Lake City Truck Accident Attorney

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Accidents involving large commercial trucks are some of the most catastrophic, leaving victims with life-altering injuries and families in mourning. If you or someone you love was involved in a truck accident, Schackow & Mercadante is ready to help. Our Lake City truck accident attorneys have been representing the injured in North Florida for nearly six decades, fighting for the full, fair compensation you deserve.

Call (352) 261-6767 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation. We are ready to help you fight for the justice you deserve.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents?

Truck accidents are often caused by a combination of factors, including driver error, negligence, and violations of state and federal trucking regulations. Identifying the cause of a truck accident is crucial to proving liability and ensuring the victim is compensated for their damages.

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

• Driver error/negligence: Truck drivers are often under intense pressure to get from one place to another as quickly as possible. This can lead to speeding, aggressive driving, and reckless behavior behind the wheel. It can also lead to drowsy driving. Truck drivers are required to follow strict hours-of-service regulations that limit how long they can be on the road without taking a break. Unfortunately, many truckers and trucking companies violate these regulations, leading to driver fatigue and a significantly increased risk of accidents.
• Impaired driving: Tragically, some truck drivers operate their vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This can lead to serious and fatal collisions. Truck drivers and trucking companies are subject to strict drug and alcohol testing requirements, which they must follow. When they fail to do so, they can be held liable for any accidents that occur as a result.
• Vehicle defects: Large commercial trucks are subject to intense wear and tear due to the amount of time they spend on the road. It is up to the trucking company to ensure that the truck is properly maintained, repaired, and serviced. If a trucking company fails to do this and it leads to a mechanical failure, the trucking company can be held liable for any resulting accidents.
• Improperly loaded cargo: Truck drivers must take extra care when loading and securing cargo. If the cargo is not properly loaded, secured, or balanced, it can shift during transit and cause the truck to jackknife, tip over, or be otherwise involved in a serious accident.

Who is Liable for a Truck Accident?

After a truck accident, it is important to determine who is liable. Under Florida’s personal injury laws, the negligence of one or more parties must be proven in order to obtain compensation for your injuries. In most cases, the truck driver, trucking company, or both are liable for a truck accident. However, other parties can also be held liable, including the manufacturer of the truck, the truck’s cargo, and the party responsible for maintaining the truck.

Some of the most common parties that can be held liable for a truck accident include:

• The truck driver: Truck drivers are required to follow strict state and federal trucking regulations. When they fail to do so, they can be held liable for any accidents that occur as a result. Truck driver negligence is a common cause of truck accidents. This can include speeding, drowsy driving, aggressive driving, and more.
• The trucking company: Trucking companies must ensure that their drivers are properly licensed and trained. They must also follow strict state and federal trucking regulations, including those related to hours of service and drug/alcohol testing. When a trucking company fails to do this and it leads to an accident, the company can be held liable for the victim’s damages.
• The truck’s manufacturer: If a truck’s brakes, tires, or other components are defective, it can cause an accident. If a defective truck part is to blame for an accident, the truck’s manufacturer can be held liable for the victim’s damages.
• The cargo company: It is crucial that cargo is properly loaded, balanced, and secured. If the cargo is not loaded, balanced, or secured correctly, it can shift during transit and cause the truck to tip over, jackknife, or be otherwise involved in a serious accident. If this occurs, the cargo company can be held liable for the victim’s injuries.
• The truck’s maintenance company: Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring that their vehicles are properly maintained, serviced, and repaired. If a trucking company fails to do this and it leads to a mechanical failure, the company can be held liable for the victim’s injuries.

How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help Me?

If you were involved in a truck accident, you may be left with serious, life-altering injuries. You may be unable to work and provide for yourself and your family. You may be left with mounting medical bills and no way to pay them. You may be feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and unsure of what to do next. That is where we come in.

Our Lake City truck accident lawyers can help guide you through the recovery process and fight for the justice you deserve. When you choose our firm, we will immediately begin a thorough investigation into the accident, gathering all available evidence. We will work to identify the cause of the accident and the liable party. Our team will handle all communication with the insurance company and fight to ensure that you are not taken advantage of.

If the insurance company is unwilling to provide the full, fair settlement you are owed, we are not afraid to take them to trial to fight for the justice you deserve. Our firm knows how to win in court and we are not afraid to take a case as far as it needs to go to get results.

Contact us online or call (352) 261-6767 today to request your free, no-obligation consultation. We have offices in Lake City, Jacksonville, and Gainesville.