Truck Accident Lawyer Melbourne, FL
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Melbourne, Florida, securing experienced legal representation is crucial. To protect your rights and recover the compensation you deserve, hire a professional truck accident lawyer. Melbourne, FL personal injury victims can depend on the team at Platt Cole Russell & Simpson PLLC.
Truck accidents often result in severe injuries and complex legal battles involving multiple parties. Our Melbourne truck accident lawyers understand the devastating impact these collisions have on victims and their families. We’re committed to holding negligent parties accountable. Call (321) 725-3425 or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation and take the first step toward justice.
Experienced Melbourne Truck Accident Attorney Team Serving Brevard County
Our Melbourne, FL motor vehicle accident attorneys have decades of combined experience in handling complex commercial vehicle accidents throughout Brevard County. We understand the unique challenges truck accident victims face when dealing with large trucking companies, aggressive insurance adjusters, and complicated federal regulations. Our legal team works directly with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and investigators to build strong cases that hold liable parties accountable. From the initial consultation through settlement negotiations or trial, we provide personalized attention and aggressive advocacy to ensure accident victims receive the justice they deserve.
Common Melbourne Truck Accident Cases Our Personal Injury Lawyers Handle
If you need a personal injury attorney in Melbourne, FL, call our law firm. We represent victims of various types of truck accidents, including accidents involving large commercial trucks and other vehicles. Our experienced attorneys have successfully recovered compensation to cover injuries, lost income, property damage, and more.
I-95 and US-192 Commercial Truck Accidents in Brevard County
Many truck accident cases come from crashes occurring on I-95 and US-192. I-95 is particularly known for car accidents involving fatalities. Additionally, the intersection of US-192 and Wickham Road can be a particularly dangerous area. Our Melbourne, FL commercial vehicle accident lawyers can help you file truck accident claims and seek compensation from at-fault parties.
Semi-Truck Jackknife and Rollover Crashes
Our team represents clients injured in jackknife and rollover accidents involving semi-trucks, which are also known as tractor-trailers or big rigs. Due to the vehicle’s massive size and weight, such accidents often result in catastrophic injuries or even death. These accidents typically occur when truck drivers lose control due to speeding, improper braking, mechanical failures, or adverse road conditions. Such factors can cause the trailer to swing out or the entire vehicle to tip over. Cargo shifts from improper loading can also contribute to rollover crashes. Our attorneys thoroughly investigate these complex cases to secure fair compensation for Melbourne truck accident victims.
Delivery Truck Accidents in Melbourne Beach and Palm Bay
Delivery trucks frequently make stops in high-traffic areas, such as neighborhoods, shopping centers, and business districts. Distracted driving is common in such places, leading to a higher risk of auto accidents. Poor visibility and tight maneuvering spaces also increase accident risks. Our personal injury lawyers represent victims injured by delivery truck drivers who fail to exercise proper caution, violate traffic laws, or operate vehicles with inadequate maintenance.
How Florida Trucking Laws Impact Your Injury Case
State and federal laws establish specific regulations governing commercial truck operations, maintenance requirements, and insurance coverage. Florida Statutes require commercial vehicles to carry higher insurance limits than passenger cars, which can affect the maximum compensation available to truck accident victims. Our Melbourne truck accident attorneys understand how regulations, personal injury protection requirements, and vicarious liability rules apply to commercial vehicle accidents.
Federal Regulations and FMCSA Violations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) establishes strict regulations governing commercial truck operations that cross state lines. This includes hours-of-service requirements, vehicle maintenance standards, and driver qualification rules. Trucking companies and drivers who violate FMCSA regulations create dangerous conditions that often lead to serious truck accidents on Florida roads. Our experienced truck accident lawyers handle cases involving various federal violations, such as falsified truck driver logs, inadequate vehicle inspections, or failure to comply with drug and alcohol testing requirements.
Florida’s Comparative Negligence Laws in Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Florida follows a comparative negligence system, meaning accident victims can recover damages even if they were partially at fault for the collision. Under this rule, the court reduces your compensation award by your percentage of fault. For example, a victim found 20% responsible for a truck accident would receive 80% of their total damages. However, drivers found to be more than 50% at fault for their own harm cannot recover damages. Insurance companies often attempt to shift blame onto truck accident victims to reduce their payout obligations, making experienced legal representation essential.
Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Brevard County
Melbourne truck accidents occur for various reasons, with driver error, mechanical failures, and unsafe company practices ranking among the most common causes. Our personal injury lawyers investigate all potential factors that contributed to your truck crash, from road conditions and weather to vehicle defects and third-party negligence.
Truck Driver Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Violations
Federal regulations limit the number of hours truck drivers can operate their vehicles without rest. However, many trucking companies pressure drivers to violate these rules to meet unrealistic delivery schedules. Fatigued driving impairs reaction time, judgment, and attention in ways comparable to drunk driving. Exhausted truck drivers endanger both themselves and other drivers on Melbourne roads. Our experienced truck accident lawyers examine driver logs, electronic logging device data, and company dispatch records to prove hours-of-service violations.
Distracted Driving, Speeding, and Drunk or Impaired Driving
Distracted driving, excessive speed, and impaired operation rank among the most preventable yet deadly causes of commercial truck accidents. Truck drivers who text, eat, or use navigation systems while operating large commercial vehicles cannot react quickly enough to avoid collisions when traffic conditions change suddenly. Speeding reduces a truck driver’s ability to stop safely and dramatically increases the severity of crash injuries. Drug or alcohol impairment eliminates the careful judgment needed to operate these massive vehicles safely.
Poor Truck Maintenance and Negligent Cargo Loading
Trucking companies have a legal responsibility to maintain their vehicles in a safe operating condition and ensure cargo is properly loaded and secured. Mechanical failures involving brakes, tires, steering systems, or lights often result from inadequate maintenance and can cause devastating accidents on Florida roads. Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can shift during transit, making the truck unstable or causing items to fall onto roadways. Our lawyers review maintenance records, inspection reports, and loading procedures to determine whether negligent maintenance or cargo loading practices contributed to your accident.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Brevard County Truck Accident?
Truck accident cases often involve multiple liable parties beyond just the at-fault driver. Our experienced Melbourne truck accident lawyers conduct thorough investigations to identify all potentially responsible parties. We ensure you can pursue maximum compensation from every available source rather than settling for insurance limits from a single defendant.
Trucking Companies and Port Canaveral Shipping Operations
Large trucking companies operating throughout Brevard County, including those serving Port Canaveral, often prioritize speed and profit over safety. These companies can be held liable for negligent hiring of unqualified drivers, inadequate training, failure to enforce safety policies, and pressure on drivers to violate hours-of-service regulations. Additionally, companies can be held responsible for their employees’ negligence under vicarious liability principles.
Third-Party Liability: Cargo Loaders and Maintenance Providers
Third parties who provide services to trucking companies can also be held accountable when their negligence contributes to Melbourne truck accidents. Cargo loading companies that improperly secure freight or exceed weight limits create dangerous conditions that can cause trucks to jackknife, roll over, or lose control. Maintenance providers who perform substandard repairs or fail to identify critical safety issues share responsibility when mechanical failures lead to serious crashes.
Recovering Compensation for Melbourne Truck Accident Victims
Melbourne truck accident victims deserve full compensation for all losses caused by negligent truck drivers, trucking companies, or other liable parties. Florida law allows injured victims to recover both economic damages, such as medical expenses and lost wages, and non-economic damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life.
Medical Expenses and Lost Wages Recovery
Truck accidents can cause catastrophic injuries requiring emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, and extended rehabilitation. Victims can recover compensation for various medical costs. This includes emergency room visits, specialist consultations, prescription medications, medical equipment, and ongoing care needs. Lost wages represent another significant component of recoverable damages. Compensation can cover income you cannot earn while recovering from injuries, as well as reduced earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous employment. When you suffer life-changing conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBI) or spinal cord damage, our Melbourne catastrophic injury attorneys can help you pursue compensation.
Pain and Suffering Damages Under Florida Law
Florida law allows truck accident victims to recover non-economic damages for physical pain, emotional suffering, and diminished quality of life. These damages compensate you for the ongoing physical discomfort, mental anguish, and limitations caused by serious injuries such as multiple fractures, internal injuries, TBIs, and more. Insurance companies often seek to minimize pain-and-suffering awards, arguing that victims should accept compensation only for tangible financial losses. Our experienced personal injury attorneys present compelling evidence of how your injuries affect daily life, fighting for compensation that reflects the true extent of harm you’ve endured.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits
When truck accidents result in fatal injuries, surviving family members can file wrongful death lawsuits against responsible parties. Florida’s wrongful death statute allows certain family members to pursue damages for loss of support, services, companionship, and more. Wrongful death claims also cover funeral and burial expenses, medical bills incurred before death, and the pain and suffering the victim experienced prior to passing. Call our Melbourne, FL wrongful death attorneys to learn how we can help you following the death of a loved one.
What to Do After a Brevard County Semi-Truck Accident
After a trucking accident, the actions you take can significantly impact your ability to recover fair compensation for your injuries. If possible, move to a safe location away from traffic, then call 911 to report the accident to the Melbourne Police Department, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, or other local law enforcement. Document the accident scene before you leave. Obtain contact details and insurance information from the truck driver and any witnesses. Avoid discussing fault or making statements that insurance companies could use against you later when you file a truck accident claim.
Seek Medical Attention Immediately at Holmes Regional Medical Center or the Closest Hospital
Seeking immediate medical attention after a truck accident is crucial for both your health and your legal claim. Some serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, and spinal cord damage, may not be immediately apparent. These injuries require urgent treatment to prevent life-threatening complications. Visit Holmes Regional Medical Center, the closest hospital, or seek medical assistance from emergency responders at the accident scene, even if you believe your injuries are minor. Prompt medical care creates records linking your injuries to the truck accident. This documentation becomes essential evidence when your attorney negotiates with insurance companies or presents your personal injury case in court.
Preserving Evidence at Your Melbourne Accident Scene
Collecting and preserving evidence from your truck accident scene strengthens your injury claim. Be sure to document conditions that contributed to the collision as well as the results of the collision, including vehicle damage and visible injuries. Photograph the trucks and other vehicles involved from multiple angles, capturing license plates, company names, DOT numbers, and visible damage. Take pictures of road conditions, traffic signals, weather conditions, and any skid marks or debris that show how the accident occurred. Gather witness statements and contact information before people leave the scene, as these independent accounts can prove crucial when determining liability.
How an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer in Melbourne, FL Assists With the Insurance Claims Process
Securing compensation can be difficult, especially when commercial insurance companies employ teams of adjusters and lawyers to minimize payouts. We handle all communications with insurance companies on your behalf. Our experience allows us to protect you from tactics designed to get you to accept inadequate settlements or make statements that damage your claim. We gather key documents and records, then present evidence that proves the full value of your damages.
Investigating Black Box Data and Driver Logs
Modern commercial trucks contain electronic logging devices and “black box” data recorders that capture crucial information about vehicle operation in the moments before a crash. This black box data reveals truck speed, braking patterns, engine performance, and other factors that help prove driver negligence or mechanical failures caused your accident. Driver logs, whether electronic or paper, show whether the truck driver violated hours-of-service regulations or falsified records to conceal fatigue. Our Melbourne truck accident lawyers act quickly to preserve this critical evidence before trucking companies destroy or alter it. We can send legal preservation letters within hours of learning about serious truck accidents to ensure all electronic data and maintenance records remain available for our investigation.
Negotiating with Commercial Insurance Companies
Commercial insurance companies representing trucking companies employ sophisticated strategies to minimize claim payments. Our Melbourne insurance dispute lawyers understand these tactics and negotiate aggressively to secure fair settlements that reflect the full extent of your injuries and future needs. We prepare detailed demand letters supported by medical records, police reports, expert testimony, and documentation of all damages, demonstrating why you deserve maximum compensation. When insurance companies refuse to offer fair settlements, we’re prepared to file a personal injury lawsuit and take your case to trial.
Contact A Melbourne Trucking Accident Lawyer For a Free Case Evaluation
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a truck accident in Melbourne, Brevard County, or anywhere in Florida, contact Platt Cole Russell & Simpson today for a free consultation. Our dedicated team of Melbourne car accident attorneys has the experience, resources, and commitment to handle complex truck accident cases.
Explore your legal options with trusted truck accident lawyers who will fight for your rights. Schedule your free initial consultation by calling (321) 725-3425 or using our online contact form.