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

Florida Side Impact Truck Accidents

Published on: September 19, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

T-bone accidents cause 9,000 deaths annually in the US. In fact, only head-on crashes are more deadly. The only thing more deadly than a Florida side impact car accident is a Florida truck accident in which a truck t-bones a passenger vehicle. A Florida T-bone truck accident almost always leads to fatalities or very serious injuries for the passengers of the car. The sheer size and force of the truck usually not only crushes the side of the vehicle into the passengers, but the impact of the collision will generally push the car some way before the two cars come to a stop. The sheer impact can cause a fire, serious injuries, and complete destruction of the vehicle.

Since passenger vehicles have less padding on the sides than large trucks, any passengers in the vehicle affected by a T-bone crash with a truck are likely to be severely injured. Even with side impact airbags, which are not standard in all passenger vehicles, the impact of the crash is enough to cause fatal injuries or very serious injuries. In these types of accidents, the driver of the truck is unlikely to be injured, as he or she is seated above the point of impact and protected by a cab.

The frustrating thing about side impact truck accidents for victims is that very often they are extremely preventable accidents. A side impact truck accident in Florida is likely caused by a driver who does not stop for a red light or stop sign or fails to yield right-of-way. This can occur because a driver falls asleep at the wheel, is distracted, or is simply driving aggressively and runs a red light. It can be galling for victims to realize that their serious injuries or even the loss of a loved one is caused by someone who has been driving recklessly or negligently.

If you have been injured in a Florida T-bone accident, you will need a qualified Florida truck accident attorney. Truck carriers usually have teams of attorneys as well as powerful insurance companies working on their behalf. You will need a qualified Florida truck accident attorney to negotiate a fair settlement for you – one that covers the costs of your vehicle, medical bills, lost income, and other expenses. Without the help of a qualified attorney, you may end up paying some of these costs or even a substantial portion of these costs out of pocket. If you have sustained a long term or permanent injury, especially, the costs of your injury over a lifetime may be much higher than you think. Working with a qualified Florida personal injury attorney or truck accident attorney is your best chance of ensuring that you are adequately compensated for someone else’s negligence and recklessness. As well, with a fair settlement you may be able to afford high-quality medical care which can help you to heal more fully from your injuries.

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Truck Rollover Accidents in Florida

Published on: September 15, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Excessive cornering speed, tripping, collisions, and critical slopes can all contribute to rollover accidents. SUV rollovers and van rollovers are very common, but big rigs and tractor trailers are also at substantial risk for rollover accidents. Large commercial trucks are especially vulnerable to rollover accidents for number reasons:

1) Truck drivers cover many miles of road in their trucks. Since truck drivers are on the road more often, they’re naturally a more at risk for Florida car accidents and truck accidents than drivers who drive less frequently. The sheer amount of time spent on the road increases the likelihood that a rollover or other type of Florida truck accident will happen.

2) Trucks are top-heavy. Commercial trucks are designed to carry enormous amounts of cargo, and are often very tall in order to accommodate cargo. Even with a wide wheel track and large wheels, this tends to make trucks very top-heavy and therefore more likely to rollover.

3) Trucks carry heavy, sometimes-unstable loads. A fully loaded truck can weigh many tens of thousands of pounds, and this puts additional pressure and weight at the top of the vehicle, which makes trucks even more top-heavy. As well, cargo may be incorrectly secured, making it shift and making a rollover more likely. In situations where a load is incorrectly secured, there may be multiple liable parties in the event of a truck accident. In some cases, such as when transporting live animals, securing a load so that it does not shift is almost impossible, and increases the risk of a rollover.

4) Truck drivers are under pressure to make deadlines. Truck drivers often need to make certain runs within a certain time limit in order to get their cargo to a destination on time. The additional pressure can encourage drivers to speed, and speeding is a leading cause of rollovers.

5) Tire problems. Trucks, due to their size and weight, place a great deal of pressure on their tires, and this causes to wear down and malfunction more frequently, especially if tires are not maintained correctly or if a truck is carrying too much weight. When Florida tire blowouts or tire problems take place, it is possible for rollovers to occur.

Truck rollover accidents are usually deadly. A truck that has rolled over can obstruct traffic and even cause secondary Florida car accidents. A truck that has rolled over can also easily ignite, especially if the truck is carrying flammable materials. If a truck rolls over into oncoming traffic or into other lanes, other cars are likely to be crushed or severely damaged due to the sheer size of the vehicle. Even though truck drivers are shielded in the cab of the truck, the force and impact of a rollover can lead to serious injuries for a truck driver. Spinal cord injuries and brain injuries are just two of the serious injuries which can occur with a truck rollover accident.

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Truck Driving a Dangerous Job: Report

Published on: September 13, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

The a 2010 report, the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2010, has revealed that the most dangerous jobs in the U.S. in 2010 included truck driving, fishing, logging, mining and aircraft-related occupations. Many of these occupations are considered dangerous due to the heavy machinery or trucks used. For example, truck drivers drive commercial trucks which sometimes weigh up to 80,000 pounds, so that any accident involving these trucks leads to serious injuries and fatalities. The interesting thing about the other statistics, as well, is that many of the other occupations listed as dangerous also include trucks or heavy vehicles. For example, logging often requires large commercial vehicles in order to move timber. Even in jobs where trucks are not regularly used, such as animal handlers, many of the 2010 fatalities stemmed from transportation accidents. There’s no doubt about it: transportation is a major risk in the workplace.

Transportation accidents are in fact a factor in many other dangerous jobs. For example, trash and recycling pick-up workers experience a high rate of injury and fatalities. While this can seem like an unusual statistic, the reality is that trash and recycling pickup workers use large trucks in order to do their jobs. These trucks must make frequent stops and starts in order to pick up garbage and waste. The frequent stops and starts can easily lead to accidents. As well, the drivers and workers must enter and exit the truck several times throughout the day, increasing the risk of a pedestrian accident and other types of accidents.

Accidents on the job are very complex from a legal point of view, as they often concern labor laws, workers compensation rules, and laws surrounding drivers. If you’ve been injured in a trucking accident on the job, you will need a qualified Florida trucking accident attorney and workers compensation attorney to investigate your accident and to determine whether adequate precautions were taken to keep you safe on the job. There may be multiple liable parties, which can help you get fair compensation in order to cover your medical costs, lost income, and other expenses. No one should be injured on the job. If you have sustained serious injuries in an accident while working, you deserve qualified legal help so that you can understand your options. Good legal help can also help ensure that there is someone to aggressively fight for your rights. Your employer and their insurance carrier have teams of attorneys working for them – don’t you deserve quality legal assistance as well?

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Hit and Run Florida Truck and Car Accidents

Published on: September 8, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Each year in the US, 1500 people are killed in hit and run accidents. According to the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety, 18% of victims are pedestrians. In some situations, the hit-and-run offenders are especially blatant, sometimes stepping out of the vehicle in order to move aside and injured pedestrian or victim before speeding off away from the scene of the crime.

There are strict laws in place that require anyone who has been in a car accident to assist any injured party and to exchange information with the other driver or drivers involved in the collision. Failure to do this can result in serious charges. In cases where a Florida hit-and-run accident has taken place, police usually earmark considerable resources to find the offender, and in many cases the offender is eventually caught with public assistance. Once caught, the hit-and-run driver faces numerous additional charges in addition to causing the crash.

Hit and run accidents are especially cruel because they often deny the victim of needed assistance. For example, in a Florida pedestrian accident caused by a Florida hit-and-run driver, the victim may not get help in time if the driver simply speeds off instead of staying to offer assistance or staying in order to call emergency personnel. The delay can be fatal if the victim has sustained a serious brain injury or other life-threatening injury. A hit-and-run driver who simply drives away from the scene of a crime also often makes it harder for the victim to get adequate compensation and insurance money in order to pay for medical costs and other expenses related to the accident.

Much has been written about the psychology of hit and run drivers. Some studies have shown that some drivers speed off away from the scene of a crime because they panic or because they’re afraid of facing the consequences of their actions. In other cases, hit and run drivers drive away because they have criminal records, no insurance, or otherwise do not wish to interact with police for some reason. In any event driving away from the scene of an accident is a crime.

If you have been in a hit and run accident, you can pursue criminal charges as well as civil charges. Florida law is very strict about hit and run accidents. If you have been injured by a driver who speeds away, you can seek compensation for your damages. However, you will first need to locate the hit-and-run driver and gather strong evidence against him or her. This is where a Florida truck accident attorney can help. A good Florida accident attorney can investigate your accident, can gather evidence, and can present a case in court so that you get the compensation you may be fully entitled to under the law.

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How The Brain Can be Hurt in a Florida Truck Accident

Published on: September 6, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Florida truck accidents are one cause of brain injuries – and brain injuries are a serious problem across the country. According to statistics, one million people seek medical attention in the US every year due to a head injury. Up to 100 000 of these patients have severe and prolonged problems that will affect their lives for a long time. In Florida car accidents and truck accidents, there are a number of ways that the brain can be injured:

1) Bleeding. Even with a low-speed and low impact accident, a collision causes a person’s brain to impact against the hard skull. This can occur even if the person does not hit their head on a hard surface. The soft tissue of the brain is pushed violently against the skull, possibly tearing blood vessels and releasing blood into the brain. Since there is no room for the blood, the blood can press against brain tissue, causing areas of the brain to cease working correctly. Critical areas of the brain can be affected, affecting the heart or breathing. One of the most insidious things about this type of injury is that it does not present symptoms right away. A Florida brain injury patient may feel fine after their accident or may assume that they are uninjured because their head did not hit any hard object. However, within hours or minutes, symptoms can manifest rapidly. If the patient does not get help in time, death often occurs.

2) Bruising. Just as with bleeding, this type of injury can occur in a Florida truck accident, even if there is no impact. When the head is whipped back and forth during a truck collision, the brain tissue impacts against the skull, and this can cause bruising to take place. In fact, if the head is thrown back and forth, the Florida brain injury patient may have two bruises – one where the brain impacts the front of the skull and one bruise where the brain tissue impacts against the back of the skull. This is known as a “contra coup” brain injury. As with bleeding, bruising can injure critical areas of the brain.

3) Tearing. The impact of a Florida truck accident can cause tears in the tissues of the brain, especially if the head impacts with a hard object. This can disrupt signals in the brain, leading to serious and permanent injuries or fatalities. Tearing can also be difficult to diagnose, as this type of injury often takes place on a microscopic level. Even CT Scans and MRIs may not necessarily be able to detect small tears in the brain, even though these tears can have a significant impact on a Florida brain injury patient’s life for a lifetime.

4) Swelling. If the brain is bruised or injured, it can swell, just like any injured part of the body. Unfortunately, since the brain is encased in the skull, there is no room for swelling. Swelling of brain tissue can create a life-threatening emergency, since the brain tissue will eventually push up against the skull, building pressure and destroying vital areas of the brain. Doctors can install an IC or intra-cranial pressure monitor to relieve pressure caused by swelling.

5) Open injuries. Swelling, bruising, and bleeding are closed-head injuries. They occur even if the skull itself is protected. In some Florida truck accidents, however, the impact is great enough to fracture the skull. With the skull fractured, objects can become imbedded in brain tissue and the tissue can become damaged because the skull is no longer protecting the area.

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Are Your Teens Moving to College Safely to Avoid a Florida Truck Accident?

Published on: August 25, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

If you have teens moving to college, your teens may wish to hire a rental truck with friends or may be planning on packing their belongings into a car in order to get their belongings safely to their dorm room. However, Florida moving truck accidents do happen, so you want to make sure that you avoid this type of thing from happening to your children. Here’s how you can help:

1) Discourage your child from overloading their car with their possessions. Many teens move to college by stuffing as many of their possessions as they can into a car. While it’s true that most teens don’t have tons of possessions and furniture, overloading a car can still be dangerous. It can obstruct visibility and make it hard for them to see through their rearview mirror or through their side windows. Placing additional pressure on tires can also lead to a tire blow or Florida car accident. If your child is moving with lots of possessions, consider a truck or travel in multiple cars.

2) Discourage your child from renting a truck and driving it themselves across the country or across the state. Rental trucks have varied safety records, and your child may simply not have enough experience with a large truck to drive safely. If your child needs a larger truck, consider hiring professional movers, or urge your child to pool resources in order to move with other college students this fall. Hiring professional movers as part of a group can cost just as little as renting a truck and driving it themselves.

3) Consider driving your child to college yourself. If you have a pickup truck or a larger van, you may be able to fit most of the possessions into this vehicle. If both you and your child have a vehicle, you can distribute your child’s possessions between two cars and get to the college safely.

4) Help your child make a good moving choices. Help your teen pack and label possessions correctly, and explore all the options for moving together. There are many low-cost options for moving to college. For example, classified ads often have offers from college students moving at this time of year or looking for someone to share a truck with. This can be a relatively safe way to get your child’s possessions to college at a low cost and with less risk.

If your teen does not have extensive experience with driving a truck, it can be dangerous to let your child rent a large truck in order to move their possessions into a dorm room. Similarly, it is very dangerous to overload a passenger car with possessions. Help your teen make the right decisions, to ensure that your child is not a victim of a Florida car accident or truck accident.

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Florida Moving Truck Accidents and Moving Safety

Published on: August 23, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Moving companies are busy at this time of year because many families and students move before the start of the school year. Unfortunately, moving also brings risks with it. Each year, Florida truck accidents involving moving trucks cause serious injuries. As well, moving can cause back problems and minor injuries.

If you are moving and you decide to move yourself, carefully consider the truck you will be hiring. Some investigative news reports have found that some rental moving trucks have poor maintenance and safety records. In some cases, customers have complained about poor truck performance. If you do rent a moving truck, try it out first and take the truck to a mechanic you trust to ensure that the truck is road-worthy.

Make sure that you rent the right size of truck and that you pack and load your truck correctly. Overloading a truck can place additional stress on the tires and can lead to tire blowouts. It is a good idea to estimate the weight of your possessions and then to get a truck slightly larger than you need. However, do keep in mind that the larger the truck, the more unlike it will be from a passenger vehicle. Commercial truck drivers have extensive training to drive larger vehicles. Without this type of training, you may feel uncomfortable and be unsafe in a larger truck.

Incorrectly loaded and packed trucks can also be a danger, as they can cause the load to shift while you drive, which can cause you to lose control of the vehicle. Incorrectly loaded moving trucks can also be subject to roll-overs. Distribute the weight evenly inside the truck and secure the load with straps (available at many home building stores and automotive stores) to ensure that the load will not shift before transport.

Give yourself plenty of time to move and move on a day when visibility is good. If you plan on moving yourself with a rented truck, be sure to give yourself plenty of time. You will need time to pack the truck carefully and gradually and you will need time to take the rental truck to a mechanic before you drive it. You may also want to drive the truck around for a short time to get comfortable with the vehicle. Give yourself extra time to get to your destination and try to travel during the daytime, when visibility is better.

Given the dangers of moving yourself, you may want to consider alternatives to moving yourself. Many people choose to move themselves because the costs are much lower than hiring professionals. However, there are alternatives. You can rent a truck yourself and hire a truck driver to drive your possessions to your new destination. There are also “do it yourself” moving companies. These companies will deliver a freight crate to your current address and you can take time filling the crate. When you are done, a professional truck driver will deliver the crate – with all your possessions – to your new address. This costs less than a professional moving service but does not require you to drive a large truck.

If you hire do decide to hire professionals, stay well out of the way. Large commercial moving trucks have many blind spots, so it is important to keep pets and children away from the truck, to avoid accidents.

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Could Red-Light Cameras Help Prevent Florida Truck Accidents?

Published on: August 16, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

New research and statistics from the Department for Transport in the UK suggests that red-light cameras have not improved accident rates in that region of the world, but have helped cities secure speeding fines. A camera installed in Oxfordshire saw ten fatalities and five car accidents between 1997 and 2002. Before 1997, when the camera was installed, the same intersection had not seen any fatalities or car accidents for five years. In 2009, that camera caught over 3600 drivers exceeding the speed limit. In 1997, another red-light camera was installed at an intersection in Cambridgeshire after the intersection saw five minor collisions. In 2010, that same intersection saw two serious injuries and five smaller injuries as well as 1027 drivers exceeding the speed limit. Of 89 red-light cameras installed in Humberside, 19 of those cameras saw an increase fatal pedestrian accidents after the cameras were installed.

The statistics – and others like them, published in the US, shed concerns about red-light cameras and their use in the US. Red-light camera companies and advocates of the cameras claim that the cameras can help reduce Florida truck accidents and car accidents by forcing drivers to slow down. The cameras are installed on intersections and can automatically capture anyone exceeding the speed limit. Some cameras also capture other traffic violations, such as running red lights or making illegal turns. When the cameras capture a violation, they can determine the driver responsible from the license plate number. The driver is then sent a ticket, with the time, date, and location of the alleged violation.

Red-light cameras have hit other speed bumps in the US, however. Some states have questioned the very legality of the system because the tickets are sent automatically whereas in many states traffic tickets must be written up by police officers or must be served by process servers. In some cases, drivers have successfully been able to argue their case in court in order to have their tickets dismissed. Others have simply ignored their tickets and have left it up to red-light camera companies to pursue payment.

The real concern, however, is whether red-light cameras can really help prevent Florida car accidents and traffic crashes. Advocates of the cameras claim that the cameras are ever-present and so discourage drivers from violating rules because drivers know that they will get caught automatically. As well, advocates of the cameras claim that red light cameras have been proven to reduce car accidents. Indeed, some US-based studies have suggested that red light cameras can reduce traffic violations at an intersection. As well, red light cameras can theoretically help free up law enforcement professionals and resources for more serious concerns. Opponents suggest that the cameras are a cash-grab for cities who want to increase revenues with traffic tickets.

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Expert Tips for Preventing Florida Truck Accidents

Published on: July 19, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

If you drive a passenger vehicle, your car stands no chance against a large tractor trailer in a collision. Each year, many lives are lost due to Florida truck accidents, but there are things you can do to help protect yourself and your loved ones, according to law enforcement and other experts:

1) Stay alert to existing Florida car accidents and truck accidents. Listen to the radio or check the traffic reports before leaving home, so that you can avoid congested areas and accident sites – which have higher risks of accidents. The Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) has even launched a new Florida 511 iPhone application as a free download on iTunes. The app provides free real-time traffic information for Florida’s major roadways and can be used with GPS to help drivers keep track of accidents near their current location.

2) Keep your car in good condition. When your car is well-maintained, it handles more reliably, allowing you to get out of dangerous situations. Check your car’s owner manual to determine what basic maintenance your vehicle needs and then schedule the needed maintenance.

3) Avoid distracted driving. You cannot drive near trucks safely if you are texting or talking on the phone while driving. Trucks take longer to stop and may make unexpected stops. You need to be alert, and that means putting your mobile devices away while you are on the road. Avoid other distractions, too. Changing CDs in your car, having animated conversations with passengers, or eating while driving can all be fatal mistakes.

4) Drive sober – and well rested. Both fatigued driving and drunk driving affect your motor skills and your response times. To prevent a truck accident, you may need to act fast, and you cannot do that if you are not at your best. Florida drunk driving accidents and accidents caused by fatigued drivers are very preventable, so work to prevent these accidents from happening to you.

5) Get some good coaching. If you have had more than one or two near-accidents or Florida car accidents in the past year, it is a good idea to get some additional driver training. Most drivers believe that their driver education ends when they get their license, but in fact the world’s best drivers – including race car drivers and stunt car drivers – get continuing education to improve their skills. If you need to, consider a refresher course, a racing school course, or defensive driving course. In some cases, you may even be able to enjoy a car insurance discount as you enjoy safer driving.

6) Make provisions for commercial trucks. Driving near other passenger vehicles is not the same as driving near large commercial trucks. Large trucks require more room, and it is important to ensure that truck drivers can see you. Learn to respect the larger vehicles on the road and you will keep yourself and your loved ones safer.

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What to Take Down After a Florida Truck Accident

Published on: July 14, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Florida truck accidents and car accidents are two of the most common causes for personal injuries. Unfortunately, due to the size and force of trucks, truck accidents in the state tend to lead to especially severe injuries. If you have been in a Florida traffic accident, your first aim should be to get medical attention. Some patients – including Florida brain injury patients – need immediate medical attention to prevent complications and to increase the chances of survival. However, if you do not need medical attention, you should gather some information at the scene of the accident. Among the items of information to gather are:

Information about the other truck or car and driver. Gather, if you can, the name, driver’s license number, address, and phone number of the driver. As well, write down the make and type of truck or car, as well as the car year and license number. In the event of a commercial truck, write down the location where the truck came from and the truck carrier or the owner of the truck as well. If the other driver makes a statement or seems impaired, note this. As well, write down any details of the passengers in the other car or truck. This should include the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all passengers in the other car or truck. Finally, write down the insurance information for the other driver. You will need to reciprocate and share the same information with the other driver involved in the accident.

Information about any witnesses on the scene. Take down names, phone numbers, and addresses of anyone who saw the accident. Their testimony may be very important if you need to take legal action.

Information about any wrecker services used. Write down the tow services or wrecker services used for your car or any car or truck involved in the accident. Write down the name of two truck operator and the name of the service, if possible.

Any details about the conditions of the accident. Write down the location, time, and date of the accident, as well as any pertinent conditions regarding weather, lighting, road conditions, traffic conditions, visual obstructions, and anything else which may have contributed to the accident. If there are specific weather conditions or other conditions which may have contributed to the accident, you may want to take photos at the scene, if you have a camera handy.

Other details about the conditions and aftermath of the accident. Note the speed at which you were going, and any traffic controls in the area. If someone is cited to be at fault, note the details, including the reason given. Note who was wearing seatbelts and who was not, as well as the direction each car was traveling. Note the location of the impact and the damage done to the car as well as any damage done to the street or landmarks in the area.

It is always better to take down more details than fewer. If you are in doubt, write in down, as you will start to forget details soon after your accident. If you have been taken to hospital, you can jot down a few details while waiting for tests. However, focus on your health first. If you cannot get details of the accident because you are rushed to the hospital, don’t worry: law enforcement will get the details of the accident. If you decide to pursue legal action, a Florida personal injury attorney can work with private investigators and accident reconstruction professionals to determine the details of the crash. However, since evidence only lasts for so long, it is important to contact a qualified attorney as soon as possible after your accident.

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