Tag: Tampa Bay commercial vehicle collision
Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents in Tampa
Semi-truck accidents are a serious matter. Especially with the size of them compared to an SUV, it can do serious damage.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted the Large Truck Crash Causation Study to take an in-depth look at reasons for serious collisions involving semi-trucks with a gross rating of over 10,000 lb. During the 33-month span of the LTCCS study, the NHTSA has estimated that there were 120,000 fatal and personal injury crashes involving at least 1 semi-truck, 141,000 big rigs were involved in those roadway crashes.
Negligence
Information in the LTCCS study indicates that driver negligence is the root of most commercial truck accidents. Negligence can include, but is not limited to:
- Fatigue
- Internal Distraction
- External Distraction
- Excess Speed For Conditions
- Perceived Pressure From Carrier
- Drugs And/Or Alcohol
The commercial truck accident attorneys from Diaco Law are well-versed in the federal, state, and local safety regulations that apply to trucking companies, as well as the stressful reality facing commercial truckers. Human error is not an acceptable excuse when the trajectory of a life is in jeopardy. We have successfully prosecuted personal injury claims involving semi-truck accidents, across the United States, leading to millions of dollars in recovery for our clients.
To learn more regarding your potential commercial vehicle accident injury claim, complete our contact form. Diaco Law will reach you for a no-cost review of your case.
Tips For Safely Sharing The Road With Commercial Vehicles
It’s no secret that commercial trucks can rule roads and highways. Their massive sizes and increased numbers have put many Florida drivers on alert as the commute from home, school, work, and play.
Sharing the roads with trucks means sharing in the increased possibility that you may be involved in an accident with one. But, if there is a collision, cars and trucks don’t share the same injuries. In most cases, the driver is rushed to the hospital and the truck driver is unscathed.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Association (FMCA), of the approximately 411,000 national police-reported crashes involving large trucks in 2014, 3,424 (1 percent) resulted in at least one fatality, and 82,000 (20 percent) resulted in at least one nonfatal injury.
The safety of commuters and commercial vehicle drivers, though not equal, are important on our roads. Here are some tips to help you to stay safe when sharing the road with commercial vehicles:
Trucks Are Different
Trucks need time to stop. Tractor-trailers are often carrying tons of goods to and from their destinations. This amount can weigh down the vehicles, a commercial vehicle moving at 60 miles per hour will take a lot longer to make a sudden stop, than a minivan carry five passengers. A truck that is going well above the speed limit, will take even longer to stop.
Trucks have larger blind spots. Trucks have 3 major blind spots: cars in front of the cars, cars coming up in their left and/or right lanes, and cars immediately behind them. Their trucks simply aren’t designed the same way as noncommercial vehicles, so it the mostly the responsibility of the non-commercial vehicle to watch out for them and ensure they see them.
*A rule of thumb: if you can’t see the driver in their side mirrors, they can’t see you.
Trucks may carry unsecured loads. Trucks that haul, lumber, pipes, copper and other materials that need to be tied down, can be very dangerous on Tampa roads. If their materials aren’t secured, they can slip from their binds and cause multiple car accidents and may even be fatal.
Trucks also lose tires. You’ve undoubtedly seen massive pieces of rubber on the highway and have had to avoid them. These massive pieces of rubber are known as “gators”, and they retread tires that break off in chunks when tires are blown.
Staying Safe On the Road With Commercial Vehicles
Now that know how different trucks are from non-commercial vehicles, here are some ways that you can stay safe when sharing the road with commercial vehicles.
Keep a safe distance from the truck. If traffic stops suddenly, this gives you and the truck time to stop.
Be aware of the trucks blind spots and try to minimize your time in them. If you feel unsure try to get around the truck safely to avoid accidents.
Always watch out for trucks carrying large and small exposed materials. Rocks can damage your windshield and heavy objects can cause major accidents and even fatalities.
If a truck blows a tire, move around the truck to avoid “gators” being thrown at your car.
If you or are loved one is injured in a commercial vehicle or tractor-trailer accident, call a professional personal injury lawyer, to determine whether you are entitled to compensation. You may be able to hold the truck driver and its employer accountable for your injuries.