Commercial trucks share the road with all of us, and most of the time these professional drivers take care in driving safely. However, what happens when a truck driver is driving recklessly or dangerously on your street or during your commute? Knowing what to do can help prevent injuries and may be able to help you get to safety.
Here are a few things you will want to do:
Many students are moving into dorms at this time of year, or moving into off-campus housing before their first classes start. In many college towns, both moving trucks and parking spots can be at a premium. If you are moving in Miami or any town with a college, there are a few ways to ensure moving day is a little safer:
Chain reaction truck accidents in Miami and other South Florida communities occur when a trucking accident causes multiple other accidents. Because of the size of tractor trailers, tankers, and other commercial vehicles, chain reaction accidents are not uncommon in situations where a commercial vehicle is in a collision.
Chain reaction accidents are especially deadly because they can involve multiple points of impact. This can mean passengers are impacted or jostled multiple times, increasing the risk of injury and complicating injuries already sustained. The force of the crash can also be greater with a chain reaction accident with multiple points of impact.
At this time of year, many homeowners in Hollywood and across South Florida decide to take on some renovation projects. Whether you’re building a deck, setting up a barbecue area, or renovating the interior of your home, you may be tempted to rent a truck to haul building materials from your local lumberyard or home hardware store. In fact, many big-box hardware stores and home renovation stores allow you to rent a cube van or truck for a few hours (0r longer) to get your purchases home.
There’s only one problem: truck accidents in Hollywood and across South Florida are very common. They may be even more of a risk for you if delivery trucks you rent aren’t properly maintained or if you’re not used to driving a truck. If you’re renovating this summer, here are a few things to keep in mind if you need to rent a larger vehicle:
Last month, a Miami garbage truck feel from Interstate 95 after crashing through a barrier, landing in a park below. While no children were in the park, the driver of the garbage truck was thrown from the cab and had to be rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. The accident highlighted the dangers of highway truck accidents in Miami, Hollywood, and South Florida:
Speed limits on highways and freeways are higher than on residential streets, and while this allows for faster it can also mean greater risk. When larger vehicles such as tractor trailers and big rigs travel at high speed, they pose a serious danger in the event of a crash. The force and velocity of these vehicles can cause significant damage to many vehicles around them.
All cars – including yours – have blind spots, but the blind spots on large commercial big rigs and tractor trailers are much larger because of the size of those vehicles. On an 18-wheeler or other larger truck, blind spots happen to be alongside the truck and behind the truck. If your car is in these areas, the trucker may not see you and you may be at risk for an accident.
Blind spots can lead to accidents in two major ways:
New drivers and young drivers face a number of obstacles in the first few years of driving. They may still be developing their skills and in some cases they may face peer pressure from friends to take risks behind the wheel. In addition, some teen drivers haven’t yet found their confidence in driving.
Teen drivers may not yet be familiar with driving around other types of vehicles, such as commercial trucks. Sharing the road with larger vehicles is a crucial skill to learn. Truck accidents in Hollywood and Florida claim far too many lives each year and these accidents can lead to devastating, permanent injuries as well.
T-bone accidents or side impact accidents involving semi-trucks and tractor-trailers are often devastating. When a large commercial truck hits the side of a vehicle, the size and force of the larger vehicle can cause significant damage to the smaller car. In addition, the side of a car often has very little in the way of a crumple zone. There is usually only a few inches of metal, glass, and plastic separating the truck from the passengers inside the car.
In many cases, side-impact collisions and T-bone crashes in Hollywood and Florida occur when a truck or car is trying to change lanes. These collisions also occur very frequently at intersections when a truck or car runs a red light or fails to yield to another vehicle.
If you have been injured in a trucking collision in Homestead or any Florida community, you may wonder whether you have a legal claim or any options for securing compensation in your case. You may also have lots of other questions about your case, such as: How will I pay for my medical treatment? What will happen to my car? Will I be able to return to work?
One of the ways to answer your questions is to speak with a Homestead personal injury attorney. A skilled attorney can address your concerns and can work to answer some of your questions. He or she can determine the likely total costs of your injuries and can help you understand your rights. He or she can also help you find a mechanic or medical services, if you need them.
Florida is home to many waterways and as a result has many bridges. Trucks often must cross these bridges in Miami and other cities order to deliver their cargo. Unfortunately, bridges pose a special danger for trucks. In the event of a collision, a two-lane bridge simply does not provide any space for other vehicles to go, which can increase the severity of the crash. In addition, the weight and force of a truck accident can cause severe structural damage to the bridge itself, even leading to bridge collapse.
There are many federal and state rules in place to keep bridges and vehicles safe. For example, many bridges have clearance limits. This means that trucks above a certain height are not permitted on some bridges. In addition, all bridges have weight limits, so that heavy trucks posing a risk of bridge collapse are not permitted on the structures. Unfortunately, in some cases truckers violate these rules and try to squeeze an overloaded or overweight truck onto a bridge. This can lead to bridge collapse, structural damage, and other problems.
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