Were you recently injured in a truck accident in Vero Beach, FL? Our experienced Vero Beach truck accident lawyers at Shiner Law Group are ready to help fight for your legal rights and get the compensation you deserve. Call us today at (772) 777-7700 to speak with an attorney for a 100% free consultation.
You may be entitled to seek compensation for medical bills, loss of income, pain, and suffering, and more. Contact our Vero Beach, FL law offices to discuss the legal options that might be available to you following your truck accident. The next steps are very important. Let Shiner Law Group help you with your truck accident case today.
Were You Involved in a Truck Accident in Vero Beach?
Each year, over 500,000 truck accidents occur across the U.S. Unfortunately, Florida and the Vero Beach area are not immune to these often-devastating accidents. Many large truck accidents result in severe, life-changing injuries and fatalities.
If you are ever involved in a Vero Beach truck accident, you must seek medical attention immediately. However, it’s also paramount that you reach out to a truck accident attorney serving the area to help with your case and to ensure your rights are protected.
Keep reading to learn more about these accidents and your rights.
Truck Accident Statistics
In 2019, there were 2,734 fatal truck and bus accidents in the Sunshine State. In these accidents, 3,087 people died, with another 60,818 people reporting injuries. The total number of vehicles experiencing damage was 122,331.
While this isn’t the highest rate the state has seen, the number of fatalities occurring due to truck-related accidents has been going up since 2014, along with the total number of injuries.
Common Causes of Vero Beach Truck Accidents
While there are multiple causes of Vero Beach truck accidents, some of the most common include:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a leading cause of all accidents on the roads today, including truck accidents. Issues such as rubbernecking when there is another accident, talking to other people in your vehicle, or eating and texting while driving – distracted driving is a huge issue. If you take your focus off the road, it may have potentially deadly consequences. This is especially true when a distracted driver is operating a 40-ton truck. Unfortunately, issues like tight deadlines may cause many drivers to attempt to multi-task while they are behind the wheel.
Impaired Driving
Impairment issues can be caused by issues like fatigue, illness, or the use of drugs and alcohol. According to a study from 2018, most truck drivers are impacted by fatigue, increasing the possibility of human error. Also, the report showed that the top impairment among long-haul drivers is falling asleep or fatigue.
Reckless Driving
Traffic violations, such as reckless driving, also present serious risks while on the road. Due to tight deadlines (as mentioned above), some drivers believe they can only arrive at their destination by speeding, not yielding to other drivers on the road, running red lights, or tailgating. This often leads to serious and devastating accidents and injuries.
Improper or No Vehicle Maintenance
Truck drivers are only supposed to take their vehicle on the road if the rig is safe and functioning properly. They must also perform regular safety inspections before every drive. Some trucks have issues like inadequate breaks, bald tires, poor electrical systems, and other issues that may fail, causing a deadly accident.
Overloaded Trucks
Drivers must adhere to the established federal regulations regarding the total amount of cargo they can carry. This isn’t something that all trucking companies adhere, to though. In fact, they may overload their trailers to reduce driving time and the number of trips. If the truck is overloaded, it causes imbalance and may make it challenging for the driver to control the truck safely.
Some other potential causes of truck accidents include:
- Drivers unfamiliar with local roads
- Failing to check mirrors or blind spots
- Interrupted traffic flow
- Incorrectly assuming what the other drivers are going to do
Common Injuries Caused by Vero Beach Truck Accidents
Truck accident injuries are often catastrophic. If the accident does not kill the victim, it may leave them with horrible injuries that can take several decades to overcome. Many Vero Beach truck accident victims go to an attorney, having barely survived an accident, to discover they have a reduced quality of life. We believe that this type of suffering is tragic and unacceptable.
Some of the most common injuries that occur because of a truck accident include:
Neck and Back Injuries
With these injuries, you may experience minor neck pain or more serious pain and problems, such as dislocated discs in your spine. Since your neck and back are important to virtually everything you do, the injuries may keep you from getting back to your normal, day-to-day lives.
Broken Bones
Truck accidents are extremely powerful. This means that bones may be easily broken than in traditional wrecks with another passenger vehicle.
Head Injuries
Trauma to the head in a truck accident may lead to a serious brain injury. These types of injuries are often life-changing. Brain injuries may also occur if no direct trauma occurs because of rapid deceleration, acceleration, or whiplash.
The injuries aren’t always immediately apparent. Also, brain injuries may not always cause unconsciousness. Some common symptoms of a potential head injury after an accident include cognitive difficulties, vision problems, nausea, and confusion.
Head injuries are often the most heartbreaking injuries that are sustained during a truck accident. They can result in the loss of motor and cognitive functions. Some people aren’t ever the same after a brain injury occurs.
Internal Injuries
The powerful blunt trauma caused by truck accidents can cause serious internal bleeding to your organs. Some of the organs that may be impacted include the spleen, pancreas, kidney, liver, and bladder. These types of injuries are extremely difficult to treat and overcome.
Lacerations
Lacerations and cuts caused by truck accidents may be especially painful. They can also leave huge scars that never fully heal.
Chest Injuries
Truck accident injuries to the torso and ribs may also be severe. That’s because the ribcage is what protects your body’s vital organs.
Seat Belt Related Injuries
Truck accident injuries that impact the spinal cord can be particularly devastating and may even cause paralysis. The damage is not always apparent, which is why someone who suffers from an injury after a truck accident needs to seek medical attention as soon as they can. An MRI will be able to detect any injury that X-rays may miss.
Wrongful Death
According to statistics, big rig accidents are up to 10 times more likely to cause a fatal injury than accidents with other vehicles. Hiring an experienced truck accident attorney will ensure that you hold the responsible party liable.
What to Do After Being Involved in a Truck Accident in Vero Beach
Right after you are involved in an accident, you should take a few steps to protect yourself and your rights. These steps include:
Make Sure You Are Safe and Remain at the Accident Scene
If you can, move your vehicle off the road. At least turn on your hazard lights. Someone must report the accident to the authorities right away. Everyone involved should remain at the scene until the police arrive.
Get Medical Attention
Even if you don’t experience extreme pain, or if the accident doesn’t seem that bad, you need to get checked out by medical professionals. Some injuries, such as whiplash, won’t cause pain until a day or two after the accident. While you wait to seek care, your soft tissues are damaged and may result in long-term pain and damage.
After the accident, there are a few other steps you should take, as well. These include:
- Look for any other vehicles that were involved in the accident.
- Exchange information with the other drivers.
- Get information from witnesses – those who were and were not involved in the accident.
- Document anything you can.
Reasons to Contact a Truck Accident Attorney in Vero Beach
Filing a lawsuit after a truck accident in Vero Beach may seem like a simple and straightforward process. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.
Many truck companies have big-name insurers and lawyers on their side. They will do everything possible to minimize the compensation you receive. Be sure to hire an attorney to investigate your case and ensure that you get a fair amount of compensation.
Finding the right attorney also matters. Not all lawyers can defend truck accident cases. Because of this, it is a good idea to find someone in the local area with a proven track record of success when it comes to these types of legal cases.
A quality Vero Beach truck accident lawyer will be able to handle your case and help you get the compensation you deserve. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions or if you need legal representation for your case. Being informed is the best way to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for your truck accident lawsuit.
