Item: Flaxman Law Group
Rating: 5
Author: Clara Barman

Understanding the Most Risky Roads for Florida Truck Accidents

Published on: August 16, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

According to the website The Daily Beast, Florida is home to the three most dangerous and deadly highways in the nation. In fact, the website ranks the I-95 as the most deadly road in the US, due to the high number of fatal Florida trucking accidents and other traffic accidents on this particular road. The Orlando Business Journal reports that Florida’s I-4 is also among the deadliest in the nation, with more fatal Florida car accidents and serious accidents than most other roads in the country.

The Daily Beast and The Orlando Business Journal compiled their data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to The Daily Beast, between 2004 and 2008, the 100 days where most car accidents and truck accidents take place are in June, July, and August, making this season the most dangerous for drivers. During these three months between 2004 and 2008, 50,765 fatal traffic accidents took place. While highway fatal accidents have been decreasing nationally over the past five years, the summer months still usually bring a sharp spike in Florida truck accidents and car accidents.

The I-95 in Florida was dubbed by researchers as the deadliest highway in the nation because between 2004 and 2008, 662 fatal Florida car accidents and truck accidents took place over the 382.15 m stretch that the I-95 covers. The 132.39 mile I-4 in Florida saw 209 fatal Florida truck accidents and car accidents in the same period. The 470.88 miles of the I-75 saw 536 fatal Florida traffic accidents between 2004 and 2008.

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Money Worries After a Florida Trucking Accident

Published on: July 30, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

A Florida trucking accident can cause many serous injuries, but it can also wreak havoc with a victim’s finances. Victims who have suffered in a truck accident may end up in considerable debt or may even face bankruptcy. There are many considerable financial losses and challenges after a Florida car accident involving a truck:

1) Medical bills. Most patients have medical bills in the tens of thousands of dollars or more. While medical insurance and car insurance can cover some of these bills, in many cases insurance providers balk at paying the entire amount, leaving the patient still paying for some necessary treatment themselves. Underinsured or uninsured patients face an even more frightening amount of medical bills. Florida brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and other serious injuries can be expensive enough to send even prosperous people into bankruptcy.

2) Lost income. Most patients who have been in a Florida truck accident lose weeks or even months of work time, causing a loss of income. Some patients sustain permanent injuries and can never return to work again. Yet, bills and debts must still be paid.

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Challenges Victims Face After Florida Truck Accidents

Published on: July 28, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

A Florida car accident, truck accident, or any motor vehicle accident is a traumatic event. When trucks are involved in a motor vehicle accident, the results can be especially devastating, simply due to the destructive force possible with a large commercial truck. However, for many victims, the problems just begin when an accident takes place. In the days, months, and years after an accident, victims may also have to deal with:

1) Questions of blame. In some cases, insurance companies or trucking companies may claim that a victim is partly to blame for a truck accident – even if this is not necessarily the case. If a motorist is unfairly blamed for an accident, they may feel extreme guilt and may face insurance rate increases.

2) Access to care problems. Many serious Florida spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, brain injuries, and other long-term conditions are caused by truck accidents. However, some victims have a hard time finding the resources and medical care they need. Patients may not have the financial resources to cover large medical costs or may not know all their care options. A good Florida personal injury attorney can often help patients find the care their need.

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Getting Tired Truck Drivers Off the Roads

Published on: July 26, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

Most truck accident experts agree that inattention and driver fatigue are the leading cause of Florida truck accidents, Florida car accidents, and indeed, motor vehicle accidents across the country in general. In 2005, the U.S. Department of Transportation got tough on distracted and fatigued driving by increasing required hours between shifts and by reducing the total driving time of commercial truck drivers. Overall, truck accident deaths have dropped somewhat since 2005.

However, experts from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance note that yearly truck accident fatalities across the country are the same as if a jetliner crashed once a week. Members of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance note that if a jetliner crashed weekly there would be national attention about the problem and air traffic industries would face loss of business as well as serious investigations.

However, despite the well-established documentation about the dangers of distracted and fatigued driving, distracted Florida drivers and fatigued drivers are still causing many Florida truck accidents and national traffic accidents.

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Florida Truck Accidents and Brake Defects

Published on: July 23, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

Commercial trucks use air brakes. While air brakes do not allow truck drivers to stop as quickly as passenger vehicles, they are designed specifically to function with the heavy loads and large size of a commercial truck. However, air brake failures and defects in trucks do constitute one of the major reasons for Florida truck accidents. When the brakes on a truck fail, there is sometimes simply no way for a driver to avoid a collision.

A well-functioning commercial truck with good air brakes takes twice as far to brake as a passenger car. When air brakes fail, a truck may not be able to stop at all. Defective air brakes may be the result of poor maintenance or poor adjustment. They may also have inherent design flaws, which are a problem of the manufacturer.

Other factors may affect air brake performance as well. If a truck is incorrectly loaded or overly loaded, this can affect the air brakes. The extra weight and pressure can cause many things to fail, including the brakes. An inexperienced driver can also speed and handle the truck incorrectly, causing excessive wear and tear on the brakes.

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Speeding and Truck Accidents

Published on: July 21, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

A group of researchers at the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois, Chicago have found that since a federal speed limit of 55MPH was repealed in 1995, US interstates have seen an increase in car accidents and injuries as well as fatalities. Researchers concluded that about 12,545 deaths and 36,582 in truck accidents and car accidents across the nation were attributed to higher speed limits between 1995 and 2005. Researchers suggested that a camera network and lower speed limits would decrease fatalities again. Results of the study were published in the American Journal of Public Health.

Speeding is a serious problem in many traffic accidents; many Florida bicycle accidents, car accidents, and pedestrian accidents are caused at least partly by speeding. However, speeding is an especial concern in Florida trucking accidents. Due to the size of trucks, when trucks drive at an excessive speed and collide, they can produce a lot of force and cause a great deal of damage.

Speeding while driving a truck is dangerous for many reasons:

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Florida Truck Accident Statistics

Published on: July 19, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

Since Florida has many ports, it also has many commercial trucks. Trucks move cargo from the port areas through the rest of the nation. Unfortunately, a large number of trucks on the roads also means a higher risk of Florida car accidents involving trucks. According to the statistics released by The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT):

1) More than 500, 000 truck accidents occur annually across the country. In 2008, there were 11,500 Florida trucking accidents. These accidents lead to 290 fatalities and more than 6,400 injuries. Medium trucks with four rear tires accounted for 72 fatal accidents and 2,596 injuries that year. Heavy trucks contributed 77 fatalities and 1,939 injuries. Tractor-trailers accounted for 145 fatalities and 1,867 injuries.

2) Each year, commercial truck accidents result in about 5,000 fatalities across the nation. In 2008, 4,229 people in the US died in trucking accidents.

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What to Do if You are in a Florida Drunk Driving Truck Accident

Published on: July 14, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

If you are in a Florida car accident involving a truck and you suspect that the driver of the truck is under the influence, there are a few things you must do in order to safeguard your rights:

1) Help anyone at the scene. In most Florida trucking accidents, serious injuries are caused by the sheer size or force of the truck. In most cases, you will need to call 911. Even if you seem to have only minor injuries, you should still get medical help immediately. Not all medical emergencies are obvious immediately. Each year, a few Florida brain injuries prove fatal because a patient felt fine and did not seek medical treatment in time. Err on the side of caution.

2) Start documentation. Police will likely arrive at the scene of the accident and should administer a field sobriety test to the driver. If possible, it is also important for you to start documentation right away. Get the name and contact details of the driver and any witnesses. If you can, take photos of the scene. Note the time, exact location, and other details of the accident.

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Why Some Experts Are Pessimistic About Reducing the Rate of Florida Truck Accidents

Published on: July 12, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Association, in 2008, 6.6% of all fatal commercial truck accidents in the country took place in Florida. Part of the problem, according to experts, is that Florida is a shipping area, and trucks move cargo from ports such as Miami through interstate highways to landlocked areas of the country. Also, the large size of these vehicles ensures that when Florida truck accidents do occur, they are likely to be fatal accidents.

According to experts, the National Highway Transportation Safety Association, the Florida Department of Transportation, and the Florida Highway Patrol have all taken steps to reduce the number of car accidents and truck accidents on state roads and highways. However, experts remain pessimistic about the possibility of significantly reducing the number of Florida traffic accidents involving trucks. This is because a number of truck accident risk factors are hard to address:

1) Driver fatigue. Many studies have confirmed that tired Florida drivers are as dangerous as drunk drivers. When sleepy, truck drivers are simply more likely to make mistakes or to experience lapses in judgment which can lead to accidents. There are many rules in place to prevent this. Florida commercial truck drivers, for example, are required by law to take 10 hours before shifts and must drive no more than 11 hours per day. Unfortunately, most truck drivers are paid more to drive more and it is very hard to regulate rest time and break time.

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Florida Truck Accidents and Tire Defects

Published on: July 9, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

Florida trucks and truck drivers rely on good truck tires. Good tires support the entire weight of the truck – which can weigh more than 80 000 pounds when fully loaded — and provide stability. Unfortunately, when tire defects and blowouts happen, the result is often tragic accidents on Florida’s roads. There are many reasons why tire defects take place:

1) Used tires. Some trucking companies buy used tires to place on their trucks in order to save money. However, if tires have been part of a serious car accident or truck accident, their stability and durability may be compromised. As well, allowing trucks with well-worn and well-used tires is often a recipe for disaster, as these tires may not have the treads and stability to carry a large load. Even unused tires that have been in storage for a long period of time may no longer be road-worthy, as rubber can wear down with time.

2) Incorrect demounting, mounting, and maintenance of tires. Trucking companies need to have their truck tires installed and maintained by qualified professionals who can abide by current Federal OSHA regulations. Tires should be maintained regularly and checked for leaks, wear, and any possible hazards.

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