South Miami is located in the Miami metropolitan area and has a population of more than 11,657. At first glance, it may seem like a small suburb. It boasts tree-lined neighborhood streets, a historic downtown, and quaint architecture. The city also has a robust economy. The South Miami central business district is directly connected to the Miami Metrorail, connecting it to downtown Kendall, downtown Miami, and Miami International Airport. Additionally, U.S. 1, also known as the South Dixie Highway, stretches through much of the city, along with state routes 976, 986, and 959. Its own commerce as well as its proximity to Miami mean South Miami has a great deal of commercial trucking traffic. Unfortunately, this can lead to trucking accidents that result in injuries and fatalities.
If you were injured in a truck accident, or a loved one was killed, do not hesitate to contact South Miami truck accident attorney at Gerson & Schwartz P.A. at (877) 475-2905. We will immediately take action, seek to preserve evidence, and thoroughly investigate who is at fault and liable for your injuries.
Common Causes of Truck AccidentsTruckers are intended to be well-trained professional drivers. To drive large commercial vehicles, they must obtain their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). For specific types of trucks and cargo, they may need additional endorsements on their CDL. All of this education and training should mean that truck drivers are skilled and careful while operating large semis and other trucks. However, truck driver negligence is all too often a cause of truck accidents.
At Gerson & Schwartz P.A., we have handled many truck accident cases in which a truck driver was:
We have also handled trucking accident claims that arose after a trucker failed to properly inspect their vehicle, as is required by law, or failed to properly secure their cargo. Whatever the reason for the trucking accident that led to your injuries, or whether or not you know the reason, you should speak with a truck accident attorney in South Miami. You deserve to know more about your rights and legal options after a truck wreck.
Additionally, truck accidents are not always the fault of the truck driver. During our in-depth investigation into the crash, we may find the accident that caused your injuries was due to a manufacturing defect, improperly loaded cargo, or another matter that was the responsibility of the trucking company or maintenance provider.
Preserving EvidenceTo find out what happened to cause the accident, your attorney needs to be able to gather and review a great deal of evidence. However, one of the most important pieces of evidence – the truck – is under the control of the other, potentially liable party. You need to contact an attorney immediately in order to take steps to preserve important evidence.
At Gerson & Schwartz P.A., we will immediately send a preservation letter to all other potential parties in your case, informing them of the need to keep and protect a wide variety of evidence that may be important to the accident claim, such as the truck itself, the truck’s “black box,” maintenance records, hours of service records for the truck driver, and employment records for the driver.
Who is At-Fault in a Truck Accident?One purpose of a South Miami truck accident lawyer’s investigation is to determine why the truck crash occurred. Your lawyer will find out exactly what went wrong. Another purpose is to find out who is at fault for what went wrong. Was it the truck driver, another employee of the trucking company, the truck or part manufacturer, or another party? The next purpose of the investigation is to determine who is liable for compensating you for your injuries. The individual who is directly at fault may not be the party you file a claim against. For example, the truck driver may have been at fault. However, as an employee of a larger motor carrier, you will hold the business liable.
Compensation After a Truck AccidentIf you were injured in a trucking accident, and your attorney finds evidence that another party was at fault, then you may have the right to pursue compensation through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. If a relative was killed in the crash, then your family may have the right to pursue a Florida wrongful death claim.
In a personal injury case, you may be able to recover compensation for your:
To discuss the potential value of your claim, you should contact a truck accident lawyer for South Miami. You can reach us at Gerson & Schwartz P.A. at (305) 371-6000. We offer free initial consultations.