South Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
Automobile accidents involving trucks and trailers are extremely dangerous. According to a report by the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than 4,100 people were killed in large truck crashes last year. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has found that there were more than 500,000 crashes nationwide involving large trucks, with approximately 107,000 resulting in injuries. Big trucks and trailers are much larger than standard passenger vehicles, averaging 20 to 30 times bigger, creating massive crashes when they impact other vehicles. The difference in the size of the vehicles can prevent truck drivers from seeing smaller cars, while also resulting in more severe impact when crashes do occur. Most deaths in large truck crashes are from occupants of passenger vehicles. Of those killed in such accidents, roughly 82% are people in non-truck vehicles.
Florida is no exception to the truck crash trend, with the most common causes of large truck accidents being fatigue, distraction, substance-impaired driving, speeding, and aggressive overtaking. In certain Florida accident cases, punitive damage awards can increase the victim’s compensation significantly. Punitive damages require special permission from the court in addition to evidence that the defendant was grossly negligent or acted with intention or wanton disregard for the safety of others. In Florida, punitive damages are capped at triple the amount of the compensatory damages, resulting in extremely large awards when they are allowed. A recent local news article discussed a fatal Florida double-truck accident between two semi-trucks.
According to the local news article, the Florida Highway Patrol confirmed that there was a crash between two semi-trucks on I-10 at the 138-mile marker. The Florida Highway Patrol stated that a 60-year-old Niceville man stopped his semi-truck rig in the eastbound lane with the emergency flashers on due to a traffic buildup. At that point, a double-trailer UPS semi-truck smashed into the back of the stopped semi-truck in the eastbound lane. The Niceville driver died at the scene, while the UPS driver was taken to the hospital for minor injuries. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the reason for the collision is still unknown and is under investigation by law enforcement.
Have You Suffered Injuries in a Florida Car or Truck Accident?
If you or someone you love has been injured or died in a Florida truck accident, let the attorneys at Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada fight to help you recover the damages you deserve. Expenses and injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident can quickly become overwhelming, and having an experienced roster of accident attorneys by your side can make a world of difference in the compensation you receive. Our experienced Florida attorneys have successfully represented injury victims at every stage of their claims, ensuring that they obtain the damages that they deserve. With our team, you can have faith that your claim is being pursued properly by lawyers that know Florida law. If you have questions about your case, call us today at 877-448-8585 and schedule a free and no-obligation initial consultation with a Florida injury lawyer at our office.