In theory, construction projects are good for Sarasota. It means new buildings are going up or old roads are getting repaired. The problem comes when you have to live next to a construction project or get stuck in traffic outside a work zone. Of course, those are temporary problems. Getting involved in an accident caused by a construction vehicle is another story.
That kind of collision can mean replacing a car you just paid off or being laid up by injuries that keep you from working and enjoying the Florida sun. Worst of all, that pain and suffering were caused by an accident that was preventable. You might feel like there is nothing you can do but push through the pain. Titan Law is here to help turn things around.
We’re a team of dedicated Sarasota construction zone accident lawyers who work tirelessly on behalf of our clients who have been injured by construction vehicles. These cases can be complex, especially if you’re taking on a huge construction company with a legion of lawyers. That won’t be an issue for us because we won’t back down when we take on a case.
Before we dive in, we need to hear what happened and how it has impacted your life. Our goal is to help you get your life back on track as quickly as possible.
Common Construction Vehicles in Sarasota
What was the last construction site you passed on your way to work or dropping the kids off at school? Was it a zone where you had to slow down? No matter what is being built or worked on, there are a lot of moving parts on any construction site. In addition to the actual work crews, many vehicles and heavy equipment are coming and going from the site. Here are some of the construction vehicles you could encounter around a work zone or out on the roads:
- Bulldozers
- Flatbeds
- Forklifts
- Road rollers
- Dump trucks
- Cranes
- Cement mixers
- Excavators
- Backhoes
- Asphalt milling machines
All of the operators of those vehicles need to undergo special training and certification, but that does not guarantee that they are immune from negligence. Depending on the type of vehicle, they could encounter challenges maneuvering city streets and transporting heavy and hazardous loads.
Speak With a Sarasota Construction Zone Accident Lawyer
How Construction Zone Accidents Occur
You might think that getting into an accident with a construction zone vehicle is a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. While that is partially true, you also have to consider the actions of the vehicle operator. Here are some of the common ways that construction zone accidents can occur:
Negligent Hiring
Before a trucker driver or construction vehicle operator is hired, the company needs to conduct a complete background check to confirm their training, license, qualifications, background, and driving history. If there are any red flags in that history, the company should seriously consider whether that person should work for them.
That is especially true if there have been DUI incidents. Failing to take those considerations seriously could make a company liable for its employees’ actions.
Inconsistent Vehicle Maintenance
Before any truck or construction vehicle hits the road, it needs to undergo a maintenance check. If those vehicles aren’t properly maintained, they can fail. Imagine driving in front of a truck weighing 30 tons and that truck is not able to put on the brakes. It would not end well.
Blind Spots
The bigger the truck, the bigger the blind spot. Technically, big construction vehicles have four blind spots. The operator’s vision is compromised in the front, rear, and on both sides. That means they need to be extremely cautious when merging, turning, or changing lanes.
Speeding
Going over the speed limit is bad enough for a car. When a truck does that, it becomes a bigger danger. Add rain and wind in a storm, and you’re creating a perfect recipe for an accident.
Improperly Loaded Cargo
Every construction project begins with the demolition phase. All that debris needs to be hauled away. Then, all the construction materials need to be brought in. On either trip, there is a risk of those loads causing problems for the truck driver or the cars following them.
Loose debris in the back of a dump truck can fly out and smash into the car’s windshield. Cargo that has been improperly loaded on the back of a truck can cause that truck to spill over. When a cargo incident is a factor in a crash, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has regulations on cargo securement for size and weight limits. When a truck doesn’t follow those rules, accidents happen.
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Tailgating
The average semi-truck needs the braking distance of two football fields to come to a complete stop if it is traveling at 60 mph. Have you ever seen a truck keep that kind of distance between it and the cars in front of it?
Distracted Driving
A truck driver can be victim to the same distractions as a car driver, and it only takes a second for their eyes to leave the road for an accident to occur.
Understanding how your accident occurred will help your Sarasota construction zone accident lawyer create the foundation for your claim.
Getting What You’re Owed
If you’ve gotten into an accident with a construction zone vehicle, you might think you should file a claim with the operator’s insurance company, and everything will be wrapped up in a neat bow. That rarely happens. It is the trucking company who holds the policy for their truck and employees. That coverage can start at a minimum of $300,000 and go up to several million.
You can bet that the insurance carrier will do everything possible to deny the claim or offer you an insufficient amount in the hopes that you’ll just go away. If Titan Law gets involved, we won’t let that happen. We also fight to help our clients get the maximum benefits allowed. The following are some of the things you could make a claim for from your accident:
- Surgery
- Hospitalization
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Lost future earnings
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Rental cars
- Emotional distress
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In 2022, there were 360 fatal crashes involving trucks in Florida. That is according to numbers compiled by the National Safety Council. In those instances, the surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim. In that scenario, you are entitled to seek compensation that would cover the losses your loved one could have earned for the rest of their life.
You only get one chance to get the numbers right. Whatever you ask for has to cover all your current and future expenses. When you agree to the final number, you won’t be able to ask for more. In other words, there is no such thing as double-dipping with insurance claims.
How Titan Law Helps Its Clients Recover Their Losses
Titan Law has the experience and the network of investigators to file a claim on behalf of our clients. In order to support the claim, we need to get answers to the following:
- How serious was the injury?
- What are the emotional damages from the accident?
- How long will your recovery last?
- What are the total expenses due to the injury?
In order to establish the merits of the claim we will dispatch our investigator squad to gather all the documentation related to the accident including surveillance videos, driver’s history, crash reports and witness statements.
The sooner we help you find a resolution, the sooner you can get on with your life. All this support begins with our first free strategy session. You get to tell us what happened, and we get to answer all your questions. Call to set up your session today.
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