Truck Accident Lawyers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has specific requirements in place that govern how much sleep a commercial truck driver is required to have depending on the number of hours he or she is behind the wheel. When they fail to abide by those requirements, they put themselves and everyone else on the road in danger.

If you have been seriously injured or a loved one has been killed in an accident that was caused by a fatigued truck driver, you should seek the advice of a qualified personal injury lawyer right away. At the law firm of Babbitt & Johnson P.A., our Florida truck driver fatigue accident attorneys have extensive experience successfully resolving even the most challenging commercial trucking accident cases.

In every case, we seek to maximize your recovery and to hold all negligent parties accountable for their part in the injuries you have suffered. In many cases, there are additional parties that can share in the liability beyond the driver. The driver’s employer, the owner of the truck and other parties should all be considered when investigating these cases.

As part of our investigation, we will look into the driver’s background for prior violations, check log books and gather any available information from GPS units or event data recorders. We take an exhaustive approach to our investigations and follow every lead in order to build the strongest possible case to support your claim for damages.

When truck drivers make the decision to get behind the wheel when they are intoxicated, they put everyone else on the road with them at risk of serious injury. Big rigs require every ounce of the driver’s skill and attention to operate safely under normal conditions. When drivers attempt to operate them after having a few drinks, the results can be catastrophic.

Under federal law, commercial truck drivers can be considered intoxicated if they have a blood alcohol level of .04 or more, compared to regular motorists whose limit is .08. If you have been injured in an accident that was caused by a truck driver who was under the influence of alcohol, it is critical that you seek the advice of a reputable personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

The Florida DUI trucking accident attorneys at the law firm of Babbitt & Johnson P.A. dedicate their entire practice to protecting the rights of people who have suffered serious or fatal injuries. We have extensive experience with these cases, and we are committed to pursuing every available option in an effort to protect your rights.

Our firm has a reputation for advocacy beyond the rights of our client. We have been involved in many cases whose outcomes have created fundamental changes in the way companies do business. We fight aggressively to secure maximum compensation for our clients, but we don’t stop there. We send a message to negligent truck drivers and their employers that doing business in a way that compromises the safety of the public will not be tolerated.

Commercial truck drivers are among the most highly trained drivers in the country. Eighteen-wheelers require an immense amount of skill to operate, and drivers carry the responsibility of handling them in a way that ensures the safety of other motorists. When accidents happen, the potential for serious injury is extremely high.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a semi truck, you have the right to seek compensation from the negligent parties. At the law firm of Babbitt & Johnson P.A., our West Palm Beach commercial trucking accident attorneys have the experience, the resources and the skill to protect your interests and see that the negligent parties are held accountable.

Trucking accident cases can be extremely complex. There are often multiple parties who could share in the responsibility for your injuries, and the insurance companies who cover trucking operations will do anything they can to avoid their responsibility to injury victims. Our firm has successfully represented clients in cases against some of the most recognized names in the trucking industry.

We conduct a complete investigation of your case to determine how the accident occurred and who was to blame. If equipment failure played a role in your accident, we will explore the possibility of pursuing a third-party claim against the manufacturer or maintenance company. We aggressively seek maximum compensation from all negligent parties in an effort to ensure that you receive the full recovery available.

Mistakes made by the driver of a passenger vehicle that averages around 3,000 pounds can result in serious injuries to other drivers and their passengers. Mistakes made by drivers of 18-wheelers, which average closer to 80,000 pounds, the potential for serious injury goes up dramatically. In an accident between a passenger vehicle and a commercial truck, the most serious injuries almost always happen to the occupants of the passenger vehicle.

Our Florida truck driver errors accident attorneys have helped countless clients to recover the compensation they deserve after a serious trucking accident. We seek full recovery for your pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost income and earning capacity, medical bills, future care and property damage.

Our attorneys recovered a $1.1 million award for the death of a 35-year-old involved in an automobile accident on an interstate highway. The victim’s death resulted from a negligent truck driver’s failure to maintain an appropriate speed.

The injuries you suffer as a result of truck driver error can be extremely serious and could result in a lifetime of hardship. We understand the value of the claim in these cases, and we know the best approach to protecting your rights. We know all the benefits provided to trucking accident victims, and we diligently pursue the best possible outcome for each client.

We have experience handling a wide variety of truck driver error cases, including:

• Reckless driving
• Failure to maintain a proper speed
• Following too close
• Drunk driving
• Unsecured load
• Driver fatigue
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act (FMCSA) violations

Fatigued and/or inattentive truck drivers pose significant danger to themselves and every other road user. Whether distracted by a cell phone, other passengers or a company dispatch radio, distracted truck drivers control 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, construction trucks and other commercial trucks that weigh multiple tons and have minimal stopping power.

Our truck accident attorneys have decades of experience crafting customized strategies and successfully resolving challenging truck accident cases. If you have been injured or a loved one has perished because of the negligence of a distracted truck driver, consulting with a knowledgeable and resourceful personal injury lawyer should be your next step.

Dedicated Representation | In-Depth Investigation

We have a full-time investigator — a former career police officer — and two paralegals on staff who collect, document and preserve evidence for each motor vehicle case we handle. We obtain witness accounts, consult with experts and fully examine all aspects of your case. Sometimes, it is the trucking company itself that is at fault for the truck driver’s negligence.
Trucking companies often work with particularly strong legal teams and have extensive resources to defend themselves from personal injury liability claims due to the high risk associated with their business. It is critical that you work with a lawyer who has the skills and tactfulness to prepare your case for any situation in litigation and in negotiation.

We will examine the driver’s background for prior violations, analyze logbooks, and gather any available information from GPS units or event data recorders. Our approach follows every lead in order to exhaust all possible explanations and to build the strongest possible case to support your claim in pursuit of your maximum compensation, including:

• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Future losses
• Punitive damages, in cases of egregious negligence

The federal government requires every commercial truck driver to record miles traveled and hours of service in a logbook each day. Drivers are also limited by federal regulations to a certain number of driving hours in succession and within 24 hours. During our decades of experience representing auto accident victims in Florida, we have found that drivers and trucking companies sometimes fail to properly report time, or they falsify their logbook records if drivers have not been complying with regulations.

It is critically important to obtain logbook records as soon as possible following an accident to prevent a driver or trucking company from falsifying information after the crash.

At Babbitt & Johnson P.A., we fully investigate all accident claims we take on independently. We have a full-time investigator — a former career police officer — and two paralegals on staff who collect, document and preserve evidence for each motor vehicle case we handle. We can check the logbook against information from the truck’s GPS unit or event data recorders.

Holding Trucking Companies Accountable | Pursuing Your Maximum Compensation

We provide free initial one-on-one consultations with our lawyers. You will have the time to discuss your situation in detail, discover your full legal options and make an informed decision on the next steps to obtaining the injury recovery you deserve. We take the time to gain a full understanding of your case, and we serve all your legal needs on a contingency fee basis.
Commercial truck accidents are complex and require a skilled attorney to build a strong case and represent your best interests with assertive action against trucking companies and their insurance providers. We provide personalized service, and you will work with the same accessible attorney throughout the process of your case.

Logbooks are meant to hold truck drivers and trucking companies accountable for their actions. When they violate federal regulations or falsify logbook records, we hold them accountable and aggressively pursue your maximum compensation, including:

• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Future losses
• Punitive damages, in cases of egregious negligence

Federal and state regulations on weight limits and on how cargo should be secured are strictly enforced. Truck drivers must follow rules defining maximum weight limits, how to stack cargo and how to properly tie down loads. The regulations exist to prevent serious truck accidents that could have been avoided. If a truck is improperly loaded or overloaded, the shifting of cargo can cause rollovers, increased stopping distances, jackknives, and decreased control of the truck and trailer overall.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an accident with an 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer, it pays to work with a lawyer who has the experience, ability and resources to aggressively pursue your full compensation. In West Palm Beach, Florida, the law firm of Babbitt & Johnson P.A., has been helping victims recover and obtain the compensation they deserve for their injuries for decades. We have a strong record of holding trucking companies accountable, and we can provide peace of mind in the midst of traumatic situations, including wrongful death as the result of a truck accident.

Trucking companies are notorious for attempting to falsify information after accidents, sometimes altering driver hour logbooks, cargo records and more. Drivers and companies may violate regulations in order to cut shipment times or move more freight at once, or they may just load their cargo in a careless manner not giving proper attention to safety restrictions that exist for a reason.

Improperly loaded or poorly secured cargo can have significant impact as it shifts on a rig that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Whether your accident was the result of falling cargo that struck your vehicle, cargo you had to swerve to avoid, a toxic chemical spilled on the roadway or an out-of-control semi truck, we will fully investigate the accident.

On staff, we have a full-time investigator – a former career police officer – and two paralegals who collect, document and preserve evidence for each motor vehicle case we handle. We will examine logbooks, records of weigh station check-ins, freight loading procedures and more to thoroughly cover every angle. Our attorneys aggressively pursue your full compensation and protect your rights while helping you cope with injury and plan for the future.

The loss of a loved one in a tragic accident is devastating, regardless of the specific situation. In a fatal truck accident, however, you have legal options to help you and your family recover. Your insurance company may tell you that it can help negotiate a favorable settlement, but it pays to have the counsel and guidance of an experienced lawyer on your side throughout the process.

At Babbitt & Johnson P.A., we can add efficiency and resourcefulness to the difficult situation you have been thrust into. We have decades of experience handling the technicalities and intricacies of wrongful death accident claims. We can handle all communications with insurance companies and launch an independent investigation to discover the true cause of the accident that caused the death.

We work with experts to establish the full value of your case, rather than the initial value insurers apply to your case, which is just an effort to minimize their costs and fulfill their best interests. We hold truck drivers and trucking companies accountable for their negligence.

Pursuing Your Best Interests and the Compensation You Deserve

Our attorneys work with our full-time, on staff investigator – a former career police officer – and two paralegals to collect, document and preserve evidence in your case. We closely examine logbooks, records of weigh station check-ins, freight loading procedures and more to thoroughly cover every angle that may have caused the tragic loss of your loved one.

If your loved one sustained fatal injuries following an accident with an 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer, the legal team at Babbitt & Johnson P.A., can aggressively pursue your full compensation and protect your rights. We will help you cope with your loss, and we will build a case that can provide for your future, pursuing losses such as:

• Loss of love, companionship, affection, solace, moral support and consortium of the decedent (if the spouse is a claimant)
• Loss of future income earnings and other financial support
• Value of household services the decedent would have provided in the future
• Medical expenses
• Funeral costs

Commercial trucks of all sizes are safety hazards on the road no matter how skilled or careful the driver is. Because of their weight, lack of maneuverability, many blind spots, increased stopping distance and greater potential for equipment failure, commercial truck accidents have a higher probability for causing serious to fatal injuries.

Trucking companies are responsible for hiring credible skilled drivers with clean driving records, ensuring driver logbooks are accurate, inspecting vehicles for maintenance issues, instructing drivers on proper loading of trucks and several other safety issues.

At Babbitt & Johnson P.A., we hold trucking companies accountable if we can establish that their negligence caused you or a loved one serious injury or death. Our staff includes a full-time investigator – a former career police officer – and two paralegals who independently examine accident scenes, evidence and witnesses of all trucking accident cases we handle. They collect, document and preserve evidence, and we consult with experts to fully examine all aspects of your case.

We also represent truck drivers who were injured due to the negligence of their employers or the owners of the commercial truck they were driving.

Experience You Can Depend On | Investigations to Your Benefit

Our lawyers meet with you one-on-one and take the time to gain a full understanding of your case. Accidents involving commercial trucks can become complicated and require the skills of a resourceful attorney. Multiple parties may be involved in the case, and we may have to pursue each party separately to obtain the compensation you deserve for injuries and damages.

Our decades of experience and detailed investigations can determine what specific negligent acts and parties played a role in your accident. We hold trucking companies and their insurance companies accountable for the damage they have inflicted, in aggressive pursuit of the compensation you deserve, including:

• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Future losses
• Punitive damages, in cases of egregious negligence