Orlando Truck Accident Attorneys

If you were injured due to someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Contact one of our experienced lawyers at (561) 293-2600 for legal advice and representation.

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Osborne & Francis

The massive size of commercial trucks makes them incredibly dangerous. When a large commercial vehicle gets into an accident with a much smaller passenger vehicle, the damages can be catastrophic. Commercial vehicles way up to 80,000 pounds, while the average passenger car weighs only 3,000 pounds. If a commercial truck impacts a passenger vehicle, it’s unlikely that the accident will be minor. 

With severe accidents, there are severe injuries, and with severe injuries come high medical bills and other debts. To ensure that you get the most possible compensation for your claim, Osborne and Francis Law Firm is here to help. Contact us at 561-293-2600 or online at our Orlando office.

Video Transcript

So you've been in a car accident. What happens next? There are many things that you should do but here are the three most important:

Number One: See a doctor immediately. 

A broken bone is easy to see, but some injuries are not. The most common injuries from car accidents happen in the neck, back, or head. The only way to diagnose and treat them is by seeing a doctor. A doctor can help ease the pain, provide medication, reassure you of how your injury may impact your daily life, and tell you what not to do to make it worse.

A visit to the doctor can also give you legally protected time off to recover and rest your body after an accident, and it documents and provides the evidence you may need for your case. Even a five-mile-per-hour car accident can cause a serious injury. So whether you've had a severe accident or a minor collision, see a doctor. And if you don't have medical insurance, let us know and we'll make sure that you receive the proper care. 

Number Two: Write everything down.

Even if it seems small, during times of stress or injury it is common to forget the little details. Make sure you keep note of the pain that you're in. With neck, back, and head injuries, sometimes simple activities such as walking up the stairs or picking up a toddler may cause severe pain. 

You may not be sleeping well at night. Documenting how much you sleep and how often you wake up due to pain is also very important. And lastly, if you have any cuts or bruises, take daily photos as you heal. This will provide visual evidence of the injuries that you've suffered. 

Number Three: Do not speak to an insurance company until you've spoken to a lawyer.

Please understand that the insurance adjuster works for a billion-dollar corporation and not for you. Their interests are solely for their insurance company, and their goal is to provide you with the least amount of financial settlement as quickly as possible. When you do speak with them, remember they will record the conversation. Why do they do this? Because they've been trained to ask questions that may confuse you. So talk to us before you talk to them. 

So remember: See a doctor, document everything, and call us before calling the insurance company for your free private consultation. We are here for you. Real tough lawyers fighting real tough issues.

Causes of Truck Accidents and Potential Liable Parties

Unlike with car accidents, truck accidents can be caused by multiple different parties, including the driver. Depending on what the cause of the accident is, we can then determine who the liable party or parties are.

Potential liable parties for truck accidents and how they cause accidents include:

The Truck Driver

  • Distracted driving is a common cause of any type of motor vehicle accident. But when a commercial semi-truck driver is distracted, they can pose a serious risk to everyone on the road.
  • Drunk or high driving is unfortunately all too common among drivers of tractor-trailer trucks. Truckers have quotas to meet and may resort to using drugs such as amphetamines to stay awake, which affects their ability to drive safely.
  • Speeding is another cause of truck accidents that result from trucker negligence. When a semitruck driver is too eager to finish a route, they may drive over a safe speed limit and put other vehicles on the road in danger.

Trucking Company

  • Overscheduling drivers past legal limits causes truckers to become fatigued, which is a dangerous state for driving massive semi-trucks and tractor-trailer vehicles.
  • Not checking and replacing recalled parts
  • Hiring inexperienced drivers
  • Not drug testing drivers
  • Insufficient maintenance done on vehicles that are owned by the company is a common cause of truck accidents that can easily be avoided by trucking companies doing their due diligence. This type of negligence on the part of the truck company may make them liable for injuries caused in a truck accident.

Rental Company

  • Not properly maintaining vehicles
  • Not replacing recalled parts

Loading Company

  • Unsecured cargo can result in debris falling into the road or else a lost load that puts drivers at risk for an accident. Companies that load trucks must take great care to ensure that the cargo is properly secured. If they don't, the loading company may be held liable for injuries caused by a lost load truck accident.
  • Improper load distribution can lead to falling debris or rollovers

Manufacturer

  • Defective parts, such as brakes, are a leading cause of truck accidents across the US. Manufacturers must be diligent about checking the quality of their products or else by held liable for an Orlando truck accident caused by defective products.

Injuries Associated with Truck Accidents

In 2020, approximately 4,000 people died in large truck accidents. 68% of those deaths were occupants of cars, while 16% were vulnerable road users such as bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists. In 2018, there were approximately 112,000 accidents that resulted in injuries and 414,000 that resulted in property damage only. And unfortunately, the outlook isn’t great for Florida drivers, as 30% of truck accidents occur in Florida, Texas, and California. 

Out of the 112,000 injury accidents, people suffered injuries such as: 

As is the case with severe injuries, many of these parties likely sustained more than one injury type. For example, a person may end up with multiple broken bones or some lacerations and a head injury. Unfortunately, this only puts more stress on the victim, usually resulting in a larger decrease in their quality of life.

Types of Evidence Used in Truck Accident Cases

To prove that a party has acted with negligence and caused an accident (therefore causing your injuries), we have to collect the necessary evidence. There are lots of different types of evidence that we can use in truck accident cases. It’s up to us to gather evidence and prove that the party that hit you was at fault, but there are some things you can do to help, as well. 

Types of evidence include:

  • Pictures and videos taken by you or witnesses
  • Videos from dash cams or security cameras
  • Expert witnesses, such as a medical professional or trucking specialist
  • Accident reconstruction 
  • Police reports
  • Witness statements
  • Medical records and bills
  • Black box data
  • Scheduling documents
  • Maintenance records

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How Much Compensation Will I Receive for My Damages?

The amount of compensation that victims receive varies greatly and cannot be estimated until we’ve reviewed your case in full. However, there are some factors that play a large part in determining this amount, including:

  • How severe your injuries are
  • Whether or not you’ll need long-term medical treatment
  • The amount of insurance coverage available
  • How much the accident has changed your quality of life
  • Whether you settle or go to trial

Further, you can expect to recover damages in the following categories: 

Economic damages, such as:

  • Medical bills (past and future) 
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Home modification (for wheelchair or other medical equipment) 

Non-economic damages, such as:

You may also receive further compensation in the form of punitive damages. Punitive damages are used to further punish the at-fault party, usually in cases where gross negligence has occurred. If a trucking company has continued to cause accidents for over-scheduling employees, they may be deducted further for punitive damages to dissuade them from continuing to do so in the future. 

How much compensation will I receive for my Orlando truck accident?

Erica F.

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"Best personal injury attorney around, I could not be happier! I was seriously injured in a car accident and Osborne and Francis helped me through the entire process. I was blown away by how knowledgeable the staff and attorneys are at this incredible law firm. I would not hesitate to recommend this law firm to friends and family!"

T. Andrews

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“Attorneys Greg Francis and Ryan Fletcher at Osborne & Francis Law Firm represented me in my personal injury case.The defendant drew a line in the sand and was adamant on a settlement amount I was almost willing to accept. After the dust settled and the smoke cleared, we settled for 3 times that amount!!! When they say ‘Real Tough Lawyers,’ they mean it.”

C. Smith

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“I am so thankful for EVERYONE, the entire staff at Osborne & Francis Law, for mentoring me through the mediation process with my hip replacement failures. I didn't realize how MUCH pressure they relieved me of by helping me deal with the reality of this traumatic time in my life, as it was OVER so quickly with a positive result. My family is grateful to have their mom HAPPY & FOCUSED on the future, rather than worrying over what happened in the past! FAST FORWARD, we are LIVING LIFE to the fullest once again!”

E. Holland

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Dennis and the other Osborne & Francis staff were amazing! Our case was HUGE and required tender loving care. Everyone on our case did their part by putting all the puzzle pieces together. We were given step by step updates and put at ease when our nerves got the best of us. For every inquiry we made we received a timely response...You are appreciated!

Alfred

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Quick and fair resolution to a unique case. On advice of my own attorney, I engaged Joseph Osborne of Osborne & Francis of Boca Raton, FL. Mr. Osborne had considerable experience in cases such as mine and the results showed that. Mr. Osborne and his staff were very helpful, kept me up to date, and listened to my input. The settlement was very fair as far as I am concerned.

J. Davis

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“I couldn’t have asked for a better lawyer/ firm — everything was done professionally exactly how I wanted. Due to COVID my personal attorney Mr. Garcia was still able to make things work in a timely manner and he never made me feel like he wasn’t working. Overall I’m happy with how my case turned out and I would recommend him and this law firm to anyone. 100% satisfied.”

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Contact Osborne and Francis if You’ve Been Involved in a Truck Accident

If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of a truck accident, we’re here to help. We know how stressful the lawsuit process can be, but we’re here to take the burden off your back and help as much as we can. To learn more or to schedule a free case evaluation, contact our Orlando office online or call us at 561-293-2600.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much compensation will I receive for my Orlando truck accident?

The amount of compensation that truck accident victims receive is dependent on the severity of injuries, medical costs, available insurance coverages, and other factors. The only way to accurately estimate the value of a personal injury claim is by working with experienced truck accident attorneys to review details about your case. Contact Osborne & Francis today for a free case evaluation.

How will my personal injury attorney prove that my injuries were caused by a truck accident?

Your truck accident attorney will review photos and video taken by you or witnesses, along with available dash cam or security camera footage, witness testimonies, police reports, and medical records. These forms of evidence are used to prove that the at-fault party not only acted negligently but also caused a truck accident that led to your injuries.

Were my injuries caused by a truck accident?

Truck accidents are very common in Florida and often result in severe injuries, including injuries to the brain, head, neck, and spine, along with bone breaks and fractures, burns, lacerations, amputation, or death. If you were involved in a truck accident in Orlando, you need to seek medical attention right away to evaluate and treat any injuries you may have sustained in addition to documenting injuries and the truck accident as the cause of your injuries.

What should I do after a truck accident?

The first thing you should do after a truck accident is call 911 to dispatch a police officer and emergency medical services. This will ensure that anyone injured is treated immediately and that the truck accident will be documented in a police report. You should then take photos and video of injuries, vehicles involved, and the accident scene, if possible. Additionally, take down notes of your account while the memories are still fresh along with contact information for witnesses and involved drivers and passengers. Once you leave the accident scene, seek medical attention immediately to treat injuries and be evaluated for any injuries that may not be visible or noticeable. Be sure that the medical staff is aware that any injuries you've suffered were caused by a truck accident so that they can document this in your records. Finally, keep track of all important reports and records and contact a truck accident attorney to discuss whether you should file a personal injury claim. Osborne & Francis is ready and able to advocate for you in seeking compensation for damages you incurred due to someone else's negligence. Contact our Orlando office today for a free case consultation.