Florida Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog

When car and truck accidents in Fort Lauderdale and other cities occur, passenger car occupants are usually the ones injured due to the size difference between the two types of vehicles. While in some cases truck drivers cause the accident, distracted passenger car drivers are a major contributor to both truck and car accidents in Fort Lauderdale and across the state. While truck drivers are subject to strict federal rules designed to prevent fatigued driving, passenger car drivers have far fewer rules to follow. This means that passenger car drivers must take responsibility to prevent collisions. According to experts, there are several things that passenger car drivers can do to curb distracted driving:

1) Adjust car systems before driving or ask a passenger for help. It is a good idea to use a pre-programmed playlist on an MP3 player on a longer drive or to rely on pre-programmed radio stations, since changing a CD can be very dangerous on the road. In addition to music, A/C, mirrors, and other basic items should be changed or adjusted before starting the car – not on the road.

2) Mobile devices should be off when driving. Much has been written about distracted driving and cell phones. While commercial truck drivers are banned from texting and driving, Florida drivers of passenger cars do not face the same ban. Despite this, the road is safer for everyone when all drivers focus on the road rather than their cell phone. Turn the cell phone off before hopping in the car so that you will not be tempted to check the device. Studies have shown that talking or texting while talking does contribute to traffic accidents in Fort Lauderdale and other US cities. Research has also suggested that hands-free devices are not entirely safe, either, as they remove a driver’s focus from the road. The best practice, experts agree, is to leave mobile devices off entirely when driving.

3) Set rules for passengers. Conversations with other passengers can be very distracting. In fact, studies have shown that teen drivers, in particular, significantly increase their risk of a car accident with every passenger in the car with them. For adult drivers, children and pets can be a significant distraction. For this reason, it is a good idea to distract children with child-appropriate car games and to set rules for car rides. Pets should be placed in kennels or carriers for every car ride.

4) Do not eat or drink while driving. While many people know that drinking and driving accidents in Fort Lauderdale are a serious concern, many do not realize that safety experts consider drinking coffee (or any beverage) while driving to be very dangerous as well. Eating and drinking takes your focus off the road and if you spill your food you may be distracted enough to cause a serious collision.

Continue reading "Passenger Car Drivers Have a Key Role to Play in Preventing Distraction-Related Truck Accidents in Fort Lauderdale and Other Cities" »

Large cities such as Miami pride themselves on working around the clock. No matter what time it is in Miami, chances are that someone is working. While that means convenience for the customer, a 2012 study published in the British Medical Journal finds that shift workers – especially truck drivers – are at an increased risk of accidents and illness due to their work. Quite simply, working shifts can increase the risk of a truck accident in Miami and other communities.

The risk for truck drivers is that they often work in ever-changing shifts to accommodate deadlines set by motor carriers. They may have to drive late at night one week and work days the next. According to researchers, truck drivers and those employees who work shifts are more prone to a number of illnesses, including:

•Strokes
•Heart attacks
•Obesity
•High Cholesterol
•Diabetes
•Sleep Apnea
•High blood sugar
•Arthritis
•Joint and Back Pain

According to the study’s authors, the issue is that shift work leads to a breakdown in the nervous system, which can result in these types of serious illnesses. In truck drivers, an additional problem is that drivers sit down for much of their work and due to hectic schedules may not get much exercise, which further puts them at risk.

Shift work can also result in serious fatigue, and as numerous studies have shown, fatigued driving results in many truck and car collisions in Miami and across the country. Of course, when truck drivers have serious health issues, they are even at greater risk of being in a traffic accident in Miami or another city. If a truck driver has a stroke or heart attack behind the wheel, the resulting loss of control of the truck can cause a devastating crash that claims many lives. Even non-life-threatening illnesses, such as sleep apnea, are very serious for truck drivers because they can cause the driver to lose control of their vehicle and cause a crash.

The study in the British Medical Journal suggests that truck drivers and other shift workers can be protected from some of the dangerous effects of shift work if:

•The work schedule is limited to 12 hours
•Workers are given two full nights of sleep before a night shift and day shift
•Workers are not made to work a night shift permanently

One of the obstacles with truck drivers is that in many cases drivers face pressure at work to drive for longer distances and work longer hours in order to meet deadlines. Although there are federal rules in place to prevent truck drivers from working exceedingly long hours, these rules are sometimes broken. In too many cases, this results in serious traffic collisions in Miami and across the country.

Continue reading "Shift Work a Real Issue in Terms of Truck Accident Risks in Miami and Other Cities" »

Each year, over 200 000 car accidents occur in Florida, some of them in Coral Gables and surrounding communities. While many are quite minor, some result in serious injuries. Some passengers become life-long spinal cord injury or head injury patients in Coral Gables or their communities, for example, never fully recovering from their injuries. Truck accidents involving passenger cars can be especially devastating. Due to the difference in size between commercial trucks and passenger cars, passenger car occupants involved in this type of crash are more likely to suffer serious or even fatal injuries.

If you have been injured in a truck or car accident in Coral Gables or any city in Florida, there are several steps you will want to take to preserve your rights:

1) Be prepared well before the accident. Well before you are in any accident, it is important to consider the steps you need to take to protect yourself and your family. Buy the safest car you can and keep in good shape – this may reduce your risk of some injuries. Wear a seatbelt each time you drive. Buy the best quality car insurance you can afford. Every few years, review your insurance to make sure your insurance plan still meets your current needs. In addition, have an accident kit in your car. Your kit should contain a blanket, first aid kit, pen and paper, a camera, a list of medical information and emergency contacts, emergency flares or cones, and a flashlight. If you are ever in an accident, this kit can be very useful.

2) If you are in an accident, stick to the facts. If the accident is not life threatening, move your car off to the side of the road. Call for help for anyone who is seriously injured and exchange information with the other driver. Avoid getting into a debate with the driver about what has happened or what has caused the accident.

3) Gather information. In addition to the contact information and vehicle information of anyone else involved in the truck crash, you may want to get contact information from possible witnesses. Get a copy of the police report and any medical records you can about your situation. Take photos of the accident scene if you can as well as photos of your damages and injuries.

4) Get medical attention, even if you do not have symptoms. This is especially important if the accident was serious or if you may have hit your head during the car collision. Some conditions do not present symptoms right away, and if you wait for treatment you may complicate the condition.

5) Call your insurance company soon after the accident. You will want to get the insurance process started.

6) Call a personal injury attorney. A personal injury attorney in Coral Gables or your community can review the situation with you and can help you understand whether you are entitled to damages from the accident. Many attorneys do not charge for a first consultation so you have nothing to lose from getting some legal advice about your situation.

Continue reading "Best Steps to Take if You Are in a Car or Truck Accident in Coral Gables or Any Florida Community " »

Caterpillar, a company that makes mining equipment, is launching face-tracking and eye-tracking technology that it claims can reduce fatigue-related truck accidents. Could the new product help prevent truck and car accidents in Miami and other cities? The technology is a combination of software, sensors, and alarms which monitor the truck driver and issue an alert when the driver shows signs of potentially falling asleep. Some companies, including Newmont Mining and BHP Billiton have conducted trials with the new technology and initial reports suggest that the system is impressive.

Would the system work better than other systems already in place to prevent car and truck accidents in Miami and other cities? According to the makers of the face-tracking and eye-tracking technology, the new system is different because truck drivers do not need to wear special equipment for the system to work. As well, the technology works even when truck drivers switch shifts.

The system uses cameras and sensors to determine when a driver is looking away from the road, how often the driver blinks, and how long the driver’s eyes remain shut. The aim is to detect micro-sleep – a state in which a fatigued person falls asleep for fractions of a second without being aware of the sleep time. When the system detects a state of micro-sleep it agitates the driver’s seat and sounds an alarm to wake the driver up. The system also sends a report back to the driver’s employers to alert them of the problem. The company that hired the driver can also review data from the truck and the cameras and can get a video feed of the driver’s eyes.

Caterpillar acknowledges that there are still some issues with the technology. Currently, the system cannot differentiate between a driver looking down and closing their eyes. This means that driver who glances down may trigger the alarm. Despite this, Newmont Mining told the BBC that in a trial of the technology the company was able to reduce fatigue-related issues by 90%.

Currently, the main system preventing fatigue-related truck and traffic accidents in Miami and across the country are federal laws which dictate the maximum number of hours truck drivers can work and require specific rest periods. The federal laws also require commercial truck drivers to keep a log of hours driven and rests taken. As safety experts have noted, however, it is easy to circumvent these rules and to falsify logs. The federal laws also do not address fatigue caused by sleep disorders or illness. The new technology, according to some experts, will address signs of fatigue and as a result may be a better way of preventing truck collisions in Miami and other cities.

One of the biggest obstacles to the technology may be cost. According to Caterpillar, equipping just one truck with the technology costs up to $20 000. Currently, many truck carriers do not install other potentially life-saving technology due to costs and this technology is expensive.

Continue reading "Face-Tracking Technology Could Reduce Trucking Accidents in Miami and Across the Country, Experts Say" »

Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) and Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) are supporting the Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act (SHIPA) on Capitol Hill. The legislation would prevent more carriers from operating overweight trucks and would prevent increases in truck weight limits and truck sizes. The bill, which is supported by the Truck Safety Coalition, would also increase enforcement of current truck laws and would expand the number of highways where truck limits are currently used.

Many groups and safety advocates agree that more needs to be done about overweight and oversize trucks on the nation’s highways. According to advocacy group Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH), about 4000 Americans are killed each year and many more are seriously injured due to truck accidents. According to the group, heavy trucks are a major cause for concern for anyone wanting to prevent serious traffic accidents in Davie and any community across the nation.

Industry experts, however, note that studies have not conclusively proven that larger trucks result in more accidents. They also note that limiting the size and weight of trucks will eventually mean more trucks on the road, as consumer good deliveries and industrial deliveries increase. More trucks can also mean more accidents. Moreover, some safety experts note that truck drivers and truck carriers are already subject to many rules and regulations designed to protect others on the road. This has led some to suggest more rules for drivers of passenger cars to help prevent traffic accidents.

While legislators and advocacy groups seek solutions for car and truck accidents in Davie and across the country, the Federal Highway Administration has announced plans for a study about truck weight limits and truck sizes. The study is to be completed by November 2014.

Whether the new bills pass or not, there are still many things that people can do to help prevent truck and car accidents in Davie and other communities:

•Write to local representatives to express support for bills that may help reduce traffic accidents
•Hone your own driving skills to prevent accidents
•Drive only when sober and alert
•Join an advocacy group aimed at raising awareness about traffic issues
•Consult your community about any high-risk road areas or poorly maintained streets
•Keep your car in good condition
•Report trucks that are in poor condition or driving dangerously
•Obey the rules of the road

Continue reading "Could New Laws and Studies Help Reduce Instances of Truck Accidents in Davie and Across The Country?" »

A few common mistakes that drivers make tend to cause a significant portion of car and truck accidents in Miami Gardens and other Florida communities. These mistakes are:

1) Cars overtaking a truck on the left where there are two lanes. This commonly occurs on merge lanes and in situations where merge lanes end. In some cases, a car will try to pass the truck, only to have the truck sideswipe the vehicle because the truck driver cannot see the smaller car.

2) Speeding. Trucks take longer to slow down and stop when compared with passenger cars, so when cars speed around commercial trucks collisions can easily happen. When trucks speed, they can rollover and when speeding truck drivers can lose control of the vehicle. When cars speed, they can cause serious collisions with other vehicles on the road.

3) Not being in mental or physical shape to drive. Driving is one of the most tasking thing most of us do every day. Being ill, tired, distracted, inebriated, or otherwise unable to drive can result in a collision. To prevent truck and car accidents in Miami Gardens and across the country, there are federal rules governing truck drivers. For example, truck drivers must get specific amounts of rest, are subject to drug and health checks, and must not text while driving. The rules are far less strict for passenger car drivers. Nevertheless, both passenger car and truck drivers have a responsibility to prevent drunk driving accidents in Miami Gardens and other communities as well as other types of preventable accidents caused by fatigue, distraction, and other issues.

4) Following too closely. Trucks take extra time to stop, so following a truck too closely or being followed too closely by a truck can lead to collisions. When trucks follow passenger cars too closely, for example, override accidents in Miami Gardens and other communities are a common result. When the passenger can has to stop suddenly, the truck often cannot stop in time, resulting in an override. When cars tailgate trucks, the bulk of the truck hampers visibility and if the truck has to make a sudden stop, a rear-end collision in the likely result.

5) Not following traffic laws. Some drivers take shortcuts, running the occasional stop sign or not signaling properly. The traffic laws, lights, and signs are there for a reason. Ignoring them, even occasionally, dramatically increases the risk of an accident.

Continue reading "Common Mistakes That Can Lead to a Truck Accident in Miami Gardens and Other Florida Cities" »

The collapse of the Interstate 5 bridge in Washington state has created a renewed focus on bridge and truck safety. Residents in Fort Lauderdale – a city with many canals, waterways, and bridges – may be especially interested. The Interstate 5 bridge collapse occurred after a truck passed over the bridge. Some news reports suggested that the truck (which was carrying a large load) may have struck a girder just before the structure collapsed.

Are bridge collapses and truck accidents in Fort Lauderdale something that needs to be addressed?

According to the Federal Highway Administration, one-fourth of the bridges across the US are functionally obsolete or structurally deficient in some way. Some risky bridges are called "fracture critical" bridges because if one component is compromised in the structures the entire bridge can collapse. According to news reports, the Interstate 5 bridge was in this category. However, it was not considered structurally deficient, which means it was not eligible for repair funding from the government.

Fracture critical bridges are less expensive to build than bridges with redundancies that provide an extra layer of safety. For this reason, about 18,000 of these types of bridges were constructed between the 1950s and 1970s. The Interstate 5 bridge is considered obsolete but many bridges around the country are considered to be in even worse shape – and in some cases there are no immediate plans to fix these structures. Governments claim that there is not enough money available to fix all the bridges that have poor ratings.

In the collapse of the Interstate 5 bridge, victims were fortunate in that no-one suffered life-threatening injuries. However, drivers who were on the bridge did suffer some injuries. In the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis in 2007, more than 100 people were injured and 13 were killed.

If you are involved in a traffic accident in Fort Lauderdale or any community due to a collapsed bridged, you may suffer soft tissue injuries, spinal injuries, head trauma, fractures, and other potentially life-threatening injuries. If you are involved in a car accident in Fort Lauderdale or any community due to a collapsing bridge, it is important to consult with a personal injury attorney. In cases where states and municipalities, especially, know about the safety issues with bridges and fail to act on them, there may be multiple liable parties in these cases, which can increase the chances that you will be able to secure fair compensation that can help pay for property damages, lost wages, medical costs, and other high costs associated with this type of accident. If you have been injured due to a defect in a bridge, contact a personal injury attorney in Fort Lauderdale or your community to get immediate legal advice.

Continue reading "Bridge Collapses and Truck Accidents in Fort Lauderdale and Other Florida Communities" »

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.

Continue reading "Causes of Truck Accidents in Miramar and Other Cities" »

Fuel trucks carry fuel to homes, businesses, and to and from industrial sites every day. When these trucks are involved in truck accidents in Miami and other communities, however, the results can be catastrophic. Fuel is often highly combustible and unstable, increasing the likelihood of a fire. Tanker trucks containing fuel also more subject to rollovers and other accidents because the cargo is less stable. The devastation of these types of traffic accidents in Miami and other communities can be catastrophic:

1) Fuel truck accidents can lead to fires and explosions. While fuel tanker trucks are especially secured to protect against fires and damage, in a rollover or other type of truck or car accident in Miami, a fuel truck can spill its cargo, can explode, or can cause a serious fire. While a simple leak and spark alone are not usually enough to cause a fuel fire, when fires do occur they can be devastating. Fuel trucks can carry 100 gallons of fuel, and this is enough to cause a serious explosion or serious fire that can cause devastating damage to everyone in the area. The high heat and the extreme nature the fire can make it difficult for firefighting professionals to approach the scene immediately, meaning that it can be hard to extinguish this type of fire right away.

2) Fuel truck accidents often lead to secondary accidents. Truck accidents that result in fires, explosions, or spills can easily lead to a secondary accident. A tanker truck accident in Miami that causes a spill, for example, can lead to additional car accidents if approaching vehicles do not notice the spill in time. If a fuel truck accident results in a fire, other cars may be involved in collisions as they tried to stay away from the flames.

3) Fuel truck accidents can cause devastation and injury to bystanders and can cause damage to people over a wide radius. Fuel truck accidents, especially if they lead to explosions or fires, can affect people over a wide radius. Nearby homes and businesses may be severely damaged by the blaze, for example, and nearby pedestrians may suffer serious burn injuries or other serious injuries. Homes and businesses in the area may need to be evacuated until the situation is under control.

4) Fuel truck accidents can release toxins. Burning fuel can released dangerous toxins in the air, which can lead to severe injury and illness to bystanders in the area. Children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems may be especially at risk. In some situations, tankers carry hazardous materials. When these hazardous substances spill or ignite, the results can lead to an environment and health disaster.

Continue reading "The Dangers of Fuel Truck Accidents in Miami and Other Florida Communities " »

Tanker trucks are used to transport fuel, water, and other liquids. These trucks are also more prone to rollovers than cars and most commercial trucks. According to the CDC, tanker truck rollovers are the leading cause of traffic accident-related deaths for firefighters. Rollovers are also more likely than other truck accidents to lead to fires and serious injuries for truck drivers. The majority of these accidents can be prevented, according to experts, with just a few changes:

1) Regular tire maintenance. Tires that are incorrectly maintained increase the likelihood of a tire blowout and therefore a rollover. Tanker trucks are typically very hard on tires due to the weight of the cargo. It is therefore important to check tires every day for correct tire pressure and for wear and tear. Tires that are worn down may result in truck accidents in Coral Springs and other communities because worn tires are more likely to malfunction. Worn tires are also more likely to lead to collisions since tires without adequate treads can make it harder for a driver to stop without sliding. Tires that are overinflated or underinflated can also cause a tire blowout or can cause the truck driver to lose control of the vehicle.

2) Reducing speed. Many rollover accidents in Coral Springs and other communities are caused by excessive speeds. Although tankers can rollover at speeds as low as 5 miles per hour, in most cases these accidents do involve higher speeds. At higher speeds, it is harder for truck drivers to maintain control of their vehicle and taking turns at high speeds, especially, can lead to rollovers and other types of collisions.

3) Adequate training. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that tanker truck drivers get refresher courses at least twice a year and take part in ongoing training. Additional training is important in order to help prevent truck and car accidents in Coral Springs and other communities because tanker truck drivers need to be prepared to deal with shifting cargo and other risky situations on the road. In some cases, motor carriers pay for additional training and refresher courses for drivers. Drivers in many cases can also access training on their own.

4) Weight distribution. Part of the problem with tanker trucks is that the weight of the liquid shifts frequently, and when liquid sloshes up against the sides of the truck, this can cause imbalance in the weight and can increase the risk of a rollover. It is especially important to be very vigilant when tankers are only partially full. Tanker trucks that are only partly full are especially subject rollovers.

Continue reading "How Experts Believe Tanker Rollover Truck Accidents in Coral Springs can be Prevented" »

Truck drivers who are injured on the job and sustain injuries in a truck accident in South Miami and other Florida cities sometimes have a hard time recovering fair compensation for their injuries. Commercial truck drivers are protected by Florida law and usually have benefits and protections through their jobs, but sometimes still find themselves in financial distress after a serious traffic collision. There are a number of reasons for this:

1) Motor carriers and insurance companies are powerful companies with teams of attorneys on their side. In many cases, motor carriers want to blame the accident on the driver and insurance companies want to settle claims quickly and inexpensively. If the truck driver has sustained a serious injury, such as a fracture, burn, or head injury in South Miami or another community in a collision, however, the cost of their injuries may be quite high. The amount offered by insurance and by motor carriers may not cover the full cost of their injuries.

2) Truck accident injuries for drivers tend to be catastrophic. In most car accidents in South Miami involving a truck, it is the car passengers who suffer the most serious injuries. The size and force of a truck can ensure that those in the smaller vehicle are seriously injured. However, in truck accidents involving injuries to the truck driver, the truck accidents are usually catastrophic and involve a fuel tank fire, rollover, or other catastrophic event that results in serious injuries. In many cases, insurance does not cover the long-term cost of these injuries, and truck drivers may need to seek the help of a personal injury attorney in South Miami or their community in order to get fair compensation.

3) Truck accident injuries for drivers are on the work injuries. This means that they are very often carefully scrutinized. At the same time, while these injuries may be covered by workers compensation in South Miami or in the community where the accident took place, workers compensation may not cover the high cost of these injuries.

4) In many cases, truck drivers are blamed for the accident. This can affect how much money the truck driver can expect to receive in compensation – even if that accident was not in fact their fault. It often means that truck drivers have to work with a personal injury attorney in order to get details about what has really caused an accident.

Continue reading "Truck Drivers May Have a Hard Time Recovering for Their Injuries after a Truck Accident in South Miami" »

In most truck accidents in North Miami and Florida, passengers of the smaller cars involved in the collision are the ones most likely to suffer severe injuries. Each year, car passengers sustain serious tissue injuries, spinal cord injuries, burns, and head injuries in North Miami and across Florida due to truck accidents. The size and force of a truck is simply no match for a passenger vehicle, and passengers in smaller cars are likely to bear the brunt of the accident.

However, while truck drivers are more protected by their larger vehicle and by their cabs, truck driver fatalities do occur each year as a result of truck accidents in North Miami and other communities. In fact, long haul truck driving is considered among the more dangerous of professions because truck drivers can and do sustain serious injuries, including spinal cord injuries, burns, and fatalities each year.

According to statistics:

-Close to 600 truck drivers die annually in accidents on highways

-About 55% of all semi-truck accidents in which a driver is killed occur due to rollover accidents

-Driving flatbeds and tankers is considered one of the most dangerous jobs

-About 10% of all semi-truck accidents in which a driver is killed occur due to fuel oil fires

Fires are an especial concern for truck drivers working with tankers. Tankers may travel with 100 gallons of diesel fuel or other flammables, and while these materials are protected and while diesel oil is hard to ignite, when it does happen fatalities are likely. In most cases, diesel oil does not ignite because of a ruptured tank but rather because of a shorting out or damage of the battery box. Once the fuel does catch on fire, explosions can easily occur and in many cases a driver may have only seconds to escape the truck before sustaining life-threatening injury. In cases where a truck is carrying hazardous and flammable materials, a fire can cause wide-spread damage and serious injury to the driver and to many others in the vicinity. Due to the amount of fuel the average tanker carries, a fire involving a truck often burns fast and hot and can quickly get out of control.

Another issue that causes truck accidents and fatalities is rollovers. Commercial trucks are much more prone to rollovers than cars. Half-empty tankers are more prone to rollovers than semis and other large trucks. Speeding, road unevenness, and sharp turns can all increase the odds of a rollover. On slopes and in other higher-risk conditions, rollovers can occur even at speeds of 5 mph. In many cases, a cab does not offer adequate protection for the driver when a rollover occurs in North Miami or another community. In these types of accidents, the truck driver is likely to sustain head injuries and other serious injuries.

Continue reading "Types of Injuries Commercial Drivers Can Sustain in Truck Crashes in North Miami" »