West Palm Beach Truck Accident Attorney
Truck collisions are a growing concern in Florida, particularly since the federal government has recently rolled back safety regulations that fought fatigued driving. Now that truck drivers are out on the road with less rest, collisions are bound to rise. Other common causes of truck collisions include distracted driving, speeding/aggressive driving, overweight or improperly loaded cargo, and intoxication. If you are a victim of a commercial vehicle collision, our Hale Law West Palm Beach truck accident attorneys can help you file a personal injury claim against the negligent party.
THE ADDITIONAL PERILS OF TRUCK COLLISIONS
According to Smart Trucking, an 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and be 70 feet long. The damages that can be sustained in a truck accident are significantly more than a car crash simply because of the massive force going into the collision and the amount of space a truck takes up on the road. Such large vehicles are harder to maneuver and do not have the same visibility from the driver’s seat. One must also take into account the height of trucks compared to other vehicles on the road. Trucks are more likely to crush or rollover a passenger vehicle. Taking all of this into consideration, truck collisions often leave victims with severe, life-threatening injuries.
COMMON REASONS TRUCK DRIVERS GET INTO ACCIDENTS
- Distracted Driving—Truck drivers are known for being on the roads for extended periods of time. While driving they may shift their focus to texting, watching TV, or even just their own internal thoughts. A driver who is distracted in these ways is likely to forget the details of driving such as putting on their turn signals and checking mirrors before changing lanes or failing to leave a proper distance to the vehicle in front of them.
- Driving Over the Speed Limit—When a truck is going over the speed limit, particularly around tight corners or on/off ramps, they can cause a collision. Even if they are going under the speed limit, they may not have been driving a safe speed given the weather conditions on the road.
- Aggressive Driving—Tactics such as tailgating or not allowing another driver to merge into traffic are meant to intimidate other road users, but ultimately they are not safe practices and can lead to a collision.
- Falling Asleep at the Wheel/Drowsy Driving—According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truck drivers have federal limits on how long they can drive before taking a rest, such as a mandatory 30 minute rest break after 8 hours of driving. This is meant to deter driving drowsy, which increases the likelihood of a crash. Unfortunately, not all truck drivers abide by these laws and even if they do, they can still become drowsy in the middle of their driving shift.
- Improperly Loading Cargo—When cargo is not properly tied down or loaded it can cause the truck to be top heavy or have a sudden shift in weight, both which can lead to rollovers, cargo falling off the truck, and other issues that result in a collision.
- Mechanical Failure—Since trucks are used for heavy loads and long distance travel, they require more maintenance and are more likely to experience a tire blowout or braking issues.
CONTACT THE SKILLED WEST PALM BEACH TRUCK ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS OF HALE LAW
Victims of truck collisions should never have to pay for their own medical treatment, property damage, and mounting bills caused by disability. Trucking companies almost always have large insurance policies, and serious injuries require serious compensation from that at-fault party. To learn more about your options for substantial compensation, call the West Palm Beach truck accident lawyers at Hale Law today at 941-735-4529 to schedule a free consultation.