Hollywood Truck Accident Lawyers
Commercial trucks keep Florida’s economy moving, but when an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer collides with a passenger car, the results are often catastrophic. Victims of truck accidents frequently face life-changing injuries, permanent disability, or even death. These cases are far more complex than ordinary car accidents, involving not only the truck driver but also trucking companies, maintenance providers, cargo loaders, and large commercial insurers.
At Ansel & Miller, we have many years of experience handling serious injury and wrongful death cases, including claims against trucking companies. We know how devastating these crashes are for families and how aggressively trucking companies defend themselves. Our Hollywood truck accident lawyers are dedicated to providing personal, attentive service while taking on the most difficult opponents to achieve justice for our clients.
The Catastrophic Consequences of Truck Collisions
The sheer size and weight of a commercial truck make it incredibly dangerous in a crash. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh 20 to 30 times more than the average passenger car. When these massive vehicles collide with smaller vehicles, motorcycles, bicyclists, or pedestrians, the force of impact is often devastating.
Truck accident victims may suffer:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): These range from concussions to severe brain damage, leading to permanent cognitive and physical impairments.
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis: Damage to the spinal cord may result in paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- Crushed or amputated limbs: Occupants of smaller vehicles often sustain injuries from the crushing force of a collision.
- Severe burns: When trucks carrying fuel or hazardous cargo catch fire, victims may suffer life-threatening burns.
- Multiple fractures and internal organ damage: The violent impact can cause extensive internal injuries.
Sadly, many truck accidents also result in death, leaving families with overwhelming emotional and financial burdens, from the loss of companionship to funeral expenses and lost income.
Leading Factors That Contribute to Truck Accidents in Hollywood
Truck accidents are rarely simple. They often involve multiple layers of negligence, ranging from the truck driver’s conduct to the trucking company’s safety practices. Some of the most common causes include:
Driver Fatigue and Drowsy Driving
Truck drivers are under enormous pressure to deliver goods on time, and long hours on the road are the norm. Even with federal regulations in place, fatigue remains a leading cause of truck crashes. Studies show that driving while fatigued can be as dangerous as drunk driving, slowing reaction times and impairing judgment.
Negligent Maintenance of Equipment
Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring that their vehicles are properly maintained, yet many cut corners to save money. Poorly maintained brakes, worn tires, defective coupling devices, and other mechanical failures are frequently cited in crash investigations. A blown tire on an 18-wheeler or malfunctioning brakes on a downhill grade can lead to catastrophic accidents.
Cargo Loading Errors
Cargo must be properly secured and balanced. When cargo shifts, falls, or causes the truck to become unstable, it can result in a rollover, jackknife, or multi-vehicle collision. Unsecured cargo can also spill onto the roadway, creating hazards for other motorists.
Federal Trucking Regulations: FMCSA Safety Standards
The trucking industry is heavily regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which establishes rules designed to promote safety on the nation’s highways. These include requirements for vehicle maintenance, cargo securement, and driver qualifications.
For example:
- Brake and tire maintenance: FMCSA regulations require commercial trucks to meet strict performance standards to ensure safe stopping and handling.
- Coupling devices: Rules ensure trailers are properly attached to reduce the risk of a runaway trailer.
- Cargo securement: Federal regulations specify how loads must be tied down or contained to prevent shifting during transport. Rules require cargo to be inspected routinely at several points during transport.
Despite these rules, violations are common. Trucking companies sometimes ignore safety requirements in order to maximize profits, putting everyone on the road at risk.
Hours of Service Regulations: Intended Safeguards, Often Ignored
One of the most critical areas of FMCSA regulation concerns Hours of Service (HOS)—the rules governing how long truck drivers may operate without rest. These rules are supposed to reduce the risk of fatigue-related crashes.
Currently, HOS rules allow:
- Up to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
- A maximum 14-hour on-duty window in which driving must take place.
- A 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving.
- Up to 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days, with the ability to reset by taking 34 consecutive hours off duty.
- Limits can be extended when a trucker encounters “adverse driving conditions.”
These regulations are supposed to ensure safety, but in reality they are very generous to the trucking industry. A driver can still be on duty for 14 hours in a single day and legally drive 70 hours in just over a week—an exhausting schedule by any measure. Even worse, many drivers and companies falsify logbooks, use electronic logging device “workarounds,” or otherwise push beyond legal limits.
When fatigue is involved in a crash, uncovering HOS violations can be critical. Skilled attorneys know how to obtain driver logs, electronic data, fuel receipts, and GPS records to expose violations that may have contributed to a wreck.
Why You Need Strong Legal Representation After a Truck Accident
Truck accident cases are unlike ordinary auto accidents. Trucking companies and their insurers respond aggressively the moment a crash occurs. They deploy rapid-response teams of investigators, adjusters, and lawyers to protect their interests and minimize liability.
Victims and their families are often left in shock, overwhelmed by medical bills, and unsure of their legal rights. Without strong representation, they may be pressured into accepting settlements that do not begin to cover the true cost of their injuries.
Having experienced legal counsel is essential for many reasons. For one, multiple parties may be liable. Responsibility may lie with the driver, the trucking company, a maintenance provider, or even the manufacturer of a defective truck part. Complex evidence is also involved in most truck crashes. Accident reconstruction, black box data, driver logs, and maintenance records must all be preserved and analyzed. Federal regulations frequently come into play, and understanding FMCSA rules and proving violations can be the key to success. And in commercial truck accident claims, insurance companies fight hard. With so much at stake, insurers use every tactic to reduce payouts. You need an attorney on your side equal to the task at hand.
The Ansel & Miller Advantage
At Ansel & Miller, we focus on serious cases involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. Our attorneys have the knowledge, resources, and determination needed to take on the trucking industry. With many years of experience representing clients in complex litigation, we understand how to build strong cases and achieve meaningful results.
Equally important, we form close relationships with the people we represent. We know that every client is facing one of the most difficult times in their lives, and we take the time to listen, guide, and support them through the legal process. We combine compassionate service with fierce advocacy, ensuring that our clients’ voices are heard and their rights protected.
Contact Ansel & Miller for Help After a Hollywood Truck Accident
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Hollywood, Florida, do not face the trucking company alone. The risks are too great, and the stakes are too high. With the help of experienced legal counsel, you can hold negligent drivers and companies accountable and pursue the compensation you need for medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.
At Ansel & Miller, we are ready to stand by your side, investigate your case, and fight for justice. Call us today to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help.