Semi-truck accidents are common in the United States, especially in states like Florida that have long stretches of highways that span across multiple states. There are an estimated 3.5 million truck drivers on the road. More driving means more risk for accidents – one in ten vehicle fatalities are the result of a collision with a semi-truck.
It is estimated that each year, 3,660 people are killed in these collisions, but less than a quarter of those were passengers or drivers of the truck. These trucks are far larger than passenger vehicles, weighing up to five tons, making collisions much more dangerous for the passengers and drivers and cars, which account for roughly three-fourths of fatalities from accidents.
Semi-truck accidents can happen for many of the same reasons as any other auto accident – speeding, lack of attention, poor judgment – but factors such as fatigue are more common for semi-truck accidents. These are massive vehicles, and when not maintained properly (securing cargo, proper vehicle maintenance, driver error with blind spots), they can prove to be dangerous for everyone on the road.
Liability with truck accidents is a bit more complicated than other vehicle accidents. Either the driver or the trucking company can be at fault – or fault is divided out; the driver receives partial responsibility, along with the maintenance company, the loading company, the trucking company for poor management. This makes it difficult to have a smooth case because there is no one size fits all method. Investigations must dig deep to determine who was at fault.
Dealing with the aftermath is tough, and because of the complexities of semi-truck accidents, hiring a car accident attorney in Florida is of the utmost importance. If you’ve been injured or are battling a wrongful death situation, you are already facing pressure to recover from injuries and bills that keep piling up, but you do not have to do it alone.
James Piccolino Law, P.A. can combine the medical knowledge from years of practicing chiropractic medicine with the legal knowledge of these types of cases to help you see justice. Call 844.452.6377.
