Serving Daytona, Deltona and Palm Coast

(updated 2/22/2017)

When driving on the Florida highways, it’s likely we’ve all seen commercial trucks transporting goods.  Commercial trucks, which are also known as tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers, are extremely large and heavy motor vehicles.  As a result, when they’re involved in a dangerous traffic collision, the consequences can be devastating.  Indeed, many people involved in truck accidents sustain fatal injuries.  

According to NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 287,000 commercial trucks were involved in traffic accidents in 2011, and these crashes led to more than 3,700 fatalities and more than 88,000 personal injuries.  While a drive in the Florida sun can seem appealing, a serious truck crash can be life altering.  If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in a commercial trucking accident, an experienced Florida truck accident attorney can examine your case for you today.

Florida Truck Accident Statistics

How common are trucking accidents in Florida?  According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, approximately 2,400 automobile accident fatalities occur each year in Florida.  Of those fatalities, nearly 90 percent of the victims had been wearing seatbelts.  Given the heavy weight and unwieldy nature of 18-wheelers, seatbelts often don’t protect automobile passengers when they’re involved in an accident with a big rig. 

In fact, according to the NHTSA, fatal injuries in trucking crashes typically involve passengers in smaller automobiles.  More than 90 percent of all truck accident fatalities are attributed to occupants of passenger cars. In  many truck accidents, the truck driver may have acted negligently.  Whether the truck driver failed to obey the rules of the road or was distracted while driving, we can help you to hold a truck driver liable for any damages caused in a severe truck collision. 

The NHTSA identifies frequent causes of truck accidents, which include:

• Driving at unsafe speeds: speeding results in about 60 percent of all truck accidents.
• Loss of control of the truck: this can happen when a truck driver falls asleep behind the wheel, engages in drowsy driving, or is distracted in another way.  Distracted driving includes talking on a cell phone while driving, texting while driving, and even using a GPS device while driving.
• Cargo shifts: while these often aren’t the result of driver negligence, it’s important to discuss your case with an experienced Florida truck accident lawyer.
• Vehicle failures: in some cases, a driver might have failed to have his or her truck properly maintained.  In Florida, truck drivers are required to have their vehicles undergo safety inspections.  If a vehicle failure caused a serious truck accident, you may be able to file a claim against the truck driver or against the trucking company.

Florida Trucking Collision Injuries

Trucking accidents in Florida can produce catastrophic injuries.  Like a serious car accident, truck crashes can result in some of the following personal injuries:

• Traumatic brain injury and other head traumas
• Concussions
• Spinal cord injury
• Broken bones or bone fractures
• Disfigurement
• Loss of limbs and amputation

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires commercial trucks to carry specific amounts of insurance, and this can range from $750,000 all the way up to $5,000,000.  If a truck driver’s negligence or a trucking company’s negligence caused serious or fatal injuries to your loved one, we can help. 

Don’t hesitate to speak to an aggressive Florida trucking accident lawyer about your claim for financial compensation. You can contact us at (386) 777-7777 or fill out our online contact form below for a free case evaluation. Get the compensation you deserve.