company can be liable in several different situations. A trucking company can be liable for any actions its employees take within the scope of their employment. This is known as vicarious liability. A trucking company can also be directly liable for an accident if it did or did not do something that led to the crash, e.g., it failed to maintain its fleet, hired someone it knew was a dangerous driver, or failed to fire someone with citations.
- A maintenance company can be liable if its failure to perform proper maintenance caused or contributed to the accident.
- A manufacturer can be liable if it created a defective product that contributed to or caused the crash, such as brakes or tires.
We know how to determine liable parties and establish their share of fault.
How Is Negligence Established in an Orlando Truck Accident?
To establish negligence in an Orlando truck accident case, we must prove the following:
- Duty of care: The truck driver had a duty of care to operate the vehicle safely and follow all traffic laws to protect other motorists on the road.
- Breach of duty: The driver breached this duty by behaving negligently, e.g., speeding through a red light while distracted by a cellphone.
- Causation: This breach directly caused the collision, which would not have occurred otherwise.
- Damages: As a result of the crash, the victim suffered severe injuries, medical expenses, and loss of income.
What Should I Do Immediately Following a Truck Accident in Orlando?
Taking the right steps after a truck accident can protect your health, your legal rights, and your ability to recover compensation. Here’s what you should do:
- Call 911 right away: Report the crash to the Orlando Police Department and request emergency medical assistance if anyone is hurt.
- Seek medical attention: Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor. Some serious injuries may not appear immediately.
- Stay safe at the scene: Move to a safe location if possible and turn on hazard lights to prevent further accidents.
- Exchange information: Collect the truck driver’s name, contact details, employer, license plate number, and insurance information.
- Document the scene: Take photos or videos of vehicle damage, road conditions, skid marks, and visible injuries.
- Gather witness details: If anyone saw the accident, ask for their names and contact information.
- Avoid admitting fault: Stick to the facts when speaking to police or others at the scene.
- Notify your insurance company: Report the crash promptly, but avoid giving recorded statements until you speak with an attorney. Do not speak to the truck driver’s insurer before you speak with us.
- Contact a truck accident lawyer: An experienced Orlando truck accident attorney can investigate the crash, preserve evidence, and fight for your rights.
