South Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
Florida lane change accidents refer to instances when a driver leaves their travel lane without a clear path to enter another lane. According to research by the International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences and AAA Foundation, many factors contribute to lane change accidents. The most severe lane change accidents typically involve large trucks with a vehicle weight rating exceeding 10,000 pounds. A recent study indicated that large trucks drove approximately 280 billion miles on U.S roads in the last reporting year and were involved in over 400,000 collisions. These crashes resulted in 116,000 injuries and over 4,000 fatalities. Individuals who have suffered injuries in a Florida accident should contact an attorney to discuss their rights and remedies.
Studies investigated how contributing factors affect the likelihood of a lane-change accident. Driver errors such as speeding, tailgating, impairment, and mobile device usage account for over 90% of traffic accidents. Until recently, researchers have not given the same amount of attention to studying how unsafe lane changes impact the likelihood of an accident. Lane-change crashes represent about 4% of all collisions, and they tend to occur during the daytime on roads with a wide range of speed limits. Some studies have shown that the frequency of looking towards mirrors varies between young and older drivers. Younger drivers tend to rotate their heads wider when observing their blind spots. Further, older drivers tend to inspect their rear-view mirrors less frequently. In addition, the vehicle making the lane change also impacts the severity of an accident.
Naturally, a vehicle’s size will impact the severity of an accident. In response to the growing concern surrounding Florida truck lane change accidents, safety advocates urge trucking companies to install lane departure warning systems. Large trucks cause many accidents every year, and these video-based systems may prevent nearly 300 deaths every year.
For example, a news report recently described a harrowing Florida accident involving an SUV and a tractor-trailer truck. A family was traveling in their vehicle on an inner highway lane when a truck changed lanes and slammed into the family’s vehicle. The truck was in the center before attempting a lane change, according to reports. The family was wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision; however, they died at the accident scene. The truck driver and passenger did not suffer injuries in the collision.
Have You Suffered Injuries in a Florida Accident
If you or someone you love has suffered serious injuries or died in a Florida truck accident, the lawyers at Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada can help you recover compensation for your losses. The lawyers on our team provide each client with personalized attention and individualized representation throughout all stages of their accident claim. We represent clients in Florida accident cases involving trucks, cars, motorcycles, defective products, dangerous medical devices, medical malpractice, and more. Our seasoned and diligent attorneys have secured significant compensation for clients and their families. Contact our office at 877-448-8585 to schedule a free initial consultation with an attorney on our team. We take all personal injury cases on a contingency basis, meaning you aren’t responsible for any legal fees unless and until we can secure compensation for you.