Truck Accident Lawyer in Florida

Sadly, Florida is ranked one of the deadliest states in the country when it comes to truck accidents. While trucks and big rigs have become commonplace on our interstate highways and play a vital role in our economy and way of life, they also pose a danger to the cars and other trucks they share the road with. Because loaded trucks can often have a weight of over 80,000 pounds, while the average car weighs 3,000, it’s clear that these types of road accidents tend to be more severe than other car accidents involving two passenger vehicles. While truck accidents are less common than other types of roadway accidents, they are often more severe and likely to cause significant injuries or death. A concerning fact about truck accidents in Florida is that it is usually the passengers and driver in the car that suffer more significant injuries, while the driver of the truck has a lesser chance of severe injury. 

 

Truck Accident Statistics

According to the National Safety Council, The states with the most deaths resulting from large truck crashes in 2019 were Texas with 652 deaths, California with 408 deaths, and Florida with 349 deaths. Also in 2019, 5,005 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes around the country. A 43% increase since 2010. 118,000 large trucks were involved in crashes resulting in an injury. A trend that seems to keep going up. National Safety Council also states that “The majority of deaths in large-truck crashes are occupants of other vehicles (71%), followed by truck occupants (18%), and non-occupants, primarily pedestrians and bicyclists (11%)’.

Large trucks accounted for:

• 10% of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes
• 4% of all registered vehicles
• 7% of total vehicle miles traveled

 

What Causes Truck Accidents in Florida?

A study titled “Large Truck Crash Analysis for Freight Mobility and Safety Enhancement in Florida” concluded that a critical reason for crashes was driver error. Overall, driving error was the dominant critical reason for truck accidents, representing 92.3% of the crashes. 

Another study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation, titled ‘Large Truck Crash Causation Study’ looked at the causes of truck accidents on our roadways. They defined ‘cause’ as:

• a: factors that increase the risk of a crash such as driving behavior, vehicle problems, road and weather conditions  
• b: something that does not usually result in a crash but increases the chance of a crash

The study shows that there a several critical events that happen before a crash with a truck. These events are listed below:

Events                                   Number  %

Over lane line or off road          25,000   32%

Loss of control (speeding, etc.)  22,000   29%

Other vehicle in Lane                18,000   23%

Turning, crossing intersection      8,000   10%

Other (pedestrian, fire)               4,000   6%

                          Total            77,000   100%

The Critical Reason for these events are:

REASONS                                         Number   %

Driver Non-Performance (sleep, sick)    9,000  12%

Driver Recognition (inattention)         22,000   28%

Driver Decision (speed, aggressive)    29,000   38%

Driver Performance (overcompensate)  7,000    9%

Vehicle                                               8,000  10%

Environment (roadway, weather)         2,000    3%

                            Total                  77,000   99%

What Should I Do if I am Involved in a Florida Truck Accident?

The first order of business after a truck accident is to seek immediate medical attention. Not only is it important to have a professional medical team evaluate and treat you for injuries, but it is also very important for your future case. After you have been attended to medically, the next critical step is to hire an experienced Florida Truck Accidents lawyer who can advocate for you and make sure you get the highest compensation you are entitled to. 

 

How Much is My Truck Accident Worth?

Every truck accident is unique in that the causes and circumstances are always different. Other factors that may affect your claim are your degree of injuries, loss of income, number of dependents, and more. If you were left with a permanent injury, your Florida truck accident claim could be worth much more than if you had injuries that were treatable. While it’s impossible to predict exactly how much money you may be entitled to, an experienced truck accident attorney will be able to analyze the circumstances of your crash and have a clear understanding of what compensations you are entitled to. For instance, you may be able to seek punitive damages if the driver’s conduct was putting your life in danger. 

 

Florida Truck Accident Attorney

As the population in Florida continues to explode, and new highways are being built while current highways are being expanded, we will likely continue to see an increase in devastating truck accidents in Florida. If you were involved in an accident with a truck in Florida, it may seem like your life will never be the same. Hiring a lawyer like Robert Gluck will assure you that you have someone skilled and experienced on your side to help you navigate through this devastating time, and help you obtain the compensation you so rightfully deserve. If you would like to speak directly to Robert Gluck about a truck accident you have been involved in, call him today at (877) Gluck-Law.

 

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