Florida Truck Accident Lawyers
Auto vs Truck Accidents
Whether you call them tractor trailers, semi trucks, eighteen wheelers or big rigs, large trucks weighing up to 80,000 pounds, transport goods across the country.
While big rigs make up 3% of vehicles on the road, they account for up to 15% of accidents in some states.
According to federal data from 2008, speeding is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to about 31 percent of fatal crashes. In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that 11,674 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes.
Nearly one-quarter of all large-truck drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2008 had at least one prior speeding conviction, as did 18 percent of passenger car drivers.
Not all accidents are the drivers fault of course. Frequently motorists have no idea that a trucker cannot stop his vehicle on a dime and they dart in and out of a trucker's blind spot or into the safety zone between a truck and vehicle. Also, motorists may not realize if they cannot see the truck drivers face in his mirrors, he cannot see you.
263 people lost their lives in 2008 in Florida collisions with a large truck, a number that has been in decline since 2004.
In an accident between a tractor trailer and automobile, accident reconstructions need to photograph the crash site and measure the scene. From that they can determine the speed each was going and how the vehicles crashed. There are additional techniques to determine who is at fault. There are supposed to be log books onboard the truck, along with driver records, safety inspections and something called a "black box" data recorder. Not unlike what you'd find on an airplane, the data recorder will show whether the driver complied with federal laws and rest requirements.
The NTSB reports that poor driver training contributes to accidents. Driver fatigue also contributes, though it is a completely preventable danger. Drivers are supposed to follow hours-of-service rules that allow for enough rest on the road, but making tight and unrealistic deadlines can keep a driver behind the wheel longer than is safe. The NTSB has found that fatigue contributes to 30 to 40% of all truck accidents. Drivers are required to get at least 8 hours of continuous sleep after being behind the wheel for 10 hours.
The federal agency says that drivers should also be screened for sleep apnea that disrupts sleep throughout the night as the sleeper gasps for air. If you or a loved one has been in an accident with a tractor trailer, a Florida truck accident attorney and investigator needs to get on the scene immediately to preserve evidence before it goes away and to collect witness accounts. You may be compensated by the at-fault driver for injuries and losses, and the cost of getting better.
Please visit our Jacksonville Car Accident Website for more info.
Our personal promise: Accident victims have specific rights, but by law you have a limited time to take action. When you use our team at Farah & Farah, there are NO up-front charges.
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Our fee is a percentage of the money awarded payable only when your case is successfully concluded. No matter how many times you call and how long we talk, there is NO CHARGE or cost until your case settles. Do not sign any releases, agreements or give any statements until you have spoken with us about your legal rights. When it comes to getting you more, we won't settle for less!
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