Kenneth City Truck Accident Attorneys
Hold the negligent party responsible for your injuries with the backing of our Kenneth City truck accident attorneys.
Summary
- Kenneth City residents face heightened risks of semi-truck accidents, especially given the area’s proximity to major roadways.
- In Pinellas County, truck accidents caused 330 injuries and 9 fatalities, reflecting a growing severity in commercial vehicle crashes.
- Distracted driving, fatigue, substance abuse, mechanical failures, and unstable cargo all contribute to Kenneth City truck accidents.
- Victims often suffer life-altering injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, requiring long-term care and significant compensation.
- Jones Law Group specializes in handling Kenneth City truck accident claims, identifying liable parties, and securing comprehensive compensation for victims’ financial and emotional losses.
Named for the son of the developer who helped establish this St. Petersburg suburb, Kenneth City has a population of 5,047. Over 35% of the population is older than 65, which skews higher than Florida’s average age distribution.
According to the American Community Survey, over 91% of Kenneth City workers drove, biked, or rode public transportation to their jobs. That means many Kenneth City residents share the road with truckers during the week, especially if they use Route 19 or I-275 to commute to St. Petersburg.
Consequently, they are at risk for a collision with a semi-truck. The aftermath of a truck accident is challenging to navigate. On top of tending to your injuries, you have to manage the various costs that arise from the accident.
Our Kenneth City truck accident lawyers can simplify the process of recovering compensation for your damages. We are equipped to confront powerful insurance companies to secure a fair settlement after your Florida truck accident.
Schedule a free consultation with a Kenneth City truck accident attorney at (727) 571-1333 or submit an online contact form.
Commercial Truck Accident Statistics Record More Crashes
Large trucks compromise 9% of all vehicles involved in fatal car accidents according to the NSC’s statistics on large truck crashes. In recent years, injuries resulting from truck accidents have increased.
The FMCSA’s large truck report noted that the number of annual truck accident injuries rose from 112,000 to 121,000 between 2016 and 2018. In 2017 alone, nearly 32,000 of those large truck accidents happened in Florida.
In Pinellas County, where Kenneth City is located, there were 1,389 crashes involving commercial motor vehicles like large trucks in 2022. The FLHSMV Crash Stats report shows 9 people died in these truck accidents and an additional 330 sustained injuries.
From 2021 to 2022, the number of commercial motor vehicle accident injuries in Pinellas County increased by 7.14% while the number of collisions only increased by 1.68%.
This may indicate a concerning uptick in the severity of commercial truck accidents in Kenneth City and other Pinellas County cities.
Jones Law Group Offers Local Legal Advice for Kenneth City Truck Accident Victims
The truck accident attorneys of Jones Law Group have advocated for injured Tampa Bay-area accident victims since 2006. Our team is familiar with the challenges of different types of truck accident cases as well as local laws that may impact your claim.
We believe in making the personal injury claims process as simple as possible for our clients, which means being accessible to neighborhoods and zip codes in and around Kenneth City, Florida. Our team serves:
| Neighborhoods Near Kenneth City | Kenneth City/Tampa Bay Area Zip Codes |
| Holiday Park Disston Heights Millbrooke Ranch Jungle Terrace West Lealman El Ray | 33709 33781 33710 33777 33708 33744 |
Characteristics of Kenneth City Truck Accidents vs. Car Accidents
Truck accidents are far more devastating than the typical car accident. According to the Federal Highway Administration, the main reason why is that at 20,000 to 80,000 pounds, trucks are exponentially larger than passenger vehicles.
Truck Accident Injuries are Usually More Severe
As a car occupant in a truck accident, you’re especially vulnerable to serious injuries, and the outcome is far more likely to be fatal.
For instance, in 2018, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety statistics showed that 82% of truck accident deaths affected car occupants, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Yet truck occupants accounted for only 16% of the deaths.
Trucking Regulations Impact Liability in Truck Accident Claims
Proving fault after a truck accident is a different process as well. The truck industry has rules and regulations to follow that don’t apply to most drivers. For example, truck drivers have limits on how long they can drive under FDOT transit operator policies.
Determining what rules and regulations were violated is a key component of your truck accident case. A Kenneth City truck accident attorney who is familiar with the industry can confidently investigate this for you.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents Endanger Kenneth City Residents
Although uncontrollable factors, like the weather, can make it more difficult for a truck driver to operate their rig safely, driver negligence is the main cause of Florida truck crashes.
Or, in some cases, an issue with the truck itself or the cargo are responsible for a Kenneth City truck accident. The following are the major causes of truck accidents:
Recklessness or Lack of Skill
Distracted Driving: Truck drivers who divide their attention to text, eat, or video chat put other motorists in danger. Even checking or adjusting a navigation device is a form of distracted driving, and it can jeopardize the lives of everyone on the road.
Inadequate Training: There are different types of licenses that dictate what size truck a driver can operate. If they’re not properly trained to handle the truck they’re given, it could be the fault of their employer.
Driver Impairment
Substance Abuse: Using drugs and alcohol is unfortunately common among professional truck drivers. While some use substances for recreational purposes, others rely on substances like prescription drugs to remain alert.
Drivers may reason that these substances are necessary while they are driving alone, at night, or for long hours. However, this slows down their reaction time, blurs their judgment, and can even impact their vision.
Driver Fatigue: Drivers are sometimes offered incentives to meet deadlines. Others are eager to finish their routes and head home. They overextend themselves, and they’re not always awake and alert enough to drive safely. Truck driver fatigue can easily lead to a fatal collision.
Truck Malfunction or Unsecured Cargo
Mechanical Malfunctions: Because of the long miles they travel, trucks need to be checked regularly for mechanic problems. When they’re not, critical parts can fail at the worst possible time.
Unstable or Unrestrained Cargo: Falling cargo accidents, or lost load truck accidents, can occur as the result of a truck colliding with another vehicle. The impact can dislodge the truck’s cargo, leaving a path of debris in its wake.
Alternatively, shifting cargo can be the source of a Kenneth City truck accident if it throws the truck off balance or gets caught on something, like a sign.
Common Injuries from Kenneth City Truck Accidents Can Cause Permanent Disabilities
Traumatic Brain Injuries: TBIs happen when the head endures blunt force or is penetrated by an object. TBIs can cause a host of cognitive problems, including a reduced IQ. Physical problems like chronic headaches and nerve damage are also common.
Spinal Cord Injuries: Truck accidents place a tremendous amount of force on car occupant’s necks and backs. This can result in full paralysis or partial paralysis in the lower half of the body. However, there are other less severe spinal cord injuries that can still have an incredible impact on your life.
For instance, chronic back pain may need to be managed with pain medications or therapy on a long-term basis. It can be debilitating enough to permanently disable a truck accident victim.
Internal Injuries: Internal injuries often aren’t immediately noticeable. They quickly become life-threatening. With internal bleeding, your body parts that rely on a supply of blood aren’t getting what they need to function. Vital organs that have been punctured or crushed can rapidly begin failing.
Wrongful Death: Sadly, truck accidents take the lives of many as soon as a collision happens. Other times, the injured parties suffer for months or year before an injury takes their lives.
Third-Party and Multi-Party Liability in FL Truck Accident Cases
In most car accidents, a driver is at-fault, but with truck accidents, there is a good chance that a third-party or multiple parties are liable for a commercial truck crash. A Kenneth City truck accident attorney can help you ascertain who is responsible for your injuries.
The Driver
Truck drivers make the same mistakes that other motorists do. Some speed, change lanes without checking blind spots, and ignore traffic signals.
The Trucking Company
The trucking company is responsible for meeting a myriad of standards. One is hiring properly trained drivers and ensuring they only drive trucks they’re licensed to operate.
Another requirement is making sure drivers take breaks regularly. Unfortunately, some companies cut corners to decrease labor and transportation costs, and accidents happen as a result.
The Loaders
Every truck has a weight capacity, and truck loaders should never allow that limit to be exceeded. An overloaded truck makes it difficult for a driver to control the steering and breaking.
Extra weight also wears down parts like the brakes much faster than normal. Despite the risks, excess cargo is sometimes loaded to cut down on the number of trips drivers have to make.
Another shortcut loaders may take is packing cargo without properly securing it. As a result, items can shift and change the distribution of weight within the truck. This makes it harder for a driver to maintain control. It can lead to a turnover.
The Manufacturer
Parts that are faulty are manufactured and placed in vehicles of all kinds regularly. Trucks are no exception. Defective brakes, steering mechanisms, and tires are just a few issues that can make the road unsafe for everyone.
The Truck Owner
The truck owner is often a different entity than the truck company. An owner who rents out trucks needs to ensure that their vehicles are regularly and properly maintained.
However, an owner may take shortcuts to get their rented trucks back on the road so that they can generate more income.
Compensation for Your Damages Can Cover Monetary and Emotional Losses
Since accident victims often need to be compensated for extensive damages, companies within the truck industry carry large insurance policies. You can recover for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.
Additionally, you can recover the cost of replacement services you need while you’re unable to take care of yourself and your household. If you’re a survivor of a truck accident victim, you may be able to collect compensation via a wrongful death claim.
You may know that you can pursue compensation from the at-fault party, but the process is rarely straightforward because of all the people and companies at play in the trucking industry.
A Kenneth City truck accident lawyer can assist you in listing, documenting, and evaluating your damages.
Why You Should Let a Kenneth City Truck Accident Attorney to Assess Your Damages
Even though truck accident victims are eligible for multiple forms of compensation, they’re often shortchanged. The insurance company might offer just enough to cover your immediate expenses.
That’s why when you decide to hire a Kenneth City truck accident attorney, you want to make sure that they have handled catastrophic injury cases. An experienced Kenneth City truck accident attorney will value your claim based on how your injuries impact you in the long-term.
For example, you may have an injury that is likely to require multiple surgeries in the coming years. Or your injury could cause you to miss out on future career advancements.
Hiring a specialized truck accident lawyer to help you identify and quantify your damages is essential. Otherwise, you may not recover enough compensation to cover your long-term medical expenses, reduced earning capacity, and other damages.
Contact a Truck Accident Attorney From Jones Law Group Today
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, contact a Kenneth City personal injury attorney at Jones Law Group. We are uncompromising with insurance companies that want accident victims to settle for less.
Our team will investigate all possible contributors to your accident and explore all forms of compensation you’re eligible for so that you can get the most for your claim. For a free consultation, call us at (727) 571-1333 or contact us online.
