A Florida semi accident attorney has filed a lawsuit against a truck driver and his employer alleges negligence in the death of a family. Bad hiring practices were also cited in the complaint. When fault on the part of truck drivers or trucking company results in injury or death, victims may be eligible to recover compensation with the help of Florida truck accident attorneys.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Florida today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Lawsuit: Failed Drug Test Made Truck Driver Ineligible To Drive
The lawsuit, filed in Florida in August 2015, alleges that a truck driver and his employer were at fault in the rear-end collision that claimed the lives of four of the plaintiff’s family members. As The Florida Times-Union reports, the lawsuit claims that the accident occurred because the trucker was speeding and distracted. The plaintiff also contends that the employer was negligent in hiring the driver, who was unqualified due to an alleged failed drug test, without adequately reviewing his record.
The accident occurred when the plaintiff’s wife’s car broke down while crossing Jacksonville’s Buckmam Bridge. Traffic in neighboring lanes prevented the plaintiff’s family from leaving the vehicle. When the driver of another car braked to avoid hitting the disabled vehicle, the truck collided with that car and rear-ended the stalled vehicle, fatally injuring all four occupants.
The Florida Highway Patrol found that intoxication, criminal intent and negligence weren’t factors in the crash. However, the official accident report identified the trucker as the at-fault driver. The lawsuit contends that the driver should have seen the vehicle and that his failure to exercise reasonable care caused the victims’ wrongful deaths. The lawsuit could be set for trial in late 2016, the news agency reported.
How A Florida Semi Accident Attorney Can Help
Truck drivers and trucking companies have a duty to make sure that they operate and maintain their vehicles in a safe manner. If this duty is not fulfilled, a tractor trailer accident may occur, and the truck driver or trucking company can be held liable for injuries that may result.
Drivers or passengers who are injured in a tractor trailer accident may be entitled to compensation for damages resulting from their injuries, including:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Loss of ability to earn
- Scarring and disfigurement
If a driver or passenger is killed in a semi truck accident, his or her family members may be able to pursue compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one. Wrongful death damages can include:
- Medical expenses incurred prior to death
- Conscious pain and suffering prior to death
- Loss of the economic support of the loved one
- Loss of the companionship of the loved one
- Funeral expenses
People who have been injured in a trucking accident are advised to seek the advice of an experienced Florida semi accident attorney to help them protect their legal rights.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Florida. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group for Florida today.
