Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has examined more than 140 000 truck accidents occurring on US roads between 2001 and 2003. The FMSCA has concluded that 68 000 of these accidents were caused by truck drivers, 2000 could be attributed to the weather or the environment, and 8000 were caused mostly by the truck. The specific most common causes for accidents were found to be:
1) Interrupted traffic flow. Trucks take longer to stop than smaller vehicles, and this fact causes many car and truck accidents in Miramar and other communities. When vehicles follow trucks too closely and traffic is stopping and starting (during a traffic jam, for example), collisions can easily occur.
2) Lack of familiarity with an area. Truck drivers often have to make deliveries to a range of locations, including areas they are not familiar with. Lack of familiarity with an area can easily lead to an accident, especially if the truck driver is looking for a specific address and is on a tight deadline.
3) Inadequate surveillance.
4) Speeding. Speeding is dangerous for any vehicle on the road, but can be especially dangerous for commercial trucks, which can rollover when driven too fast. Speeding can also cause a truck driver to lose control of the vehicle, leading to a truck or car accident.
5) Illegal traffic maneuvers. Many truck and car accidents in Miramar and other communities occur because motorists simply violate traffic laws, assuming that they will not be caught.
6) Distraction and inattention. According to the FMCSA, 22 000 truck accidents between 2001 and 2003 were caused by driver inattention or distraction. Distraction can be caused by a range of issues, including rubbernecking, mobile device use, and other distractions.
7) Fatigue. Fatigued driving is a leading cause of traffic accidents in Miramar and across Southern Florida. FMCSA rules require commercial truck drivers to get a specific amount of rest during long-haul trips. However, in some cases drivers have sleep conditions that prevent them from getting adequate rest. In other cases, drivers simply ignore the rules due to financial pressure or other pressure from the motor carrier to make deliveries on time.
8) Illness. Medical emergencies and illnesses can cause a truck driver to have a serious medical event – including a stroke, heart attack, or other serious event – while driving. Even minor conditions – such as a bad flu – can slow response times and can lead to a collision.
9) Incorrect prediction of another driver’s actions. Truck drivers always need to be anticipating the moves of drivers around them. When truck drivers fail to notice signal lights, misjudge the speed of other vehicles, or otherwise misinterpret the visual cues around them, a serious accident can result.
Have you suffered a spinal cord injury, soft tissue injury, head injury, or other serious injury in a traffic accident in Southern Florida? There may be legal options available to you. Contact the Flaxman Law Group to find out whether you qualify for compensation in your case. Your initial case review and consultation is free and comes with no obligation.