Intersection Truck Accidents

Due to the difference in size and weight between a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck, accident victims are more likely to suffer serious, life-threatening injuries in a truck collision. According to law, truck drivers and their employers may be held legally responsible for careless or negligent behavior that leads to a crash. If you or someone close to you has been injured in a crash with a tractor-trailer, you may be eligible to recover compensation. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our seasoned Miami truck accident lawyers zealously fight for for our clients’ rights. We understand that the catastrophic injuries caused by a truck accident can leave victims feeling helpless, and facing large medical bills and lost wages from work. We are here to help, and provide personal, effective legal representation throughout South Florida, including in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties.

Common factors that often lead to truck collisions at intersections involve driver carelessness, distraction, or improper maintenance of the vehicle. Drivers are responsible for ensuring that they abide by all traffic laws, and yield, when appropriate, to other vehicles. Due to the large size of trailer tractor trucks, drivers must pay attention to the extra time necessary to accelerate, stop, or turn their vehicle in an intersection. In some circumstances, drivers may misjudge the amount of time it takes trucks to brake, and this misjudgment can lead to an intersection crash.

The consequences of a truck intersection crash can be dire, especially because multiple vehicles may be involved in the collision. A large truck can block much of the intersection, leading to delays in clearing the road. Immediately following the crash, all injured parties should seek medical attention. The next step would ideally be to contact a skilled truck collision lawyer, knowledgeable in determining legal rights and obligations following an accident.

People hurt in an intersection truck collision have the right to pursue monetary damages from all parties responsible for the crash. A personal injury lawsuit provides a method to hold the responsible parties accountable for their careless conduct. The first step is to prove legal fault for the accident, then the victim sets forth a calculation of their damages stemming from the crash.

In most intersection truck accident cases, the victim must prove the defendant’s negligence caused the crash. Negligence requires showing that the victim was owed a duty of care that was breached by the defendant’s careless conduct. Truck drivers must safely and responsibility maneuver their vehicles, avoiding causing foreseeable risk of harm to others. Further, truck drivers and truck companies must meet all laws governing their industry, including both federal and state regulations.

As part of a negligence claim, the victim must show that the defendant’s breached duty of care directly led to their harm. Known as legal causation, this element of a negligence claim ensures that there were not other intervening causes of the victim’s injuries. For example, the victim may present evidence that the truck driver ran a red light, causing their trailer to crash into the victim’s car as the defendant drove through the intersection.

In some situations, there may be more than one cause of an intersection truck accident. In addition to driver error, failing to properly maintain a truck can lead to a crash. Under the legal theory of vicarious liability, truck employers may be legally responsible for the conduct of their drivers when they are acting within the scope of employment. The premise of this legal theory is that the employee’s actions may be attributed to their employer. Other legal theories, such as negligent supervision, may also apply, depending on the circumstances and whether the trucking company had been on notice of the driver’s careless conduct prior to the accident. A skilled truck accident lawyer can help assess all potential causes of a collision, including bringing legal claims against more than one party.

After establishing liability, victims may be entitled to monetary compensation for their losses. These costs include medical care, hospital bills, repairs to damaged vehicles, and losses from missed work wages. Additiona lly, victims can recover for the pain and suffering they have endured following the collision.

Truck accident victims injured by the careless or reckless behavior of others have rights. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our vehicle collision lawyers represent people throughout Miami as they set forth claims for compensation following a crash. We investigate, negotiate, and if needed, litigate on behalf of vehicle crash victims throughout Miami, and West Palm Beach. Take the first step to securing your legal rights, and call 877.499.4878 or contact us online to set up a free, no-obligation consultation.