Head-on collisions are among the most dangerous and deadliest regardless the size of the vehicles that are involved. These types of accidents are especially dangerous when one of the vehicles involved is a tractor trailer. Due to the large size differential between trucks and passenger vehicles, it is not uncommon for head-on truck collisions to result in very severe injuries or even death. With the help of a dedicated Melbourne truck accident lawyer, head-on collision accident victims in Melbourne and Titusville may file a claim in court and receive compensation for their physical, financial and emotional damages.

Causes

Vehicles may collide head-on for a variety of reasons. An improperly-marked one way street can make it difficult for drivers to avoid traveling in the wrong direction. Drivers may have difficulty finding the correct lane on a road that has a faded center line. Head-on collisions sometimes occur if a vehicle attempts to pass at the wrong time on a two-lane road. In addition to these scenarios, the following factors may also contribute to a head-on accident:

• driving under the influence of alcohol of drugs
• distracted driving
• aggressive driving
• failure to follow road signs
• mechanical failure or defect
• improperly maintained road conditions

Liability in head-on wrecks

Determining who was at fault in a head-on truck collision depends on multiple factors. The truck driver is at fault if he or she was operating the truck while intoxicated or if he or she disobeyed traffic laws and collided with another vehicle as a result. In other cases, someone else may be at fault. If the accident occurred because one vehicle veered outside of its lane due to a downed tree or overgrown hedge, the owner of the tree is likely to be at fault. An improperly labeled street or intersection may cause a head-on crash as a result of the local government’s fault. Failed brakes that prevent a vehicle from stopping may be the fault of the vehicle manufacturer or the auto shop that maintained or installed the brakes. Some accidents can have several parties that are potential liable from the victim’s injuries. Therefore, the injured party should always consult a lawyer immediately after the accident has occurred.

Recovering compensation

The injuries people often suffer following a truck accident extend beyond physical pain. Accident victims who sustain injury have medical expenses, typically must take time off from work, and may require long-term care for physical rehabilitation, emotional support, or disability. Family members of people who are killed by a head-on truck collision must pay funeral expenses and spend time grieving. If the victim was responsible for financially contributing to support a household or minor children, the family members also suffer financial loss. The good news is all these losses can be compensated in court. A Melbourne truck accident attorney can help accident victims who have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence and victims’ families file an action against the liable party and receive compensation for their damages. Victims and their families may be entitled to the following:

• medical expenses
• physical therapy
• medical devices
• lost wages
• future lost wages
• pain and suffering
• loss of consortium
• funeral expenses

Seeking legal counsel

For many, the days that follow a severe truck accident are filled with medical diagnostics and treatment, phone calls, filing insurance claims, contacting employers, and notifying friends and family members to come together for the needed support. Making an extra phone call to an attorney may not be the first move that comes to mind. Nevertheless, reaching out to a trustworthy, experienced lawyer can alleviate some of the stress accident victims and their families experience. Calling a Melbourne truck accident attorney means putting a trained legal advocate to work at seeking the financial resources the victim needs while freeing up the victim and his or her family’s energy and attention to focus on healing and recovery.

You don’t have long to file suit

Experienced personal injury attorneys in Florida are available to immediately begin work on Melbourne or Titusville trucking injury cases. It is best and highly recommended to contact a lawyer immediately after the accident has occurred, victims and family members who have delayed in filing a claim are not necessarily barred from filing. Florida imposes a four year statute of limitations on personal injury cases, including truck collisions; therefore, victims may file a claim within four years of the date of the accident. However, it is best to contact an attorney early to evaluate the accident scene as local governments are constantly changing and updating roads and intersections and witnesses may become more difficult to track down over time. The victim should also be thoroughly examined immediately after the accident in order to properly document all injuries, which will ultimately need to be established in court. A Melbourne trucking accident lawyer can ensure the victim receives all the necessary medical evaluations to properly establish his or her case for compensation during settlement negotiations and, if necessary, at trial. For victims and their families, the first step toward receiving the compensation they need and deserve is to retain counsel. From there, the attorney will listen and learn more about the victim’s case and begin the process of fighting for the victim’s rights.