Knowing what to do in such a situation can be confusing. Your rights as an accident victim might not be clear. That's why it's important to talk to our attorneys as soon as possible about your truck accident and your legal options.
At the Law Offices of Brent C. Miller, P.A., our experienced Central Florida truck accident attorneys can explain all your available options, then discuss which makes the most sense for your specific situation. We understand that every accident is different. And we take a unique approach to solving accident victims' legal issues.
What evidence matters
Evidence matters when obtaining the money you need after your truck accident. That's why trucking companies can often be so difficult to deal with after a crash. They know that the more evidence you have, the stronger your case. Some of the most important evidence trucking companies try to keep private include:
- Trucking company hiring records (Did the trucking company knowingly hire a reckless or inexperienced truck driver?)
- Trucking company maintenance records (Does the trucking company regular repair and inspect their trucks?)
- Hours of Service (HOS) records for truck drivers (Are truck drivers taking federally mandated breaks? Or are they illegally working longer hours?)
- Previous truck accident reports (Did the truck driver who caused your crash previously cause another accident?)
- Black box data (Many commercial trucks are equipped with an event data recorder (EDR), also called a black box. This device records how long the truck driver was driving at the time of your accident, when the truck driver last took a break, how fast the truck was going at the time of the crash, and sometimes even whether the truck driver applied the brakes and attempted to slow down before the truck accident)
All these details - and many more - matter after your accident. That's why we want to help you find the facts you need to build the strongest possible legal case.
Who investigates truck accidents?
Commercial truck accidents are different than many motor vehicle collisions. This is especially true regarding who investigates truck accidents caused by commercial truck drivers.
Along with local police and state troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol, many truck accidents in Florida (and nationwide) are investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), notably if the accidents result in serious injuries or fatalities.
In addition, the insurance companies for everyone involved (and there are often many parties involved in commercial truck accidents) often conduct their own independent investigation. And in each case, each insurance company usually has one goal – to prove that someone else caused your accident other than their policyholder. That way, they’re not responsible for paying for your injury-related expenses. This is why it’s critical that you have an experienced Florida truck accident lawyer on your side investigating your crash.
How we can help you
Dealing with trucking companies can be complicated for many reasons. Even if they want to cooperate with you after your crash, you will likely need to deal with attorneys and the insurance company (as well as their attorneys) representing the trucking company.
These people have a single goal – to pay you as little money as possible or deny your claim altogether. And they will use any means necessary to achieve their objective. That's why you must have an experienced attorney on your side who knows how to fight back and protect your rights.
Our attorneys know how to find the facts that matter. And we know how to deal with trucking companies, insurance companies, their attorneys, and anyone else who stands in our way for justice. Find out how we can help you. Contact us and schedule your free case evaluation today.