Who is Liable for Utility Truck Accidents?

It’s not uncommon to see utility trucks around Florida’s roadways, as they are responsible for delivering a wide range of important services, like waste management, fuel delivery, and communications services. Unfortunately, like any other type of vehicle, utility trucks can and are often involved in serious accidents. If you or a loved one find yourself involved in an accident with a utility truck, you should be prepared for more difficulties in recovering compensation for your losses. This is because utility trucks are often operated by local governments, which can complicate a legal claim. Fortunately, these difficulties are not insurmountable, so if you need help pursuing your own utility truck accident claim, please reach out to our legal team today.

Why are Utility Trucks Dangerous? 

Utility trucks, while smaller than semi-trucks and many other commercial vehicles, are still larger than most standard passenger vehicles. They are most often used by construction companies, utility companies, local governments, and businesses that offer cable, gas, internet, and telephone services. Unfortunately, each type of utility truck comes with its own potential dangers. Trucks used by cable, telephone, and internet providers, for instance, require employees to work at great heights in order to access overhead cables and wires. This means that these trucks are much more likely to tip over if not secured correctly. Other utility trucks that pose dangers to road users include:

• Garbage and recycling trucks, which are common in residential areas, make frequent stops, and tend to have large blind spots;
• Lawn care trucks, which often carry heavy equipment and dangerous chemicals for lawn and pest treatment;
• Gas trucks, which carry highly flammable substances;
• Street cleaning trucks, which move slowly and block parts of the roadway; and
• Construction trucks, which, because they are so top-heavy, are at a much higher risk of rolling over.

Utility trucks can and do cause devastating injuries, simply because they are so much larger than most vehicles. Fortunately, accident victims who are injured by utility trucks can seek compensation for their losses.

Who is Liable for Utility Truck Accidents? 

Who can be held liable for a utility truck accident depends on the specific facts of the case, but potentially at-fault parties include:

• The utility truck’s driver;
• The local government agency that owns or hired the truck;
• The company that owns and operates the truck;
• A vehicle part manufacturer; or
• A third party driver.

Accident victims who can prove that one or more of these companies or individuals caused their crash could be entitled to compensation for their:

• Past and future medical bills;
• Lost wages;
• Vehicle damage;
• Other property damage;
• Permanent disability; and
• Pain and suffering.

To learn more about the types of damages for which you could be eligible, please reach out to our legal team today.

Call or Contact Us Online Today 

For help determining who was liable for your own utility truck accident, please call Anderson & Anderson at 813-251-0072 and set up a meeting with one of our dedicated Tampa truck accident lawyers. You can also contact us online.

Sources:

 gainesville.com/story/news/local/2021/05/07/jurors-awards-120-m-crash-left-man-paralyzed-but-law-caps-payout/4993327001/

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0768/Sections/0768.28.html