Truck accidents involve any accident that involves a large and heavy vehicle, not just semi-trucks. Heavy vehicles pose particular dangers on the road that make accidents much more dangerous.
Their weight makes any impact with them much harder, even at low speeds. Recall back to high-school physics where force equals mass times acceleration. We all know that speeding is dangerous because of this, but the same goes for mass. That’s why drivers of heavy vehicles have to undergo special training to drive them.
Despite this, many truck drivers take unnecessary risks. One of the most common is driving for too long. Drivers are paid by the mile, so it’s in their interest to haul things quickly and for long periods. But drivers do get fatigued. There are strict laws about how long a commercial driver can be on the road before they must pull over at rest. When these are ignored, a driver becomes a risk.
Other factors that can cause a truck to be unsafe include drunk or drugged driving, aggressive driving, and mechanical failure. In many instances of a truck accident, the driver of the truck will come through fine. That can’t be said for whatever they hit.
That’s why injuries and deaths are so common in this kind of crash. It’s why you must speak with a personal injury attorney about your crash so that you can get compensation. Most trucking companies carry substantial insurance and you may be eligible for that. But to get the full amount you deserve, you must have a lawyer on your side that can negotiate with the insurance companies, or, if necessary, go to court on your behalf.
On this page, we have more information about truck accidents and what to do after them. Please read them if you’ve been affected by a truck accident or worry about this kind of injury.
Drug and Alcohol Testing After a Truck Crash in Fort Lauderdale Key Takeaways: Under federal law, a truck driver in Florida generally must take a post-accident drug and alcohol test after any crash that kills someone, whether or not the driver was at fault. Testing is also generally required after crashes where someone needs medical…
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Understanding Your Right to Hold a Road Agency Accountable Key Takeaways: A Ft. Lauderdale truck accident victim can potentially sue a government road agency when poor maintenance, defective work zones, or negligent roadway design contributed to the crash, but these claims follow a stricter path than ordinary lawsuits. Florida only partially waives sovereign immunity, requiring…
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Some truck drivers are legal, doing everything they can to drive safely and avoid Florida truck accidents. Other drivers, however, fraudulently obtain their commercial license, getting behind the wheel without proper training or understanding of the law. These illegal drivers, put into work by unscrupulous trucking companies, pose a much greater risk of causing a…
After surviving a truck crash in Florida, you may think the worst is over. You’ve been injured and the pain is intense, but there’s no way you’re going to have to pay for your injuries… right? Believe it or not, there have been cases where victims of truck accidents had to pay for their injuries…
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