Trial-Experienced Ocala Truck Accident Lawyer

Not all law firms are created equal. Some make promises they can’t keep, guaranteeing seven-figure outcomes that never manifest. Others require upfront rates, putting injured people in further financial straits. You don’t have to deal with either of these things with Meldon Law. When we say that we’ll do something, we do it.

If you suffered injuries in a collision, an Ocala truck accident lawyer can advocate for what you need, all while offering endless compassion and support. You don’t have to be uncertain about your case’s outcome any longer. We’re here to serve you. Contact us today to begin your free, no-strings-attached case review. Together, we can explore working with our Ocala personal injury team and what that entails.

Compensation We May Recover for Your Ocala Truck Accident

Every accident is different. When you call for your free consultation, we’ll talk about what damages you could recover. They should account for your past, present, and future losses.

Economic damages include financial losses, such as:

• Medical bills for treatment already received
• Estimated costs of treatment you may need in the future
• Wages you lost from missing work
• Estimated future lost earnings if you cannot return to your prior position due to your injury
• Property damage, including your vehicle and personal property you had with you at the time of the accident

Non-economic losses refer to your non-financial losses. We consider the severity of your condition and its effect on your life when pursuing:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder
• Permanent disabilities and impairments, such as from a traumatic brain injury or a paralyzing spinal cord injury
• Decreased quality of life
• Loss of consortium

Properly calculating your claim’s value can be complicated, especially since many losses from serious injuries are intangible and not directly associated with financial losses. Our Ocala attorneys can determine your claim’s value and pursue that sum from the liable party.

Meldon Law Is Built on Decades of Client Success

When you entrust us with your case, you benefit from our lawyers’ years of combined legal experience. For more than 30 years, we’ve recovered millions for injured claimants, including victims of crashes involving commercial trucks.

Some of our success stories include:

• We secured $3 million in damages after our client suffered serious injuries in a collision with a large truck.
• Our clients were the parents of schoolchildren hurt in a bus accident. We secured $425,000 and $337,000 for these families.
• After a truck collided with our client’s car, they required shoulder surgery. We recovered $135,000 for their hardships.

Each year, we add another story to our history of successes. You can learn about our case results during your complimentary case review.

How Our Lawyers Manage Complicated Truck Accident Cases in Ocala

Truck accident cases are sometimes more complex than other accident cases. After a crash with a large truck, the case isn’t resolved by simply calling the other driver’s insurance company and making a claim. Instead, you must square off with trucking corporations armed with legal teams and insurance representatives.

At Meldon Law, our truck accident attorneys know how to determine liability and prove negligence. Many different parties can cause or contribute to a truck accident, including:

• The truck driver
• Truck owner(s)
• The company that employs the driver
• Trucking company managers
• Cargo loaders
• Individuals or companies responsible for truck maintenance
• The truck manufacturer or those that manufactured parts for the truck

Using evidence, we can determine who should pay for your losses. If we find that more than one party owes you compensation, we can seek financial recovery from each of them.

Our Attorneys Gather the Evidence Needed to Prove Your Case

With the passage of HB 837, if you caused most of the truck accident, you can’t recover compensation. This makes gathering evidence crucial. We need compelling information to show how the other party’s negligence led to your accident. Examples include:

• The police report
• Photos and videos of the accident scene
• Accident reconstruction data
• The truck’s black box data
• The trucker’s driving logs
• Traffic camera/dash cam footage
• Admissions made at the accident scene
• Witness testimony
• Your medical records

You Pay Nothing Upfront to Partner With Our Ocala Truck Accident Team

We offer a free case evaluation to potential clients. During that time, we learn about your case and answer your questions. If it seems like a good fit for you and our firm, we move forward with your case, working on a contingency-fee basis. This means that you pay no attorneys’ fees unless and until we recover a settlement or verdict.

Our Ocala Lawyers Learn the Cause of Your Truck Accident

Learning the cause of your traffic accident is imperative because it helps us determine fault and liability. We may find one or more of the following contributed to your truck accident:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Overloaded or unsecured cargo
• Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Driver fatigue
• Failing to adapt driving to adverse weather conditions
• Noncompliance with federal regulations
• Negligent hiring practices
• Inadequate truck driver training

It’s crucial to consider the benefit of hiring Meldon Law. We’re more than a law firm; we’re a force to be reckoned with.

Ocala’s Meldon Law Fights for Your Rights

Attorney Jeffrey Meldon founded Meldon Law in 1971. We’ve grown over the years from one office in Jeffrey’s hometown of Gainesville to serving all Floridians through multiple offices around the state.

We treat our clients like family and serve each individual with compassion and integrity. We look at what we do as our calling, rather than our job. In our law firm, we’re proud to conduct ourselves in the established Meldon C.A.R.E.S. way through:

• Compassion
• Accountability
• Reliability
• Excellence
• Success-Driven

We believe that experience matters and only hire qualified litigators as associates. You will never have an inexperienced attorney fighting for you. Our team stays current on new developments in the trucking industry, relevant laws, and technology. We apply our newfound knowledge to each case we handle.

Meldon Law Supports the Ocala Community

Our law firm supports individual causes and programs in communities around Florida. We’ve also created programs in-house that are near to our hearts. Here’s how we go the extra mile to serve our friends and neighbors:

Supporting the Florida Gators

We are proud to be the only official law firm partner of the Florida Gators. In addition to our legal work, we support the University of Florida’s students by representing them in Conduct and Conflict Resolution hearings and by providing presentations on how to avoid legal issues during their college days.

Educating the Community

Knowledge is something to be shared, not hoarded. So, we spend a significant amount of time educating others about their legal rights. We do this through:

• Books
• Podcasts
• Blogs
• Talk shows
• Consumer guides

There’s power in knowledge, and we want every Floridian to understand their options.

Offering Our Scholar-Athlete Program

For more than a quarter of a century, we’ve provided scholarships to high school seniors who demonstrate “academic rigor and athletic excellence.” We invite you to read up on our program and nominate a student for a scholarship.

Maintaining the Veterans Making a Difference Program

Meldon Law and CBS4 News have partnered to honor veterans and veteran organizations making a positive impact on their communities. We provide a $500 cash award and customized plaque to select nominees in recognition of their efforts.

What Do Previous Clients Share About the Team at Meldon Law?

We put our clients’ needs before everything else. Consequently, we have happy clients who share sentiments like:

• “Due to unfortunate circumstances, I found the need to have an attorney. Meldon Law’s Ian Pickens was who I decided to go with and glad I did. He was very responsive and when he said that he was gonna do something it got done. Best law firm by far. Hopefully the need doesn’t arise again that I would need representation but if I do I know who to go to. Highly recommend Ian Pickens.” —Derek W.

• “I appreciate all the hard work and hours put together by the Meldon Law team. This firm has been great in service, information and guidance through out the whole process. Special thanks to Carey, Tanner and Alexandra. I would recommend leaving all legal issues up to Meldon Law.” —Jason V.

Statute of Limitations for Filing a Lawsuit in a Truck Accident Case

Florida recently reduced the amount of time someone has to file a personal injury lawsuit from four years to two years. This deadline is of critical importance. If two years from the date of your collision pass, and you haven’t filed a lawsuit, you could lose the right to seek damages.

You don’t have to worry about deadlines with Meldon Law managing your case. We take care of all time-sensitive aspects and preserve your right to damages. Yet, we must learn about your situation before we can start advocating for you. For that reason, we encourage you to consider your legal options as soon as possible.

Our Truck Accident Lawyers Manage the Claims Process

Trucking is a high-risk industry, and trucking companies and their insurers know it. As a result, they are experienced in fighting liability charges. Unfortunately, if you cannot prove liability, you cannot make a claim against the insurance company.

Be aware that insurance companies may admit liability but may try to negatively affect your ability to settle or the settlement amount by:

• Offering to settle before you have representation
• Waiting until you are buried under bills before making an offer
• Pressuring you for a recorded statement immediately after the accident

At Meldon Law, our experienced attorneys know the techniques trucking companies and their insurers use to settle victims’ claims for less than they are worth. We counter by proving liability and fighting for the full and fair compensation you deserve.

What Causes Jackknife Accidents?

Jackknife accidents can be caused by various factors. They include the following:

• Braking. When the truck driver brakes, the cab may slow down, but the momentum keeps the trailer moving forward, which can cause it to go sideways.
• Speeding. When a truck driver goes too fast, they can lose control. This can cause the cab and trailer to go in different directions, causing a jackknife situation.
• Road conditions. Bad weather, such as rain, ice, and snow, can create slippery conditions and cause jackknife accidents.
• Drowsiness/fatigue. Many truck drivers work long hours. Many drive for so long that they may fall asleep at the wheel. This can cause them to lose control, cause accidents, or cause jackknifing.
• Distracted driving. Not paying attention can be dangerous. Even if the distraction does not lead to an accident, it can force the driver to hit their brakes suddenly, which can lead to a jackknife accident.
• Lack of experience. Driving a semi truck is not an easy job. These vehicles are very long and often hard to control. A truck driver with limited experience may have trouble maintaining control of a semi truck, causing it to jackknife.
• Truck length. The longer the trailer, the harder it is to maintain control. If the driver is not experienced enough, a jackknife accident can easily occur.
• Cargo weight. When a semi truck is overloaded, it is harder to control. This can create conditions for jackknifing to occur.

What to Do Next

Jackknife accidents often cause catastrophic injuries. A victim can also die without prompt medical care. Because of this, getting treatment for your injuries should be the first thing on your mind after an accident. This is extremely important, as you may have internal injuries that you may not even be aware of, until it’s too late.

Your next step should be to contact your insurance company and inform them of the accident. However, avoid talking to the truck driver’s insurance company. Instead, have an experienced truck accident attorney help you with this part. You need to focus on your recovery.

Laws Involving Underride Guards

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has laws in place regulating the use of underride guards. Also known as rear impact guards, underride guards are typically large steel bars that hang from the back of a semi truck. When they are properly used, they prevent passenger vehicles from getting stuck underneath the truck in a crash. However, garbage trucks and other smaller trucks are not required to have underride guards.

Even though having underride guards is the law, not all trucks have them. They may be inadequate, improperly installed, or not installed at all. This is a common issue, as underride guards have been mandated since 1996 and these types of accidents still occur from time to time.

If a semi truck does not have underride guards and is required to do so, the trucking company can be held liable for injuries and fatalities in a crash. They can be considered negligent and be forced to pay the victims for vehicle damage, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, post traumatic stress disorder, and other damages. It is possible that multiple parties may be held liable. Contact an attorney to file a claim for compensation.

Injuries Caused by Underride Accidents

In an underride accident, the top of the passenger vehicle is usually crushed or ripped off. Because of this, the occupants can suffer catastrophic injuries. Some common ones include:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Amputations
• Spinal cord injury
• Paralysis
• Nerve damage
• Burns
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Broken bones
• Death

While passenger vehicles are most likely to be involved in underride accidents, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians can also be trapped under a commercial truck. Many of these collisions happen while a truck is turning or backing up across lanes of traffic. There are other instances where the commercial truck makes quick movements and the driver of the passenger vehicle cannot stop in time, resulting in a rear-end crash.

What Trucking Companies are Required to Do

Trucking companies have a huge responsibility when it comes to safety. They must comply with federal laws, which require trucking companies to properly inspect, repair, and maintain all vehicles under their control. All truck parts and accessories must be in safe operating condition at all times. This includes the frame, frame assemblies, suspension systems, steering systems, axles, wheels, and rims.

Trucking companies are also required to maintain records for each vehicle for 30 days. These records must identify the vehicle, the deadline for inspections and maintenance, and the results of inspections and maintenance. They must also comply with safety standards for speed-limiting devices, electronic onboard recorders, and underride guides.

What Truck Drivers Must Do

Commercial truck drivers are responsible for conducting their own vehicle inspections before driving a truck. They should inform their employers of any issues that should be fixed. Their inspections should include checking various parts of the truck, including:

• Brakes
• Mirrors
• Horn
• Windshield wipers
• Headlights
• Warning lights
• Turn signals and flashers
• Emergency equipment
• System gauges
• Heater and defroster
• Underride protection
• Tires and wheels
• Clutch and transmission
• Steering
• Cargo securing devices

What Happens Next?

If you were injured in an accident caused by an unsafe semi truck that lacked proper maintenance, seek legal help right away. You can receive compensation for your medical bills, lost income, vehicle damage, pain and suffering, and other damages.

However, proving that a semi truck was poorly maintained is not an easy task. The trucking company will not admit that there was an issue involved, so you will need to hire a attorney who has the resources to pursue an investigation. An experienced truck accident attorney can review logs and maintenance records to see if the truck had any issues in the past or if there were any issues that were not repaired. Trucking industry experts may also be brought in to prove claims.

Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accident Cases in Ocala

You deserve answers to each of your questions, so you can make informed decisions about your future. You may wonder:

Will I Have to File a Lawsuit to Recover Damages?

Few injury claims make it to trial, even if settlement negotiations with the insurance company fail and we file a lawsuit.

If the insurance company refuses to offer a settlement that appropriately covers your losses, your truck accident attorney will discuss filing a personal injury lawsuit. If you decide to move forward, be aware that there are lots of steps to the litigation process—but don’t worry. We can handle each of them.

How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Truck Accident Case in Ocala?

How long it takes to resolve your personal injury case depends on many factors, including:

• The insurance company’s willingness to settle
• The evidence available
• Issues regarding fault and liability
• The number of involved parties
• The amount of compensation you’re requesting

We’re familiar with the tactics that some insurance companies use to unfairly deny claims. Our experience dealing with high-powered insurers empowers us to seek the best outcome possible.

How Much Can I Recover?

How much you can recover for your accident-related losses, just like your case’s timeline, depends on your situation. As noted, we consider various aspects of your situation when determining what constitutes a fair settlement value. It may interest you to know that Florida does not limit how much you can seek for pain and suffering. So, there is no limit to what you can request for this hardship.

Call Our Ocala Truck Accident Attorneys Today

Our experienced legal team at Meldon Law stands up for the rights of truck accident victims in and around Ocala, as we have done since 1971. Call us today to schedule your free consultation. If you are not able to come into our office, we will be happy to come to you.

We are fully committed to seeking the best possible outcome for every client, and we take pride in helping you during this challenging time.