Involved in an Accident With a Commercial Vehicle?

Speak to Our Tallahassee Auto Accident Lawyers About Legal Assistance

Commercial vehicle accidents often involve semis, tractor trailers, eighteen wheelers or other large trucks traveling at high speeds on interstates or highways. Personal injury claims against trucks and other interstate commercial vehicles can involve broken bones, spinal injuries and other injury claims. If you have suffered serious injuries in a commercial vehicle accident, consider speaking to our Tallahassee auto accident lawyers about your situation.

In these cases, the commercial vehicle driver is often required to have a commercial driver’s license. He or she must also have training and experience to drive such a potentially dangerous vehicle. Additionally, interstate motor vehicle carriers must comply with a vast array of regulations in training, maintenance and supervision of their drivers and trucks. Driver fatigue is a common reason for fatal car accidents. Depending on the commercial vehicle, the driver may be required to maintain certain safety checks and document logs on a daily basis.

Florida law provides that the owner of the commercial motor vehicle is responsible for the negligence of his or her employees. This is based upon the dangerous instrumentality doctrine and respondeat superior.  The owner of a commercial vehicle or the driver’s employer may also be liable if they failed to appropriately train or supervise their employee. Additionally, if the employer knew that the driver was dangerous, then the employer may be held responsible for negligent entrustment.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires specific minimum insurance requirements for trucks that are involved in interstate deliveries.  Trucks weighing at least 10,001 pounds and transporting non hazardous materials must be insured for at least $750,000.00 and up to $5 million for trucks carrying hazardous materials.

Commercial Vehicle Accident? Review Your Legal Options With Us

Commercial vehicles are typically buses, SUVs, box trucks, pickups or other motor vehicles that are owned by a private company.  When a commercial vehicle causes a serious personal injury, it is important to investigate the accident scene. By doing so, you have a better chance to prove liability against the at fault driver. Since commercial vehicles are often larger and heavier, crashes involving trucks and cars generally result in severe personal injury or death.

Consult our Tallahassee auto accident lawyers to ensure that your commercial vehicle or truck accident claim is adequately handled. Call us at (855) 553-3310 or contact us online. Your Injury. Your Rights. Your Lawyer.