What Happens If the Truck Driver Is Not at Fault?

After you have been in a car accident involving a truck, you probably want to know who is at fault, especially when you are facing high medical bills. It is always best to hold someone responsible when they have caused your injuries, but what if the truck driver is not at fault? You might be thinking that if you and the truck driver are the only two people there at the time of the accident then it is unlikely someone else is responsible. However, there may be a few different possibilities. 

Who else could be liable? 

If the truck driver is denying liability, you may want to work with a lawyer, to determine if someone else may be responsible for the truck accident that caused your injuries. 

• The trucking company. In some instances, even if the truck driver was responsible for the accident, they may not be the ones who have to pay. You may be looking to file a claim against the trucking company because, in the event that you were injured in an accident, the trucking company would be responsible for their employee’s negligence. 

• The local governance. If the accident could have been avoided if there were appropriate road signs or if the road was in better condition, it may not be the truck driver’s fault and instead, you may be looking at filing a claim with the local governance.

• The truck parts manufacturer. Unfortunately, many trucks may be at a higher risk for accidents because the manufacturer of the parts may have provided the trucking company with a defective or malfunctioning product. When this is the case, a lawyer can help you file a claim against the pars manufacturer. 
• The truck’s mechanic. If the truck was not properly maintained between trips by the mechanic, then it is possible this was the cause of the accident, whether it was worn brake pads or old tires. If the accident occurred because the truck was not maintained, you may have the best opportunity to receive compensation if you file a claim against the mechanic.

Find Help For Your Claim Now

Getting into any kind of accident on the road can be unnerving. However, when you get into an accident with a large truck this can completely change your life. If you need help filing a claim, reach out to a local attorney for help today. 

Hospitals Make Huge Profits By Rejecting Health Insurance in Car Accidents

Hospitals Make Huge Profits By Rejecting Health Insurance in Car Accidents

Many patients are surprised to receive substantial emergency room bills after they are involved in auto accidents, despite the fact that they have health insurance that would have covered the hospital bill.  According to a recent report in the New York Times, many hospitals are taking advantage of hospital lien laws that allow hospitals to place a lien on the patient’s personal injury settlement.  By asserting a lien against the patient’s injury settlement, hospitals can avoid the contractual adjustments to their bills that are required when they accept health insurance. Instead, by placing a lien on the injury settlement, the hospital can collect amounts that can be five times higher, or more, than the amount that would have been allowed by the health insurance company.

The practice of hospitals foregoing their patients’ health insurance to seek higher payments from the patients’ injury settlement is especially common with low-income patients who have Medicaid. Medicaid’s reimbursement rates are typically significantly less than the reimbursement rates of private health insurance plans so hospitals have more to gain by pursuing a lien in Medicaid cases.

Consumer advocates decry the practice of asserting liens against the patient’s injury settlement in cases where the patient has health insurance, claiming that the hospital lien attaches to money that was intended to compensate the patient for their pain and suffering. While the patient’s injury lawsuit is pending, the hospital lien can adversely affect the patient’s credit. A lawsuit is currently pending against Tennova Healthcare Clarksville, a Tennessee hospital after the hospital pursued a lien against a veteran whose VA coverage would have paid the hospital’s emergency room bill.  The lawsuit alleges that the hospital engaged in predatory lien practices. Some hospitals have emergency room patients sign a waiver, agreeing that the hospital can pursue a lien rather than billing the patient’s health insurance. Some patients have complained that they were asked to sign the waiver while waiting for treatment for serious injuries, even head injuries and that the waiver was not explained to them.

Hospital industry representatives argue that hospital liens properly shift the burden for the cost of accident-related treatment to the liability insurance for the wrongdoer. Industry representatives argue that this practice is particularly justified in cases where the patient is covered by Medicaid or Medicare because the negligent party, not the government, should be responsible for the cost of treatment.

To learn more about Health Insurance in Car Accidents, call our expert car accident lawyer from Tuttle Larsen, P.A.

Could delayed symptoms after a car accident be a sign of serious injuries?

In the days and weeks after a car accident, you may feel sore. Bruises can take time to appear. These symptoms will usually fade with time. However, other symptoms could be signs that you experienced more serious injuries.

Abdominal pain

Severe abdominal pain and large, persistent bruises that appear hours or days after an accident could be a sign of internal bleeding. Internal bleeding could be life-threatening, and these conditions often require emergency medical care.

Back pain

Just as abdominal pain can be a symptom of internal bleeding, back pain—especially lower back pain—can be a sign of damage to the spinal column.

Numbness

Numbness in your arms or hands can be a sign that you have spine or nerve damage from an injury like whiplash, an injury associated with about 20% of rear-end collisions.

Headaches

Headaches can be caused by a wide variety of medical conditions, including some severe injuries after a car accident. These include whiplash, injuries to the head and traumatic brain injuries.

Changes in personality or impaired thinking

Car crashes impact most victims emotionally, but significant changes in personality and other cognitive challenges could be a sign of traumatic brain injury. You could also experience memory loss, difficulty sleeping, challenges with your speech and disorientation.

Because many severe injuries can have delayed symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after an accident. Not only does this give you the chance to have your injuries treated immediately, it also provides documentation that links your medical needs to the crash. This can be important evidence that supports your injury claim and helps you get the medical and financial support you need.

Speed Kills, Studies Show

Excessive speed is a contributing factor in approximately one-half of all traffic fatalities.  Approximately 10,000 people are killed each year in speed-related car accidents in the United States.  That number has been increasing, as speed limits have increased across the country in the past 25 years.  Some argue that increasing speed limits simply acknowledges the reality that most drivers exceed the speed limit.  However, studies show that, once the limit is raised, drivers just go faster.  Most states have maximum speed limits of 70 miles per hour.  Six states have 80 mph speed limits.  Texans can drive up to 85 mph on some highways.

A study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) concluded that increased speed limits have cost 40,000 lives over the past 25 years, including approximately 2,000 in 2019 alone.  The study also showed that each 5 mph increase in the speed limits results in an 8 percent increase in highway fatalities.

Charles Farmer, IIHS vice president for research and statistical services, noted that a 5 mph increase in speed saves only 6 ½ minutes on a 100-mile trip.  “Before raising speed limits, state lawmakers should consider whether that potential time savings is worth the additional risk to lives,” Farmer says.

“There are huge benefits from reducing speed, said Veronique Feypell, manager of the Road Safety Program at the International Transport Forum.  According to Feypell, a 10 increase in speed leads to a 40% increase in the likelihood of a fatal crash.

Researchers are investigating  new approaches to addressing the issue of vehicle speed, including a geofencing approach that would automatically reduce vehicle speeds in certain areas.  Urban planners are also experimenting with reduced speed areas that encourage more pedestrian and bicycle use.

Climate change is another factor that is making planners consider reducing vehicle speed in urban areas.  Driving at lower speed means less fuel use, which lowers carbon emissions.  “There are 1.3 million traffic deaths annually and another 4.2 million deaths attributed to pollution,” said Janette Sadik-Kah, former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation and chair of the Global Designing Cities Initiative.  “Streets that are safe for people also support the health of the planet.”

Recent research on truck drivers and coffee drinking

Since truck drivers spend a lot of time on the road, many of them try to combat drowsy driving by drinking energy drinks or coffee. It might seem like ingesting coffee is just what a trucker needs to stay alert and not cause an auto wreck. Recent research, however, suggests that truckers who drink coffee over a long period of time are more likely to experience an automobile accident.

According to American Trucker, a UK researcher conducted a study of 3,000 American drivers across eight states and discovered that truckers who consumed a lot of coffee or energy drinks were 6% more likely to get into a crash. However, drinking coffee might not be the cause of the crashes, but an indicator of other problems that could cause an accident.

Indications of poor health

According to the study, truckers who reported drinking more coffee generally had health issues or poor health habits. They tended not to get enough sleep. They drank greater amounts of alcohol. They smoked and did not eat a proper diet. Overall, these respondents were more likely to be in poorer health than other truck drivers.

These factors indicated that drinking a lot of coffee was not the sole or primary cause of getting into an accident. The study was more likely to indicate that extensive coffee consumption was just one factor contributing to a number of negative health issues that could result in a trucker getting into a road collision.

Improving driver health as a whole

The researcher behind the study did not suggest that truck drivers quit drinking coffee or energy drinks completely, but instead pointed out that small doses of caffeine can increase alertness and minimize drowsiness. Still, drinking a lot of coffee did not substitute for a good night’s sleep or a positive state of health.

The article went on to explain that further studies might help to better understand the effects of caffeine on truck drivers. The researcher suggested that drivers should undertake efforts to improve their overall health rather than focusing all their efforts on combating fatigue. Maintaining good health may help truckers avoid dangerous driving behaviors such as reckless driving or speeding that could result in a serious or deadly accident.

Road rage often starts with 4 types of behaviors

If you regularly encounter aggressive drivers during your commutes, you are not alone. In fact, according to a recent survey, more than 80% of drivers report engaging in aggressive driving. Road rage is not a harmless expression of emotion, though. On the contrary, it is a leading cause of car accidents across the country. 

The best way to avoid a collision with an angry driver is to deescalate the situation as quickly as possible. After all, a car accident injury may change your life forever, even if you pursue and receive reasonable compensation from the angry driver who caused the collision. Before you can deescalate, though, you must know how to spot aggressive drivers. Road rage typically starts with one of the following four types of behaviors. 

1. Speeding

At one time or another, virtually every driver has exceeded the speed limit. Still, if someone is driving too quickly to be safe, he or she may be prone to road rage. This is particularly true if a driver is tailgating your vehicle or trying to pass in an unsafe place. 

2. Blocking

Driving in and around Vero Beach requires constantly merging and exiting. If a driver blocks you from these normal maneuvers, he or she may be engaged in road rage. Similarly, if someone prevents you from changing lanes, driving at normal speeds or making other ordinary movements, your personal safety may be in jeopardy. 

3. Brake checking

Brake checking occurs when the driver in front of your vehicle suddenly slams on his or her brakes. If you do not hit yours immediately, you are at risk of a collision. Brake checking is an extremely dangerous maneuver.

4. Obscene gesturing

Obscene gestures are a clear sign of road rage. There is no upside to engaging with an angry driver. We urge you to resist the urge to engage with an angry and dangerous driver. 

Drivers who succumb to road rage are a hazard to other motorists, pedestrians and themselves. The car accidents they cause in Vero Beach and all over Florida take a tremendous toll. Innocent people are injured or killed, altering their lives and the lives of countless people around them. If you are one of the many victims of aggressive, unsafe drivers, it is important to act quickly to assert your right to compensation. The at-fault driver should be held accountable for the harm you’ve suffered.

Can I see my crash report after a wreck?

You have a right to receive your crash report after a traffic incident in Florida. State law dictates that officers must submit a report within ten days of a crash and that the report is available to select persons, including those involved.

Understanding Florida law and how it relates to crash reports can help you evaluate your options and plan a response after an accident.

What is in my crash report

Crash reports, at a minimum, must include the names and addresses of all parties involved — including passengers and witnesses, details about the vehicles, the time and location of the crash, the names of the insurance companies and the attending officer’s name and badge number. Crash reports may also include narratives from drivers or witnesses, information about items found in the cars, results of drug or alcohol tests and other details.

Who can see my report

Crash reports are confidential for 60 days after an accident; however, certain parties can access a report with valid identification. The parties involved, legal and insurance representatives and certain news agencies are among those with permission to receive a copy. It is a third-degree felony to obtain or attempt to obtain a crash report containing confidential personal information unlawfully.

How can I get a copy

In Florida, you can buy a crash report for a nominal fee online or via a mailed request. Using the online portal requires an additional convenience fee, but you can view it immediately. If you make a request by mail, you will need to provide a sworn statement of your right to receive a copy, and it will subsequently take up to 4-6 weeks to get the report.

If something in your report is not accurate, contact the attending officer to see if you can get it amended.

Why should you be cautious when passing on the right?

When you are riding your bike through the busy streets of Florida, your safety depends on your vigilance and adherence to the rules of the road. However, your safety is also heavily influenced by the judgment, vigilance and responsibility of motor vehicles around you.

If you end up in a predicament where you are hit by a car, the results could be life-altering. Understanding which hazards to watch for and raising your own awareness can help you to mitigate the risks of riding your bike and thus prevent avoidable accidents because you were able to recognize danger before it was too late.

Passing on the right

Regardless of the availability of a bike lane, if you are passing vehicles on the right, you should practice extra caution. While you may assume the right-of-way because you are on a bicycle and are in the appropriate area of the street, passing cars may be oblivious to your presence.

According to active.com, one risk of passing on the right is that a vehicle occupant will open his or her passenger door right into your path. There are also plenty of motorists who neglect to signal which direction they are turning and even though their blinker may not be on, they may make a right-hand turn right in front of you. Other hazards include distracted motorists drifting into your lane or appearing to stop for you when really, they are leaving a gap for a left-hand turner to come out from a parking lot or driveway.

Practicing vigilance

In each of the aforementioned scenarios, your awareness of your surroundings may help you to notice hazards before you end up colliding with a vehicle. Staying as alert and vigilant as possible requires you to eliminate distractions including noisy music or podcasts or the consumption of medications or alcohol that may prevent you from staying focused.