Florida
Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog

Many small businesses rely on light company trucks or even large trucking companies for business. If you own a small business, you may rely on trucks in order to get your product to customers or in order to have materials delivered to your offices. While trucks can make things convenient for your business, they can also create liability issues. If a truck your company owns causes a Florida pedestrian accident or a Florida trucking accident, the legal ramifications could affect your business. Such an accident can even push your business towards bankruptcy. Even if you work with a trucking company, if a company truck is in an accident while delivering your goods, you could face legal problems as well. That is why it is important to:

1) Carefully consider before getting trucks for your own business. If you want to have a truck for your business, consider who will drive the truck. How will you screen drivers? Can the drivers be trusted to remain safe?

2) If you do decide to get trucks for your business, use a little extra caution. Draw up a list of regulations for your truck drivers and delivery personnel. Insist on a driver’s log and check to make sure that your driver is qualified.

3) If you hire a truck company or delivery service, use due diligence. Research to make sure the company has a good safety record and good drivers. Consult the better business bureau and check online to see whether the company has been involved in messy legal battles.

4) Make sure the trucks carrying your products are maintained. If you have your own trucks, find a qualified mechanic and ensure that the trucks are checked and fixed regularly. Encourage your drivers to report and problems and have these fixed promptly. If you use a trucking company, ask how and where trucks are maintained – and how often. Avoid doing business with any company that does not take care of its trucks. If a truck carrying your products is in a Florida car accident, you could be named as a defendant in any Florida personal injury or wrongful death suit that arose from the accident.

5) Get the best insurance you can buy. If your company owns its own trucks, get the best liability protection you can to protect your business in the event of an accident. If you use a trucking company, get general liability protection and ask your insurance agent whether you are covered in case a truck carrying your goods is in an accident.

A fatal Florida trucking accident is one of the most devastating traffic accidents possible. The injuries and damages in such an accident are often catastrophic and the outcome can affect the rest of your life. If you have lost a loved one in a fatal Florida car accident involving a truck, there are several things you will want to do in order to deal with your loss:

1) Get the best medical care possible. If you are a survivor of the accident or if another family member has survived the accident, you will want to secure the best medical care possible. This may mean negotiating with your insurance carrier to ensure that all medical costs and long-term care costs are covered.

2) Get answers. Often, after a fatal Florida trucking accident, you will have many answers about how exactly the accident occurred. A good Florida personal injury attorney can help you investigate the accident so that you understand what happened. This can help bring some peace of mind and some closure to the accident.

3) Seek counseling or help. After a Florida trucking accident, you may feel depressed, angry, upset and many other troubling emotions. If these emotions do not fade in a few weeks, you may want to speak with a compassionate therapist or counselor about your feelings. The emotional impact of a Florida trucking accident can be devastating and can leave you unable to work or unable to return to everyday activities. Counseling can help you recover.

4) Consult with a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. While making arrangements, you may not be considering the financial impact of your loss, but losing a loved one in an accident can affect your income, your children’s financial future, and your household income. If someone’s negligence or recklessness caused the accident, you could pursue a Florida wrongful death suit in order to safeguard your future and the future of your family. Even if you do not decide to file such a suit, a consultation with a good Florida personal injury attorney can apprise you of your legal rights and can help ensure that you get your full claim amount from insurance agencies.

After a Florida truck accident, your first priority will likely be to get emergency medical attention. Most truck accidents in Florida result in at least some injuries, if not fatalities. It is difficult to assess the extent of injuries on the scene, which is why it is important to seek medical attention right away if you have sustained any type of injury. Many serious Florida brain injuries, for example, do always show overt symptoms at once. In some cases, patients feel fine right after an accident, only to find that they have indeed sustained a serious brain injury. Getting immediate help can dramatically increase your chances of surviving a Florida car accident involving a truck.

However, getting medical care after a Florida truck accident can be a challenge for many patients. If you are in a Florida truck accident, you will generally be taken to the closest Florida hospital for immediate treatment. If you are unconscious, you may not be able to act as your own health advocate. It can take emergency personnel some time to reach your family doctor and to recover your records. Mistakes can happen in the high-pressure environment of the emergency room. This is why after serious accident, Florida medical malpractice suits are common.

Another problem with getting quality medical care after a Florida truck accident is cost. Truck accidents can cause serious or even permanent injuries and the total cost of treating these injuries can be very high. Many insurance companies only pay for part of the treatment involved and do not consider long-term costs of the injury. For example, many Florida spinal cord injury patients find that long-term rehabilitation costs, home care costs, and other costs are not considered. The first few years of treatment may be covered by insurance, but subsequent costs may not be.

Another problem is that insurance carriers do not always cover all the costs of an injury, leaving the patient with thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs after a Florida truck accident. For example, many Florida burn injury patients find that their insurance company is not willing to pay for skin grafts and other procedures, even though such procedures are necessary to recover fully from the injury. Many insurance companies label all such procedures as “cosmetic.” As well, many insurance companies may not cover therapy, counseling, and other services which may be important to a full recovery.

When patients choose not to get some treatments after their Florida truck accident due to financial or insurance reasons, complications can sometimes occur. Not getting the best treatment right away can mean delays in recovery or can mean a less-than-full-recovery. Not getting some of the treatments that insurance companies label “cosmetic” may make it hard to recover the life lived before an accident.

Many Florida trucking accident victims have found that seeking the help of a qualified Florida personal injury attorney can help. A good personal injury attorney can negotiate with insurance providers after a Florida trucking accident to ensure that you get the full claim money you are entitled to. A good Florida personal injury attorney can also make recommendations to you that can help ensure the best quality medical care. After thoroughly investigating your accident, a Florida truck accident attorney can also ensure that everyone who has caused the accident is held accountable, so that you get all the medical and financial resources you need to recover as fully as possible.

After a Florida truck accident, you will have many questions and concerns if you have sustained any injury. Among your concerns might be issues such as:

1) Paying medical bills. You may be uninsured or underinsured for the serious injuries that you can sustain in a truck accident. As well, you will inevitably find that your insurance provider does not cover all the costs associated with your injuries. For example, many Florida burn injury patients find that their health insurance does not cover skin grafts and other so-called “cosmetic” surgery, even though such surgery may be necessary for full recovery. As well, brain injuries and spinal cord injuries may require years of rehabilitation and treatment, and not all of this is usually covered by insurance. Health care costs can be devastating, which is why it is vital to speak to a qualified Florida personal injury attorney after your truck accident. A good attorney can give you good advice and can help ensure that you have the financial resources you need to get the best quality medical care for your injuries.

2) Dealing with lost wages. If you have been injured in a Florida car accident involving a truck, you will likely miss work. In addition, you may need to miss work in order to meet with your Florida personal injury attorney or in order to visit your insurance company or doctor after your accident. If you have sustained a serious injury, you may not be able to return to work for weeks or months. In the event of a permanent injury, you may not be able to return to work at all. A good Florida personal injury attorney can help ensure that you are compensated for your lost wages, so that you do not have to worry about losing your home or ruining your credit rating.

3) Getting a car get fixed. You probably rely on your car for basic transportation, so after a Florida truck accident, it will be a priority to get your car repaired – or replaced, if your vehicle is beyond repair. A good Florida personal injury attorney can speak with car insurance providers on your behalf, can help arrange for a rental, and can work with you to ensure that you can keep driving.

4) Deciding to seek legal action. After a truck accident, you will need to determine whether the accident was caused by someone’s recklessness or negligence and you will need to decide whether to file a legal action. This can be a difficult decision to make, especially if you are dealing with an injury at the same time. A good Florida personal injury attorney can help you understand the legal terms and issues affecting your case, so that you can make an informed decision about what to do next.

5) Problems with insurance companies. If you pay your insurance premiums faithfully, you may assume that your insurance provider will be there for you after your Florida trucking accident. This is not always the case. Your insurance company may claim the accident was your fault or may try to assert that your claim is suspicious and may delay in processing your claim. The insurance company for the trucking company may also pressure you to sign papers or make a statement you do not quite understand. Make no mistake: problems with an insurance company can deprive you of your rights and can make it hard for you to recover all the damages you may be entitled to under Florida law. Speak to a Florida personal injury attorney before negotiating with any insurance provider. An attorney can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to ensure that there are no problems with your claim.

In April of this year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) conducted sessions with trucking industry experts to discuss hours-of-service (HOS) rules for commercial truck drivers. The trucking industry was seeking more flexibility in the rules, which currently restrict how many hours truck drivers can drive before taking rest stops. The American Trucking Association has said that the HOS rules work in preventing Florida car accidents involving trucks and nationwide truck accidents, but the industry wants more flexibility.

Under current rules, truck drivers are to rest for eight hours out of their ten hour rest period in their truck cab. This allows drivers to rest for eight hours in their cab and drive for six hours under the current 14 hour limit for driving. Despite concerns about safety, in 2004 and 2007 courts upheld decisions which allow drivers to drive many hours consecutively. Decisions and industry practices have also reduced the amount of time that drivers have to rest.

In October 2010, the new proposals made by the trucking industry to reduce rest hours even more were rejected by the Obama administration. The decision came after heavy lobbying from Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Public Citizen, the Truck Safety Coalition, and the Teamsters Union.

Truck drivers are also opposed to the new suggestions and proposals, noting that such regulations make Florida pedestrian accidents and truck accidents more likely. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has asked federal regulators to reject proposals which would increase the driving limit to 11 hours and would allow drivers to be on the road again for a new week after only 34 hours of rest.

It’s not just a quality of work issue. It’s a safety issue. Fatigued drivers are simply more dangerous drivers. Experts have proven that fatigued driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving and note that HOS rules should be as strict as Florida drunk driving laws and regulations. Tired commercial truck drivers are driving tens of thousands of pounds of metal and sometimes hazardous materials. When tired, these drivers are more likely to be in traffic accidents. Ensuring that commercial truck drivers get adequate rest is an important part of keeping Florida streets safe.

A new program partly funded by an EPA State Grant Program will give Florida truck stops a new look – and will possibly help to prevent Florida car accidents and truck accidents. The program is being administered by the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and will provide different services at some of the truck stops on the Florida Turnpike.

Specifically, the program will allow truckers to enjoy in-cab electricity in order to fuel air conditioning, heating, and gadgets in the cab when truckers stop for a rest. Currently, many truck stops require truckers to idle their engines in order to run electricity to fuel many amenities in their sleeper cabs. The current system wastes fuel and produces more exhaust. Advocates of the new program say that the program will help in many ways:

1) It will reduce fuel use of big trucks. Not only is this environmentally friendly, but it will save the trucking industry money, which could mean less pressure on truck companies to push drivers to drive longer than is safe.

2) It will reduce exhaust and pollution. This will mean that truck drivers and workers at truck stops will be healthier. Exhaust from engines can cause dizziness, sleepiness, and other symptoms which are definitely dangerous symptoms for someone driving an 80,000 pound truck.

3) It will reduce wear and tear on commercial truck engines and other crucial systems. Advocates believe the program will help reduce Florida truck accidents and traffic accidents by keeping trucks in better shape for longer. Since the trucks will not need to idle as long, trucks will suffer less damage, which will make them safer on Florida’s roads.

4) It will mean better quality rest for truckers. Keeping a large commercial truck idling produces a lot of noise as well as exhaust. If a driver has to keep his or her truck idling while they sleep in order to heat or cool the cab, the noise and pollution can affect the quality of sleep. In turn, fatigued drivers are at a higher risk of Florida truck accidents than well-rested drivers.

According to the website The Daily Beast, Florida is home to the three most dangerous and deadly highways in the nation. In fact, the website ranks the I-95 as the most deadly road in the US, due to the high number of fatal Florida trucking accidents and other traffic accidents on this particular road. The Orlando Business Journal reports that Florida’s I-4 is also among the deadliest in the nation, with more fatal Florida car accidents and serious accidents than most other roads in the country.

The Daily Beast and The Orlando Business Journal compiled their data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to The Daily Beast, between 2004 and 2008, the 100 days where most car accidents and truck accidents take place are in June, July, and August, making this season the most dangerous for drivers. During these three months between 2004 and 2008, 50,765 fatal traffic accidents took place. While highway fatal accidents have been decreasing nationally over the past five years, the summer months still usually bring a sharp spike in Florida truck accidents and car accidents.

The I-95 in Florida was dubbed by researchers as the deadliest highway in the nation because between 2004 and 2008, 662 fatal Florida car accidents and truck accidents took place over the 382.15 m stretch that the I-95 covers. The 132.39 mile I-4 in Florida saw 209 fatal Florida truck accidents and car accidents in the same period. The 470.88 miles of the I-75 saw 536 fatal Florida traffic accidents between 2004 and 2008.

In many cases, Florida car accidents on these roads are in fact car-truck collisions. Large interstates are where trucks and cars tend to share the road most, and unless both car and truck drivers are very careful, accidents can easily occur. Trucks take longer to stop than passenger vehicles and have many blind spots. These differences need to be respected by all drivers to help prevent accidents on Florida’s roads. Car-truck collisions on the I-4, I-95, I-75 and other large highways are likely to be fatal. The high speed at which vehicles travel on these roadways, coupled with the disparity in size and force between trucks and cars create dangerous collisions.

However, even if you do not drive on the I-4, I-95, or I-75, you cannot be complacent. Florida truck accidents can and do occur on just about every street. In fact, statistically, the streets you drive most often are also the riskiest for you. You are more likely to be in a Florida truck accident or car accident on the highways and streets you drive each day. Even in familiar surroundings, it is important to keep alert and stay aware of other trucks and drivers on the road.

In 1986, Congress created The Commercial Motor Vehicles Safety Act (CMVSA) to make interstate trucking safer. The CMVSA places restrictions on who can operate a commercial truck or bus, ensuring that bus or truck drivers are qualified for their jobs and therefore safer on the road. With the CMVSA, testing and licensing standards were introduced, bringing fewer Florida bus accidents and truck accidents to our streets.

While the CMVSA has helped reduce truck accidents, there are still far too many truck accidents on our roads. After a truck accident, one thing that occurs is a thorough investigation of the accident in order to determine what caused the collision. Florida truck accidents may be investigated by police, private investigators, or other groups.

An investigation will often include a look at a driver’s logs. Under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, drivers are required to record their breaks, driving time, and other information. This helps ensure that drivers take the required breaks and rests they are required to keep by law. Drivers are not allowed to destroy these logs, especially after an accident. Investigators can examine these logs to determine whether a truck driver was driving while tired.

If authorities suspect that a truck accident may have been a Florida drunk driving accident, they will often test a truck driver’s blood alcohol level and test for any illegal or controlled drugs as well. A driver’s medical record and medication may also be checked.

Investigators will also often examine the mechanical conditions of an accident. This may require examining the weather, road conditions, and the traffic at the time of an accident. Investigators sometimes use accident reconstruction software to determine exactly what occurred during a collision in specific conditions.

Most investigations will also examine trucking company records to determine whether a load was secured properly, whether a truck was maintained properly, and whether a trucking company took reasonable measures to keep the truck and the driver safe. Truck companies are required to maintain and release records when requested.

Now that awareness about the dangers of distracted driving is growing, Bluetooth and many other technology manufacturers are touting hands-free technology as the way to make cell phone calls and even texting safer. Devices designed for drivers read text messages and allow drivers to dictate messages – all while keeping their eyes on the road. While hands-free technology can help prevent a driver from taking their eyes off the road, however, there are many reasons why this technology is not necessarily safer or better at preventing Florida car accidents and truck accidents:

1) Hands-free technology does not help prevent a driver from being absorbed by a conversation. The problem with cell phone calls is not just that the driver has to dial a number. Rather, while a driver is talking on the phone, he or she becomes absorbed in a conversation or discussion, and this causes less focus on the road. This will not be prevented by hands-free phones.

2) Hands-free technology can affect what a driver hears. A truck driver using Bluetooth or other hands-free technology is often wearing a device that can affect their ability to hear. This can allow drivers to miss important auditory clues – which can easily lead to a Florida pedestrian accident or other terrific accident.

3) Bluetooth still means emotions. Drivers who are talking – whether hands-free or using a device – get emotionally charged while chatting. The link between strong emotion and distracted driving is well established. The more emotional a driver is, the less focused he or she is on the road. For a commercial truck driver, this means less control over a vehicle that could weigh 80 000 pounds or more.

4) Hands-free technology is often not hands-free. There are still buttons, wires, and devices to adjust. If a truck driver does not pull over to adjust settings, the result could still be a Florida truck accident.

While much has been reported in the media about the risks of distracted driving and the dangers of texting while driving, a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute suggests that truck drivers may need to pay attention more than drivers of passenger cars. If truck drivers want to prevent Florida truck accidents, they may need to put down their mobile devices. According to researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, the risk of texting behind the wheel is significantly higher for truck drivers than for drivers of passenger vehicles.

According to researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, truck drivers who text while driving are 23 times as likely as an undistracted driver to get into a car accident or truck accident. Car drivers are still more likely to get into a Florida car accident when they text, but their risk is not as high. As well, researchers found that when car drivers dial a cell phone, they are 2.8 times more likely to be in a traffic accident as undistracted drivers. Truck drivers, however, are 5.9 times as likely to be in a crash for the same activity.

Other risky distracted driver behaviors are also more risky for truck drivers than for drivers of passenger vehicles. For example, when a car driver reaches for an electronic device, they risk of being in a car accident is 1.4 times higher than the risk for an undistracted driver. Reaching for a device increases a truck driver’s risky by 6.7 times.

It’s easy to understand why distracted driving is risky. Most drivers need to focus on their cell phones or portable devices when dialing, texting, or talking. As well, most drivers look away from the road when using electronic devices. According to researchers, when drivers are distracted by an electronic device, they spend five out of six seconds not looking at the road. Many Florida pedestrian accidents and traffic accidents occur precisely because drivers do not see what is directly in front of them.

However, while it is easy to see why electronic devices are more dangerous for all drivers, why do truck drivers seem to have a disproportionate risk when using these devices on the road? Experts have many theories. One theory is that trucks simply require more effort and skill to drive. As well, since trucks take longer than passenger vehicles to stop, it is possible that truck drivers who are distracted are simply less able to react in time to prevent an accident.

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study used videos of drivers taken between 2004 and 2007 to see how drivers reacted to driving when using cell phones. Researchers concluded that even when drivers use hands-free cell phones, they are increasing their risk of accidents. Researchers of the study recommended that all drivers avoid all electronic devices and gadgets when driving.

A Florida trucking accident can cause many serous injuries, but it can also wreak havoc with a victim’s finances. Victims who have suffered in a truck accident may end up in considerable debt or may even face bankruptcy. There are many considerable financial losses and challenges after a Florida car accident involving a truck:

1) Medical bills. Most patients have medical bills in the tens of thousands of dollars or more. While medical insurance and car insurance can cover some of these bills, in many cases insurance providers balk at paying the entire amount, leaving the patient still paying for some necessary treatment themselves. Underinsured or uninsured patients face an even more frightening amount of medical bills. Florida brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and other serious injuries can be expensive enough to send even prosperous people into bankruptcy.

2) Lost income. Most patients who have been in a Florida truck accident lose weeks or even months of work time, causing a loss of income. Some patients sustain permanent injuries and can never return to work again. Yet, bills and debts must still be paid.

3) On-going treatment. After the initial round of medical bills, most patients face even more care bills for on-going treatment. Florida spinal cord injury patients, for example, may need months of rehabilitation or physiotherapy. Such costs can add up to the thousands of dollars.

4) Additional treatment, such as psychological counseling or cosmetic surgery. Some treatments are needed to fully recover from an accident, but may not be covered under medical coverage. For example, Florida burn injury patients may require cosmetic surgery in order to regain the confidence and the life they lead before their accident. Such “additional” treatments may need to be paid entirely by patients, unless patients work closely with a good Florida personal injury attorney to have such important costs covered.

5) Property damage. A truck accident may damage a great deal of property. You may need to replace a car, a work laptop and any items you may have had in your car. While car insurance will usually cover replacement of your vehicle, you may need to pay for some or all of the costs of replacing your personal effects.

6) Home alterations. After a truck accident, many patients have changed mobility and may need to make expensive home repairs in order to live in their homes. For example, spinal cord injury patients may need to install ramps, elevators, grab bars, and other equipment. Such renovations can easily costs tens of thousands of dollars.

A Florida car accident, truck accident, or any motor vehicle accident is a traumatic event. When trucks are involved in a motor vehicle accident, the results can be especially devastating, simply due to the destructive force possible with a large commercial truck. However, for many victims, the problems just begin when an accident takes place. In the days, months, and years after an accident, victims may also have to deal with:

1) Questions of blame. In some cases, insurance companies or trucking companies may claim that a victim is partly to blame for a truck accident – even if this is not necessarily the case. If a motorist is unfairly blamed for an accident, they may feel extreme guilt and may face insurance rate increases.

2) Access to care problems. Many serious Florida spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, brain injuries, and other long-term conditions are caused by truck accidents. However, some victims have a hard time finding the resources and medical care they need. Patients may not have the financial resources to cover large medical costs or may not know all their care options. A good Florida personal injury attorney can often help patients find the care their need.

3) Misinformation. Some patients are told that they will not qualify for compensation or a claim unless they sign certain documents right away. Sometimes, this causes a patient to sign away all their rights before they consult with a qualified Florida personal injury lawyer.

4) Emotional upset. Many patients are on a rollercoaster of emotions after a truck accident. They may feel guilty, anxious, angry, depressed, and a host of other strong emotions. Some patients have a hard time returning to normal activities while others experience relationship troubles as a result of the upheaval.

5) Work-related challenges. Some patients cannot return to work after an accident, due to serious injury. For some Florida spinal cord injury and brain injury patients who have suffered in a truck accident, a return to work is impossible because of permanent injuries. Not being able to work often increases anxiety about money and also makes patients feel more upset about their situation.

6) Money worries. Most Florida truck accident victims face income loss and substantial medical bills. Some patients need to refit their homes or pay for expensive on-going treatment to deal with permanent or long-term injuries. Finding the money to pay for all these expenses is often very difficult without a good Florida personal injury attorney. An attorney can help protect you from lowball offers and can help ensure you get a fair settlement that allows you to recover as fully as possible.

Most truck accident experts agree that inattention and driver fatigue are the leading cause of Florida truck accidents, Florida car accidents, and indeed, motor vehicle accidents across the country in general. In 2005, the U.S. Department of Transportation got tough on distracted and fatigued driving by increasing required hours between shifts and by reducing the total driving time of commercial truck drivers. Overall, truck accident deaths have dropped somewhat since 2005.

However, experts from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance note that yearly truck accident fatalities across the country are the same as if a jetliner crashed once a week. Members of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance note that if a jetliner crashed weekly there would be national attention about the problem and air traffic industries would face loss of business as well as serious investigations.

However, despite the well-established documentation about the dangers of distracted and fatigued driving, distracted Florida drivers and fatigued drivers are still causing many Florida truck accidents and national traffic accidents.

Obviously, current laws are still allowing tired drivers behind the wheel. There are, however, many things that drivers can do to help protect themselves and their loved ones:

1) Report drunk or fatigued Florida truck drivers. If you are driving behind a truck that is weaving, speeding, or otherwise driving dangerously, get back from the car and call police to alert them. Be prepared to inform them of your location and the truck’s license plate.

2) Support advocacy groups such as the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and other local groups. These groups help raise awareness and lobby to change laws. There are many levels at which you can get involved – by donating time, money, or just by encouraging the groups and their mandates. Even learning more and passing along what you learn can make a difference in keeping Florida streets safer.

3) When you read about a Florida drunk driving accident or Florida truck accident involving a fatigued or distracted driver, write to your political representative, stating your views about laws which need to be changed. When enough persons speak up, those in public office need to take note.

Commercial trucks use air brakes. While air brakes do not allow truck drivers to stop as quickly as passenger vehicles, they are designed specifically to function with the heavy loads and large size of a commercial truck. However, air brake failures and defects in trucks do constitute one of the major reasons for Florida truck accidents. When the brakes on a truck fail, there is sometimes simply no way for a driver to avoid a collision.

A well-functioning commercial truck with good air brakes takes twice as far to brake as a passenger car. When air brakes fail, a truck may not be able to stop at all. Defective air brakes may be the result of poor maintenance or poor adjustment. They may also have inherent design flaws, which are a problem of the manufacturer.

Other factors may affect air brake performance as well. If a truck is incorrectly loaded or overly loaded, this can affect the air brakes. The extra weight and pressure can cause many things to fail, including the brakes. An inexperienced driver can also speed and handle the truck incorrectly, causing excessive wear and tear on the brakes.

Many experts believe that truck drivers should be trained and certified to adjust air brakes using manual slack adjusters. Many experts also believe that all truck drivers should check for brake defects before each drive. Unfortunately, many trucking companies do not train their drivers to do this or do not emphasize the importance of checking brakes.

There are many programs – such as the North American Standard Inspection Program – designed to remove dangerous trucks from the roads. However, it is impossible for inspectors and authorities to remove all trucks with poor maintenance and defects off the roads. If drivers, trucking companies, manufacturers, and inspectors were to work together to remove dangerous trucks from the roads, the results of inspection campaigns might be more successful.

There is no question that incorrectly maintained or defective air brakes have a direct impact on the number of Florida car accidents involving trucks which take place each year. When brakes on a commercial truck fail, the truck driver can quickly lose control of the vehicle, causing a serious multi-car accident. Many Florida burn injuries, brain injuries, and fatalities are caused by truck accidents which are at least partly the result of brake problems.

A group of researchers at the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois, Chicago have found that since a federal speed limit of 55MPH was repealed in 1995, US interstates have seen an increase in car accidents and injuries as well as fatalities. Researchers concluded that about 12,545 deaths and 36,582 in truck accidents and car accidents across the nation were attributed to higher speed limits between 1995 and 2005. Researchers suggested that a camera network and lower speed limits would decrease fatalities again. Results of the study were published in the American Journal of Public Health.

Speeding is a serious problem in many traffic accidents; many Florida bicycle accidents, car accidents, and pedestrian accidents are caused at least partly by speeding. However, speeding is an especial concern in Florida trucking accidents. Due to the size of trucks, when trucks drive at an excessive speed and collide, they can produce a lot of force and cause a great deal of damage.

Speeding while driving a truck is dangerous for many reasons:

1) It leaves the truck driver with less time to stop. Trucks require more time than passenger vehicles to slow down and stop, and when drivers speed, there is often no time or space to stop safely. Speeding ensures that drivers cannot respond in a timely fashion.

2) It can make minor obstacles fatal. Any minor obstacles – such as a sudden slippery spot or a pedestrian suddenly in the road – can be dangerous for a truck driver going a safe speed. A speeding truck driver simply cannot adjust his or her driving in time to account for these sudden obstacles.

3) A speeding truck may lose control more easily. A fully loaded truck that is speeding is far more likely to roll over than a truck going at a safe speed. Speeding puts more stress on the entire truck, and may cause mechanical failures that lead to a disastrous accident.

4) A speeding truck can create a wind force that is dangerous on the roads. If a truck is speeding and passes a bicyclists, pedestrian, or motorcycle too closely, the force of the wind and speed can push a bicyclist or pedestrian back and cause injuries.

If you are in a Florida car accident involving a truck and you suspect that the driver of the truck is under the influence, there are a few things you must do in order to safeguard your rights:

1) Help anyone at the scene. In most Florida trucking accidents, serious injuries are caused by the sheer size or force of the truck. In most cases, you will need to call 911. Even if you seem to have only minor injuries, you should still get medical help immediately. Not all medical emergencies are obvious immediately. Each year, a few Florida brain injuries prove fatal because a patient felt fine and did not seek medical treatment in time. Err on the side of caution.

2) Start documentation. Police will likely arrive at the scene of the accident and should administer a field sobriety test to the driver. If possible, it is also important for you to start documentation right away. Get the name and contact details of the driver and any witnesses. If you can, take photos of the scene. Note the time, exact location, and other details of the accident.

3) Contact a qualified Florida personal injury attorney at once. If the truck driver involved in the accident was driving under the influence, you will need to act quickly to ensure that your attorney can secure evidence of this fact. Contacting a Florida personal injury lawyer soon after your accident ensures that your attorney can move to quickly subpoena evidence before it is lost or destroyed. An attorney can even visit you in hospital, in many cases, so there is no need to delay this important call until you feel better.

4) Focus on getting better and continue documenting. Once you have hired a Florida attorney, your attorney will take care of the legal concerns of your accident so that you can focus on recovery. In addition to getting better, you will want to continue documenting your injuries so that your attorney has all the documentation he or she needs. Keeping copies of medical information, receipts of costs related to your accident, and a journal of how your injuries affect your life can be helpful for your attorney.

Keep in mind that drink is not the only problem with DUI truck accidents. According to a study conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board in 1990, about 12.5% of fatal truck accidents are caused by driver marijuana use. In addition, some drivers use additional over-the-counter or prescription medication which can affect their driving and can lead to an accident. If you are not sure whether an accident you have been injured in was caused by a DUI, trust your instincts and consult with a good Florida or Miami personal injury attorney. He or she can help you find the answers you need.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Association, in 2008, 6.6% of all fatal commercial truck accidents in the country took place in Florida. Part of the problem, according to experts, is that Florida is a shipping area, and trucks move cargo from ports such as Miami through interstate highways to landlocked areas of the country. Also, the large size of these vehicles ensures that when Florida truck accidents do occur, they are likely to be fatal accidents.

According to experts, the National Highway Transportation Safety Association, the Florida Department of Transportation, and the Florida Highway Patrol have all taken steps to reduce the number of car accidents and truck accidents on state roads and highways. However, experts remain pessimistic about the possibility of significantly reducing the number of Florida traffic accidents involving trucks. This is because a number of truck accident risk factors are hard to address:

1) Driver fatigue. Many studies have confirmed that tired Florida drivers are as dangerous as drunk drivers. When sleepy, truck drivers are simply more likely to make mistakes or to experience lapses in judgment which can lead to accidents. There are many rules in place to prevent this. Florida commercial truck drivers, for example, are required by law to take 10 hours before shifts and must drive no more than 11 hours per day. Unfortunately, most truck drivers are paid more to drive more and it is very hard to regulate rest time and break time.

2) Speed. Trucks require more time to come to a complete stop, but some drivers choose to speed in order to meet deadlines or in order to make more money. Unless radar cameras are used to monitor a roadway all the time, it can be hard to catch drivers speeding.

3) DUI. Unfortunately, Florida drunk driving accidents are still a leading cause of traffic fatalities and injuries. In 2008, 29% of all total motor vehicle fatalities in Florida were alcohol-related. Truck drivers who drink alcohol before driving run the risk of causing serious injuries and fatalities. In addition to alcohol, some drivers choose to take illegal drugs, prescription drugs, or medications to allow them to drive longer. This results not only in impaired driving but also fatigued driving as well. Like driver fatigue, DUI is difficult to regulate as it may not be obvious a driver is driving under the influence until after an accident occurs.

4) Inadequate maintenance. Some trucking companies do not maintain their fleet of trucks as carefully as they should. This can cause brake failure, steering problems, and other mechanical failures which can lead to an accident. Unfortunately, truck companies stand to save a lot of money by not doing correct maintenance on their trucks and it is hard to determine which truck companies do a poor job of this, since it is impossible to audit and check all Florida companies at all times.

5) Incorrectly loaded cargo. On a tractor-trailer, an incorrectly loaded cargo can shift, cause a rollover or even come loose and spill out onto the road. While there are strict rules in place about cargo, it is impossible for an independent body to check to make sure that each truck on Florida’s highways is correctly loaded.

Florida trucks and truck drivers rely on good truck tires. Good tires support the entire weight of the truck – which can weigh more than 80 000 pounds when fully loaded -- and provide stability. Unfortunately, when tire defects and blowouts happen, the result is often tragic accidents on Florida’s roads. There are many reasons why tire defects take place:

1) Used tires. Some trucking companies buy used tires to place on their trucks in order to save money. However, if tires have been part of a serious car accident or truck accident, their stability and durability may be compromised. As well, allowing trucks with well-worn and well-used tires is often a recipe for disaster, as these tires may not have the treads and stability to carry a large load. Even unused tires that have been in storage for a long period of time may no longer be road-worthy, as rubber can wear down with time.

2) Incorrect demounting, mounting, and maintenance of tires. Trucking companies need to have their truck tires installed and maintained by qualified professionals who can abide by current Federal OSHA regulations. Tires should be maintained regularly and checked for leaks, wear, and any possible hazards.

3) Incorrect matching of rims and tires. Rims and tires on Florida trucks need to match. If an incorrectly fitted tire is forced on a smaller rim or a larger rim, the tire will usually be over-inflate to “make it fit” and this over-inflation can cause the tire to explode under pressure.

4) Incorrect tires for the job. Large commercial Florida trucks can weigh 80 000 or more. They need tires that have been approved for these weight amounts.

5) Tire defects. Some manufacturers inadvertently create tires which have defects. Unfortunately, these tires are more likely to fail on Florida’s roads, because warm weather can actually cause all sorts of tire problems. When tire defects lead to accidents, the result can be tire blowouts. Evidence of these blowouts is seen all over Florida in the form of steel belting and shards of rubber on the roadways. Tire blowouts on Florida’s busy roads can cause serious secondary car accidents.

Truck rollover accidents in Florida are dramatic and generally make the evening news. When a truck rolls over on a Florida road or highway, the results are often catastrophic. A rollover can lead to secondary car accidents as cars and other vehicles try to swerve out of the way of an out-of-control truck. As the truck rolls, it can also crush other vehicles and even bystanders in the way. Even the truck driver is at risk, since the cab is not always stable enough to prevent serious injuries to the driver.

Since a fully loaded commercial truck in Florida can weigh 80 000 pounds or more, when a truck of this size rolls over, it can cause serious damage. The truck can rip up the roads, potentially causing other car accidents due to bad road conditions on the same stretch of Florida roadway. The truck’s load can also ignite or spill, potentially causing burn injuries.

In 2008 alone, 263 people were killed in truck accidents in Florida alone. That same year, the National Highway Transportation Safety Association's National Center for Statistics and Analysis reported that 6.6% of all fatal large truck accidents across the country occurred in Florida. Florida rollovers accounted for some of these accidents. There are many ways that truck rollovers can occur:

1) Overloaded or improperly loaded trucks. Incorrectly loaded trucks can make trucks top-heavy, which can make the trucks easier to tip over. Overloaded trucks may also have a high center of gravity, which can make them more prone to rollovers.

2) Speeding. When truck drivers speed, especially on turns, trucks are more prone to rollovers. This is because when a turn is made at high speeds, the truck will tilt slightly. If the truck is also overloaded, the truck can easily rollover.

3) Drunk driving or fatigued driving. When a driver is distracted, tired, or inebriated, he or she may drift off the road. When this happens, the driver may drive onto a soft shoulder or into a ditch, which cannot support the truck and which then causes the truck to rollover.

If you have sustained a serious injury in a Florida truck accident, you will likely hire a Florida personal injury attorney. Your attorney will do several things. First, he or she will advise you of your rights so that you can make informed decisions about what you wish to do in the wake of the accident. Second, he or she will represent you in negotiations with insurance providers and will negotiate with them on your behalf. Finally, your Florida personal injury attorney will investigate all the causes of your truck accident in order to determine what has caused the accident.

This last role is extremely challenging. By the time you have found an attorney, the scene of the accident is usually cleared up. Evidence may be gone forever. Most attorneys in Florida work with private investigators and other professionals to find out the truth about an accident. This type of investigation may involve:

1) Accident reconstruction. Private investigators have complex software tools which can help them recreate an accident based on information gleaned from police reports, witness testimony, and other factors. This can give investigators a moment-by-moment rendering of the accident.

2) Background checks. Investigators hired by your Florida attorney will usually run background checks on the driver who was involved in the crash. If there are irregularities in the driver’s credentials or if the driver has been involved in other Florida car accidents or pedestrian accidents, this may indicate and can help prove a pattern of negligence. An investigator will usually also investigate the carrier or trucking company involved in the crash. If the company does not screen drivers, take proper care of their trucks, and generally work to avoid traffic accidents, this, too, can be proof of negligence.

3) Documentation. Florida investigators have access – or can gain access – to quite a but of documentation related to your truck accident. Everything from Florida police reports to doctor’s reports from the hospital to truck driver logs will generally be carefully pored over to help determine liability in an accident. Even weather reports and reports of city construction projects can help your Florida attorney determine liability.

4) Witness testimony. Florida personal injury attorneys may call in and interview many witnesses related to your case. In addition to those who witnessed the accident or your injuries, your attorneys may also interview expert witnesses or people who can make more general comments about your case based on their knowledge. For example, your attorney may gather testimony from a Florida brain injury expert who can state the type of force that may have caused a head injury like yours.

Many Florida truck accidents are not caused just by one factor. In most cases, a number of situations and issues can cause an accident. For example, a mechanical failure in the truck may have contributed to an accident, but road conditions as well as mistakes made by pedestrians or other drivers may have contributed to a collision.

In many cases, after a Florida truck accident, victims who have sustained serious injuries look for one answer to the accident. They decide that an accident was caused by a driver or by a mechanical failure. Even the media contributes to the idea that truck accidents are caused by one main cause. How many times have we read a headline proclaiming “Florida brain injuries caused by trucking accidents the fault of distracted drivers”? Most headlines suggest that truck accidents are caused by one factor or cause. While all of us like to keep things simple, it is important not to oversimplify the causes of a truck accident.

Determining all the factors that contribute to a truck accident is crucial because it allows a victim to seek a settlement from multiple responsible parties. This increases the chances that a victim will receive a fairer settlement which will cover all medical costs, lost income, and related costs of an accident. If you decide to pursue only one liable party, you will likely have to pay for part of your medical costs and lose income out of pocket.

For example, if you have sustained a spinal cord injury in a Florida car accident involving a truck, you may decide that the accident was caused by the truck driver. You may be able to recover part of your medical costs by pursuing the insurance carrier for the driver. However, the truck company may also have been negligent in failing to maintain the truck to specific standards. If you pursue this, you will be able to pursue the truck company as well and therefore will not have to pay for part of your medical costs out of pocket.

Most Florida truck accidents are complex events involving an almost infinite number of variables. Any one of these variables may contribute to a collision. Truck accidents may be partly the cause of mechanical failures, tire defects, road conditions, weather conditions, drunk driving, driver fatigue, and any number of other factors. A good Florida personal injury attorney can help you investigate all the causes of a truck accident, which is one reason why it is so important to contact a personal injury attorney if you have been in an accident. If you have been in a truck accident or other vehicle accident in Miami, for example, contact a good Miami attorney specializing in personal injury cases. He or she will be able to conduct a thorough investigation to determine all the causes of an accident so that you can pursue justice from all parties responsible.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) regularly publishes and updates a “most wanted list,” or a list of the most needed actions to keep our roads safer. Many of these “most wanted” actions deal with not only passenger vehicles and drivers, but also with truck drivers. The NTSB regularly updates not only the list, but ranks the progress being made for each item. Currently, items on the NTSB most wanted list include:

1) Prohibiting commercial drivers from using a cellular telephone while behind the wheel. According to the NTSB, progress on this front is “slow.”

2) Requiring electronic onboard data recorders on commercial trucks and vehicles. These recorders are designed to help provide accurate information about driver hours of service as well as carrier records. Many experts believe that these devices would help significantly reduce the instances of driver log book fraud which currently lead to fatigued drivers and truck and car accidents in Florida and across the country. According to the NTSB, progress on this front is “unacceptable.” Although the technology has been in place for some time, most carriers still prefer driver log books over the more accurate system.

3) Improving the safety of motor carriers by targeting unsafe carriers. The NTSB has been recommending stricter measures against trucking companies and motor carriers who put unsafe vehicles or untrained drivers on the roads. However, the NTSB has concluded that progress in this area has been “unacceptable.” Both the NTSB and experts agree that too many trucking companies with unsafe safety records are allowed to continue operations.

4) Preventing medically unsafe commercial drivers from getting behind the wheel. The NTSB has several recommendations in this area. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, safety could be enhanced if there was a comprehensive medical oversight program in place for interstate commercial drivers. The NTSB also recommends medical certificate applications for all commercial drivers and improved tracking for these applications. Further, the NTSB recommends better training for examiners and a better system of medical problem reporting. Finally, the NTSB recommends a better system for tracking down and cracking down on invalid medical certificates for commercial drivers. The NTSB reports that currently progress on these goals has been “slow.”

5) Using enhanced vehicle safety technology. The NTSB advocates the use of collision warning systems, adaptive cruise control, and other enhanced vehicle safety technologies, especially for commercial drivers. However, the NTSB reports that use of such systems is proceeding at a “slow” pace.

Hit and run accidents occur when a motorist leaves the scene of a pedestrian accident, car accident, truck accident, or bicycle accident. Whenever an accident occurs, it is the responsibility of all motorists involved to stop, exchange contact and insurance information, and offer assistance as needed. When drivers fail to stop after an accident, they face jail time, suspension of their driver’s licenses, as well as other penalties.

When truck drivers fail to stop after causing an accident, the outcomes can be even more dire. Due to the force and size of trucks, truck accidents are more likely than passenger vehicle accidents to result in serious brain injuries, fatalities, and other serious injuries. When a truck driver refuses to stop to help, he or she jeopardizes the lives of the victims of the accident. Without immediate help, the victims of a truck accident may succumb to their injuries. Even a delay of a few minutes or seconds can increase the risk of fatalities and permanent injuries.

There are many reasons why some truck drivers leave the scene of an accident. Truck drivers driving non-commercial vehicles may panic and flee the scene for many of the same reasons passenger motorists choose to leave the scene of an accident. A truck driver may be inebriated or may be frightened of the consequences of facing the accident.

A commercial truck driver may flee the scene of an accident for the same reasons. However, he or she may also fear losing their job and may panic about the possibility of their employer’s anger. If a commercial truck driver is driving under the influence, he or she might worry that a sobriety test may cost them their driver’s license. A truck driver may also be under-trained or under-qualified and may panic and flee the scene for this reason.

There are no excuses for leaving the scene of an accident. Truck drivers and passenger car drivers have a responsibility to stop and offer help after an accident. Any driver who fails to do this is putting lives at risk and is behaving in a callous and negligent manner. If you have been seriously injured in a hit and run truck accident, Florida law protects you and ensures that you qualify for legal redress which can help you pay for medical treatment and other costs.

If you have been in a hit and run track accident, it is very important to contact a qualified Florida personal injury attorney at once. Attorneys – such as at the experienced team at the Flaxman Group – can advise you of your legal rights and can help you find the driver who has caused your injuries. By contacting a qualified attorney quickly, you also increase the chances of finding the driver, as an attorney can quickly launch an investigation into the accident. Good Florida personal injury attorneys can investigate all the contributing factors of an accident and ensure that you get all the help you need in pursuing justice. A good attorney can help ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to under the law to cover medical expenses and other costs related to your injuries.

When an accident occurs on the roads – whether it’s a bicycle accident, car accident, or truck accident – emergency vehicles will generally arrive on the scene. Larger fire trucks, tow trucks, ambulances, and police vehicles all converge to help those who may be injured in the accident, but the presence of these vehicles and especially the presence of larger trucks creates a greater risk of secondary accidents. Secondary accidents can occur when motorists passing an accident or other problem fail to keep their eyes on the road. Secondary accidents can also occur if trucks and emergency vehicles are not given enough room.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is trying to prevent secondary trucking accidents and car accidents with a safety education program. The department is trying to raise awareness about Florida’s Move Over Law. The law protects police officers, tow truck drivers, firefighters, and other personnel who may be at an accident scene or at the scene of another roadside problem. Under the law:

1) Motorists are required to move over if they see a tow truck, police car, fire truck, wrecker, or emergency vehicle on the side of the road with lights flashing. If motorists cannot safely move over, they are required slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit. This allows the emergency workers at the scene to have the room they need to work safely. This law is also designed to help prevent the serious pedestrian accidents which occur when emergency vehicle workers are struck by passing motorists.

2) Motorists are required to move to a further lane on a multi-lane roadway (if it is safe to do so) when approaching a stopped police car, fire truck, tow truck, wrecker, or emergency vehicle that has its lights flashing. Motorists are also expected to use extra caution when passing by or driving by past these vehicles. Drivers of fire trucks, tow trucks, and other emergency response vehicles need extra room to do their job and may need to move their vehicles unexpectedly to deal with a situation on the roadside. The Move Over Law is designed to help prevent any accidents when emergency personnel are responding to a call.

3) Motorists are required to not impede traffic and must obey any law enforcement officer at the scene of an accident or other problem where a police car, fire truck, tow truck, wrecker, or emergency vehicle is stopped. Failure to slow down, move over, or use extra caution around these emergency vehicles will result in a citation.

If you are injured by a driver who is not obeying the Move Over Law, you may be eligible for assistance because any such driver is being negligent. Contact a qualified Florida personal injury attorney to discuss your case. If you have suffered a serious injury, your attorney can help you receive a fair claim which can help you pay for medical costs and other expenses. Attorneys at the Flaxman Group have helped many traffic accident victims get the help they need. If you need a Florida personal injury attorney who can help, contact the Flaxman Group.

Tow trucks are designed to help cars who have stalled or have been in an accident – but what happens when these trucks cause accidents? Although tow trucks have a lower accident rate than commercial trucks, they still do pose a danger on the roads. According to the Tow Truck Association of America, 60 or more tow truck operators are killed annually each year while helping customers on the road. In addition to these lives lost, many car accidents are caused when tow trucks and cars collide on the roads.

Tow trucks are at a high risk of collisions for a number of reasons:

1) They are often expected to arrive in dangerous situations. Tow trucks are often called to accident scenes, crowded parking lots, and the sides of roads where a flat tire has occurred. These large trucks must then maneuver among other cars or obstacles in order to position the tow truck correctly to help a stranded motorist. Other motorists may not expect to see a tow truck or a tow truck may simply not have enough room to do their job safely.

2) Hooking up a car to a tow truck can be challenging. If a car is not correctly attached and secured, it can roll off a tow truck when the tow truck is moving. This can cause the car to crash into a vehicle behind the tow truck. It can also cause the car behind the tow truck to swerve, causing an accident. When tow truck drivers do not correctly secure a car being towed, they can be held liable for damages caused by a resulting accident. The Tow Truck Association of America has called for increased training for tow truck drivers to ensure that these types of accidents occur less frequently.

3) Brake lights on tow trucks are not always very visible. On some tow trucks, braking lights are not very visible and on some models of trucks, these lights may be completely obscured if the truck is towing a larger vehicle. In some cases, brake lights or supplemental lights may short-circuit and not work properly. Unfortunately, tow trucks make frequent and unexpected stops, so if a truck’s brake lights are not working correctly, there is a very high risk of collision. In many cases, the tow truck company or the company owning the tow trucks can be held liable if a truck’s tow lights are not correctly maintained.

4) Motorists sometimes ignore the rules of safety when passing tow trucks. According to the Towing and Recovery Association of America, when motorists see a tow truck, they should give the truck plenty of space and should slow down. Motorists should keep their eyes on the road and move out of the area in a timely fashion. If you require a tow truck, the Towing and Recovery Association of America recommends moving the car off the road (if no one has been injured). If your vehicle is experiencing mechanical problems but can still drive, move your car off the freeway if you can. This gives tow trucks added room and can help prevent a secondary accident.

If you have been in an accident involving a tow truck, keep in mind that a tow truck is a commercial vehicle, just like a delivery truck. Help anyone who is injured and take down as much information as you can. Since tow truck drivers and towing companies have powerful insurance companies, many victims injured in tow truck accidents have found that a good personal injury attorney is indispensable. If you have sustained a brain injury, serious lacerations, burns, spinal cord injury, or any type of personal injury in a tow truck accident, contact a good Florida personal injury attorney. Attorneys at firms such as the Flaxman Law Group can work with you to ensure that you receive a fair settlement that helps you with medical costs and allows you to focus on your recovery.

Drunk driving accidents involving passenger vehicles kill and injury many people each year. Truck accidents caused by drunk driving and illegal substances can be even more angering, since truck drivers are carefully monitored and regulated. Truck accidents involving illegal and controlled substances are very preventable. Unfortunately, these types of accidents also cause serious injuries. Since trucks are so large, they can easily crush other cars, bicycles, and pedestrians, causing devastating brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and fatalities.

Many types of substances can be associated with DUI truck accidents:

1) Alcohol. The decision to have a few drinks on a hot day can have serious consequences for a truck driver. Driving over the legal blood alcohol limit makes a truck driver more likely to lose control of the vehicle, make mistakes while driving, or even drift off behind the wheel. Truck drivers who drink and drive are even more dangerous than drivers of passenger vehicles who do the same thing.

2) Illegal substances. Just like the rest of the population, truck drivers sometimes choose to take illegal drugs. Unfortunately, these drugs can make them hallucinate, can raise their heart beats, and can make them lose consciousness or fall asleep – while they are driving a truck. Some drugs – such as cocaine – put users at risk of a heart attack or other serious health problems. A truck driver who takes too much cocaine and has a heart attack will likely kill others on the road as he or she loses control of their car. Some illegal drugs leave a driver completely unable to focus or make rational decisions – not a safe state for a driver.

3) Medication. Surprisingly, it’s not only alcohol and illegal drugs that can cause truck accidents and truck-car accidents. Many prescription medications and even over-the-counter medications have side effects and should not be taken while driving. Many allergy and cold medications, for example, cause drowsiness. The prescription medications for some conditions can cause dizziness or other symptoms that are dangerous behind the wheel. In some cases, taking prescription medications incorrectly or in the wrong doses can also lead to dangerous side effects. It is the responsibly of the truck driver to listen to his or her pharmacists and doctor and to take medications exactly as prescribed.

4) Stay-alert substances. Since many truck drivers are paid by the load or by distance traveled, many truck drivers have financial incentives to drive as long as possible – even though there are strict regulations in place regarding frequent breaks and rest stops. Some drivers take caffeine and even stronger substances to stay awake in order to meet deadlines. There are over-the-counter caffeine products and energy drinks as well as illegal substances that promise to keep users awake. The problem is that drivers can easily fall asleep, even when taking these products, potentially causing a serious accident.

Whether you have a child just learning to bicycle or have a teen looking forward to their first summer with a driver’s license, at this time of year, it is important to sit your children down and talk truck safety. Trucks are actually more plentiful in the summer, when summer roadwork can mean more trucks and construction sites. Unfortunately, these sites can easily draw young children who are curious about the vehicles and road work or construction. To prevent the pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents that can be a very real risk when children play around trucks, make sure that you:

1) Teach your children to never play around trucks. It is useful to explain to children what the consequences of playing around trucks might be. However, it is also important to be specific. Explain how far children need to be away from trucks to be safe. When out with your children, point out a truck and ask your child to show you how far from the truck he or she should stand.

2) Teach your children to make eye contact with truck drivers. Practice making eye contact with truck drivers when out and about with your children and enforce the idea that truck drivers can only see a person when they make eye contact with that person. Truck drivers are less likely to see children, because children tend to be small. Make sure your children know how to make eye contact and walk safely around a truck.

3) Teach your younger children good bicycle safety. The better your children understand and follow bicycle safety rules, the less likely they are to be in a serious bicycle accident. Make sure you teach your children to wear helmets – which can reduce the risk of brain injuries dramatically – and to signal turns clearly. Truck drivers are more likely to see your child and drive safely around your child if your child knows the rules of the road.

4) Cover basic truck safety rules with your teens. Even if your teen has just had driver’s training, go over truck safety rules again. Truck accidents are more likely than car accidents to result in fatalities, so it is a good idea to discuss defensive driving as well as safety rules.

5) Practice what you preach. Your children will be more likely to practice good safety rules if they see you being safe, as well. There’s no point in telling your teen to not drive and text if you drive and text yourself. Allowing your children to see you following safety rules reinforces the idea that safety is the right choice.

Bill HB 1271 will increase the maximum weight allowable for trucks. Currently, trucks in Florida must carry no more than 80,000 pounds in weight. The bill will allow trucks of up to 88, 000 pounds on Florida’s roads. Some concerned citizens have been speaking out against the bill and some hoped that Governor Charlie Crist will veto the bill.

Experts note that such an increase in weight could significantly increase road damage caused by trucks. According to the Florida Coalition for Safe Highways, there will be no larger fees for the trucking companies if the heavier trucks are allowed. This means that in some municipalities, the condition of roads might deteriorate if the community cannot find funds to fix the roadways more quickly. Poor road conditions, in turn, may increase the risk of car accidents, truck accidents, bus accident, and even bicycle accidents. All vehicles and pedestrians rely on roads in good condition, and according to the Florida Coalition for Safe Highways, heavier trucks threaten the condition of roads.

The Florida Coalition for Safe Highways is also concerned about the safety of trucks with larger loads. According to the group, the extra 8, 000 pounds can impact a truck’s ability to slow down and stop, which can contribute to trucking accidents. As well, heavier trucks will require more driver awareness. However, most drivers today are trained on 8, 000 pound trucks, so there is some concern about the preparedness of truck drivers for the heavier trucks.

The Florida Coalition for Safe Highways does not want heavier trucks on the roadways, but is especially concerned that heavier trucks may be permitted on roadways without additional safety measures. The group believes that at the very least, the bill should make provisions for additional mandatory driver training and new requirements for axles to make heavier trucks safer.

The Florida Trucking Association supports the bill and notes that the industry has placed an emphasis on safety which has reduced trucking accident fatalities. According to the Florida Trucking Association, heavier trucks mean fewer trucks on the roads, less driving time and less fuel used, which is better for the trucking industry and for drivers.

The Florida Association of Professional EMTs and Paramedics has also spoken out against heavier trucks on Florida’s roads, noting that the heavier trucks may damage the roads and the state’s many bridges. Some of Florida’s bridges are already in poor repair, and there is concern that heavier trucks may render some of these bridges unsafe for other drivers and may even impact emergency medical access to some areas.

Bill HB 1271 was signed by Governor Charlie Crist on June 4, despite vocal protests by many groups. Companies will be able to start putting heavier trucks on the road as early as July 2010. It is expected that The Florida Coalition for Safe Highways and other concerned groups will attempt to have the law repealed.

Trucking companies have an obligation not only to deliver products safely and in a timely fashion for their clients, but also to keep the roads safe for everyone. Certain trucking company operational practices can have a profound impact on accident rates. For example, when truck companies hire experienced, qualified drivers and ensure that all drivers in a fleet have adequate training, the companies are taking steps to make the roads safer for everyone. Similarly, when truck companies take care to maintain their fleet of trucks, they are working to help prevent pedestrian accidents, car accidents, and bicycle accidents involving their trucks.

The way that truck companies pay their drivers can also have a significant impact on road safety. In some cases, experts note, truck companies offer truck drivers inadvertent encouragement to speed or reduce rest stops. For example, if a truck company pays a driver by the mile, the driver may feel a subtle pressure to speed or to drive when fatigued in order to make more miles in order to make more money.

As well, many truck drivers spend hours or days on the road. If they are being paid by the load or by the mile, and they have little to do but drive, they may be tempted to speed and to cut corners on rest stops in order to get the job done and in order to take home more income. Many trucking companies also only pay drivers for driving. Time spent loading or unloading the truck, time spent resting or idling, and time spent doing paperwork is all unpaid work, and this can push drivers to drive more and drive faster to make up for all those unpaid hours.

According to Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), truck drivers spend an average of 44 hours a week of unpaid labor near or in their trucks. This amount of time is equivalent to a full-time job, so when drivers are not paid for these driving-related tasks they may feel pressured to drive faster or longer to make up for those hours. Most truck drivers make an average of $38,000 - $50,000, even after spending hours of unpaid labor on the job. The career requires days away from home as well as long hours of work.

Some experts believe that trucking companies should change pay structures in order to reduce the risk of truck accidents. Instead of paying by the mile, these experts note, drivers should be paid by the hour or should be paid a flat fee for a specific number of deliveries completed in a month. This way, there is no incentive for drivers to speed or take controlled substances to stay up later in order to drive more. Some experts even think that trucking companies can pay drivers extra as an incentive to drive safely. For example, truck drivers who make deliveries on time without speeding and cutting on breaks could be rewarded financially.

Some experts also advocate for truck drivers, and claim that truck companies should be spending more money on truck technology and truck driver training to make truck driving a safer and fairer job. Making truck drivers safe, healthy, and well-trained makes everyone safer on the roads we all share with trucks.

According to research and advocacy groups, there are a number of things which can make trucks much safer. One of these items is the speed governor. Speed governors are on-board computers which limit the maximum speeds of trucks. Speed governors prevent speeding, and in some cases warn drivers when they exceed certain safe driving speeds. Many experts believe that speed governors are powerful tools in the trucking industry because these computers take the choice to speed out of the driver’s hands. The driver, in many cases, cannot easily speed with these computers onboard. If the driver does speed and is in an accident, the driver cannot plead ignorance, as the speed governor will warn the driver of excessive speeds. By keeping drivers to reasonable speeds, the speed governors ensure that drivers have adequate time to stop if they need to brake suddenly to avoid a collision.

The interesting thing about speed governors is that most trucks have them. In fact, all trucks made in the USA since 1992 have been equipped with speed governors. However, there is no legislation requiring truck drivers or truck companies to use these devices. In fact, many truck drivers and truck companies do not use these potentially life-saving devices. Under current legislation, trucks are legally allowed to drive at the same speeds as passenger vehicles, even though all experts agree that trucks cannot stop safely at highway speeds. Some experts and advocacy groups have tried to pass legislation requiring the use of speed governors or requiring different, lower, speed limits for trucks. Currently, no such legislation has passed.

Worse, some experts claim that the truck industry makes it profitable for truckers to exceed safe speed limits. Most truck drivers are paid by the load or by the mile. Truck drivers who travel more quickly, therefore, are more competitive than those who travel at safer speeds. Truck drivers who drive at slower speeds and therefore drive more safely are essentially financially punished with lower wages. However, even driving at regular highway speeds is very dangerous for drivers, since truck take three times the distance to come to a complete stop, when compared to passenger vehicles. Many experts believe that mandatory use of speed governors and new legislation regarding maximum truck speeds would reduce car accidents and pedestrian accidents associated with commercial trucks. Experts also point out that trucks that use speed governors to travel a safe speed are in fact also more profitable, since they incur smaller liability costs, spend less in fuel costs, and allow the truck to function longer without expensive maintenance or repairs.

In addition to speed governors, another tool that can help prevent truck accidents is the log book. All commercial truck drivers are required to keep an up-to-date log book, detailing hours driven as well as rests taken, to show that they are taking regulated breaks. However, some drivers take part in log book fraud, keeping a falsified log book which suggests that they take regular breaks when in fact these breaks are not taken.

One solution to log book fraud is the Electronic On-Board Recorder (EOBR). These devices automatically track vital statistics – such as hours driven, hours stopped, speed, location, and other details. EOBRs can help investigators after an accident and can help drivers keep track of their safe driving practices as well. EOBRs are also much harder to falsify than log books. Many drivers also support EOBRs because they require almost no paperwork. Currently, drivers driving trucks without EOBRs must fill out log books by hand and they are not compensated for this paperwork.

While truck drivers make some mistakes which result in truck-car accidents, there are also poor choices which passenger vehicle drivers make which can also result in collisions:

1) The choice to ignore a truck’s blind spots. Many trucks have warning signs, indicating the blind spot of the truck and warning drivers to not pass when the truck is changing lanes or turning. Nevertheless, many passenger vehicle drivers decide to ignore the warnings and either drive in truck blind spots or attempt to pass at unsafe moments.

2) The choice to cut trucks off and drive aggressively. Trucks usually use air brakes, which means that they take longer to stop than passenger vehicles. Cutting off a truck or zipping around a truck usually does not leave the truck with enough time to stop in order to prevent a collision.

3) The choice to ignore windy conditions. If you are driving beside a truck on a windy day, the truck may be protecting you from the wind. If you pass the truck or drop back, you need to brace yourself for the sudden wind. The sudden gust can easily surprise you and even cause you to lose control of your vehicle momentarily.

4) The choice to tailgating a truck. Tailgating a truck is extremely dangerous – far more dangerous than tailgating a passenger vehicle. If the truck in front of you stops suddenly, you will likely be in an underride accident, which means that the front of your car will slide under the truck. This means that the impact with the truck will not be with your bumper, but with your windshield. Underride accidents have a high fatality rate and survivors of such accidents often have serious head injuries. Some trucks have metal bars below the chassis to prevent accidents involving underride, but these metal guards cause many decapitations. An underride accident is simply one of the most dangerous accidents you can encounter on the road.

5) The choice to be distracted. When driving around trucks, you need to stay focused. You need to note and anticipate what the truck is doing and you need to consider that the truck is a large obstacle which may be preventing you from seeing and anticipating obstacles down the road. You also need to focus on driving safely around trucks, being seen by truck drivers, and signaling your intentions to turn or stop in a way that gives truck drivers enough time to respond. You simply cannot do all of this if you are talking on the phone, texting, or otherwise staying distracted.

Commercial truck drivers make many choices when driving which can affect their safety and the safety of everyone around them on the road. Important truck driver choices include:

1) The choice to stay involved. Most commercial truck drivers are not responsible for truck maintenance or for loading their truck – others do that and the truck driver focuses on driving. However, good truck drivers check loads and trucks before driving so that they can report an incorrectly loaded cargo or any mechanical issues with a truck before these problems cause an accident. Improperly loaded or secure loads can result in rollovers, tire blowouts, or a trail of debris on the road that increases the risk of car accidents. Tires without correctly functioning brakes, truck lights and other equipment are at a greater risk of accidents. Pre-inspection before every drive helps truck drivers notice and correct issues immediately.

2) The choice to obey posted speed limits. Some truck drivers choose to speed in order to make deadlines, but speeding is extremely dangerous. Speeding commercial trucks are more likely to rollover and drivers are more likely to lose control when speeding. Since trucks take much longer to stop than passenger vehicles, speeding can also lead to a car accident or pedestrian accident if a driver is going too fast to respond adequately to traffic.

3) The choice to drive in designated truck lanes. Driving outside of designated truck lanes means that driver chooses to drive among passenger vehicles, and some of the drivers in those vehicles may be making mistakes of their own which lead to an accident. Where designated truck lanes are available, the safest place for a truck is inside those lanes.

4) The choice to pay attention to weather. Weather conditions can affect the slipperiness of the roads, the way a truck load responds, and how a truck handles. Slippery, icy conditions can easily lead to rollovers or multi-car accidents. High winds can rock a truck load and lead to a rollover if a load is not secured correctly. Truck drivers cannot drive the same way in every weather condition. When conditions are poor, truck drivers must slow down and use extra caution.

5) The choice to drive aggressively. An aggressive truck driver frightens other drivers on the road, because the size and force of a commercial truck can cause serious damage. Cutting other cars off, for example, is very dangerous, as it can easily lead to a collision. Yelling at other drivers or giving way to road rage can distract a truck driver and cause him or her to lose control of the truck. Staying calm and professional is essential for a truck driver.

6) The choice to drive unimpaired. Drugs and alcohol, even in small amounts, can lead to sleepiness. Drugs can cause a driver to become distracted and use poor judgment, which can lead to a serious accident. Drunk driving accidents involving trucks are even more deadly than drunk driving accidents involving passenger vehicles. They are more likely to result in fatalities and serious injuries because a large commercial truck can do more damage to other cars.

7) The choice to yield to a right of way. Cutting other drivers off and not yielding is a serious problem because trucks cannot stop very quickly. They take extra time, when compared with passenger vehicles, to come to a complete stop. Therefore, a truck driver who does not yield will often not be able to stop in time to prevent an accident if a collision seems imminent.

Since driver fatigue is a major contributor to car accidents, bus accidents, and truck accidents, the federal government has long instituted rules which regulate the trucking industry. These regulations dictate how long truck drivers should sleep, how often they should rest, and the maximum amount of time drivers should drive before taking breaks. Despite this, however, truck driver fatigue continues to cause accidents each year.

Part of the problem is that log books are used to prove how often a truck driver rests. All truck drivers are expected to keep a log book to show how often they rest and when they take breaks. However, some drivers fill out their log books every few days, long after they have forgotten their actual breaks. Some drivers even fake their log book entries. When such drivers are in an accident, it can be difficult to prove that driver fatigue played a role in the accident. Victims need a good Florida personal injury attorney to check log books against evidence gathered from the truck to determine whether a log book was accurate.

According to federal regulations, commercial truck drivers are not permitted to drive more than 70 hours over eight consecutive days and are not allowed to drive more than 60 hours per week. After eleven hours of driving a day, drivers are supposed to take a rest period of ten hours. In addition, drivers need to have a rest period of at least 34 consecutive hours. Drivers are supposed to drive ten hours maximum consecutively. Some experts claim that such federal regulations are too lax and can still result in driver fatigue. Driving a truck takes a great deal of mental energy and concentration, and driving 60 hours a week can lead to fatigue.

What is even more of a worry is that some truck companies and drivers ignore even the federal rules. Some trucking companies, for example, do not check their driver’s logs or audit them in order to ensure that drivers are following the rules. Some companies encourage drivers to break federal regulations by setting unrealistic deadlines or by offering financial incentives for drivers to deliver more in a shorter period of time.

When truck drivers become fatigued, they may drift into other lanes, react more slowly, and even rear-end other vehicles. In extreme cases, truck drivers may fall asleep at the wheel and lose control of their vehicle. Since commercial vehicles are so large and heavy, the truck accidents which occur as a result of fatigue tend to have dire consequences. Fatalities are a common result of trucking accidents. Victims who survive such an accident may have serious burn injuries, amputations, broken bones, brain injuries, lacerations, spinal cord injuries, and other injuries.

After a truck accident, it can be difficult for victims to recover claims for their injuries. Unlike other types of accidents, accidents caused by fatigued drivers often leave no obvious clues. It can be very difficult to prove that a driver was fatigued after the fact. To prove that driver fatigue played a role in an accident, victims need to hire qualified Florida personal injury attorneys. Attorneys -- such as those at the Flaxman Law Group – have contacts with private investigators who can research the causes of an accident. Qualified attorneys also have the experience to pursue such cases.

Commercial trucks pose serious hazards to other vehicles and other persons on the road when they collide. Whether a truck collides with another vehicle, rolls over, or collides with an inanimate object, there are many hazards unique to this type of large vehicle:

1) Multi-vehicle accidents. The sheer size and length of a truck can cause a truck to suddenly block all or part of a road, and this can easily lead to multiple-vehicle accidents is other cars on the road cannot stop in time. The sheer size and force of a commercial truck can also cause the truck to crash through multiple passenger vehicles when spinning out of control. Commercial trucks are simply more likely to cause multi-car accidents than passenger vehicles.

2) Spills. One unique thing about commercial trucks which sets them apart from other vehicles is that commercial trucks carry loads. Following a collision, these loads can spill, causing additional damages and injuries. If a truck is carrying livestock, for example, a collision can cause the livestock to scatter, causing additional accidents. If a truck is carrying large objects – such as logs or heavy steel pipes – these objects may scatter on the road in an accident and impact with other vehicles, causing serious accidents.

3) Fires. In some cases, commercial trucks carry highly flammable or dangerous materials. If these substances are spilled in a truck accident, the materials can ignite or even explode. A large spill igniting after a collision can rage over a roadway, causing fatalities and serious burn injuries. Some trucks carry dangerous chemicals; when spilled after a collision, these substances can affect the health and welfare of entire communities. In some cases, these substances can also cause chemical burns.

4) Road damage. Due to their size and force, trucks in a serious collision can sometimes cause serious damage to a roadway, shoulder, bridge, or other road surface area. A truck skidding out of control can easily scrape or cause ruts in a road surface. This sort of damage can affect the safety of drivers who must then use the road after an accident.

5) Fatalities. Most commercial truck accidents do not occur between two trucks – they occur between a passenger vehicle and a commercial truck. Unfortunately, these sorts of accidents are far more likely than the typical car accident to result in fatalities. A 3,000 pound car is simply no match for a commercial truck of 60 to 80 tons. When these two types of vehicles collide, the car is often crushed or badly mangled, often leaving few if any survivors.

Most of us think of allergies as nothing more than a slight bother. They mean sniffles, a red nose, swollen eyes, and maybe some sneezing. For truck drivers, however, allergies can pose a serious health risk in a number of ways:

1) Allergies distract a driver from the road. When drivers are sneezing or having a more serious allergic reaction, they are often unable to give full attention to the road. This, in turn, creates a risk of bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and truck accidents, as drivers are unable to focus on the obstacles in front of them. A driver with allergies can mean that everyone sharing the road with that driver is at risk.

2) Allergy medication often induces drowsiness. Many over the counter medications designed to ease the symptoms of an allergy also produce feelings of drowsiness. Taking such medications can cause drivers to fall asleep at the wheel or to become so drowsy that their driving is affected. It is important for truck drivers to check their medication carefully to ensure that it does not cause drowsiness.

3) Serious allergies can cause life-threatening reactions. In rare cases, allergies can cause a severe rash, racing heart beat, and trouble breathing. These serious allergies are life-threatening. If they occur to a truck driver on the road, they can cause the driver to lose consciousness and lose control of his or her vehicle. This can easily lead to accidents and collisions with other vehicles on the road.

By law, truck drivers are required to get physical examinations to ensure that they are fit to drive a truck safely. However, some drivers “doctor shop,” meaning that they visit different physicians in order to get a clean bill of health. Unfortunately, this can be a great danger on the road if serious conditions, or even relatively minor conditions such as allergies, are left undetected and untreated.

Some truck drivers are fearful about getting proper physical examinations because they worry that a diagnosis could harm their income or employment. However, even letting relatively minor conditions such as allergies go untreated and undiagnosed can increase the likelihood of pedestrian accidents, truck-car accidents, and other types of potentially fatal collisions.

All truck accidents are tragic and often result in fatalities and serious personal injuries. However, when a car or truck accident causes injuries to minors and children or kills a young child, it is especially tragic. Unfortunately, children are uniquely vulnerable to truck accidents and car accidents.

Children often play outside, where trucks may be backing up. Because children are small, truck drivers may often not see them in time. As well, children often do not pay attention to or understand the auditory signals trucks make when backing up. They may simply not know enough to get out of the way. Some children may in fact approach trucks out of a sense of curiosity, not comprehending the hazards of trucks. There are many things that parents can do, however, to keep their children safer:

1) Teach your children safety around trucks. Teach your children to keep away from trucks and teach them about the auditory signals trucks have. Show your children what to do when a truck approaches. The more your children know, the better prepared they are to be safe.

2) Teach teen drivers to use extra caution around trucks. Young drivers often learn to drive on quiet streets. While this is useful in helping new drivers learn about the basics in a quiet, safe environment, it does not allow new drivers to learn how to share the road with trucks. Make sure that your teen’s driving course teaches them how to drive safely around trucks and make sure that your driver’s course teaches them how to drive defensively.

3) Do not let your play in the front yard or driveway unsupervised. Trucks may pull up to your front yard regularly. For example, garbage trucks may stop in front of your home to collect your garbage and delivery trucks may also make stops in your front yard. Your child may inadvertently get too close to these vehicles. Keep children away from these areas, in fenced-off yard areas, or ensure that they are well supervised.

4) Teach children proper bicycle safety. Younger children are most likely to encounter trucks when riding their bicycles. Bicycle accidents involving trucks are almost always fatal, which is why it is crucial to teach your children how to share the road with trucks. As well, encourage your children to stick to bicycle lanes and bicycle paths, where they will be safer.

A new study out of Harvard, published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, has suggested that mandatory screenings for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and banning of doctor shopping can help prevent truck accidents and bus accidents caused by driver fatigue. The Harvard researchers also linked obesity to OSA and suggested that testing at-risk drivers more often can also help prevent vehicle accidents.

Stefanos N. Kales, the Harvard Medical School professor in charge of the study, noted that as America’s obesity rate increases, the rate of obesity among commercial truck drivers is also growing. Obesity can lead to a number of serious conditions, including OSA, which can affect a driver’s ability to drive safely. Kales notes that truck drivers with OSA, in particular, are far more likely to fall asleep at the wheel when compared with drivers without the condition. Kales’ research also uncovered that many truck drivers avoid treatment for OSA and even underreport symptoms.

OSA is a condition in which a patient does not get a restful sleep due to breathing difficulties during sleep. In the most common situations, the OSA causes a patient’s breathing to catch and effectively causes the patient to wake briefly but very frequently during the night. This results in daytime sleepiness and even a tendency to fall asleep suddenly during the daytime. OSA also increases the risk of cardiac disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes mellitus, all of which can also affect driver performance.

Obviously, this is a risk for truck drivers. According to Dr. Kales and his team of researchers, OSA increases the risk of a car accident, truck accident, or other vehicle accident twofold to sevenfold. In addition, OSA is very common among truck drivers. Kales believes that between 2.4 million and 3.9 million of the licensed commercial drivers across the country suffer from OSA.

Despite the frequency of OSA, however, it is an often under-diagnosed condition. Kales and his researchers found that many primary care doctors miss the symptoms of OSA. They also found that many truck drivers under-report their symptoms. Kales and his researchers examined 456 commercial drivers and found that 17% had symptoms or signs indicating possible OSA. Most of these drivers were obese, older, and had high blood pressure. 53 of the drivers were referred for further testing and studies, but 33 did not comply, while 20 who went for testing all were diagnosed with OSA. Of the 20 drivers with known OSA, only one driver sought treatment.

Kales believes that a significant number of truck drivers with OSA or suspected OSA seek medical certification from doctors who do not screen for OSA. By doctor shopping, they are able to avoid a diagnosis or mandatory treatment that might affect their jobs. Unfortunately, this means that a number of commercial drivers are on the roads with poorly treated or untreated OSA.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has considered mandatory sleep apnea screening for all drivers with a body mass index (BMI) which indicates obesity. Currently, there is no mandatory screening for OSA in particular, but commercial truck drivers are required to undergo medical certification. Some truck companies, such as Swift Transportation Corp. of Phoenix, screen their drivers for OSA and pay for treatment and monitoring.

Truck driving accidents involving fatigued or sleepy truck drivers are unfortunately still too common. They are also a major cause of car accidents involving trucks. When a truck driver is sleepy or fatigued, he or she has slowed response times and may not react in time in order to avoid a collision. In the worst case scenario, a sleepy truck driver can fall asleep at the wheel and cause car accidents, pedestrian accidents, or collisions with other trucks after losing control of the vehicle.

There are regulations which dictate how long truck drivers can drive before taking a break or rest. While these laws can help prevent some truck accidents caused by fatigue, these laws are far from fool-proof. In some cases, truck companies pressure drivers to drive for excessively long periods of time in order to meet deadlines. In some cases, drivers themselves ignore break and rest regulations because they wish to earn more money. Even in cases where truck drivers obey the laws and take breaks as prescribed, this may not be enough to prevent driver fatigue and resulting accidents.

There are also many conditions which can contribute to driver fatigue. Even rested drivers may be prone to fatigue if they take certain medications or suffer from certain conditions. Hot, muggy days, poor sleep and even heavy meals can contribute to feelings of sleepiness and fatigue which can impact how well a truck driver drives.

Truck drivers should take breaks when they are tired, not only when their guidelines tell them to. There are many drowsiness that truck drivers should be alert to. Any of these signs could indicate a dangerous level of drowsiness:

1) The driver yawns frequently. Yawning is an early sign of fatigue or lack of oxygen. If opening the window and getting some fresh air does not help, it is time for a rest.

2) The driver day dreams or has a mind that wanders. When bodies get worn down, so do minds, and minds react by wandering or day-dreaming. Not only is daydreaming a sign of dangerous fatigue, it is in itself a dangerous form of distraction that can easily lead to a truck accident.

3) The driver makes mistakes while driving. A truck driver who slows down and speeds up randomly, who wanders to the edge of the road, or wanders over the center line is making driving mistakes which could easily prove fatal. These are the signs of a dangerously fatigued or distracted driver. If you are driving behind such a driver, contact the authorities. If you are a truck driver and notice such mistakes in your own driving, pull over and rest immediately before an accident takes place.

4) The driver feels stiff or drained and feels that his or her eyes are getting heavy. When we are tired and ignore the body’s impulse to rest, our muscles eventually start to feel sore and our eyes get heavy as our body starts to shut down to compel us to rest. If a truck driver has these symptoms, it is time to pull over.

5) The driver cannot remember the last few minutes or seconds of driving or cannot remember the last few miles. This is really the danger zone, because if a truck driver cannot remember the past few seconds or miles, chances are good that he or she has fallen asleep at the wheel. When a driver ignores the impulse to rest, the body eventually shuts down and pushes the driver into small mini-sleeps, some lasting only a few seconds. This is an emergency situation, because during these small micro-sleeps, the driver loses control of the vehicle and can easily cause an accident.

Truck driver fatigue continues to be a major cause of trucking accidents. Even though truck drivers are strictly regulated in terms of rest time and maximum number of hours on the road between rests, trucking is still a stressful job and some companies pressure truck drivers to ignore rules. As well, long hours on the road are draining, even with frequent breaks for rest. In some cases, insomnia, sleep apnea, or other conditions or illnesses make a driver tired – and dangerous – on the road. There are many things that drivers can do, however, to reduce accidents due to fatigue:

1) Take breaks when needed. Although breaks are regulated in the trucking industry, truck drivers can stop any time they wish on the road – as long as they rest the minimum amount prescribed by regulations. Many truck drivers push on until the next stop or rest, even if they are tired. Resting when needed – even for a few minutes – can prevent accidents and the personal injuries they cause, though.

2) Get regular check ups. If an office worker falls asleep at his or her desk due to an illness, his or her pride may be a little hurt. If a truck driver falls asleep at the wheel, the consequences are far more dire. Trucking accidents have a high rate of fatalities and also often lead to brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and other serious injuries for survivors. Regular doctor’s visits can ensure that no conditions or illnesses are creating a hazard on the road.

3) Eat well. Heavy foods – especially starchy foods and carbohydrates -- can induce a state of sleepiness. Big, heavy meals traditionally make us feel tired. Few people, for example, feel at their best or most alert after a big Thanksgiving dinner. Eating smaller portions of healthful foods promotes good health and can help prevent fatigue.

4) Use extra caution during dangerous trips. Driving early in the morning and late at night is more dangerous than driving during the day, since our bodies are naturally more tired and drowsy at these times. Unfortunately, truck drivers often have to drive during these times in order to meet deadlines. Being extra careful and aware of the dangers of sleepiness at these times can be helpful.

5) Avoid controlled substances while driving. Obviously, any amount of alcohol must be avoided when driving. Even one drink – even if it does not put a driver over the blood alcohol limit – can create feelings of sleepiness. However, even over-the-counter medications can create drowsiness, which is why it is important to read labels. Even smoking can be a problem, as it can affect night vision.

6) Create alert conditions. Drivers can open windows for fresh air or use air conditioning to create a cool atmosphere. Most people are less sleepy in a cool atmosphere than in a warm one. As well, playing lively music and sitting up straight may help prevent drowsiness.

Everyone on the road has a responsibility to help prevent trucking accidents. Trucking companies are responsible for maintaining their trucks and for driving and training their drivers. Passenger car drivers have a responsibility to drive safely so that all vehicles can be safe on the roads and so that car accidents can be prevented. Truck drivers have a responsibility to abide by regulations regarding safe truck driving.

Pedestrians, too, however, have a responsibility to help prevent accidents. Unfortunately, in some cases, pedestrians feel that they can ignore some of the basic rules of the road. When pedestrians fail to exercise caution around larger trucks, pedestrian accidents can easily occur. Since pedestrians are so much smaller than trucks, truck drivers may simply not see them in time to react. Pedestrians especially tend to commit a few specific errors around trucks:

1) Trying to get around trucks. Passing a truck is risky, whether you are in a vehicle or walking. Some pedestrians assume that they have time to quickly zip around a truck. Misjudging the speed of a truck, however, is usually a fatal mistake. If you need to walk around a truck that has an engine running, make sure that the truck is not about to back up. Make eye contact with the driver to ensure that they can see you.

2) Pedestrian distractions. Much has been written about driver distractions in recent months and new legislation has been passed to keep some drivers and all truck drivers from driving while distracted by mobile devices. However, pedestrians continue to use mobile devices, headphones, and other distractions while jogging, walking, or bicycling. Unfortunately, these kind of distractions also affect pedestrians. Distracted pedestrians are less likely to notice auditory warning signals from trucks, for example, or lights indicating that a truck is about to back up.

3) Jaywalking or walking in non-pedestrian areas. Construction areas, truck stops, and other areas with trucks are dangerous areas for pedestrians. Truck drivers may not be expecting pedestrians in these areas and therefore may not be watching for pedestrians. Jaywalking is a problem for the same reason – truck drivers may not be expecting to see pedestrians outside of crosswalks and may not be able to stop in time.

4) Not making eye contact. Trucks have many blind spots, and it is difficult to tell whether truck drivers can see you. If you are behind a truck or along the sides of a truck, a driver may not see you. Making eye contact with a driver is the surest way to make sure that a driver sees you.

Although truck accidents are often discussed in the media, there is one type of accident that still does not get much media attention: the truck accident involving suicide. Although it is hard for researchers to determine how many people commit suicide each year by stepping or driving in front of a truck, there is evidence that people do choose this method as a means to end their lives. Unfortunately, this method of ending their lives often leads to a truck accident that can cause serious brain injuries, broken bones, and unintentional fatalities to others.

Persons who are severely depressed and prone to suicide will sometimes drive in front of a truck in order to take their lives. Researchers believe that drivers rely on the deadly force of a truck to take their lives. It is not known how many car accidents involving trucks are suicides or suicide attempts, but researchers believe that in cases where a car is in an oncoming lane, for example, and does not move out of the way of a truck, these instances may be examples of suicide or suicide attempts. Studies have suggested that anywhere from 1.6% to 5% of vehicle crashes may be suicides or suicide attempts.

Another method people use in order to commit suicide is to walk in front of a truck on foot. In many cases, pedestrians step very suddenly in front of an oncoming truck and make no attempts to get out of the way. In many cases, researchers believe that these pedestrians know that the truck cannot brake on time and know that the impact will cause a fatal pedestrian accident.

Trying to commit suicide by stepping or driving in front of a truck can have serious results. In addition to the obvious result of a successful suicide attempt, suicidal drivers and pedestrians may survive the crash, and emerge severely injured. In addition, truck drivers may brake or stop suddenly, causing a secondary car accident or truck accident which claims a life or causes a severe injury to an innocent bystander or driver.

Many people who commit suicide by truck accident also cause severe distress for the truck driver involved. When a suicidal person steps or drives in front of a truck and is injured or killed, the truck driver often suffers extreme stress or trauma. Many truck drivers are unable to return to their jobs after such an incident and some relive the incident again and again in their minds. In many cases, such suicide attempts are especially cruel because they place the onus of the act on someone else – the truck driver – who is unable to stop the event and then suffers trauma because of it.

Unfortunately, in many cases, there are also many answers left after a truck accident caused by a suicidal person. There are many reasons why it is hard to determine which truck accidents may be caused by suicide attempts. In many cases, insurance considerations and the stigma of suicide make family members of the victim unwilling to share any information about the victim’s depression or suicidal thoughts. As well, if a victim does not leave a note, the physical evidence between a truck accident and a suicide attempt is not much different. In some cases, private investigators hired by personal injury attorneys have found that a suicidal driver applied pressure to a gas pedal rather a brake pedal, intentionally rushing at a truck. However, in many cases, such incidents rely on anecdotal or circumstantial evidence. One thing that is known in every case about these accidents: they cause everyone – including the victim’s family and the truck driver – a great deal of agony.

Fatigued drivers are one of the leading reasons for both car accidents and trucking accidents across the country. Tired drivers are more likely to make poor choices, drift into other lanes, and make mistakes while driving. One of the biggest risks associated with fatigued drivers, however, is the danger of falling asleep at the wheel. When truck drivers, especially, fall asleep behind the wheel, they lose control of a multi-ton machine which can cause severe damage and serious injuries in an accident.

Drivers are most likely to fall asleep early in the morning and the middle of the afternoon, when most fatigue-related accidents tend to happen. Researchers have also found that drivers are more likely to fall asleep on long stretches of monotonous roads, such as on long highways. Unfortunately, truck drivers are often forced to work in conditions which contribute to fatigue-related accidents. That is, most truck drivers must drive early in the morning as well as the afternoon in order to make deadlines. As well, truck drivers are more likely than car drivers to spend long periods on highways – where most drivers fall asleep behind the wheel – because truck drivers are often responsible for transporting goods between states and cities, making highways and freeways the most effective mode of transport.

Research from Tatung University in Taiwan has shown that drivers who frequently break up their driving with rest are less likely to be in car accidents. Researchers found that drivers who drive 80 minutes with no break are more dangerous on the roads than drivers who drive for shorter distances. Unfortunately, the very nature of truck transport usually requires that truck drivers drive for longer periods than 80 minutes without stops.

Some research has also suggested that irregular schedules can experience higher levels of stress and subjective fatigue. Unfortunately, many truck drivers have irregular schedules in many cases, as trucking companies have differing orders to fill. All these factors – long hours on monotonous highways, irregular hours, and working during peak fatigue times – can make truck drivers more susceptible to driver fatigue and falling asleep at the wheel. In fact, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found that about 52% of single-vehicle truck accidents were related to fatigue. In about 18% of these cases, the truck driver fell asleep while operating the truck. About 20% of commercial road transport accidents involve driver fatigue. About 50% of long haul drivers have admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel.

When a truck driver falls asleep behind the wheel, he or she is more likely to run off the road. The driver is also more likely to enter an oncoming lane and collide with oncoming vehicles. Finally, a driver who has fallen asleep at the wheel will not stop for other cars and is at a high risk of rear-ending the car in front of them. In many cases, other drivers on the road may not realize that a truck driver has fallen asleep behind the wheel and therefore may not take evasive measures until it is too late.

In many cases, long before truck drivers fall asleep at the wheel, they notice signs of excessive fatigue. Symptoms such as yawning, a drifting truck, heavy eyelids, fidgetiness, irritability, jumpiness, daydreaming, and increasing or decreasing speeds can be a sign of driver fatigue. When any driver notices these symptoms, he or she should pull over and get some rest before continuing. Stopping when tired can help prevent a truck accident or another serious accident that can lead to fatalities and serious personal injuries.

In a car, drivers with road rage can cause serious injuries and damage. Research has shown that drivers gripped by strong, aggressive emotions while behind the wheel – the phenomena known as “road rage” – show poor response times, poor judgment, and often behave in aggressive and dangerous ways. Drivers who are gripped by road rage often ignore the rules of the road, speed, and drive aggressively or recklessly. They may verbally abuse other drivers or make threatening gestures. In rare cases, drivers affected by road rage may use their cars as a weapon to harm someone else.

When truck drivers are affected by road rage, the results may be much worse. The size and force of trucks – especially larger commercial trucks – are significant enough to cause serious damage if a driver loses control and drives recklessly or aggressively. Trucks are large enough to harm many people and damage many vehicles in a road rage incident.

There are many causes of driver rage. Truck drivers may exceed normal or accepted driving hours. Exhaustion can lead to anger and irritability, which can cause minor difficulties to escalate into instances of road rage. As well, some drivers may use illegal substances in order to meet hectic work schedules or may simply have anger management issues or even histories of road rage incidents. There are many reasons for road rage as there are drivers who experience the problem.

However road rage is caused, if a truck driver with road rage has caused an accident which has resulted in your injury, Florida law has provisions which allow you to recover for medical costs and related injury costs. Whether you have sustained a spinal cord injury, amputation, burn injury or other serious injury as a result of the truck accident, there are options for you. If you have sustained a serious injury in a trucking accident, your best option is to contact a qualified Florida personal injury attorney.

Since every incident of road rage is different, your Florida personal injury attorney will want to carefully examine the causes of an accident. What may seem like a simple case of driver road rage on the surface may actually reveal several liable parties and several contributing factors to the accident. For example, if a trucking company knew about a driver’s previous poor driving record, they may be held partially liable for the incident. A number of factors besides road rage may also have contributed to the accident. For example, tire defects or road conditions may have been at least partly to blame for an accident. Finding all liable parties allows your attorney to secure the fairest possible settlement for you.

We cannot control the actions or emotional states of drivers surrounding us on the highways. However, where truck driver’s actions can have such an immediate impact on your life and future, you do have every right to pursue every legal avenue open to you to ensure that you receive the best chance of recovery possible. In most cases, this means hiring a qualified attorney who can thoroughly investigate the trucking accident and give you the answers you need.

Pedestrian accidents involving a truck are almost always devastating. A pedestrian accident involving a car can easily result in life-threatening injuries such as brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, but the power of a truck is even less of a match for a pedestrian. Pedestrian accidents involving trucks are usually fatal. While trucking companies have an obligation to help prevent trucking accidents, pedestrians can certainly do their part to help prevent these devastating accidents. Here’s how:

1) Pay careful attention around trucks. Whether you are at a truck stop, trying to walk from your car to a restroom or are on your street when moving trucks are trying to offload furniture, stay extra alert. When you see trucks, put away your portable devices and music players and focus on getting to your destination safely.

2) Be careful in construction areas. At this time of year, there are many construction sites around every city. Whether you are trying to walk or ride your bicycle, trucking accidents, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents are very common near and in construction areas. Quite simply, trucks, construction equipment, bicyclists, and pedestrians are not a good mix. Try to avoid construction areas while out walking. Cross the street if you have to. If you must walk through a construction area, make sure workers on the area can see you and walk through as carefully as you can.

3) Make eye contact with the truck driver. You cannot rely on the fact that a truck driver has seen you unless you make eye contact. If you cannot see the driver to make eye contact, you are likely in the driver’s blind spot, so move to where the driver will see you.

4) Listen for audio clues and look for visual clues when trying to get around a truck. Most trucks are equipped with audio devices, lights, and other cues to tell you when a truck is backing up. Never assume that you can just squeeze through before the truck backs up fully. Wait until the truck backs up and the driver waves you through.

5) Stay well clear of a truck. Since trucks are unwieldy and often move slowly in pedestrian areas, pedestrians sometimes get the idea that they can dash around trucks and could get out of the way quickly in the event that the truck moved. This is not always the case and each time you get too close to a truck you are taking a huge risk, especially when you consider that truck drivers likely cannot see you when you stand very close to their vehicle. Give the truck some added room and don’t assume you can move fast enough to move out of the way of danger.

If you have made a personal injury claim after being injured in a trucking accident, several things may happen. Your attorney may negotiate with insurance providers and possibly liable parties. In some cases, your case may need to work its way through the court system before a settlement is reached. This process can take months or even years, depending on your case, the evidence gathered and presented, and the parties involved. While your case is working its way through the court system, you will need to:

1) Communicate with your attorney. Hopefully, you will hire a qualified Florida personal injury attorney soon after your trucking accident to safeguard your rights. If you have done this, you will need to communicate effectively and openly with your attorney so that your attorney can help you pursue your case. Respond to your attorney’s requests for information as fully and promptly as you can to prevent delays in your case.

2) Focus on recovery. While you may be concerned about your personal injury case, you need to focus on recovering from your injury. Whether you have sustained a burn injury, brain injury, or other serious injury as a result of a trucking accident, seek the best care possible. Follow all doctor’s instructions and directions fully so that you can recover fully.

3) Carefully avoid anything that might harm your case. You may wish to discuss with your attorney what you can do to ensure that you get the best outcome possible for your case. For example, many personal injury attorneys caution personal injury attorney plaintiffs from social networking, as any items posted online can affect your case.

4) Learn as much about your case and injury as you can. Speak with your doctor and seek community resources – such as support groups, associations, and advocacy groups – to learn as much about your injury as possible. The more you know, the better you can make informed decisions about your care.

5) Create a financial plan. If you have sustained a spinal cord injury or other serious injury, you may not be able to return to work. At the same time, you may have substantial medical bills. While your attorney can help you secure a fair settlement that will compensate you for these expenses, you will also want to create a plan for trimming unneeded expenses and surviving financially as your case works its way through the court system.

If you have sustained a spinal cord injury, amputation, head injury, broken bone, burn injury, or another serious injury in a truck accident, you may feel very alone. Having a serious injury can feel very isolating. Worse, when you try to interact with insurance providers, the court system, trucking companies or the medical system (as you inevitably must after a serious truck accident), you may find yourself facing systems and companies with much larger resources than you. In some cases, you may feel like a mere number instead of a patient. In other cases – such as when you apply for an insurance claim – you may feel bullied by a larger company. Hiring a Florida personal injury attorney can help you and can level the playing field in trucking accident cases in a number of ways:

1) Attorneys can equalize the difference in resources between you and trucking companies. Trucking companies and insurance companies are generally huge companies with virtually unlimited resources. They can delay your case or claim until you are pressured to accept a lower settlement than you are entitled to. A Florida personal injury attorney working on a contingency basis uses his or her resources to equalize the playing field. With an attorney, you can afford to wait for a fair settlement.

2) Attorneys can investigate the accident. Most trucking companies and unions have excellent attorneys on retainer and these attorneys have investigators who can arrive on the accident scene immediately. Even if you hire an accident attorney yourself, your attorney will likely not have access to the accident scene until after most of the debris and evidence has been taken away. However, your attorney will have respected private investigators and accident reconstruction experts who can recreate the accident scene and uncover evidence.

3) Attorneys can get access to information you cannot. Attorneys can seek and get access to medical records, driver records, police records, and trucking company records. This evidence can be crucial to your case and can help you reach a fairer settlement.

4) Attorneys have the experience and legal knowledge to represent you. Attorneys know what sorts of costs a patient in your situation will need to make over a longer recovery time and most attorneys can also determine the financial resources of the liable party in your accident. Combined with a good understanding of laws, this allows attorneys to seek out a truly fair settlement.

5) Insurance companies have powerful attorneys, and a personal injury attorney ensures that you do, too. Without your own attorney, you may find yourself facing reams of legal documents to sign. Attorneys from trucking companies and insurance companies may tell you that these documents are standard, but by signing them, you could be signing away important rights – unless you have your own attorney look these papers over. Without your own attorney, you are at the mercy of insurance and trucking company attorneys – and those attorneys have their own clients’ best interests at heart, not yours.

6) Attorneys can help you if the truck driver in your accident was underinsured. Many truck drivers are underinsured, making it harder to recover a fair settlement. Personal injury attorneys, however, can seek settlements from multiple liable parties, increasing the odds that you will get a fair settlement that pays for all your medical costs and lost income.

After a trucking accident, there are many issues which can affect your insurance claim and any legal claim you may have. One of the best ways you can safeguard your rights and your ability to secure a fair claim is to hire a qualified Florida personal injury attorney to assist you. Your attorney can negotiate with insurers on your behalf and can investigate the accident on your behalf. There are many issues that your attorney may discuss with you or you may wish to discuss with your attorney:

1) Evidence. If you have any documentation or evidence related to the accident, you will want to share this information with your attorney. Your attorney will also likely launch an investigation into the accident to gather evidence that can reveal what has happened to cause the accident.

2) The resources of the trucking company involved in the accident. Your attorney will likely examine the resources available to the truck company involved in your accident. If you have sustained a serious brain injury or burn injury in a truck accident, for example, your attorney may investigate the accident and also the trucking company involved. If the company is found to be negligent and has large resources, your attorney will be aggressive in ensuring that you get a fair settlement that helps to pay for all your medical bills and lost income.

3) Liability. One of the most complex areas of trucking accident litigation is determining liability. Many things may contribute to an accident, including poor road maintenance, driver error, trucking company negligence, tire defects, truck mechanical failure and more. Although many accident victims do not consider liability issues extensively, these issues can be important. If an attorney determines that several parties were liable for an accident that has injured you, your attorney can seek claims against several parties, which better ensures that you will get a fair settlement that will cover all your medical bills, lost income, injuries, and other expenses.

4) Driver records. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations strictly limit how long drivers can drive a truck before resting. Drivers are required to keep a log to prove that they have had adequate rest and sleep. However, driver fatigue continues to be a leading cause of trucking accidents. In many cases, driver records can be falsified or skewed in order to allow a driver or trucking company to profit more. Attorneys can often investigate driver records to determine whether a driver followed Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. As well, attorneys can examine a driver’s records and qualifications to see whether a trucking company was negligent in hiring an unqualified or unsafe driver.

5) Trucking company rules. Most trucking companies have rules about driver behavior, truck maintenance, substance abuse, and other issues. However, attorneys need to carefully examine whether companies and drivers were carefully following these rules when an accident took place. Issues such as these can affect your claim.

If you have been in a trucking accident and have sustained a serious personal injury such as a spinal cord injury or a brain injury or have lost a loved one in the accident, you should contact a good Florida personal attorney as soon as it is at all viable to do so. Many attorneys will even visit your hospital room to discuss your accident with you.

Many patients avoid speaking to an attorney and often this reluctance is based on incomplete information. Many patients assume that they do not need an attorney because insurance providers will take care of the costs associated with an accident. Some think that they do not require an attorney because they have no intention of suing. However, it is important to remember that an attorney does far more than just represent you in court. After a trucking accident, a good Florida personal injury attorney is essential and can often help you with:

1) Investigating the accident. Most attorneys work with private investigators, accident reconstruction specialists, and other professionals to determine the exact cause of your truck accident. This is vital because it offers you closure and also ensures that you will not be unfairly blamed for an accident that was not your fault.

2) Preventing similar accidents. If you have been injured in a truck accident, an attorney’s investigation into the accident can reveal mechanical failures with the truck, driver error, and problems with the practices of a carrier. Attorneys can uncover dangerous conditions and hazards which can lead to more accidents. In many cases, attorneys are able to hold those responsible liable for the hazards and this can lead to safety changes that can prevent other accidents and injuries.

3) Getting quality care and advice. Attorneys can often help you find resources. Since Florida personal injury attorneys often work with accident victims, they are knowledgeable about resources in your area that can help you. They can help you find assistance as you recover after your accident. If you receive a larger settlement, attorneys can even advise you how to use the money so that it will go further. They may recommend that you speak with a banker, for example, to safeguard your settlement.

4) Evaluating the impact of the accident. After an accident, insurance companies are often concerned with placing a value on the injuries sustained in an accident. An attorney can help ensure that you consult with mental health experts and medical professionals who can document accurately the trauma and physical injuries you have suffered from your truck accident.

5) Negotiating with insurance providers. Even if you have insurance coverage, insurance companies are often reluctant to pay out the full amount of coverage you are entitled to under the law. Some place the blame on you and deny your benefits, while other insurers try to pressure you into a low settlement that does not cover all your medical costs. Attorneys are experienced in negotiations and can ensure that you get a fair settlement. Often, this can mean the difference between substandard and high quality medical care, which is why a Florida personal injury attorney is one of the first persons you should phone after a truck accident.

The Mid-America Trucking Show earlier this month features a number of sessions organized by The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, designed to explain the new compliance program, the Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 Initiative. Under the new initiative:

1) A driver’s driving record will now include collisions as well as any issues with roadside inspections. A record will go back three years and violations will be weighted on how recent they were and on their risk of leading to an accident. A driver’s driving record will be made available through the Pre-Employment Screening Program. Drivers will be able to improve their records with any clean inspections. If a driver is fired due to too many violations or if a driver leaves a carrier, the driver’s driving points will stay with the carrier. This means that carriers will be directly responsible for the driving records of their drivers and will not be able to simply get rid of bad drivers. Details of the point program and system are available through csa2010.fmcsa.gov.

2) The Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 Initiative will likely remove 200,000 truck drivers from roads or up to 320, 000. Most of these drivers will be removed because the new points system and the method of taking a closer look at driving records will reveal unsafe driving records and these drivers will be considered unemployable. The Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 Initiative will make criteria for hiring quite high for carriers and carriers will be more responsible for their driver’s records. As a result, drivers with poor records will likely not be hired. The CSA, however, notes that this will actually increase competition for good drivers, so that good truck drivers will likely be able to enjoy better benefits and pay as carriers become more committed to hiring a smaller pool of good drivers.

3) Driver’s records and carrier’s records will be more closely linked. Carriers who has a poor score with the Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 Initiative will be targeted for inspection more and that poor score will affect a driver’s own record.

4) There will be more inspections. Currently, only about 2% of carriers get safety audits and the Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 Initiative aims to change that quickly. The program aims to audit the majority of carriers quickly, targeting those with the poorest records especially. The aim of the inspections is to institute changes that will make roads safer. Inspectors will also be given more information prior to each inspection, so that each inspection takes less time. The CSA hopes that the inspections will catch and fix more safety violations, thus preventing truck accidents and their resulting brain injuries, fatalities, spinal cord injuries, and other injuries.

According to Jungheinrich, an international materials handling equipment supplier, many forklift truck accidents could be prevented with better reporting. Currently, most businesses have in place a reporting procedure for forklift truck accidents, but according to Jungheinrich and other industry experts, reporting a wider variety of accidents could help prevent more accidents. Specifically, reporting perceiving hazards as well as “near miss” incidents involving forklift trucks could prevent truck accidents before they occur by targeting potential hazards before they cause personal injuries and accidents.

Currently, many workplaces have extensive procedures in place for reporting workplace accidents, especially when those workplace accidents cause personal injury or fatality. Federal and state laws as well as union standards ensure careful reporting and investigation of all incidents leading to injury. Careful reporting is usually necessary for workers’ compensation claims as well.

However, most companies do not have policies in place for “near accidents” or incidents which almost caused an accident. Most companies do not keep track of these incidents or analyze or investigate with them. Most such incidents, because they do not result in personal injury, are not recorded or kept track of. Quite simply, in most workplaces, everyone considers themselves lucky that no accident has occurred and work continues on as before.

For Jungheinrich and other experts, however, such near misses are important clues of potential hazards. When such clues and analyzed, investigated, reported and acted upon, important corrections can be made to workplace procedures – corrections that could save a life. Some larger firms already have reporting procedures in place for near-miss incidents involving forklift trucks, but many smaller companies with five forklift trucks or fewer generally do not have such policies in place.

Jungheinrich and others note that many forklift truck accidents are caused by badly designed workplaces or by operator error. This means that most of these accidents are highly preventable. In fact, before such an accident occurs, there is usually a chain of events involved – a chain of events that may include near-misses – which can alert the workplace of the possible dangers. By reporting near accidents, workplaces can highlight this chain of events and act before a more serious accident occurs in the workplace.

There are many ways that even small businesses can institute a new policy in the workplace. Encouraging workers to come forward with safety concerns with no fears of retaliation is a good place to start. Workplaces can also have an anonymous system of reporting in place, allowing workers to report problems anonymously. Simply asking workers to report near accidents involving forklift truck accidents and designating a few workers to investigate each incident can be a step in the right direction.

While more common causes of trucking accidents, such as rollovers or car accident collisions, cause many injuries and deaths each year, at least some of the 500,000 large truck accidents on our roads each year are caused by more esoteric reasons. Truck accidents caused by these rarer causes can also cause serious personal injuries and fatalities, so these dangers need to be considered as well:

1) Wind and road conditions. High winds, especially on bridges, can increase he likelihood of a truck accident or rollover. High winds can push on a truck with extreme force, especially if a truck is traveling very fast, and this force can cause a truck driver to lose control. When high winds are combined with poor road conditions, this combination can prove especially lethal.

2) Animals. Animals run into roadways all the time and when a truck swerves to avoid an animal, accidents often occur. A truck driver swerving to miss an animal can crash into other cars or rollover, causing serious injuries, including brain injuries. In some cases, even striking a larger animal can cause injuries to a truck driver. Since many truck drivers tend to drive at dusk and later in the evening to meet deadlines, they are especially subject to accidents involving animals, as these are the times when animals tend to be most active.

3) Objects in the Road. Foreign objects on the road – including tree branches, stopped vehicles, and other items – can be a hazard for all drivers. A truck driver traveling down a dark road might not see some larger objects until it is too late and this can cause a serious accident. A larger object can cause a truck to swerve or can cause a collision or rollover accident.

4) Unusual weather patterns. Mudslides, earthquakes, and other natural disasters can occur in an instant, and when they do truck drivers are at the mercy of the elements. A truck driver driving full speed at the time of an earthquake or mudslide will usually lose control of the vehicle. A mudslide can cover the windshield with debris, making it impossible for the driver to see. An earthquake can damage the road under the truck, can create large gaps in the roadway, and can shake a truck off the road entirely.

5) “Phantoms.” A small number of truck accidents each year are caused by things which cannot be explained. Truck drivers report seeing objects which are not there upon investigation. While some people attribute this to various odd phenomena – and while there are many urban myths about truck drivers encountering ghosts on the road – in many cases, these incidents may be caused by excessive fatigue, which can cause hallucinations. Truck drivers may also react to shadows or atmospheric phenomena on the roads.

Many frightening and distressing events can cause trauma, emotional upset, and even Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Car accidents and truck accidents, by their very nature, can cause severe trauma that lasts for weeks or even months. Even after the physical personal injuries of a trucking accident have begun to feel, the emotional aftermath of the accident can remain.

Each patient reacts to the trauma of a truck accident differently. Some patients return to work and normal activities normally and with a little help from supportive friends quickly seem to recover. Other patients struggle more severely with the emotional effects of a truck accident. Although it can be difficult to pinpoint when trauma becomes a serious problem, there are some symptoms that should not be ignored after an accident:

1) Difficulty returning to work or home activities. A return to usual home and work responsibilities is usually a very healthy and positive sign. When it does not happen a few weeks or months after an accident, it may be time to seek professional counseling or help. Sometimes, this symptom is difficult to determine because a patient may devise many plausible-sounding reasons why he or she is not returning to normal activities.

2) Continued and severe depression, fear, and anxiety. It is normal to have intense feelings after a truck accident, but as the weeks go by, most people are able to return to an emotional equilibrium and a more calm emotional life. If this does not happen, it could be a sign of larger problems that need to be addressed. In some cases, extreme fears and anxiety manifest themselves in flashbacks or nightmares, which can be another symptoms of problems.

3) Relationship problems. A truck accident and the injuries it can cause can be isolating. It is possible that a patient will initially struggle with themselves as they adjust to life after the accident, and this struggle can place a strain on relationships. However, if a patient becomes emotionally numb and withdraws from others, this can be a sign of depression or other problems. Lack of close relationships and sudden relationship problems need to be addressed.

4) Avoidance. A patient who is avoiding more and more things after an accident may be having trouble coming to terms with the trauma of the accident and may need some help. Avoidance may come in many forms. It can include avoiding everyday activities such as driving, due to irrational fears. A patient with this symptom may also avoid social contact and may stay home alone much of the time.

5) Substance abuse. Use of alcohol or drugs is common in people who have sustained a severe trauma. The drugs and alcohol become a way to momentarily feel better but these substances can of course cause all sorts of secondary problems, including loss of relationships and jobs.

Forklift truck accidents can occur in many work environments, including factories and construction work sites. These accidents can include rollovers and collisions which result in brain injuries, broken bones, amputations, spinal cord injuries, and even fatalities. Many forklift truck accidents are preventable. In many cases, forklift truck accidents are blamed on truck operators, and while training and expertise of operators can help reduce forklift truck accidents, these accidents are in fact caused by a variety of factors. Therefore, there are a variety of solutions must be implemented in most workplaces to prevent forklift truck accidents:

1) Careful servicing and maintenance. Employers need to ensure that all forklift trucks are maintained and serviced to manufacturers specifications. This can be a challenge if a workplace has multiple models and several older models of trucks, but careful maintenance can help prevent many forklift truck accidents.

2) Imposing speed limits. Many forklift truck accidents are caused by excessive speeds. Forklift trucks are designed to stop slowly. Most models require about 1.3 feet to stop for every mile per hour they travel. The faster a forklift truck is traveling, the longer it will take to stop and the harder it will be for the operator to stop in time to prevent a collision. It is a good idea to post speed limits of 8 miles per hour in the work place and limits of 3 miles per hour in areas with pedestrians. Posting and enforcing such speed limits can significantly reduce forklift truck accidents in the workplace.

3) Warning devices. Most forklift trucks come with safety features. Even the simplest models have a horn which operators can use to warn others when a forklift is approaching. More modern models have reflective patches for high visibility as well as automatic lights and alarm sounds when the forklift is in motion. This is essential in warning anyone in the truck’s blind spot to move out of the way.

4) Operator training. All forklift truck operators should receive initial training as well as periodic refresher training. This training should include directions for use of warning devices and instructions on safe use of the truck. Operators should also be taught how to identify and check the blind spots a forklift truck has.

Truck accidents have a high fatality rate as well as a high rate of serious personal injury. The size and force of most commercial trucks make them no match for passenger vehicle. If you are in a passenger vehicle, there are only a few limited things you can do to help prevent head injuries, burn injuries, and other life-threatening injuries:

1) Prepare ahead of time. Your ability to survive a trucking accidents depends in part on how well prepared you are before the accident occurs. Staying alert while driving, for example, can give you a few extra precious seconds to brace for impact and prepare for a collision. Keeping focused on your driving and avoiding distraction can also help you prevent a trucking accident, of course. In addition, making sure that your car is well-maintained can ensure that your car responds well in an emergency situation. Taking defensive driving courses or refresher courses can further prepare you for road emergencies.

2) Do all you can to prevent the accident. Avoid over steering, but look for ways to minimize or prevent an accident. If you have room, try swerving quickly but firmly away from the possible collision. Think quickly and try to stay calm.

3) If you cannot prevent a direct collision with a truck, keep your body upright, and brace your body for impact. Grip your steering wheel firmly at the 10 and 2 o'clock positions. Keeping your body upright rather than flailing in panic or going limp can help protect your organs and can prevent a spinal cord injury.

4) If you cannot prevent a collision with a truck that will send your vehicle under the truck’s wheels, brace for impact as for a collision, but do everything possible to prevent a brain injury and head injury. Sit as low in your seat as possible and curl up in your seat, with your head as low as possible, cover and shielding your head with your arms and hands.

5) Try maintain emotional control. A truck accident is terrifying, but do your best to remain calm. Losing control can allow you to make mistakes that could lead to a fatality. Continue to try avoiding a collision until the last possible moment and then do all you can to survive the collision. Talk yourself through the collision and breathe slowly and evenly to maintain your sense of calm.

It is important not to be alone after a trucking accident. Unfortunately, many of the personal injuries which are commonly sustained in trucking accidents – including burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injuries – tend to be quite isolating. Many people struggle to cope with their new injuries and may feel out of touch with their regular groups of friends. Some patients have a hard time adjusting to the way they look or the way that they function after trucking accidents, and this can make it hard for them to develop or keep supportive friendships. However, the emotional trauma of a trucking accident requires a strong team of support.

A good, supportive team can answer your questions about your injury, can help you through the difficult times following your accident, and can provide you with the resources you need to recover emotionally and physically from your accident. You should surround yourself with many types of people including:

1) Support groups. Support groups consisting of other accident survivors with similar injuries can be an invaluable source of support. These groups are often organized by local chapters and associations that advocate for accident victims. For example, if you have a spinal cord injury, there is likely an acute spinal cord injury support group in your area. This support group may be organized or associated with a local spinal cord injury association. Joining the support group allows you to meet other people who have the same injury and to learn how to cope with your own injuries through their own experiences. Joining the support group also gives you a place to ask the many questions you likely have about your injury and your life after injury.

2) A Florida personal injury attorney. A good Florida personal injury attorney is essential to your support team. Your attorney can help you determine the cause of your accident and can therefore help you gain some closure from what has happened. In addition, a personal injury attorney can protect your rights and can ensure that you get all the financial resources you are entitled to under the law. This is often vital in helping you recover more fully and in helping you secure the best possible medical treatment.

3) Healthcare professionals. Depending on the injuries you have sustained, you may require the services of a plastic surgeon, family practitioner, rehabilitation expert, and specialist. It will likely take a nursing staff as well as other health-care professionals in order to treat your injury. Good health care professionals working together can help ensure that you achieve the maximum recovery and can ensure that your recovery is comfortable with as few complications as possible.

4) Counselors or therapists. A truck accident often results in emotional as well as physical trauma. After an accident, you may feel angry, depressed, anxious, fearful, and a host of other emotions. Sometimes, you may even feel as though you are feeling all these emotions at once. A qualified therapist or counselor can help you make sense of your emotions and can help you feel better emotionally as you recover physically from your injuries.

5) Family and friends. Family and friends are an essential part of the equation as you recover from your accident. At first, many patients wish to push away family and friends. Some patients do not wish to receive sympathy or pity, while others worry about rejection or the possible reactions of family and friends to their injuries. However, maintaining a good relationship with family and friends is vital. Support is important to your emotional and physical recovery. Family and friends can cheer you up and cheer you on as you recover. If you are struggling with your relationships, a therapist or counselor can help with group counseling and can ensure that your relationships stay strong as you work on strengthening your body after your accident.

Truck accidents claim lives, cause personal injuries, damage roads and property, and create quite a lot of trauma. Millions of families across the US are directly or indirectly affected by trucking accidents and many people today are still struggling with the personal injuries sustained in trucking accidents which occurred decades ago. There are many things that can be done, however, to take a stand against truck accidents. If you have been in a trucking accident or have a loved one who has been seriously injured or killed in a trucking accident, you may be motivated to take a stand. Even if you have no direct experience of trucking accidents, you may still be concerned to take action against preventable trucking accidents. There are many ways to do this:

1) Volunteer your time. There are many support groups for people who have sustained specific types of injuries, such as brain injuries or spinal cord injuries, in car accidents or trucking accidents. You could volunteer your time to help patients these of support groups. These types of local support groups often need volunteers to help set up for events, provide emotional support for patients, and sometimes run errors for patients. Some groups also need help organizing fundraising or awareness-raising campaigns.

2) Join a group dedicated to preventing trucking accidents. There are many such groups around the country, dedicated to changing laws, regulations, and trucking industry standards. Often, these groups are involved in fund-raising, lobbying, and raising awareness about trucking accidents and their effects.

3) Create your own group. If you cannot find a local group, you may be interested in creating your own group aimed at preventing trucking accidents. To do this, consider working with an existing support group or group of friends. Develop a clear mission statement as well as clear goals for the best chance of success. Today, many groups use online social networking sites such as the Facebook or MySpace in order to raise awareness about their groups and in order to drum up support as well as membership.

4) Write to your local and state representatives. Let them know about laws which you feel can be changed or laws which you feel can be created to make the roads safer for everyone. You can also develop petitions and have these signed in order to change existing laws.

5) Improve your own awareness. Often, making changes centers around raising your own awareness of an issue. Join newsletters dedicated to trucking accidents, read blogs and news reports, and follow your local news to learn more about truck accidents – and the efforts made to prevent them -- in your area. Often, reading the news can help you understand what needs to be done and allows you to gather specific information you can use. For example, if you find that many local trucking accidents are occurring at a specific intersection, you may write to your local political representatives to tell them that you have noticed a problem and asking them for their support in making changes to that intersection. The more you know, the more powerfully you can work to prevent trucking accidents.

While trucking accidents involving passenger vehicles are often devastating in the fatalities and personal injuries they cause, pedestrian accidents involving trucks are especially disastrous. A pedestrian has simply no chance against a fully loaded commercial truck. The size and force of a truck usually do not just cause spinal cord injuries, head injuries, and other serious injuries. In virtually all cases, such an accident results in fatalities. There are many ways, luckily, that pedestrian accidents involving trucks can be prevented.

A great deal of the onus is on pedestrians. Pedestrians need to ensure that they are not taking undue risks around trucks. In general, since trucks and pedestrians are such a poor mix, pedestrians should steer clear of trucks entirely. Passing in between trucks, walking between trucks, or popping up suddenly in front of a truck is a recipe for disaster.

If you are walking in an area where trucks are present – such as a construction site, or a pedestrian area where trucks are parked -- make sure that you make good eye contact with the truck driver. In many cases, truck drivers are focused on other vehicles and may not expect a pedestrian. Keep in mind to that trucks often take longer to brake than passenger vehicles. Wait until a truck driver waves you through in order to pass in front of a truck. A little patience can save your life.

In general, prevention is the best strategy. Avoid walking in areas where large numbers of trucks are parked. If you are stopping on the highway at a truck stop or rest area, park with other passenger vehicles rather than sliding your car between trucks. If you are faced with a construction site, consider walking around it rather than through it.

If you must walk through a construction area or another area where trucks are present, exercise extreme caution. Look for trucks that have their lights on and who may be ready to move. Always listen carefully for alarm systems that tell you when a truck is backing out. Do not assume that a truck driver can see you. Trucks have many blind spots and drivers are not always able to see small objects such as a pedestrian near their truck.

Use extreme caution around garbage trucks, dump trucks, and other trucks that are common in urban areas. Many pedestrians simply ignore these trucks because they are so familiar in these environments. However, since these trucks back up, move, and stop unexpectedly, they can pose a special danger to pedestrians. If you are jogging or walking somewhere where garbage trucks, dump trucks, and other trucks are working, consider crossing the street or getting far out of the way to prevent an accident. If you must pass by a truck, make eye contact with the driver and make sure that you have the space to pass. A little bit of precaution and help save your life.

In many cases, trucking accidents on the highways and roads involve a car and a truck. It is an unfortunate situation, because few types of vehicles are more unevenly matched. A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh tens of thousands of pounds and can obliterate or crush a passenger vehicle. While there are many laws and federal regulations to ensure that truck drivers take certain precautions on the road, there are still many things that passenger vehicle drivers can do to ensure that they are never in a car accident with a truck:

1) Always treats trucks as trucks. Many passenger vehicle drivers treat trucks as just another vehicle on the road. Unfortunately, this can be a fatal mistake. It is important to keep in mind that trucks brake, stop, and turn differently than passenger vehicles. It is important to give trucks additional room and to use extra caution when driving around trucks. Keep in mind that truck drivers, for example, cannot see as clearly and have many more blind spots. Avoid following closely behind or in front of a truck. Provide lots of room for yourself to maneuver around track. Never stop suddenly in front of a large commercial truck, as the truck driver will likely not be able to stop in time to prevent rear ending your car.

2) Avoid situations where you are surrounded by trucks. It is easy for your vehicle to become invisible when surrounded by trucks, and being crushed between two trucks almost guarantees serious spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and fatalities. If you see a large fleet of trucks, drop back and allow them plenty of room. Make sure that the drivers can see you by staying well back or by making eye contact with the drivers as you pass.

3) Keep your eyes and mind on the road. Texting or speaking on your cell phone while driving is dangerous precisely because you share the road with many other vehicles, including trucks. Texting around trucks is extremely dangerous as trucks delivering products to businesses may make unexpected stops. Keep your mind and your eyes on the road at all times so that you can predict the maneuvers of trucks in front of you, behind you, and beside you.

4) Think ahead. If you see a truck in front of you, plan ahead so that you can either pass it safely or drop back in time to allow the driver to see you well. Predict possible obstacles, such as roadwork or hills, well in advance. Keep in mind that trucks often block your vision and make it impossible for you to anticipate obstacles and problems up ahead. This is another wonderful reason drop well back of trucks and to not follow closely behind. You will have a better view of the road and therefore will be to drive more safely if you keep well back.

After a trucking accident, there are generally a great deal of damages, including personal injuries, property damages, and intangible damages. Due to the sheer size and force of trucks, collisions involving these vehicles tend to be fatal or tend to cause extensive damage. Attorneys and insurance providers alike try to place a dollar value on the damage in order to reach settlements and in order to settle insurance claims. However, determining damages and placing a value on them after trucking accidents can be difficult. A great deal of evidence and property may have been obliterated, making it difficult to reconstruct an accident or determine exactly what happened. As well, attorneys and insurance providers tend to have different ways of evaluating the value of damages. In general, however, damages will include:

1) Property damages. If you have been in a trucking accident, you will want to recover for property damage. This can include the cost of repairing or replacing your car or vehicle, as well as the cost of replacing anything of value inside your vehicle. Property damage may include the loss, for example, of any gadgets, laptops, or digital cameras you may have had in your car at the time of the accident. As well, if a truck has crashed on your property, there may be in damage to structures, walkways, and driveways on your property. In this event, you may wish to recover for the damages not covered by your homeowners insurance policy.

2) Personal injuries. In addition to property damage, almost all trucking accidents cause severe personal injuries. These may include spinal cord injuries, broken bones, amputations, burn injuries, brain injuries, and other serious injuries. If you have been seriously injured in a trucking accident, you will be able to recover for medical costs, the cost of medication, rehabilitation costs, hospital stays, and other costs related to your personal injury.

3) Long-term costs of personal injuries. Many injuries have long-term costs. For example, you may not be able to return to work for an extended period of time and you may need to hire babysitters to care for your children if you are physically unable to do so. You may require around-the-clock nurse care or you may have other expenses that you will need to calculate in determining the damages caused by your trucking accident. Keep in mind that some serious injuries can take years or even a lifetime to recover from, so it is important to consider the total costs that injuries may incur.

4) Income loss. After your trucking accident, you are generally unable to work for at least some time. For example, you may lose work time while in the hospital initially recovering from your injury. In addition, you may be too traumatized to return to work immediately. In some cases, you may need rehabilitation or may even be unable to return to work due to permanent injuries. You may also need to take time away from work in order to attend doctors’ appointments, attorney appointments, and to attend to legal matters. A good Florida personal injury attorney can ensure that you are compensated for all of this income loss.

5) Medical costs. Medical costs after a trucking accidents can include a hospital stay, at-home nursing care, the cost of bandages, wheelchairs, and other medical devices. You may also incur costs if you need cosmetic surgery and other types of treatments not usually covered by health insurance. A good Florida personal injury attorney can help you recover money for these costs. As well, some specialized treatments are only available through travel to other states or even other countries. A good personal injury attorney can ensure that you have the financial resources after a trucking accident to pursue the best treatment possible so that you make the fullest recovery possible.

6) Intangibles. A trucking accident can affect your life in many ways and can therefore incur many intangible costs. For example, you may be in severe pain and may require renovations to your home in order to accommodate a new level of mobility. You may need to take taxis more often in order to get to doctors’ appointments after your accident if you are unable to drive a car. You may even need to pay for a therapist or counselor in order to get over the trauma of being in an accident. All of these intangibles and many others can add thousands of dollars to the cost of your injury. A good personal injury attorney can predict these expenses and can ensure that you are compensated for your losses so that you do not have to pay for these expenses out of pocket.

The time immediately following a truck accident is usually fraught with danger, fear, and severe trauma for the surviving victims. Victims may be unconscious, severely injured, and rushed to an emergency room. Some victims may be declared fatalities at the scene. If you have survived a trucking accident, however, the immediate aftermath of a trucking accident is vitally important. When you’re rushed to a hospital for emergency care, you will often need the very best possible care in order to recover fully. The diagnosis and treatment you are given immediately after an accident can determine your overall recovery. Unfortunately, the hectic pace of an emergency room as well as the rapid emergency treatment usually required after a trucking accident can allow medical errors and misdiagnosis to occur. If you want to avoid a medical malpractice lawsuit and the complications that medical errors can result in, make sure that you:

1) Take good notes. As soon as you are able to after a trucking accident, start documentation. Asked for copies of your medical records, and make sure that you note any diagnoses, treatments, medications, and doctor names that you come into contact with. Make sure that you understand what you are being diagnosed with, your prognosis, the basis for the diagnoses, and the treatments being suggested. If you have any questions or if there seems to be a conflict in the information you are being given from different health-care providers, make sure that you ask. Asking questions is a good way to prevent medical errors.

2) Have a health care advocate. Because you will likely be in poor condition immediately after your trucking accident, it is a good idea to have a health-care advocate by your side. A health-care advocate can be a friend or family member who can be with you during treatment, conversations with healthcare professionals, and who can spend time with you in a hospital. A health-care advocate not only provides you with support, but he or she can also take down details of treatments, medications you’re given, and healthcare professionals you speak to. This can give you a clear record of your treatment and allow you to pinpoint and prevent errors.

3) Insist on specialists and a second opinion. Trust your instincts. If you are being given a diagnosis that you do not agree with or diagnosis that you are suspicious about, ask to speak to a specialist and seek a second opinion. Be especially certain to ask a second opinion if you are being diagnosed with a serious injury or are being recommended for treatments that are very expensive or that carry high risks.

4) Hire a good Florida personal injury attorney. A good Florida personal injury attorney is essential to your health care team. A good attorney can investigate the causes of your accident, can advise you of your rights, and can ensure that you have the financial resources you are entitled to by law. This can help ensure that you get the best medical treatment possible. If a medical mistake has been made, an attorney can investigate this and make sure that you receive all the help you are entitled to under the law.

In a trucking accident involving a car or another truck, passengers are often thrown about inside their vehicles. Even when seat belts are worn, the trauma caused by this rapid motion in a collision can cause serious spinal cord injuries and head injuries. Head injuries can be especially devastating for a number of reasons:

1) Head injuries may be hard to diagnose. In some cases, patients have few or no symptoms after an accident and symptoms only gradually develop. This can be fatal, unfortunately. Some patients do not seek medical help because they do not have any symptoms after a truck or car accident. It is only a few hours later that symptoms start to manifest themselves, and by this time it may be too late to get medical help, as swelling inside the brain expands rapidly.

2) Head injuries may change a lifestyle substantially. Head injuries may cause problems with concentration as well as severe memory loss and sensory problems. This can make it difficult for a patient to stay employed or enjoy everyday activities. A patient may not even be able to drive after a trucking accident. In many cases, a patient’s life is severely or even permanently altered by a head injury.

3) Head injuries usually require long rehabilitation times. Patients who have sustained a serious head injury may need therapy to deal with the emotional upheaval caused by their injury. They may also need extensive rehabilitation to learn how to perform everyday tasks again.

4) Head injuries usually result in emotional and social challenges. It is often difficult for patients to maintain their everyday social lives after an accident. Difficult concentration, emotional upsets, mood swings, and memory loss are all common symptoms which can result from a brain injury. For many family members and loved ones, coping with these symptoms in a patient can be very challenging and this can cause a patient to become isolated. In some cases, patients need to pay for family or group therapy as well as rehabilitation costs in order to continue to have good relationships.

5) Head injuries lead to many hard-to quantify losses. Head injuries are often hard to evaluate in terms of damages because there are so many intangible costs. Someone with a brain injury may experience loss of income because they are unable to return to work. However, they may also need to alter their home to cope with their injury. For example, a patient with severe brain injuries may need a full-time nurse or may need to install safety timers in their home to ensure that memory loss does not lead them to leave stove top elements on.

After a truck accident, one of the most important members of your support team is often a good Florida personal injury attorney. A good lawyer can negotiate with insurance providers on your behalf to ensure that you receive fair compensation. An attorney can launch an investigation into your accident and can protect your legal rights. In some cases, attorneys even can help patients find resources and medical help. To make the most of your attorney’s help, you need to maintain good communication with your attorney. There are many ways that you can do this:

1) Be upfront with your attorney. Fully share all information your attorney asks for, even if the information is embarrassing or difficult to share. Keeping previous convictions or driving problems from your attorney is not only futile, but makes a good relationship with your attorney very difficult.

2) Contact your attorney as quickly as possible after your accident. Most states have a statute of limitations regarding how long a victim has to bring a suit. As well, the longer you wait to contact your attorney, the more evidence about your accident will likely be lost. The sooner you contact an attorney, the more fully your Florida personal injury attorney can help you. Keep in mind that many attorneys are willing to visit you in your hospital room, at home, or at your office, so you do not have to be well enough to travel to see an attorney.

3) Avoid signing anything. Signing any agreement with an insurance provider can make it harder for an attorney to assist you. However, some insurance providers are very insistent on having you sign agreements, often while you are still in the hospital. Always insist on having an attorney review any document you sign.

4) Start documentation early. Start keeping track of your injuries and the accident as soon as you can. Having a list of symptoms and how they affect your life on a day to day basis can help your personal injury attorney evaluate the likely costs of your injury. Knowing the names of officers and emergency personnel at the accident scene can help your attorney investigate the accident. Do not worry if you are too injured to start documentation at once. Get copies of what medical records you can and share them with your attorney and start your documentation as soon as you are physically able.

5) Consider what you say about your accident and injuries. Keep in mind that speaking about your injury or posting injury-related photos on social networking sites can affect your case. Talk to your Florida personal injury attorney about how to discuss your injury with others. Your attorney may even recommend that you avoid social networking sites until your case is settled. Be sure to follow your attorney’s directions carefully.

After trucking accidents, some types of injuries are very easy to spot. Burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other types of serious injuries often leave clear symptoms that make diagnosis simple. However, there are also many additional types of injuries which are often more challenging to diagnose and more difficult to quantify. All too often, truck accident victims have a difficult time getting support and compensation for these less-obvious injuries.

For example, many trucking accident victims experience emotional trauma after an accident. They may feel depressed or may experience anxiety or loss of concentration. For some of these patients, returning to work duties and a normal life may be difficult, and this often leads to considerable expenses for the patient. As a result of the emotional trauma, patients may lose income or may need to pay for therapy. Some patients have a hard time feeling comfortable behind the wheel again and may need to pay for transportation services as well. Unfortunately, without a qualified Florida personal injury attorney, many patients have a hard time getting recompensed for these losses and may end up paying these sometimes substantial costs out of pocket.

Another frequently-overlooked loss sustained through trucking injuries involves long-term rehabilitation. Many types of serious injuries sustained through trucking accidents require immediate care but also a long-term recovery time. Burn injuries, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries may all require months or even years of rehabilitation, all of which requires transportation to rehabilitation facilities, rehabilitation costs, and lost income. However, many patients find that insurance companies and providers for trucking companies sometimes underestimate the total costs and duration of rehabilitation, leaving the patient to bear the financial burden of the long-term recovery time.

Another type of loss that is frequently associated with trucking accidents is the loss associated with a change of lifestyle. Many serious trucking accident injuries – such as brain injuries and spinal cord injuries – prove to be permanent and require the patient to change their lifestyle. Unfortunately, calculating the cost of permanent lifestyle changes can be challenging and sometimes leads to under-estimation of total costs. A patient may need to have their home and car made accessible, but the patient may also require additional renovations after a few years to accommodate changing ability levels. This long-term cost is not always considered, leaving the patient to absorb the cost.

Head injuries are also often undervalued when it comes to trucking accidents. Some head injuries do not produce obvious external trauma and do not even manifest symptoms at once. This makes them challenging to diagnose in some cases. As well, some types of injuries to the head area – including whiplash – have a high chance of being misdiagnosed, which may mean that trucking accident victims are left to absorb the costs of the injury.

The frequency with which vehicle accident injuries are misdiagnosed, undervalued, and missed should give truck accident victims pause. Even with a generous offer from an insurance provider or trucking company attorney, it is possible for patients to be left with thousands of dollars in medical bills and associated costs that must be paid out of pocket. For this reason, a good Florida personal injury attorney is a must. A qualified personal injury lawyer can ensure that long-term costs as well as less tangible costs are considered, so that you get the fairest settlement possible.

Mobile water supply apparatus tanker trucks bring water and emergency personnel and water to emergency fire scenes. While these trucks are vital to prevent fatalities, burn injuries, and other serious injuries, these vehicles also have a high accident rate. Some industry experts believe that the very design of these tanker trucks could be contributing to the trucking accidents.

Many emergency use tanker trucks are in fact converted trucks which were once used for another purpose. Many industry experts note that there is a high cost to not creating customized tanker trucks better suited to emergency response. The Safe Operation of Fire Tankers reports that many emergency tanker truck accidents involve trucks which were converted after being used as fuel tankers. In many cases, experts note that the chassis of the trucks cannot hold the amount of water emergency tanker trucks need to carry, and this excessive pressure can contribute to accidents.

In fact, emergency tanker trucks are unusually heavy and place a great burden on any vehicle design not created exclusively for water. Gasoline weighs 5.6 pounds per gallon, while oil (fuel) weighs 7.12 pounds per gallon. In contrast, water weighs 8.33 pounds per gallon. This means that a water tanker converted from a gasoline tanker is expected to carry about 23, 324 pounds of water (for a 2,800-gallon tanker) when the truck was designed to carry 15, 680 of gasoline. In addition, emergency water tanker trucks also often carry additional life saving equipment, pumps, and emergency personnel, increasing the weight even more.

Many trucks used for consumer goods such as milk or eggs are designed to allow for easy cleaning of the tanker area. The emphasis is on making the inside of the tanker sterile, not on keeping loads steady. In contrast, an emergency water tanker does not need to clean out the inside of the tanker. What is a priority is maintaining stability at high speeds, something that food tankers are simply not designed for.

Experts think that custom designed water tankers for emergency use would reduce the number of accidents involving these tankers. If tankers were designed for emergency use, they could be designed with stronger tires (to maintain the water weight of a full tanker) and stronger chassis as well as a lower center of gravity to reduce the risk of rollovers. These trucks could have seat belt warning systems to encourage seat belt use, correct axles for the use of the truck, and specific pumps and equipment that are part of the tanker design.

Tanker trucks, which are sometimes called mobile water supply apparatus, are used to transport water and firefighters to many emergency scenes, especially to emergency scenes where water is not readily available. Unfortunately, the fatality rates of these lesser-used firefighting vehicles is much higher than the accident rate of other firefighting vehicles.

According to some industry experts, part of the problem may be laws regarding drivers.
Most state laws allow emergency vehicle drivers important exemptions. Drivers of these vehicles are allowed to speed, drive against the flow of traffic, request right of way, and to drive around traffic control items. All these exemptions permit driver to help people in an emergency, but these exemptions are not meant to permit reckless driving. Drivers of mobile water supply apparatus are still expected to be cautious of the public.

For example, while drivers are permitted to exceed the speed limit when driving mobile water supply apparatus to an emergency, drivers must also consider road conditions when deciding how fast to drive. Some fire departments have rules about how quickly drivers operating mobile water supply apparatus can drive. However, experts argue that these limits do not go far enough and drivers should never drive more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit, even in ideal conditions. As well, sharp turns, residential areas, pedestrians, and school zones need to be considered when deciding on an appropriate speed.

It is expected that when the driver of a mobile water supply apparatus approaches traffic, he or she will leave enough room to respond safely to the actions of other drivers. The amount of space that needs to be left will depend on the speed of traffic and the speed of the mobile water supply apparatus tanker truck. Driving too close to other vehicles often leads car accidents causing fatalities and serious personal injuries. If a passenger car driver panics and brakes or slows suddenly, the tanker often cannot stop in time and may cause a rear end collision.

Driving against the flow of traffic is something that most drivers of mobile water supply apparatus tanker trucks must do on occasion to get to an emergency site quickly. However, it is important for drivers not to force right of way. Drivers must make sure that oncoming lanes are clear and that drivers see the emergency vehicle. Trying to force right of way usually results in head on collisions. When driving against the flow of traffic emergency truck operators must drive more slowly and must be prepared for unexpected obstacles.

When driving through intersections and around traffic control devices, drivers of mobile water supply apparatus tanker trucks must ask right of way. They must stop at red lights and ascertain that drivers are willing to offer right of way. They must also ensure that all drivers see the emergency vehicle and respond. Many accidents occur in multiple lanes, where one passenger vehicle driver does not see the emergency truck but the truck driver assumes that it is safe to proceed.

Tanker trucks, also known as mobile water supply apparatus, are an important part of most firefighting efforts. These tanker trucks transport water to fire scenes, allowing firefighters the water that helps them extinguish flames. Tankers arriving at a fire scene can help save homes as well as lives. They can also help prevent burn injuries by helping get flames under control.

Unfortunately, tanker trucks also have a high rate of accidents. Tanker trucks involved in firefighting efforts cause more fatalities than all other pieces of firefighting equipment combined. This is in spite of the fact that there are fewer mobile water supply apparatus tankers than most other types of firefighting equipment and in spite of the fact that these tankers respond to fewer calls.

According to experts, there are many reasons why mobile water supply apparatus tanker trucks have such a high rate of accidents. Many claim that these trucks can be easily overloaded as the prime concern when filling these trucks is to get enough water to the fire scene. As well, tanker trucks are encouraged to speed, even on dangerous road conditions, because they are responding to an emergency. As well, many mobile water supply apparatus tanker trucks are in fact converted from other trucks (often trucks designed to transport propane, for example).

While there are many contributing factors in these accidents, including tire blowouts or brake malfunction, in many cases driver error at least contributes to the accident. In some cases, drivers are too inexperienced driving the type of tanker being operated. Often, the emergency flashing lights and the signal siren of the tanker can be especially distracting to the inexperienced driver. In some cases, drivers do not have adequate training in hauling large loads of liquid. Excessive speed and driver distraction is also a cause in many accidents. When a collision does seem unavoidable, studies show that many drivers overcorrect their steering, which actually increases the risk of a rollover.

In many firefighter tanker truck fatalities, the U.S. Fire Administration reports that seat belt use was an issue. In about 75% of cases where firefighters are killed in tanker rollovers, the victims were not wearing seatbelts. Many firefighters do not wear seatbelts while in trucks on the way to or from an emergency, often because they are rushed to get to the scene of the emergency. However, lack of seatbelt use greatly increases the risk of fatalities, serious spinal cord injuries, broken bones, head injuries, and other serious injuries in the event of an accident. Since 1999, many firefighting trucks have been equipped with very visible seatbelts which are in bright shades. These seatbelts are designed to help remind firefighters of the importance of seat belt use. Unfortunately, many firefighters still choose not to wear seatbelts.

Tanker truck rollovers are a common type of trucking accident, and one that can have serious consequences. Many tanker rollovers result in serious injury to the driver, including head injuries and spinal cord injuries. When a tanker rollover occurs, the materials inside the tanker can catch on fire and can cause extensive property damage as well as burn injuries. When tankers rollover, they also typically crash into other vehicles, causing fatalities and serious damage.

Although many factors can contribute to these types of accidents, a report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in conjunction with the Battelle Memorial Institute suggests that almost one in four such accidents (75%) can be attributed to driver error. Another 25% of such accidents are caused by factors such as weather conditions, the actions of other drivers, and road conditions as well as other factors.

Many people assume that many trucking accidents occur on sharp curves or exit ramps, where trucks must merge with traffic. However, the FMCSA research study surprisingly found that in 90% of tanker rollover cases, accidents occurred on straight roads or when a truck collided with another vehicle. In only about 10% of cases did collisions occur on curves or ramps. This result surprised even FMCSA members and researchers, who were expecting higher accident rates on curves and ramps.

Part of the reason why driver error is such a concern in tanker rollover accidents, according to the FMCSA study, is that when the driver of a truck begins to lose control of the truck, the driver will often instinctually overcorrect the steering. This maneuver increases the risk of rollovers significantly. According to the FMCSA study, this overcorrected steering is one of the most common mistakes in tanker rollover accidents.

The FMCSA report, according to industry insiders, suggests that improved driver training and electronic stability controls could significantly affect rollover accident rates. Some researchers discussed new truck designs which would lower the center of gravity in trucks and tankers, making rollovers less likely. However, many industry insiders note that such designs are not practical and would increase costs too much. Many believe that increased stability controls and better driver training would help correct many of the problems associated with driver error.

All trucking accidents have the potential to cause serious personal injury as well as fatalities. Due to the force and size of trucks, any truck accident can cause burn injuries, amputations, spinal cord injuries, and other serious harm. Collisions between passenger vehicles and trucks tend to be especially deadly. While all truck accidents can be deadly, however, there are important differences in the characteristics of every type of collision:

1) Underride and override accidents. Underride truck accidents occur when a truck is forced to brake suddenly, and this causes the car following the truck to slide under the truck. Often, part of the car is sheared off and death as well as serious head injuries are the frequent result. Override accidents are caused when a car or vehicle in front of a truck stops or slows down suddenly, not giving the truck enough time to slow down and stop. When this happens, the truck often rolls over the vehicle, often crushing the vehicle and killing the passengers.

2) Air brake malfunction. Most trucks have air brakes, which allow trucks to stop within 100 feet when traveling at 35-40 mph. Air brake defects as well as excessive loads and the pressure generated by going downhill can cause truck air brakes to fail, which can cause trucks to rear-end vehicles in front of them.

3) Head on crashes. In these accidents, the front of a truck collides with the front of an oncoming vehicle. In many cases, these occur when one vehicle is in the wrong lane. In many cases, head on collisions involving trucks result in fatalities or in serious brain injury or spinal cord injury. Where high speeds are involved, most head on crashes are fatal, due to the extreme force of the collision.

4) Jackknife accidents. These accidents occur when a truck hits the side of a vehicle. Often, these occur when a truck loses control or when there is a brake problem during a curve or turn.

5) Rear end accidents. These accidents occur when a truck collides with the vehicle in front of the truck. Sometimes, these accidents are caused when a truck follows another vehicle too closely. They also often occur when the driver of a passenger vehicle cuts off a truck or brakes or slows down suddenly in front of a truck. Trucks take longer to brake, so such driving is dangerous and often leads to a rear end accident. In some cases, truck brake failure can also lead to these accidents. Rear end accidents often result in head injury, back injury, or whiplash.

6) Rollovers. Rollovers often occur because trucks tend to be top heavy, making them more likely to rollover in an accident. Excessive loads, incorrect loading, and speed are often contributors to rollover accidents. In many cases, these accidents occur on turns or curves.

Monster truck shows or rallies are entertainment events at which large trucks perform stunts for the amusement of an audience. The drivers of these trucks are highly trained stunt drivers. In most cases, rallies are simply fun events at which families have a fun time. However, in some cases monster truck rallies turn deadly and claim the life of drivers or audience members when trucks collide.

Although monster truck accidents are not as common as other kinds of trucking accidents, they do occur. In June 2009, a six-year-old Tacoma boy was killed after being struck by debris at a Monster Truck show. In 2007, nine people sustained personal injury at an Illinois. monster truck show when two trucks collided. In 1999, two separate monster truck accidents claimed the life of one man and injured three others, including two children.

Monster truck accidents are often tragic because they often involve children and teenagers and lead to injuries to children and minors. In many cases, injuries and fatalities at monster truck rallies take place when monster trucks lose control and crash. When this occurs, flying debris can sometimes fly from the performance area and into the stands, injuring or killing audience members.

When this occurs, eye injuries, broken bones, and head injuries are often the result. Children are especially vulnerable because of their smaller size. Some of the flying debris from a monster truck show can be quite large and flies with enough force to seriously injure audience members. In some cases, debris may be on fire and may cause burn injuries. As well, the drivers of trucks in such shows may be injured and may sustain broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries as a result of a monster truck accident.

Monster truck shows first became popular in the 1970s, when drivers and promoters would modify pickup trucks, adding high wheels and other custom features to create large trucks. These early trucks were powerful but often unstable, and frequently resulted in rollover accidents and audience accidents as well. Since then, monster truck events have become a major industry and some safety protocols have been added to make these events safer.

Today, monster truck chassis are custom designed to offer the trucks more stability and to create safer trucks. As well, monster tricks today feature special axles (usually from heavy duty trucks), four-link suspensions, custom-designed transmissions, and hydraulic steering, all of which improve stability, response times, and the driver’s control of the truck. If a monster truck driver loses control of a vehicle, the truck has three kill switches. Trucks today are also equipped with a Remote Ignition Interrupter and switches which help the truck shut off in the event of an accident or rollover. Many parts are strapped to the truck to prevent flying debris in the event of a collision and drivers are protected with a Lexan-plated cab. Regulations at most truck shows require drivers to wear head restraints, fire suits, helmets, neck restrains, and special harnesses. These protect against burn injuries, neck and back injuries, and head injuries in the event of a crash. Opponents point out that in spite of these safety features both drivers and audience members continue to experience personal injuries at monster truck rallies and shows.

Garbage truck accidents are not as common as other types of truck accidents and rarely make the news, but these accidents can be just as devastating as other types of vehicle accidents. Each year, people are killed and seriously injured by garbage trucks. Very often, accidents involving garbage trucks involve pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents. These accidents are often caused by a number of factors:

1) Poor visibility. Garbage trucks are large and have poor lines of sight. Like larger commercial trucks, they have many blind spots. As well, as the day progresses, garbage trucks often get dirty. This can obscure reflectors and lights. It can also cause mirrors to become smudged or dirty and therefore less useful.

2) Tired drivers. Garbage trucks are usually making the rounds very early. Garbage truck drivers wake very early and often work long shifts, which can contribute to fatigue. When this is combined with driver distraction (caused by cell phones or texting) the risk of an accident is even higher.

3) Backing up. Garbage trucks must back up frequently and suddenly to pick up garbage. This can lead to pedestrian accidents if garbage trucks run over a person or child on the sidewalk.

4) Unusual driving patterns. Garbage trucks must often drive in unusual patterns in order to pick up garbage. They may need to drive down alleys or drive the wrong way down some streets. In many cases, garbage trucks drive where no trucks usually drive, so that other drivers (as well as pedestrians and bicyclists) may simply not be looking for a truck or anticipating such as driving obstruction.

5) Negligence. Drivers of garbage trucks are expected to use caution when driving their vehicles. Municipalities are responsible for maintaining garbage trucks in good repair and for carefully hiring and training qualified drivers when negligence causes an accident, a good Florida personal attorney can often ensure that victims are given the full protection of the law. As well, good attorneys can work to ensure that others are not victimized by negligence.

Truck drivers are often very highly trained professionals. To qualify for their licenses, they must pass strict testing, training, and licensing requirements. They also clock many miles on the roads, making them highly trained drivers. In many car accidents involving a truck, however, truck drivers are singled out for blame.

In some cases, bias may contribute to the problem. When a truck collides with a car, the passengers of the car are often seriously injured or killed. Fatalities in these types of accidents are frequent and where passengers do survive, they often face spinal cord injuries, whiplash, amputations, burn injuries, brain injuries, and other serious and potentially long-term injuries. They are often rushed to the hospital from the scene of the accident.

In many cases, injured passengers of cars are not extensively questioned at the scene of an accident because they are seriously injured. Since the truck driver is largely protected by the height of his or her cab and the size of his or her truck, the truck driver is often questioned at the scene and may not be seriously injured. Since the passengers of the smaller car are seriously injured, this can tip sympathy towards them and may obscure the mistakes made by a passenger car in an accident.

However, just because passengers are injured this does not mean that they are blameless of liability. In some cases, collisions between trucks and cars occur because the driver of a passenger vehicle was driving drunk, was texting while driving, was negligent, or was making significant mistakes. Many passenger vehicle drivers do not allow truck drivers the additional space that trucks require to stop and do not take care to avoid truck blind spots.

Although truck drivers are often protected from some personal injuries because of the size and height of their truck, they can and do sustain injuries due to accidents. Most truck drivers who have been in a trucking accident suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). While the accident is being investigated, drivers may lose income and may not be able to drive a truck until the investigation is concluded. The force of stopping the truck suddenly in a collision can throw truck drivers forward, which can lead to back injuries, whiplash and head injuries as well. In serious rollover accidents, truck drivers may be seriously injured or killed.

If a passenger vehicle driver has been driving negligently and has caused a trucking accident, both the truck driver and the trucking company can seek legal assistance in recovering damages from the accident. A good Florida personal injury attorney can help investigate the causes of an accident and can help the injured party get the resources they need to recover from the accident.

In the US, truck drivers driving commercials trucks and bus drivers will no longer be able to text and drive. There is already a text ban in place by many larger transportation and trucking companies (including United Parcel Service and FedEx), but the federal ban makes the ban industry-wide and comes with tough penalties. Many in the industry are applauding the decision, which they say will help reduce bus accidents and trucking accidents.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has made banning distracted driving a top priority and this first step may pave the way for more extensive texting bans for all drivers. LaHood cannot ban passenger car drivers from texting and driving (even though driver texting has been extensively linked to car accidents) but rules regarding the trucking industry give him the authority to ban texting among truck drivers on the roads. Truck drivers who text while driving will now face fines of up to $2,750.

However, some experts are concerned about the enforcement of the new policy. Experts at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, for example, note that LaHood’s new regulation may be largely symbolic and may not have an immediate effect on road safety, as texting is hard to spot. Police authorities agree that enforcing texting laws is difficult, since drivers hold their mobile devices below the window level. In most cases, truck drivers are caught texting and driving only after an accident, when police look at phone records and records on mobile devices to show that a driver was texting at the time of a crash. Some police note that lane departures and drivers who glance down frequently may be red flag signs that someone is texting while driving, but again this is hard to spot.

There are plenty of studies and lots of research that supports the idea of a texting ban. A study conducted by Virginia Tech's Transportation Institute found that text drivers who text are 23 times more likely than non-texting drivers to be involved in a near-collision or a traffic accident. The National Safety Council reports that 28% of road accidents occur when drivers are distracted by cell phones or texting. Cell phone conversations accounted for 1.4 million accidents last year while texting was linked to 200, 000 collisions.

Part of the problem is the cultural perception of cell phones and texting. Many drivers do not believe that their texting affects their driving because it is a quick activity. Many drivers also rely heavily on texting. According to federal statistics, at any given moment on America’s roads, about 812,000 drivers are distracted by cell phones. However, despite driver perceptions, studies do show that texting affects driving. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, drivers texting while driving have their eyes off the road about 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds they drive, meaning that drivers who text are driving most of the time with there eyes off the road. A driver who is texting and driving at 55 mph is traveling the length of an entire football field without seeing the road.

Trucking accidents cause 35, 000 deaths each year as well as serious injuries such as burns, brain injuries, amputations, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries. When a serious accident involving a truck takes place, there is often a great deal of focus on the driver. However, in many cases the drivers of passenger vehicles are also at leas partly responsible for a trucking accident. In fact, a study out of Los Angeles suggests that up to 75% of trucking accidents are caused by motorists operating passenger vehicles. Drivers of passenger vehicles often have less expensive training than truck drivers. As well, many drivers do not treat trucks differently than other vehicles on the road, and this can cause many common mistakes which can lead to an accident:

1) Changing lanes without signaling. Trucks take a longer time to respond, so trucks need plenty of warning when motorists change lanes. Zipping out in front of a truck when switching lanes is especially dangerous, as the truck may not be able to stop in time to avoid a collision.

2) Taking a turn left in front of a truck.

3) Miscalculating the speed at which a truck is going. Trucks change speeds often, often picking up speed dangerously on downhill grades (especially when fully loaded) and slowing down when going up hill. Since trucks cannot stop as quickly as passenger cars, it can be very dangerous not to take truck speed into account.

4) Slowing down suddenly in front of a truck. A fully loaded truck takes much longer to stop and often cannot stop as suddenly as a passenger vehicle. Stopping suddenly or slowing down rapidly in front of a truck often causes the truck to plow into the passenger vehicle. In general, drivers need to avoid any sudden or rapid movements around trucks, since trucks are bulkier and slower.

5) Driving in the truck driver’s blind spot. Trucks have many more blind spots than cars. In general, if you cannot see the driver in the truck’s mirrors, he or she cannot see you. Driving in the blind spots of a truck can get your car crushed if the truck must suddenly swerve or turn.

6) Driving between two large commercial rigs. This reduces your visibility a great deal, making it hard for you to anticipate possible problems ahead and react in time. As well, being between two trucks increases the probability that you will end up in the truck’s blind spots and potentially get crushed.

Statistics from the Fatal Analysis Reporting System show that about 35, 000 fatal trucking accidents take place across the country. About 8% of these accidents involve large commercial trucks, such as rigs. In addition to the large death toll, there are also many trucking accidents that lead to serious injuries, including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, burns, and other serious injuries. Although car accidents are more common than trucking accidents, statistics show from the Fatal Analysis Reporting System show that truck collisions are involved in about 46% of traffic-related fatalities.

Obviously, it is important to do everything possible to prevent these tragic accidents. One common cause of trucking accidents which is quite preventable is driver fatigue. Tired truck drivers have slower response times and some even doze off at the wheel, causing trucking accidents. Studies have proven that driving while tired is as dangerous as driving under the influence. The tragic thing about driver fatigue is that it is quite preventable.

Truck collisions involving driver fatigue have not declined, even though the overall rate of trucking accidents has been slowly decreasing. There have been a number of laws instituted which aim to reduce tired driving. For example, federal statues limit the length of time drivers can driver commercial trucks and vans before resting. As well, all drivers must keep a log to show that they are taking adequate rest breaks.

Despite this, truck accidents caused by driver fatigue continue to occur. Many of these accidents occur in the early hours of the morning – between midnight and three in the morning. This may suggest that in addition to getting rest, drivers may also need to respect their body’s natural rhythms and not try to drive when they are usually sleeping.

The federal government has created Hours-of-Service (HOS) laws which set limits on the time commercial truck drivers can drive before taking breaks. HOS was instituted and designed after extensive surveys and scientific studies were conducted to determine safe driving procedures. Currently, HOS rules apply to commercial trucks weighing at least 10,001 lbs. or higher. Only trucks that cross state lines, transport dangerous materials, or transport at least 16 passengers are included under the legislation.

Under these rules, drivers driving products or materials must have a rest period of 10 consecutive hours before driving. Drivers can drive a maximum of 11 hours between rest periods. Drivers must receive eight hours of sleep and an additional two hour break under HOS regulations. HOS regulations for passenger-carrying trucks are different. Drivers of these trucks can drive for a maximum of 10 hours before taking a rest break of eight consecutive hours. These drivers must also sleep at least eight hours.

In trucking accidents, one of the most common types of non-fatal injuries sustained is the back injury. The violence of the collision between a truck and a passenger car usually causes the bodies of the car’s passengers and the truck’s driver to move very suddenly and violently, creating prime conditions for a variety of back problems.

One of the most common types of back injuries sustained in a trucking accident is the lumbar injury. This type of injury affects the lower middle of the back area, known as the lumbar area. Lumbar injuries prevent regular movement and can make work and normal activities very difficult for patients. Lumbar injuries are also very painful and in many cases doctors cannot tell patients when signs of improvement may be expected.

Another type of back injury common in truck accidents is the spinal cord injury. This type of injury affects the spine and may involve damaged bones, muscle, nerves, nerve endings, or cartilage. Many spinal cord injuries result in paralysis and are permanent.

A back injury results in severe pain and suffering. Both spinal cord injuries and lumbar injuries require extensive (and expensive) medical care as well as ongoing physiotherapy. Occupational therapy and other long-term ongoing rehabilitation treatments, some of which are not covered by insurance. Most back injury patients lose significant income because of treatment and because they cannot return to work activities for extended periods of time. A good Florida personal injury attorney can be useful in this regard, helping patients recover financial resources which can assist in paying for treatment.

Lumbar injury patients face special challenges. In some cases, lumbar injuries are hard to quantify by medical science. The patient experiences pain but doctors do not yet have the tools to always prove an injury has taken place. This can cause insurance companies to become reluctant in offering needed and deserving compensation. A good attorney is often essential when handling these negotiations.

Patients with spinal cord injuries also often face special challenges. Patients who have sustained permanent spinal cord injuries as the result of a trucking accident may not be able to return to work, may have to have life-long therapy and assistance for everyday tasks, and may need to completely modify their homes and cars to make them accessible. In many cases, insurance providers routinely underestimate the total amount of all these costs, leaving patients with less money than they need. A good attorney is essential to protect the patient in these cases.

Trucking accidents cause over 80,000 non-fatal personal injuries each year. Some of these injuries include burn injuries, which are among the most difficult injuries to sustain. Burn injuries occur when a truck is carrying a flammable substance which ignites when the truck is in a collision. A truck may also experience a fuel fire or a battery fire in a crash, causing burn injuries.

Due to the size of trucks, burn injuries sustained from these accidents tend to be severe. Fires can spread very quickly from the truck to any flammable substance on the road. Any substance contained in the truck can also ignite. Obviously, truck drivers can be susceptible to burn injuries if their truck catches fire and they cannot escape the cab in time. However, passengers of nearby cars involved in a collision may also be burned as fire spreads quickly. Even pedestrians may be affected.

Burn injuries sustained in a trucking accident can be fatal. Even if they are not, they can lead to lifelong scarring. For many people, this is very challenging as it can lead to on-job problems, depressions, relationship issues, and other problems. Some people who sustain serious burn injuries feel uncomfortable leaving the house and may initially want to isolate themselves. They may have feelings of sadness or anger. In cases where the burn injury reaches the tissue, bone, and muscle, a burn injury can cause extreme pain, loss of mobility, and may require years or physiotherapy.

Traditionally, there are three ways of classifying burn injuries:
1) First degree burn injury. This most mild form of injury usually involves damage at the outer skin layer only. However, even with this relatively mild form of injury, there may be scarring, the risk of infection, time lost from work, and other problems for the patient.

2) Second degree burn injury. In this type of burn injury, the top layer of skin as well as the top layer of tissue are damaged. Usually, this type of injury will require some cosmetic surgery or treatment as scarring usually results. This type of injury may be quite painful and patients may need to miss time from work.

3) Third degree burn injury. In this most severe injury, layers of tissue under the layer of skin may be affected. This form of injury may require ongoing treatment and therapy as the patient may lose some sensation or even mobility in the affected area. This burn injury tends to be quite painful and requires intensive treatment, requiring considerable time away from work. This type of injury virtually always results in heavy scarring and may require a series of cosmetic treatments to fix.

Head or brain injuries sustained in a trucking accident can be dangerous or even fatal. Any truck accident involving a passenger car can cause a passenger in the car to be thrown about inside the vehicle. Being violently tossed about in an accident can cause the brain to crush up against the skull, causing damage. If the truck collision causes a passenger to smash their head against the interior of a car, the skull can crack or sustain other injuries.

What is insidious about head injuries is that they can be hard to detect. Someone may feel perfectly fine after a trucking accident and assume they have no personal injuries, only to be in severe distress only hours or days later. Some victims pass away because they delay treatment, assuming that all is well. It is essential to get a full physical examination after a trucking accident, even if you feel fine. If you have bumped or hit your head, you need to be examined for a possible concussion or other trauma.

In most car accidents and truck accidents, the most common type of head injury is the concussion. This occurs when swelling and bruising occur on the brain due to trauma. Concussions can be hard to diagnosis, because some patients do not show clear signs of symptoms. Some patients show symptoms immediately. Immediately after an accident or soon after an accident, a patient may show signs and symptoms such as:

*Confusion
*Feelings of deep fatigue or sleepiness
*Nausea and/or vomiting
*Dizziness
*Difficulty speaking
*Vision problems
*Headache or pain in the head or neck area

However, even if you do not display such symptoms, it is a good idea to get a full physical exam to ensure that you do not have a concussion. Even if you do not have the above symptoms after a car accident, you may still have a concussion. For some patients, symptoms are delayed and may appear hours or days after an accident. Delayed symptoms may include:

*Difficulty concentrating
*Amnesia or loss of memory
*Sleep disorders
*Depression or anxiety
*Sensitivity to noise and light

If you have sustained a head injury in a trucking accident and begin to display these symptoms, seek medical help at once. It could be an emergency. Seek help even if you have been given a clean bill of health by a doctor. You may still have a concussion.

Due to the sheer size and force of the vehicles involved, trucking accidents tend to be devastating. They are more likely than passenger car accidents to result in loss of life and trucking accidents also tend to cause serious personal injuries – including permanent spinal cord injuries, amputations, burn injuries, and other injuries – as well as significant property damage.

After a trucking accident, it is common for insurance companies to be very reassuring. The insurance providers covering trucking companies, in particular, often seem helpful, offering instant contracts to sign to ensure that compensation is doled out quickly. While it may be tempting to deal with only the trucking company’s insurance provider, if you have been in a serious trucking accidents and have lost a loved one or have suffered severe injuries, it is vital to seek professional help independently.

The first type of professional help you will want to seek is professional health care. Visit the best doctor, hospital, clinic, or specialists you can. Even if you don’t think you have been seriously injured, keep in mind that seemingly small and innocuous injuries and mishaps can have life-long permanent effects. That twinge in the back after an accident may become a life-long disability as well as a recurring source of pain. A bump on the head may be an asymptomatic brain injury. Without a thorough medical examination, there is just no way to know. Err on the side of caution and visit a qualified doctor of your choosing first. Keep a journal and take photos of any injuries and make sure that you retain copies of all medical records.

The second professional you should consult after a serious trucking accident is a personal injury attorney. A good Florida attorney can negotiate with insurance providers on your behalf, so that you are assured of getting a fairer offer and settlement. An attorney can also reconstruct the accident, determine responsibility, and calculate the total costs to you of an accident. With an attorney’s help, you can protect your rights after an accident and seek all the compensation you are entitled to under the law.

Professional help is also often needed to restructure your life after an accident. If you have sustained a serious head injury or spinal cord injury, for example, you may need a professional occupational therapist in order to help recapture some of the mobility and some of the activities you enjoyed before the accident. Professional therapists may be needed if you – like many truck accident victims – feel depressed or anxious after the accident. Again, a qualified personal injury attorney can help ensure that you have the resources for all this help.

Seeking professional help after an accident helps not only you, but other possible victims as well. If your accident was caused by product defects or negligence, a thorough investigation can find this out and can hold those responsible liable. This can help encourage change, which can ensure that others are not hurt in the same way.

In 2006 alone, the FMCSA (the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) reported that large truck accidents caused 4 321 deaths and 77 000 personal injuries. That same year, 287,000 property damage claims were filed as a result of trucking accidents. Although many people believe that all vehicle accidents are the same, there are many important differences between car accidents and trucking accidents:

1) Severity. Trucking accidents are far more likely than car accidents to result in fatalities, serious property damage, and significant property damage. They are also more expensive and more complicated in legal terms, since more parties are involved. Trucking accidents are also more challenging to settle, often because many parties and insurance carriers are involved.

2) Fuel fires. Trucks are more likely than cars to catch fire, since trucks sometimes carry flammable materials. As well, trucks run on diesel fuel, which can ignite if this fuel comes into contact with battery spark. Trucking accidents resulting in fires often lead to serious burn injuries and fatalities.

3) Jackknifing. Jackknifing occurs when one vehicle hits another at an angle. Trucks may have their brakes de-powered or disabled, which increases the risk of jackknifing. As well, the consequences of jackknifing are far more severe in trucking accidents than in car accidents. In car accidents, jackknifing can result in serious injuries, but two cars are generally of similar size. When a truck jackknifes a car, however, it is very likely that the car will be crushed and all occupants killed.

4) Braking problems. Brake problems are a more frequent issue in trucking accidents than in car accidents. Trucks, unlike passenger vehicles, use air brakes, and these brakes have a heat limit. If truck brakes overheat – often because they are set incorrectly or because a truck is driven incorrectly – the brakes may fail.

5) Rollover accidents. Trucking accidents are far more likely than car accidents to result in rollover. This is because trucks have a higher center of gravity, making it easier for them to tip over and roll. As well, heavy loads and incorrect load distribution can make trucks vulnerable to rollover accidents.

Trucking accidents have been on the rise over the past twenty years, according to FMCSA (the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) and in a typical year nearly 5000 people lose these lives in trucking accidents. Another 130 000 people a year sustain serious injuries, such as brain injuries, amputations, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries. Truck accidents are also more likely than car accidents to result in serious personal injuries, substantial property loss, and fatalities.

After a trucking accident, it is often far more difficult to assign liability or responsibility. Unlike car accidents, trucking accidents often involve multiple parties – the driver of the car, the truck driver, the owner of the truck, the company renting or managing the truck. In addition, some trucks consist of a cab and trailer owned and managed by separate companies. In many cases, a truck is leased from an owner, so that the leasing company may be held partly liable. The shipper or loader of a truck may also be held liable if a load was incorrectly secured. Finally, the manufacturer of the truck or various truck parts may also be held partly responsible for a trucking accident.

There are many regulations and laws which determine who is responsible or liable in a trucking accident. Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations outlines most of the federal legislation governing trucks. However, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), state laws, and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) also govern the trucking industry. Determining which party may have violated some laws or regulations usually requires the services of a savvy and experienced personal injury attorney.

Often, after a trucking accident, no one wants to take blame. The leasing, hauling, and trucking companies often engage in finger-pointing, as none want to use their insurance company to pay the person who has sustained injuries. For instance, the leasing company may blame the owners of the trucks for renting a poorly-maintained truck. The owner of the company may blame the manufacturer of the brakes, claiming the brakes are defective. The manufacturer may blame the loader, claiming a truck was overloaded. While these parties argue amongst themselves, the victim recovering from serious loss and injuries usually has no recourse to financial help to cope with growing medical bills.

Years ago, trucking companies created barriers between themselves and drivers by hiring drivers through contractors and by leasing trucks through other companies. In the event of an accident, the trucking company could claim that the driver is not one of their employees and that the truck was not their property. In this way, trucking companies hoped to avoid some liability. However, today’s federal laws do not permit this sort of slight of hand. Now, every time a company places its name or placard on that truck, the company is responsible for the truck, regardless of whether the truck and driver are directly associated with the company or not.

Another issue when determining liability in a trucking accident is the gathering of evidence. Due to the damage a truck accident causes, some evidence may be lost. Laws require certified truck inspectors to gather evidence and inspect trucks involved in accidents immediately. Trucks today also use “black boxes,” much like planes, which gather crucial evidence. These rules allow investigators to gather more evidence about accidents. As well, many Florida personal injury attorneys work closely with private investigators who are experienced in accident reconstruction and other techniques which are useful in gathering evidence and facts after an accident.

Trucking accidents cause many deaths each year. In fact, according to Road Safe America, highway accidents claim more than 42 000 lives each year. This is equivalent to the amount of people who would fill 200 commercial airliners. In fact, in order for aviation accidents to have the same death rate as highway accidents, there would have to be more than 16 aviation accidents involving commercial airlines a month.

These statistics do not even take into consideration the many personal injuries which trucking accidents cause. Trucking accidents often cause brain injuries, amputations, spinal cord injuries, broken limbs, burn injuries, and other serious injuries. This is above and beyond the financial and property damage such accidents inflict. For many survivors “lucky” enough to escape fatalities in a trucking accident, life-long injuries are the result.

Stephen C. Owings helped found Road Safe America, an advocacy group which aims to prevent trucking accidents. Owings believes that we are far more lax about traffic safety and trucking accident prevention than we are about airline safety. Partly, he feels this is because we have become immune to the many news stories about such accidents. Research seems to prove him right. According to Dr. Linda Degutis of the American Public Health Association, studies show that most Americans do not believe that highway accidents are preventable.

Research has also suggested that in order to make roads safer, we need to focus on commercial trucks specifically. According to studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation, trucks weighing more than 26,000 pounds account for 20% of all multi-car fatal accidents, even though these large trucks constitute only 1% of all vehicles on the roads. These trucks cause 5,000 fatalities and more than 100,000 injuries each year. Simply reducing the accidents involving these trucks can considerably reduce traffic fatalities and injuries. However, again, few people see large commercial trucks as a serious problem.

Some people – including Stephen C. Owings – believe that the answers are simple. Simply setting speed governors on heavy trucks to 68 mph or slower, they believe, will have a big impact on truck accidents. All trucks have been equipped with speed governors since the 1990s. Ensuring that these devices are used to slow trucks down even more, advocates argue, will mean safer roads.

In Japan, Europe, some of Canada, and Australia, speed governors on trucks are set to 68 mph or below for heavy trucks. However, some advocates of the plan note that a lax attitude is preventing similar legislation here. Lawmakers are simply too caught up in other issues to pay attention to a problem that has claimed so many lives.

In trucking accidents, passenger vehicle drivers and truck drivers both have a duty to prevent accident. After an accident, it is typical for passenger vehicle drivers to blame truck drivers and for truck drivers to blame car drivers for an accident. Research has suggested that both truck driver error and passenger car error contribute to car accidents involving trucks.

For passenger car drivers, the main error involve not paying due attention to trucks. Some drivers simply do not exert special care around trucks. Common passenger car driver errors include:

1) Rapid lane changes near a truck. A truck cannot stop as quickly as a passenger car. Any sudden movements near a truck can cause an accident, since the truck needs extra time to move or stop.

2) Driving for extended periods of time in the truck’s blind spots. Large trucks have many blind spots – such as beside the truck and behind the truck. While it may be necessary to drive very briefly in these areas, you will want to get out of these “no-zones,” as they are called, as quickly as possible. If you cannot see the driver in his or her mirrors, the driver cannot usually see you.

3) Incorrect turns near a truck. When a truck is making a right turn, you should not be to the immediate right of the truck. Your car may be crushed or forced off the road if you are. Making a left turn in front of a truck can also be dangerous if you don’t give the truck enough time to slow down and stop.

4) Driving between large trucks. Driving between large trucks is not only scary – it is dangerous. When surrounded by large trucks, the passenger car driver often cannot see enough of the road to anticipate and respond to road conditions. Being stuck between two trucks also usually means being in the trucks’ blind spots.

Of course, truck drivers also have a responsibility to keep roads safe. There are a number of driver errors that truck drivers make which contribute to trucking accidents:

Continue reading "Car Drivers and Truck Drivers Both Have a Responsibility to Keep Roads Safe" »

If you have been in a trucking accident, you need a good Florida personal injury attorney. A qualified Florida personal injury lawyer can help you negotiate with insurance providers and can help you get the full amount of support you are entitled to under the law. If you have sustained a serious brain injury, burn injury, amputation, or other loss, a good attorney can help ensure that you get the full support you need to recover fully. Even if you think you do not need an attorney, you do. Without a good attorney, you are likely to get less support than you will need.

Finding a good Florida personal injury attorney usually begins with getting some recommendations. If you do not know anyone who has worked with a personal injury attorney, you may need to speak with an attorney yourself. Most attorneys offer a free initial consultation. This is a very useful way to get to know an attorney and to get some preliminary legal advice. When speaking with an attorney during your consultation, look for the following characteristics of a good attorney:

1) Experience. A good Florida personal injury attorney is one who has experience in the type of trucking accident you have experienced. Most attorneys will be happy to tell you about relevant experience they have. Look for a professional who has succeeded in the types of cases which are similar to your accident. You can also ask for referrals to speak with previous clients of an attorney. This will help you understand how happy past clients have been with the attorney.

2) Caring. A good Florida personal injury attorney really cares about your well-being. They offer advice about your finances, medical treatments, and legal situation, as needed. They help you understand your legal rights and want to help you do the right thing.

3) Listening skills. A good Florida personal injury attorney listens to your concerns, needs, and wants and addresses them. He or she does not pressure you to take an action you don’t feel comfortable taking. A good attorney also returns your calls and makes time to address your concerns in full.

4) Good planning skills. A good Florida personal injury attorney has a specific plan or several possible plans for dealing with your situation. He or she usually has resources such as private investigators to help you understand the truck accident and to help gather evidence. He or she is ready to move quickly to secure evidence you will need in the case.

After a trucking accident, getting back behind the wheel of a vehicle can be scary. In addition to the physical personal injuries trucking accidents cause, these accidents also cause trauma. It is not unusual for victims to experience insomnia, panic attacks, and other serious emotional upheavals and stresses after a trucking accident. Getting back into a car or truck is often difficult both for truck drivers and passenger car drivers who have been in a trucking accident. Here are a few ways drivers can make the transition less stressful:

1) Don’t rush it. For the first while after a trucking accident, consider taking public transportation, taxis, or relying on carpooling. Getting back behind the wheel too soon can spark fears, panic attacks, and other stresses. Allow yourself to heal fully – both physically and emotionally – before attempting to drive again.

2) Seek medical help. Make sure that you get a full physical by a qualified doctor after your accident. Keep in mind that some injuries -- such as spinal cord injuries, whiplash, brain injuries, and even deep burn injuries – may affect your ability to drive. Discuss driving with your physician and ask when it is physically safe for you to resume driving.

3) Talk to an attorney. Speaking to a Florida personal injury attorney is often cathartic for many truck accident victims. A good personal injury attorney can help you understand what has caused an accident. This can help you feel more in control and more able to understand the accident. An attorney can also help ensure that you don’t blame yourself if an accident was not your fault.

4) Talk to a therapist or counselor. If it has been a few weeks and you still feel anxious or nervous, speak to a counselor or qualified therapist. These professionals are here to help and they can help you sort out your conflicting feelings about the accident and about driving.

5) Start slow. Avoid taking a long car trip soon after a trucking accident. Instead, start with very short drives along familiar streets and build your way up to longer drives. If you start to feel panic, pull over and wait for the feeling to pass before driving back home. Wait until you feel comfortable with short drives before attempting longer drives.

Trucking accidents often cause a great deal of suffering, personal injury, and property damage. Due to the size of most commercial trucks, a trucking accident involving such a vehicle often leads to fatalities, serious brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, permanent disability, amputation, and other serious injuries. As well, property damage is a common occurrence in trucking accidents. In many cases, when a car accident involves a truck, the passenger vehicle in the collision may be completely destroyed. A trucking accident may also cause serious damage to roads and roadside property.

Long after an accident has taken place and injuries from the accident have been treated, however, emotional trauma can continue. When we talk of trucking accidents, we often speak of the physical damage, personal injuries, and physical effects of the accident. However, the emotional scars of the accident can last as long and can be just as devastating. There are many effects of emotional trauma:

1) Difficulty driving. Survivors who have been in a trucking accident may have a hard time getting back behind the wheel. They may feel anxious or fearful of driving again, worried that they may be in another accident. Both truck drivers and passenger car drivers may experience difficulties resuming driving and may worry about their role in an accident. Some survivors even have trouble being in any moving vehicle after a truck accident, experiencing motion sickness and panic.

2) Anxiety, fear, and stress. Many people experience severe stress and fear after an accident. This may cause insomnia, difficulties in concentrating, and other related symptoms. Some survivors of a trucking accident experience panic attacks or nightmares as a result of their fears.

3) Anger. Many survivors of trucking accidents experience deep anger as a result of their accident. They may blame themselves or someone else who they think has caused the accident. They may be frustrated and angry that they have been injured or have lost a loved one in an accident. Even non-fatal trucking accidents often precipitate trauma and grief, and anger is a part of the grieving process.

4) Social problems resulting from an injury. Some survivors of trucking accidents have a hard time with their relationships after their accident. If someone has sustained a serious injury, this might be a very isolating experience, as the victim spends considerable time in the hospital away from usual activities. Many victims also experience a roller coaster ride of emotions after an accident and these emotions can put a strain on relationships.

A new ban enacted by the federal government immediately bans all bus drivers and all drivers or larger commercial trucks from text messaging while driving. The new ban aims to reduce the serious collisions, bus accidents, trucking accidents, and pedestrian accidents which have been attributed to texting while driving. Under the new ban, any bus drivers or truck drivers found texting while driving may face fees and penalties of up to $2,750.

The ban is the latest in a string of legislation and news items which has shone light on the problems associated with texting and driving. As of December, all drivers operating federal vehicles were banned from texting while driving. Ten states as well as the District of Columbia have made it illegal to text and drive. The senate is considering new laws which would force all states to ban texting while driving. States who do not comply would stand to lose federal funding under the new laws.

As the media has widely reported, the link between texting and truck and car accidents is a close one. According to a recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, texting truck drivers were 23.2 times more likely to be in a truck accident, when compared with drivers who were not distracted. The same study found that truck drivers were 5.9 times as likely to have a truck accident while talking on a cell phone and 6.7 times as likely to be in an accident while reaching for a cell phone or mobile device.

A number of influential groups and organizations have already tried to change popular notions of texting and driving. This month, The Oprah Winfrey show featured the dangers of texting and driving and pleaded with viewers to stop the practice. The AAA and other groups have also called for drivers to put down mobile devices while driving. The use of mobile devices is being referred to as “distracted driving” and it refers to any use of a mobile device while driving. There is a growing movement to make distracted driving not only illegal but socially unacceptable as well.

Many fleets and trucking companies have already banned texting or distracted driving, but the new legislation will likely make even more bus drivers and truck drivers put down their mobile devices. It is possible that drivers found in violation of the new law will face penalties from their employers as well as from the law, although trucking companies have not spoken extensively to the media about their own efforts to crack down on distracted driving.

While most people approve of the new legislation, a new study may have some people raising eyebrows. Released this week, a report by the Highway Loss Data Institute has found that texting laws and bans do not have a significant impact on crash rates. The Highway Loss Data Institute, associated with and funded by insurance companies, looked at the accident rates of insured cars in the months before and after bans of handheld devices in cars went into effect. The study found that while use of handheld devices dropped after a ban, the rate of accidents did not increase with it.

Many drivers buy light trucks for the convenience of being able to haul large items. Whether you work in an industry that requires a light truck or whether you run your own business, a light truck may seem like a good choice. Ironically, many drivers also choose to buy light trucks because they believe that these trucks are safer on the roads. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Light truck accidents cause many injuries and deaths each year. Due to the larger size and weight of a light truck (when compared with a passenger vehicle) fatalities, brain injuries, amputations, spinal cord injuries, and other harm is more of a risk with light trucks. As well, light trucks may be more prone to rollovers.

Light trucks are classified as any vehicles with a payload of less than 4000 pounds. These vehicles can include vans, pickup trucks, and SUVs (sport utility vehicles). If you own a light truck, there are many things you can do to reduce the risk of an accident:

1) Use great tires. Good quality tires are a must, because you will likely be carrying more weight on your vehicle. As well, light trucks take a longer time to stop than passenger vehicles, especially when fully loaded. Good tires will provide you with the traction you need as well as the safety you need.

2) Load carefully. Always carry rope and cords in your truck so that you can secure anything you want to carry. When you buy a light truck, you will inevitably hear from friends and family who are moving or buying larger items. Learn to load your truck safely and avoid overloading at all costs. Make two trips if you need to, but don’t carry more than the truck can hold. Avoid driving with a too-large item sticking out of the back. Even if it is well secured, it is often safer to hire a professional with a larger truck to move very large pieces.

3) Get some training. If you have always driven a passenger vehicle, consider getting some additional or refresher training in light trucks. Keep in mind that the driving experience is quite different. You will be further off the ground and will have more blind spots. Learn to drive this new type of vehicle safely.

4 Minimize blind spots. Although light trucks have fewer blind spots than commercial trucks, they have more than passenger vehicles. Blind spots can lead to pedestrian accidents and collisions. Angle your mirrors carefully and consider getting a back up auto sensor. These devices can show you exactly what is behind your truck via a small camera.

Although Florida residents are lucky enough to not have to worry about snow and ice on the roads most of the time, winter weather can still be a concern for drivers. On occasion, temperatures in Florida do drop below freezing in the winter. When this happens, many people are unprepared and this can lead to car accidents and trucking accidents. As well, many truck drivers drive outside of state lines, where they can encounter winter weather. If you drive a truck (or even a passenger vehicle) you need to consider winter driving.

If you are driving outside the state in areas where snow and ice are prevalent, keep in mind that winter means more trucks on the roads. All areas experiencing winter weather hire snow plows and salt trucks to keep roads and streets clear. As well, tow trucks are more common at this time of year as more people need help getting their cars out of ice and snow.

If you are driving outside the state, keep an eye out for snow plows, tow trucks, and trucks distributing salt. Keep in mind that some of these vehicles will move erratically and may move more slowly. Snow plows, for example, may back up or drive in odd patterns as they try to move large amounts of snow. Tow trucks may have to reverse a number of times when tugging a car out of the ice. Look for the flashing lights these trucks use and be prepared to drive slowly and stop suddenly.

Keep in mind, too, that commercial trucks are also struggling with icy and snowy conditions. Larger trucks already have a hard time stopping and slowing down due to their size and weight. It becomes even harder for trucks to drive on slippery roads. If you are driving behind a truck, give them more room than usual if you are in snowy or icy conditions.

When driving beside a truck in icy conditions, be wary of fishtailing. Fishtailing happens when the trailer of a tractor trailer drives over an icy patch, causing the cab and the trailer to go in opposite directions. When this happens, the trailer can easily enter another lane, crushing trucks and cars there. As well, fishtailing can cause rollovers.

Truck rollovers are a common cause of trucking accidents and due to the size and weight of trucks these accidents tend to cause a lot of damage and injury. Rollovers involving large trucks can cause damage, fatalities, and personal injuries. What is especially devastating about these types of accidents is that most of them can be prevented.

Most engineers and experts agree that the major problem with rollovers is that they happen very quickly – usually before a truck driver has a chance to react. Many drivers are close to the point of rollover and do not even know it. In fact, according to some safety experts, the safety margin in these situations is quite small.

The first step to preventing rollover accidents is to identify what causes them. There are two forces working on a truck: those working to keep the truck upright and those working to push the truck over (these are called lateral acceleration). When lateral acceleration gets too great, a rollover occurs. Engineers and experts measure rollover risks in terms of something called rollover threshold (RT). The RT refers to the maximum amount of lateral acceleration that can be withstood by particular vehicle before it rolls over. For a passenger car, the RT is 1.3. For a tri axle trailer and tractor that is fully loaded, the RT can be 0.28.

Many things can cause a truck to surpass its RT and rollover:

1) The center of gravity of the truck. Usually, this is affected by the loading process and the materials in a truck. A truck that is heavily loaded and has a very high center of gravity is more likely to roll over. As well, the amount of space between tires can also impact the RT of a truck – where tires are closer together, the truck is more likely to roll over.

2) Speed and turns. A truck that is speeding is far more likely to rollover, since fast speeds can affect lateral acceleration. The sharpness of turns and even the tilt of a roadway can also contribute to rollovers.

3) Trailers. Tractor trailers are more likely to be in rollover situations because there is a difference in rollover risk for the tractor and the trailer. When a driver is making a turn, he or she can usually feel the correct speed for the tractor. However, the trailer is attached to the cab or tractor and its lateral acceleration may be different. If a driver mistakenly takes a turn a little too fast and sharp, this can cause the trailer to rollover, which can in turn cause the tractor or cab to roll as well.

Obviously, awareness of RT and lateral acceleration is crucial in stopping truck accidents. Reducing speeds and taking turns gradually can help prevent many accidents. Proper driver training is also a must in helping drivers understand how to drive safely.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 5000 people die because of large truck collisions each year. These types of large truck accidents occur about half a million times each year on our roads and in addition to the lives they claim, they also cause a slew of personal injuries. Large truck accidents tend to make the news because of the amount of devastation they cause, but not all large truck accidents are the same. In fact, there are many types of large truck accidents, each causing their own problems and damage:

1) Rollovers. Trucks tend to be tall and this creates a high center of gravity. When a truck loses control, rollovers are very common. Rollovers most often occur on a turn or when a driver drives over an object. Rollovers cause fatalities and many types of injuries. A truck can fall onto a passenger vehicle and kill everyone inside. A truck driver in a rollover accident can sustain serious brain injuries and spinal cord injuries from being tossed about in the cab.

2) Brake failure. Brake failure is a common cause of truck accidents, since truck brakes require good training to use. Many things can make a truck’s brakes fail: mechanical problems, poor weather conditions, and a properly balanced and secured load. Even overheated brakes that have not had time to cool completely can fail.

3) Blind spot problems. Large trucks have large blind spots behind them and to either side of them. If another vehicle is in these spots when a truck changes lanes or turns, an accident can easily occur. These accidents also have a high risk of fatalities, simply due to the size and weight of the truck.

4) Underride Accidents. These types of accidents occur when a passenger car collides with a truck and slides underneath the truck. The truck often drags the car along before the driver can come to a complete stop. The front and top of the passenger vehicle is usually crushed in this type of accident and the front passengers in the passenger car are at high risk of brain injury, amputation injuries, and other serious injuries.

5) Wide turns. When a truck makes a turn, the driver will sometimes swing to the opposite direction first. This can cause the truck to collide with any vehicle that happens to be in the way. This vehicle may be crushed or pushed off the road. Such accidents can cause chain reactions of accidents – especially if a car is pushed by the truck into oncoming traffic – and multiple personal injuries.

6) Head-on collisions. These accidents occur when a truck strikes another oncoming vehicle. These collisions almost always result in fatalities if the other vehicle is a smaller passenger car. Often, these accidents take place when either the truck or vehicle drifts into an oncoming lane.

Fire trucks are designed to get equipment and fire fighters safely to a blaze so that fire fighters can help put out a fire and deal with other life-saving situations. Unfortunately, many experts say that fire truck accidents are on the rise, and this problem is causing many types of injuries and problems. Fire truck accidents injure passengers of other cars as well as pedestrians. They tap resources which need to be spent on emergencies. Worse, a fire truck that has been in an accident is slowed down, so that the persons waiting for a fire truck may suffer fatalities or serious burn injuries because a truck did not arrive in time. Each year, fire truck accidents also take many fire trucks off the roads, stretching resources thin and making it harder for fire fighters to respond to emergencies in a timely way.

In 2005 alone, there were 15,885 fire truck accidents taking place while fire trucks drove to and from emergencies. According to the National Fire Protection Association, this number appears to be rising. In part, experts say, the increase in truck accidents stems from the hiring of new personnel in fire fighting departments.

Drivers of fire trucks need plenty of experience and training, since fire trucks are long, heavy, and large. They are very hard to maneuver around city streets, especially city streets where parking is permitted. In many cases, as well, fire trucks need access to small areas – such as small driveways – and getting a large fire truck into such areas takes a great deal of experience and good training.

New drivers are not the only ones who get into accidents with fire trucks. Experienced drivers also have accidents. Driving a fire truck is often a high-pressure situation. Drivers are working hard to maneuver a very large truck down smaller city streets and they are rushing to get to a fire to save lives. Sometimes, accidents occur as a result of the hurry. As well, not all pedestrians and drivers yield right of way or follow safe driving procedures around fire trucks.

Some fire departments have found a solution that can help. Several fire departments around the country have purchased a driving simulator, which consists of a real fire truck cab with three large screens positioned around it. Drivers can train in the simulator, which can be programmed to mimic rush hour, poor weather conditions, and other bad conditions for drivers. The simulator is not inexpensive – service contracts can cost $23,000 annually – but experts say the devices could help prevent pedestrian accidents, fire truck accidents, and serious injuries. The New York City fire department claims that its fire truck accidents decreased by 12% after using the simulator.

Fire trucks are intended to get to the scene of a fire quickly so that emergency crews can save lives and stop fires. However, fire trucks also pose a risk of traffic accidents. Fire trucks are designed to speed to the site of a fire and these vehicles can legally run red lights in order to offer life-saving services. However, many things can go wrong when a fire truck is racing to the scene of an emergency:

1) Other cars and pedestrians may not follow safety rules regarding fire trucks. Both pedestrians and cars are supposed to yield right of way to fire engines who have lights and sirens on. Cars should pull over to the side of the road to allow fire trucks and other emergency vehicles through. Pedestrians should steer clear of these trucks and allow trucks through at all times. Unfortunately, many people simply do not follow these rules. Some drivers actually race after fire trucks, hoping to run a red light, too. When pedestrians and drivers do not yield right of way, auto accidents, fire truck accidents, and pedestrian accidents can be the inevitable result.

2) Truck driver training may be inadequate. Fire truck drivers need extra training to deal with the excessive speeds required to get to an emergency and the special equipment inside a fire truck. Drivers without adequate experience and training are more likely to cause an accident.

3) Truck size may be a factor. Fire trucks are large, long, and loaded with life-saving equipment. Many fire trucks are 8 feet wide and 31 feet long, weighing 20 tons with all equipment on board. This can make them more challenging to drive. In areas where narrow streets are a problem, navigating a fire truck can be very difficult unless a driver is very experienced and well-trained.

4) Some drivers park illegally. When drivers of passenger vehicles park in illegal spots or too close to fire lanes, fire trucks in a rush may experience fender benders or may brush or collide with these vehicles. Many fire truck accidents are minor fender-bender type collisions with parked cars. In cities with narrow streets, especially, correct parking is essential.

Unfortunately, fire truck accidents have far-reaching consequences. Fire trucks that have been in an accident may be out of service, reducing the number of life-saving vehicles available on the road in an emergency. A small number of people sustain injuries due to fire truck accidents each year, although fatalities are rare.

A new group called FocusDriven has been started by Elissa Schee. Schee’s daughter was killed in 2008, when a semi tractor trailer crashed into the school bus carrying the child. Police investigators found that driver distraction caused by cell phone use as well as hours of service problems caused the trucking accident. In response, Schee decided to start FocusDriven to change laws and to reduce the problem of distracted drivers.

Schee and other members of FocusDriven recently met with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to discuss possible bans on cell phone use while driving. All the members of FocusDriven had lost loved ones in trucking accidents, bus accidents, car accidents, and other vehicle accidents caused by a distracted driver who was using a cell phone at the time of the collision. All the members believe their loved ones would still be alive today if legislation was tougher on cell phone use among drivers.

Statistics and research seem to support their theories. Numerous studies have shown that texting or talking on a cell phone can be as deadly as drunk driving. In fact, both drunk drivers and drivers texting while driving have a four times greater chance of being in a collision than non-distracted drivers. Truck drivers and bus drivers are an especial danger when texting or talking on cell phones, since their vehicles are far more likely to kill or cause serious personal injuries in an accident.

Some states – including Florida – have considered legislation which would ban cell phone use among drivers. However, while such legislation has plenty of popular support some experts note that enforcing the legislation would be a considerable challenge. Some experts also suggest that public attitudes about texting and driving are not as fixed as attitudes about drunk driving, for example. Cell phone use while driving does not have the same social stigma, which may be one reason why driver distraction is so prevalent. These are just the sorts of attitudes that groups such as FocusDriven hope to change.

FocusDriven hopes to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and hopes to raise money for group activities. A FocusDriven will be located in Florida and the group hopes to open chapters in states across the country in upcoming months. The group is already being compared to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, a group which was also initiated by a grieving parent and went on to change legislation as well as attitudes surrounding drunk driving accidents.

Large commercial trucks, SUVs and some buses all have a higher risk of rollovers, due to their low center of gravity and their distribution of weight. With large commercial trucks, especially, rollover accidents are a concern because these very large trucks can cause a lot of damage when they rollover on highways. An out of control truck can cause collisions, car accidents, and property damage as well as fatalities. Many commercial trucks are used to transport flammable or dangerous materials. In the event of an accident or rollover, these materials can fuel out of control fires.

Increasing awareness about truck rollovers has placed additional pressure on manufacturers of trucks as well as trucking companies to prevent these sorts of accidents. Manufacturers have been developing rollover warning and control systems in order to help prevent some of these types of accidents. These devices might prove very popular, especially since they may be modified to fit vans and SUVs to help prevent SUV and van rollovers as well.

Research studies have suggested that commercial truck design can also play a large role in preventing rollover accidents. Currently, high cg heights and large dimensions as well as heavy loads on these trucks contribute to rollover accidents, especially with higher speeds. Incorrect distribution and securing of loads has also proven to cause accidents.

In fact, rollovers are a leading cause of accidents involving articulated vehicles. These types of accidents cause millions of dollars of property damage as well as significant loss of life each year. In some cases, driver error or incorrect training have been found to lead to rollover accidents. Studies have shown that the speed drivers consider safe for a turn are very close to rollover threshold limits of large commercial trucks.

Statistics have shown that 13% of all fatal crashes involving heavy vehicles are caused by rollovers. About 3% of all collisions on US highways are due to rollovers. Each year, NHSTA reports that 43 200 fatalities occur on American highways. About one third of those deaths are due to trucking accidents. Many more people escape with their lives but suffer for months or years with serious personal injuries, such as burn injuries, brain injuries, broken bones, amputations, or spinal cord injuries.

Experts have found many methods of preventing truck rollover accidents. Some experts recommend hydraulic actuators or active braking. Alarm and warning systems which warn drivers of possible rollovers are also endorsed by some experts. Although many experts hope for a good rollover warning or prevention system, manufacturers of such systems are hampered by the fact that any such device would have to identify and respond to a wide variety of factors that can contribute to rollovers without too many false warnings.

In Australia, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union has initiated a campaign that may see fewer large trucks on the road. The campaign aims to ban road transport of hazardous materials over long distances. The campaign will see dangerous materials – including gasoline and fuels – transported by rail instead of truck. Many experts note that this campaign was launched after the holiday season of 2009, when eight people were killed in trucking accidents in a ten day period.

Experts in the US have suggested that certain goods are better transported by rail rather than by truck, as well. A study of heavy trucks in Maine, for example, found that car accidents and traffic accidents involving large trucks were growing and that these accidents had high rates of personal injury as well as fatalities.

The Maine Study, published by The Truck Safety Coalition, found that Maine permitted large trucks of 100,000 pounds – including trucks carrying hazardous goods – to transport items on residential and lower-class local streets. This was done despite research which showed that larger trucks had higher accident risks due to rollover hazards and braking issues.

The study found that rail transport was a much safer way to transport hazardous materials and extra-heavy loads, when compared to trucking transportation options. According to researchers, transporting items by rail, there was only one-seventh the fatality rate per one trillion ton-miles of transport, when compared to trucking transport. As well, train accidents are decreasing even as the number of trucking accidents, according to many studies, is on the rise.

Further, the study found that trucking and trucking accidents are harming bridges and roads, not allowing roadwork to keep up with demand for repairs. Many experts believe that transporting more items by rail instead of by truck can help reduce this problem. Heavy trucks are linked to road damage, and federal studies have suggested that virtually all road pavement damage can be attributed to heavy trucks. Transporting more items by rail may save on road repair and may decrease the number of car accidents and truck accidents due to road conditions.

According to The Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), truck drivers spend, on average, 44 hours in their cabs when their trucks are not moving. Drivers remain with their trucks while the trucks are loaded, unloaded, transported by ferry, serviced, and so forth. However, many companies only pay their drivers by miles driven. This means that drivers who are paid in this way spend an average of 44 hours per week not being paid.

According to trucking industry experts, this method of paying drivers sets a dangerous precedent. Drivers need to drive in order to make deadlines and in order to get paid. If drivers are not paid for 44 hours on the job (or the equivalent of more than a full workweek), they must work extra hard in order to earn a living wage. According to experts, this way of paying drivers encourages them to speed, as drivers strive to make up their unpaid hours with some paid hours.

Most drivers earn $38,000 - $50,000 per year and must spend considerable time in a truck, away from their families. A pay structure based on hours driven depletes the quality of life for drivers – who must spend hours more on the road to make their wages – and encourages drivers to speed in order to make more money.

Advocacy groups such as Road Safe America as well as other organizations believe that drivers should be paid for all driving-related work, not just for hours driven. Experts claim that this will discourage drivers from speeding. In addition, it may discourage drivers from driving while exhausted. This, in turn, can help prevent the fatalities and serious personal injuries caused by trucking accidents.

Under current pay-only-for-distance-driven schemes, drivers who fall behind due to truck maintenance or delays in unloading or loading may be tempted to drive longer distances in order to get paid. After all, if they do not, they will not make up the money lost idling. Under a fairer wage system, which would see drivers paid by the hour for all driving-related work, drivers would not feel the same pressure to “make up” time and wages by speeding or by driving when tired, experts assert.

Some trucking companies already do this, and pay drivers a fair hourly wage. These companies do not evaluate driver efficiency just by distance traveled. This sort of system tends to mean more satisfied drivers and safer roads, advocates claim.

Trucks from the US cause thousands of deaths and serious personal injuries in trucking accidents each year. However, not all trucks on US roads are from the US. Trucks from foreign countries are also allowed on US roads as they deliver products from other countries into the US. This has caused some controversy and has raised a number of questions about safety.

A program under the Bush administration in 2008 permitted 100 Mexican trucking companies to operate their semi trucks on US roads. Some experts in the trucking industry claimed that this move may possibly risk the rate of truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, and car accidents involving trucks on US roads. Although the Bush administration eventually stopped the program, the Obama administration spoke of reviving the program.

Currently, all US trucking companies must meet very strict safety regulations. These companies must also keep strict records so that in the event that an accident does occur, investigators have access to all the information they need. However, Mexico has different regulations. In fact, trucking experts note that in that country there is no record-keeping system to keep track of trucks, drivers, and accidents. Regulations are also more relaxed than in the US, some trucking industry experts claim.

This has many people worried that allowing foreign trucking companies to operate on US roads will lead to increased numbers of trucking accidents. It is also unclear how programs such as these will involve legal jurisdiction in the event of an accident. If a foreign-owned trucking company causes a trucking accident on US roads, will victims suffering from brain injuries and other serious injuries have recourse to the justice system to collect legal help to help them heal from their injuries? If other countries have different safety standards, can truckers from other countries be held liable for not following US safety standards? If no records are kept by some foreign companies, will this hamper investigators in determining the causes of accidents?

Many trucking experts also note that regulating and testing trucks from non-US trucking companies will be difficult. Currently, despite strict federal rules, there are still unfortunately many unsafe US trucks on the roads. Regulators have a hard time keeping up with domestic trucking companies who bend the rules. Experts warn that there might not be enough resources – and not enough legal power – to test and investigate non-US trucking companies as well.

However, currently most trucking accidents caused on US roads involve US truck companies and truck drivers. The debate as to this will change with the introduction of non-US trucking companies continues.

You probably pass them on the streets every day – dangerous trucks that could cause an accident that leads to fatalities or permanent serious injuries. Do you know how to spot a dangerous truck? Being able to locate and stay away from dangerous trucks can help prevent a truck-car accident. Being able to identify and report unsafe drivers could prevent an accident as well. Here’s what to look for.

1) A trailer that is weaving dangerously from side to side. A truck that is overloaded past its capacity may suffer from tire blowouts, tire defects or other serious mechanical failures. If a trailer is not correctly attached or a load is not correctly secured, a truck could cause a serious accident. A trailer that moves excessively from side to side can enter other lanes of traffic as well.

2) Leaks or objects falling from the trailer. Any leaks from a truck could indicate that the truck is not property maintained. Leaks of cargo may suggest that the cargo is not correctly stored. If the leaks are of flammable materials, the truck could cause a serious fire and burn injuries. Any objects that fall from the trailer can obstruct traffic and crash into oncoming cars, causing car accidents. Always report such incidents.

3) Aggressive driving. A driver that changes lanes abruptly or cuts other vehicles off may be too inexperienced to drive a truck or may be suffering from road rage. Aggressive driving is extremely dangerous, especially when a truck is involved. The sheer size of a commercial truck can crash or completely destroy smaller passenger vehicles. Aggressive driving may also be a sign of a driver under the influence. Report such actions immediately – this is an emergency.

4) Weaving between lanes or straddling lanes or markers. Trucks need to remain correctly in lanes, especially since they have sp many blind spots and may crash into smaller vehicles in other lanes. A truck that is straddling markers or is weaving excessively may be driven by a drunk or fatigued driver. This is an emergency – contact authorities at once to report the truck.

5) Obvious driver errors. If a truck driver is driving very slowly, is driving on the wrong side of the road, is entering the shoulder, is following other cars too closely, or is making other obvious errors (such as incorrect signaling or nearly hitting objects), he or she may be fatigued or may be driving under the influence. Call authorities at once, before an accident takes place. By reporting the truck, you could prevent a drunk driving accident.

Most passenger vehicle drivers pass dozens of trucks each day on highways and roads. While most of these trucks are safe and are driven by responsible drivers, not all are. Some trucks are obviously a danger on the roads, and you may have driven right past these trucks on the road. You may have seen signs of danger – a speeding truck, a truck weaving on the road or taking reckless risks. Do you know what to do if you see an unsafe truck? Doing the right thing can help prevent a trucking accident and may save a life. Here’s what to do:

1) Take steps to keep yourself and your passengers safe. Your first priority should be to avoid a trucking accident. Give yourself extra room and expect the unexpected. Make sure that you and your passengers are all wearing seat belts. Be prepared to drive defensively.

2) Take down truck details. If you are driving with a passenger, ask the passenger to note the license plate number of the truck, as well as the company name and number on both the cab and the trailer, if possible. Keep in mind that the trailer and cab might be from different companies. If you are driving alone, pull over to jot down the information or call it in to a cell phone.

3) Gather evidence if you can. If you are driving with a passenger, consider using a cell phone or digital camera to take pictures of the truck. Do not get closer to the truck in order to do so, however. Maintain your distance. Have your passenger note the date, time, road area, and any other significant details.

4) Contact authorities. If you suspect a truck driver is under the influence, you can prevent a drunk driving accident by contacting the authorities at once. Pull over and call 911 to report the driver and the truck. If you notice a truck making a few dangerous mistakes and don’t feel that there is imminent danger, use the contact information on the truck to contact the trucking company. Follow up to ensure that some action has been taken following your report.

5) Avoid the driver. Do not confront the driver, beep, or wave at him. If the driver is under the influence or is aggressive, this could provoke more aggressive driving – possibly targeted at your smaller vehicle. Maintain a safe distance. If a truck is following you and acting aggressively, drive down different streets until you find a bridge, covered parking lot or other more secure area where the truck cannot follow you. Then, contact authorities.

Congress as well as state governments have spend considerable amounts of time over the past few years discussing hours-of-service regulations for the trucking industry. This issue is so important because driver fatigue has been linked to many serious trucking accidents. Having federal and state governments set guidelines for hours-of-service is important, as it ensures that drivers get adequate rest when driving.

However, hours-of-service debates always spark controversy. Deciding the exact optimal number of hours per driver is difficult. As well, trucking companies want drivers to be able to drive for longer periods of time in order to ensure profitability. Drivers, too, often want to be able to drive for longer periods of time to ensure a good wage. As well, reducing hours-of-service to the bare minimum may also have some adverse effects, some experts warn, as it ensures that drivers must remain on the road longer to complete one delivery, and this extended period on the road can mean increased driver fatigue as well. Plus, very low hours-of-service may contribute to longer delays of delivery as well as increased costs for customers.

Hours-of-service rules limit how many hours and how long drivers can drive. The regulations also require drivers to maintain driver logs to ensure that all drivers comply with hours-of-service rules. The aim of hours-of-service is to ensure that drivers get adequate rest and are not pressured to drive too long before resting. The idea to is reduce trucking accidents and the personal injuries they cause by limiting one of the key reasons for driver fatigue: long hours behind the wheel. Since the hours-of-service rules apply to all drivers and trucking companies, trucking companies do not have to worry about losing a competitive edge by allowing drivers more time to rest.

Hours-of-service rules include not just driving time but all on-duty time. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a truck driver is subject to hours-of-service rules and is considered to be on-duty when on duty at any terminal, plant or facility belonging to a truck shipper or carrier. A driver is also on duty and subject to hours-of-service rules when driving, when inspecting a truck, when fuelling and washing a truck, when spending time in the cab (not including the sleeper berth), when caring for a broken-down truck, when taking care of truck-related paper work, when loading and when unloading. A driver is also subject to hours-of-service regulations when supervising or attending a truck, when providing samples for drug/alcohol testing, when driving a company car, and when receiving or offering training. Further, a truck driver is limited by hours-of-service rules when working for any motor carrier – even if that work does not include driving a truck – and when doing paid work for anyone else. These rules ensure that drivers are not exhausted from doing additional work or from doing trucking-related work.

Hours-of-service regulations affect anyone. These rules affect how quickly products get to you when you order them and affect how much you pay for various products. More importantly, hours-of-service regulations ensure that the truck driver next to you on the road has had adequate rest and is less likely to cause an accident that threatens your life. All of us need to keep informed about hours-of-service rules and work to ensure that all truck companies adhere to these regulations.

If you have been injured in a trucking accident and suspect that negligence may have played a role, contact a qualified Florida personal injury attorney immediately. Even if you are not sure what has caused an accident, a Florida attorney can hire investigators to get the answers you need. A good Florida personal injury lawyer can advise you about your rights and can ensure that you get the full protection and assistance you are entitled to under the law.

Trucking accidents are often on the news. For many of us, trucking accidents are no more than an annoyance that makes rush-hour traffic even slower. However, for those who are unfortunate enough to be in a trucking accident, the effects of these accidents can be devastating. Trucking accidents often cause:

1) Wrongful death. Unfortunately, due to the sheer size and force of trucks, fatalities are a common result of trucking accidents. If someone’s negligence causes a trucking accident and you lose a loved one, you may have a wrongful death claim. You generally may have a wrongful death claim if you were directly related to the loved one and that person affected your current or future financial well-being. For example, if you have lost a spouse in a trucking accident, you may have a claim because you have lost half your household income.

2) Burn injuries. If a truck is carrying a flammable cargo, this cargo can spill or leak during an accident, causing a fire. If the cargo is not correctly secured, such a fire can quickly rage out of control, causing fatalities as well as serious burn injuries.

3) Head injuries and spinal cord injuries. The impact of a truck hitting a vehicle can toss passengers about with great force, causing head injuries and spinal cord as passengers ricochet off surfaces inside the vehicle. Air bags and seatbelts can help reduce such injuries, but even with these safety devices, brain injuries and spinal cord injuries are quite common in trucking accidents.

4) Cosmetic injuries. Burn injuries and cuts incurred during accidents can cause long-term scarring and injuries to the face, which can make victims feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. If a passenger is thrown from a vehicle, they may sustain serious cosmetic injuries as their face comes into contact with broken glass or with a pavement. Even passengers strapped inside a car may have debris fly at them, causing cosmetic injuries which require expensive surgery to repair.

5) Broken bones. The impact of a car-truck collision is often enough to break bones for passengers inside the car. Depending on the bones broken, these fractures can cause permanent injury or can take months or heal.

Continue reading "The Horrifying Effects of Truck Accidents" »

After a trucking accident causes personal injuries or fatalities, legal cases usually arise from the mess as people start to accuse each other – and various companies – of causing the accident. In most cases, several factors contribute to a trucking accident. These may include weather conditions, driver error, tire defects, mechanical defects and other issues. Understanding how trucking accidents can occur can help us all stay safer on the roads.

Many trucking accidents are caused by driver error. There are many things that truck drivers can do to make trucks dangerous on the roads. Some drivers simply have too little experience or training to drive safely, while some truck drivers exceed the speed limit. Some drivers drive under the influence or drive when tired, increasing the risk of a serious accident. Drivers are also responsible for inspecting the truck before a trip and ensuring that a truck is correctly loaded. Failure to do these things can result in an accident.

Truck drivers are not the only drivers on the road responsible for preventing trucking accidents. In many cases, drivers of passenger vehicles drive recklessly or make driver mistakes that lead to a trucking accidents. Many drivers drive in the blind spots of trucks, where truck drivers cannot see them. Other drivers cut lanes in front of larger trucks or follow too closely behind a truck. Since trucks have many blind spots and cannot stop as quickly as smaller vehicles, these errors can result in serious accidents and personal injuries. Like truck drivers, drivers of passenger cars sometimes get distracted, drive under the influence, speed, drive while tired or drive recklessly, increasing the odds of car accidents and truck accidents.

In addition to driver errors, weather conditions and road conditions can lead to accidents, as can mechanical failure, machine failure, heavy cargo, and incorrectly loaded cargo. Trucks with defects are more likely to be in an accident. Incorrectly loaded hazardous cargo can spill or ignite, causing an inferno as well as serious damage. Trucks that are incorrectly maintained may develop mechanical problems or mechanical failures that lead to accidents.

Whatever set of factors causes a trucking accident, the results tend to be severe. Truck accidents claim millions of lives. Quite simply, trucks, when fully loaded, can weigh dozens of tons, and yet these large vehicles share the road with much smaller passenger cars. When a truck-car collision occurs, the passengers of the passenger vehicle are in serious danger. If fatalities do not occur, serious injuries to the spinal cord, head, limbs, and face are quite common. If a truck is carrying a hazardous of flammable cargo, a collision can cause a fire that results in severe burn injuries and death.

In addition to the obvious physical injuries, truck accidents also cause a number of other problems for injury victims. Some victims lose significant amounts of personal property in a truck accident – cars in such accidents are often seriously damaged and need extensive repairs or need to be replaced entirely. Victims may also lose all personal effects in a vehicle. The trauma and psychological effects of a trucking accident may last many months or years and may necessitate therapy or time off from work. It is important to note that insurance providers often underestimate the costs of such additional effects, which is why injury victims should at least consult with a qualified Florida personal injury attorney before agreeing to any insurance provider’s offer.

Of all trucking accidents caused by mechanical failures, the most common accidents leading to these collisions are tire defects and brake failure. According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), 29.4% of all accidents involving large trucks occurred as a result of brake-related problems. A sizeable number of accidents were cased by tire defects or tire-related issues.

Brake failure leading to a serious trucking accident may be caused by a number of factors. The driver may be liable if he or she does not apply or use the brakes correctly. The company loading the truck may be responsible if the truck was loaded incorrectly, causing undue stress on the tires. The owner-operator of the truck may be liable for the accident if the brakes were not correctly maintained. The brake manufacturer may be responsible if there was a defect in the design or assembly of the truck’s brake system. Unfortunately, after an accident, all parties involved tend to blame each other. A brake manufacturer may suggest that a truck company did not perform adequate maintenance, while the trucking company might blame an aggressive driver, who in turn might blame the company loading the truck. It often takes an astute Florida personal injury attorney to investigate all possible causes of an accident.

There are strict regulations handed down from the government to the trucking industry. These standards demand that all trucks have brakes which adhere to established automatic brake adjustment system requirements. Under federal guidelines, truck brakes must allow for a certain braking force (which is established differently for trucks of different weight. Under federal rules, all trucks must also have a braking system which allows them to stop from 20 miles per hour to full stop at a specific rate (the rate is determined by truck size). If a truck does not meet these guidelines, the company owning the truck, the brake manufacturer and the driver may be held liable for any damages occurring from a collision.

In addition to brakes, tires are also a major cause of trucking accidents. Tire blowouts leave long strips of tires on the road and these accidents can be fatal, as tire blowouts can cause tire debris to fly at other vehicles on the road. Tire defects and blowouts can also cause truck drivers to lose control of their vehicles, veering their trucks into other cars on the road.

Defective tires and incorrect tire maintenance are the most common causes of tire-related truck accidents. Defective tires are usually the result of a design flaw by the manufacturer or are the result of a manufacturing process flaw. Many tires are recalled due to defects and after a recall truck companies must ensure that defective and recalled tires are no longer used on their trucks. Trucking companies must also maintain their tires correctly. For example, tires must meet minimum tread depth guidelines established by the Department of Transportation. Tires must also have similar wear and must be paired correctly according to size. The same axle must have the same radial or bias tires. When tires get worn, they must be replaced.

Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring that correct tire maintenance is seen to, but drivers may also be held liable in an accident if they noticed tire problems or other mechanical problems and failed to report these issues. Drivers are expected to perform pre-trip inspections of the truck and tires. If a driver fails to do this and an accident occurs, the driver may be held partly liable.

Everyone hopes that they never need this advice. Being in a truck accident almost ensures serious injury or fatalities. The size of these trucks ensures that any serious collision results in serious damage. As well, many trucking accidents take place on highways, where speed may also be a factor and may exacerbate the damages. If you are in a trucking accident, here is what you need to do:

1) Secure the safety scene. If you are in a trucking accident, your first priority is to get as many people to safety as you can and to protect others on the road from danger. Call 911 if anyone has been injured or if any damage has occurred and divert traffic from the scene. If there is a danger of fire, move everyone as far away from the truck as possible, and refuse to allow traffic to pass. This can help prevent further injuries, including serious burn injuries.

2) Get medical attention. Anyone who has sustained even slight injuries should receive medical help immediately. Keep in mind that seemingly small head injuries and other seemingly innocuous injuries may turn out to be more serious than initially thought. Getting medical help also helps you secure evidence if you have been injured. Get the contact information for any medical personnel who arrive on the scene to assist you. If you are admitted to a hospital, get the contact information of the attending physician as well as a copy of your medical records.

3) Gather evidence. In many cases, trucking accidents eventually lead to legal action. All result in some form of insurance claim. Therefore, you should take down as much information as you can about the accident and everyone involved. Take pictures of the accident scene, get the contact information for the driver, trucking company, and the company name on both the tractor and trailer. Also, get contact information for any possible witnesses.

4) Keep track of evidence. If you are injured, start a journal to keep track of medical expenses and associated expenses (make sure to keep all receipts as well). In your journal, also note your injuries and how they affect your daily life. Take photos of your injuries over time as well. All this information can be used for your attorneys.

5) Contact a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. If a trucking accident has resulted in a fatality, police will usually have investigators gather evidence. If you have sustained an injury or have lost someone, it is important to contact a good attorney as soon as you can. As you recover or grieve, your attorney can work to investigate the accident and can safeguard your rights as well. Never sign anything after an accident unless you have spoken to an attorney first.

18-wheeler trucks are huge commercial vehicles that can cause many serious personal injuries and a great deal of damage in trucking accidents. The sheer size and force of these trucks makes them a danger in accidents. According to statistics, 5,000 fatalities and 115,000 personal injuries are caused by truck accidents involving 18-wheelers each year. These trucks weigh up to 70 tons when fully loaded, so when a collision occurs between such a vehicle and a passenger vehicle, fatalities and serious injuries are almost always the result.

Claims and legal issues surrounding 18-wheeler trucks can also be quite complicated. For this reason, it is often a good idea to get legal advice from a Florida attorney soon after any accident involving an 18-wheeler truck. There are many reasons why accidents involving 18-wheeler trucks present special challenges:

1) These trucks are often owned by out-of-state companies. This can complicate legal issues and can make it harder to establish jurisdiction in some cases, especially as rules vary from state to state.

2) Important evidence may disappear after an accident. 18-wheeler trucks cause serious damage after an accident. For example, such trucks can cause serious fires. In addition to posing a risk of burn injuries, such fires can damage important evidence important to a case. It is important to contact an attorney immediately. A good Florida attorney can hire private investigators who can uncover and preserve important evidence.

3) Accidents involving 18-wheeler trucks tend to result in serious and long term injuries. In addition to fatalities, such accidents frequently result in chronic pain, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and other serious injuries. Determining the final, life-long costs of such injuries can be difficult and insurance companies often underestimate the total costs required to treat and manage such conditions. A good Florida attorney is needed to safeguard your rights and to ensure that you have the financial resources to correctly cope with any long-term injury.

4) Several insurance sources might be available. Accidents involving 18-wheeler trucks may involve complex liability claims. Such accidents may be caused by a driver, a company, and a truck manufacturer. An injury victim may qualify for help from several insurance providers, but a good attorney must first identify and then contact these insurance carriers.

For all these reasons, it is a good idea to contact a good Florida personal injury attorney soon after any accident involving an 18-wheeler truck or any other vehicle. Attorneys can safeguard your rights and can help ensure that you have the resources to recover as fully as possible from your injuries.

Truck accidents are caused by many factors, and while drivers of passenger vehicles are not always to blame for truck accidents and resulting personal injury, trucks sharing the roads with much smaller vehicles does pose some unique challenges. If you drive a passenger vehicle, you can do your part to prevent truck accidents by:

1) Driving behind or in front of a truck. Lingering next to a truck is a bad idea, since this is where trucks have many blind spots. If you can, pass a truck or drive well behind a truck. Keep in mind that trucks have large blind spots behind their trailers as well, so give yourself extra room. Maintain at least a four second distance, and more than that in bad weather or poor visibility.

2) Slowing down when a truck passes you. When a larger vehicle passes you, dirt and water from the truck’s tires can spray up at you. If the truck is traveling quickly and you have a low-slung car, especially, much of your windshield could be covered in dirt. Obviously, this problem is worse in bad weather when mud and rain create more muck for the truck to churn up. If a truck is passing you, slow down slightly and be prepared to use your windshield wipers in case you are momentarily blinded.

3) Using extra caution when a truck pulling a trailer passes you. The trailer could swing into your lane in certain conditions. If possible, give the truck some extra room by squeezing over. Or, drop back a little to give the truck some extra room and to give yourself maneuvering space should you need it.

4) Avoiding sandwiches. No, not the snacks. If you are traveling between two trucks, keep in mind that one of the trucks might not see you and if this truck starts to pull into your lane you could be crushed. Be aware of trucks around you and avoid getting caught between two large vehicles.

5) Giving trucks extra room on hills. If you are behind a larger truck on a hill, keep in mind that the truck may move slightly backwards before moving forward. Keep this in mind if you are on a hill behind a truck and need to stop. Give yourself lots of room.

Loading docks are a workplace filled with people and trucks. Occasionally, a bad truck accident takes place on the loading dock. In almost all cases, these accidents are completely preventable if employees do the following:

1) Drivers should avoid walking in front of lift trucks. Although it seems obvious, truck drivers are sometimes so used to lift trucks that they do not use due caution around them. Drivers should always be careful when entering or exiting their truck cab.

2) Drivers should check for lift trucks before pulling away. Once again, this seems obvious, but familiarity breeds a casual attitude that can lead to truck accidents and pedestrian accidents. Drivers should walk around their vehicle to make sure the lift truck is not still in the trailer. Once in the cab, drivers should carefully check blind spots before pulling away.

3) All workers on loading docks should watch for trailer movement. Many injuries are caused by trailers moving when someone climbs into them. All employees at loading docks should make sure that ramps, levelers, and dockboards are secure and that the trailer is braked and choked.

4) Loading docks should keep pedestrians away. Loading docks would see fewer personal injuries and pedestrian accidents if lift truck traffic and pedestrian traffic were separated by pedestrian walkways that are protected by rails. Employees of loading docks should be taught to never walk under a lift or load. Signs indicating this advice should be well posted.

5) Loading docks should keep speed limits low. Higher speeds on ramps, dockplates and bridge plates can cause accidents when these items are loosened by acceleration. Slow speeds ensure that accidents are less likely. In addition to traveling slowly, truck drivers and lift operators should have someone spot them in areas where visibility is poor due to obstructions.

6) Loading docks should offer well-lit work areas. Good lighting ensures that lift operators, employees of the loading docks, and lift truck operators can see each other. Good lighting also ensures that any problem areas or weaknesses in dockplates, bridge plates and ramps can be seen and fixed promptly.

Highways are where many drivers share the road quite frequently with trucks. Unfortunately, the sheer mass of a truck combined with the speed of highway travel can make any truck/car accident devastating to the passengers of a passenger car. These passengers are almost certain to sustain serious personal injury. Luckily, there are many things drivers can do to prevent trucking accidents:

1) Stay out of truck blind spots. The blind spots on a tractor trailer can be large. Any time you cannot see the driver’s face in his mirror, you are likely in the truck’s blind spot. Lingering there can be fatal. Avoid driving alongside a truck. Pass rapidly or drop back. Since trucks are long, it can take some time to pass them. Keep this in mind if you are attempting to pass a truck. The blind spot on a truck’s left side is much smaller, so where possible pass on the left.

2) Slow down if a tractor trailer is too close behind you. Many drivers are tempted to speed up if a truck is tailgating them but this can be the wrong thing to do. By law, a tractor trailer should leave 400 feet between your vehicles, but if a truck follows too close, what you most need is extra room. By slowing down, you increase the space between you and the vehicle in front of you. If a car stops suddenly in front of you due to a tire defect, rollover, or other problem, you have room to maneuver out of the truck’s way. If you don’t leave yourself room, there is no where to go and the truck will roll right into you if you have to stop suddenly.

3) Drive well back of tractor trailers. You should be able to see the side view mirrors of the truck in front of you. Keep in mind that there is a good blind spot behind trucks, so giving yourself extra room ensures the driver can see you.

4) Report bad driving. If you see a truck following too closely, speeding, or driving poorly, write down the registration and license plate numbers of the truck. Write a letter to the company who owns the truck and follow up. If a truck driver is being very aggressive or reckless – weaving or entering oncoming lanes, contact local authorities.

5) Be vigilant on entrance ramps. If you are just entering a roadway, check for trucks. Trucks take some time to slow down, so make sure you have plenty of space to zip out in front of a truck or wait until it passes before entering the roadway.

Hyster Company has researched pedestrian accidents involving lift trucks and has found that these accidents are very frequent (even though they are quite avoidable). The researchers also found that such accidents have a high rate of serious personal injury and fatalities. According to the Hyster study, there are many ways to significantly reduce lift truck pedestrian accidents:

1) Maintain lift truck visibility. Signs indicating that construction is in progress can help pedestrians see and avoid lift trucks. In addition to signs, however, reflectors on the trucks can increase visibility in the dark and in bad weather. Audible warning devices are also useful in showing pedestrians that a lift truck is nearby.

2) Train pedestrians. Pedestrians do have a responsibility to avoid these trucking accidents. In some cases, pedestrians ignore or miss warning signs and walk into construction areas or the path of lift trucks. Even employees of a construction site will sometimes not use due diligence in avoiding lift trucks.

3) Train lift truck operators to look in the direction of travel. When a lift truck is backing up, the operator should turn around and watch to see where he or she is going. When moving forward, the operator’s eyes should be forward at all times. Seeing the space immediately where the truck is moving allows the operator to see and respond to any obstacles. The Hyster study found that the same number of accidents occurred when operators were moving forward as reversing, so obviously operators need to be careful both when driving forward and back.

4) Minimize distraction. The more confusion is present in a construction or work area, the more likely lift truck accidents are. To minimize such accidents, it is a good idea to minimize distractions at the workplace, so that the lift trucks are visible and the audible signals can be heard. A good workplace layout can also be useful, especially if separate areas are maintained for vehicles and pedestrians.

5) Enforce good operating rules for lift trucks. Companies and managers can help prevent lift truck accidents by implementing good rules for operators. For example, if operators are required to sound the horn when changing directions or approaching an intersection or pedestrian area, this can help prevent accidents. Careful enforcement of such rules can help keep everyone safe.

Today light trucks such as pickup trucks are so popular among customers that many people do not even consider whether they should in fact drive a truck. Trucks are not the ideal vehicle for everyone. You might not want to drive a truck if:

1) You do not check blind spots carefully. Trucks – even smaller trucks – have more blind spots than passenger vehicles and you need to be willing to check these carefully. You need to be scanning these areas all the time to prevent car accidents and pedestrian accidents. Since mirrors alone are often not enough, you will need to actually turn your head to look. If you are uncomfortable with blind spots or not careful about checking them, a truck is probably not for you.

2) You drive when tried or under the influence. Even smaller trucks can cause serious personal injury and harm – more so than smaller passenger vehicles, in some cases. If you drive under the influence or when fatigued, stay off the roads.

3) You have trouble parking small cars. Trucks are trickier to park due to more blind spots and a larger mass of vehicle. Many parking spots also tend to fit smaller cars more comfortably and of course not all drivers are courteous enough to leave others plenty of parking room. If you struggle with parking, master this skill before getting in a truck.

4) You feel nervous driving a truck. If you are anxious at the thought of a larger vehicle, wait until you get more comfortable before driving a truck. If you are too timid or too worried, you could cause an accident.

5) You do not need a truck. If you do not need a truck for day-to-day activities, you are better off driving a car. Cars have less risk of rollovers and are often easier to drive. If you don’t need a truck, you will also save on gas and generate less pollution by staying with a smaller vehicle.

6) You have certain mobility issues. Trucks can require you to climb up into a cab, which can be tricky if your mobility is hampered. It is possible to alter a truck in order to make it accessible, but keep in mind that this adds to your ownership costs.

Although the truck accidents that make the evening news are often crashes involving tractor trailers and larger 18-wheeler trucks, pickup trucks and other smaller trucks are very popular and can cause serious accidents as well. Many people who drive pickup trucks and such smaller trucks often treat their vehicles as regular passenger vehicles, when in fact these light trucks do pose a danger. If you own a light truck, you can avoid car accidents by:

1) Using extra caution in parking areas. Pickup trucks are larger, so smaller parking spaces can easily pose a problem. It is quite easy to bump into another car or even cause a pedestrian accident when backing into a small spot. Look for parking spaces that offer extra room – spots further from the store usually are less crowded – and ease into a spot.

2) Loading carefully. Pickup trucks and other light trucks have load limits for a reason. Overloading your truck can cause tire damage and rollover accidents. When loading your truck, make sure that you tie down everything securely. If things move around the back of your truck, it can be distracting. It can also cause the weight of your vehicle to shift, posing a rollover hazard. If you need to transport something that does not quite fit into your truck, tie it down very securely and tie a flag to the end of the object to alert other drivers. You do not want something bumping into another car or flying off the back of your truck.

3) Minimizing distractions. Avoid eating, talking on the phone, loud music, coffee, and smoking in the car. These all cause you to take your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel. Distractions are a major cause of car accidents and even though you are not driving an 18-wheeler, a light truck can still cause a lot of damage and injury.

4) Driving decisively. Do not hesitate or roam. Drive where you need to go, without driving around. Check maps before you go so that you know your route and the best roads to take to get to your destination.

5) Getting familiar with the vehicle. If you are moving up to a truck from a passenger vehicle, especially, give yourself extra time to get familiar with the new car. Drive the truck under all sorts of conditions without passengers first, so that you can adjust your driving as needed. Stick with simpler streets and less-frequented routes until you know all the controls and the vehicle well.

Drivers of passenger vehicles can do many things to prevent truck accidents. While not all trucking accidents are car-truck collisions, drivers of passenger vehicles do often make mistakes on the road which can cause a truck to lose control and veer off the road or into another vehicle. Every passenger vehicle driver on the road should:

1) Consider exit strategies when driving. If you are on the road, think ahead and consider where you could go if you needed to swerve suddenly. Thinking ahead ensures that you can react quickly. Keep in mind that trucks react more slowly due to their bulk, so defensive driving may be in your hands. Keep your eyes moving well ahead of you so that you can anticipate problems.

2) Use your hazards. When you need to slow down to avoid an obstacle on the road, put on your flashers. Trucks behind you need extra time to stop, and your lights let them know ahead of time to start braking. This can help prevent a nasty accident and the personal injuries such an accident can cause.

3) Use extra caution on highways. It is on highways that you share the road more frequently with truck drivers. The higher speed limits in these areas can also make any car-truck collision more deadly. When driving on the highway, be on extra alert and avoid any distractions at all costs. Put your complete focus on the road.

4) Use extra caution at night. Many truck drivers drive during odd hours, including night time, in order to make delivery deadlines. Unfortunately, for both passenger vehicle drivers and truck drivers, night driving also means drowsiness and poor visibility. Avoid driving at night if you do not need to and be prepared to share the road with truck drivers if you are on the road at night. Slow down and make sure other drivers on the road – including truck drivers – can see you.

5) Note the weather. Even tiny amounts of rain can cause slick conditions when droplets combine with oil spills and residue on roadways. Even if the weather is not too bad, this is a very good reason to slow down. Keep in mind that truck drivers can also slip on slippery spots on the road. If you are both speeding when you collide, fatalities are very likely.

As we close another year, there are number of issues which are currently affecting the trucking industry. These issues may have a direct or indirect impact on the number of serious trucking accidents and vehicle accidents which take place on our roads in the years to come:

1) The number of hours drivers can drive. Also known as hours of service (HOS), this issue is a highly debated topic. Current regulations and limits have worked, according to advocates. Accidents rates are lower among truck drivers, according to some industry experts. However, there are still pushes to reduce driving hours even further. While some experts advocate this, others question the value of reducing hours further, as this will increase shipping costs and will increase the number of days truck drivers spend on the road, potentially increasing accidents.

2) Cap and Trade. Although regulations controlling emissions of larger manufacturers have not been finalized yet, this is an issue that worries many in the trucking industry. Fuel costs invariably will affect the trucking industry and will eventually result in higher costs for customers as well. Some worry that concerns over costs as a result of increasing fuel prices may lead to decisions by trucking companies to reduce focus on safety.

3) The SAFETEA-LU has lapsed, after being in place since 2005. Industry insiders are expecting another bill, which they hope will offer additional funding and support to the trucking industry.

4) The CSA Initiative. Under this initiative, which is designed to help create safer roads, unqualified truck drivers would be removed from the roads and truck drivers would have to meet strict new safety standards in order to work. Insiders are worried that initially this would lead to a shortage of qualified and safe drivers, although some experts suggest that such a move would help improve overall safety and would help reduce the number of serious truck accidents and their resulting personal injuries.

Some experts believe trucks and even buses should use a technology known as a brake transmission shift interlock device, which helps prevent unintentional acceleration. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is one organization that supports the use of this device in larger vehicles. A brake transmission shift interlock device works by requiring that a driver apply the brakes in order to shift out of park. This device, according to experts and the NTSB, helps prevent pedal misapplication, which can cause accidents as drivers shift out of park. Misapplication of the panel takes place when a driver accidentally presses on the accelerator instead of the brake pedal or presses the accelerator and the brake pedal at the same time.

Of course, a brake transmission shift interlock device will not help prevent trucking accidents caused by other issues, such as driver fatigue, driver distraction, drunk driving, and other problems. However, some trucking accidents and bus accidents are caused by drivers who are unfamiliar with a particular vehicle. If the pedals are different from what a specific driver is used to, a brake transmission shift interlock device can help prevent pedal misapplication caused by this unfamiliarity.

The NTSB has requested of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that brake transmission shift interlock devices become mandatory in all larger vehicles that are vulnerable to pedal misapplication by the driver. In addition, experts have asked to be NHTSA to consider pedal design and pedal configurations in larger vehicles to determine whether these issues can contribute to trucking and other large vehicle accidents.

NTSB has also asked the National Association for Pupil Transportation and the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services to educate their drivers about pedal misapplication. In addition, the NTSB has suggested that drivers take refresher training and learn strategies to avoid pedal misapplication. Many in the trucking and bus industries agree with these recommendations, and many people would like to see brake transmission shift interlock devices mandatory on all larger vehicles equipped with air brakes.

Sudden acceleration caused by pedal misapplication can lead to accidents that have serious consequences. Trucking accidents caused by pedal misapplication can lead to brain injuries, fatalities, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other serious damage and loss. The transmission shift interlock devices are not without precedent. The NHTSA has already made such devices mandatory on all automatic transmission cars. This law was passed in 2008 in order to prevent passenger vehicle rollaways.

The economy has been in the news for so long that many people are tired of hearing about the recession. Nevertheless, there are many subtle ways that economic forces could be impacting your life – without you even being aware of it. For example, some experts believe that the poor economy may lead to an increase in trucking accidents. Currently, about 100 people die as a result of trucking accidents each week. Many hundreds more sustain serious brain injuries, broken bones, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and other serious personal injury as a result of trucking accidents.

During the holidays, there are many factors that add to the risks of trucking accidents. During this time of year, some states have poor weather and very short daylight hours, leaving truck drivers to drive in worse conditions. As well, there are more drivers on the roads as people across Florida and across the country celebrate the holidays. This, too, can lead to more accidents.

Economics plays its part during the holidays, as well. Many businesses need to hire additional truck drivers at this time of year in order to meet increased demand by shoppers. However, many businesses want to spend as little money as possible on new drivers, especially with the economy still unsteady. This can lead to companies hiring untested and un-unionized truck drivers. In some cases, companies may be unwilking to offer additional training due to cost concerns or may be unwilling to run background checks on new drivers. Unfortunately, this can lead to hazardous driving on the roads.

Companies worried about the bottom line may also put off some repairs on trucks until after the holiday rush. Unfortunately, even minor problems can quickly become huge issues if they cause a truck to malfunction on the road. Poor alignment, tire problems, and other issues can cause a truck to lose control and hit pedestrians or other vehicles.

During the traffic rush, some companies may also be tempted to overwork drivers in an attempt to satisfy customers. As customers demand a better selection of products and every faster delivery, companies strive to stay competitive. If companies are also trying to slash costs, they may pressure drivers to work long hours, something which can cause driver fatigue and accidents.

Currently, drivers who drive between states are not covered under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act. This fact allows businesses to avoid paying drivers overtime. Companies concerned with the bottom dollar sometimes overwork a smaller pool of drivers rather than paying for new workers. This can lead to drivers literally falling asleep behind the wheel. Some businesses pressure drivers to work 60 hours a week or even more, which is far more than is considered safe.

Trucking accidents claim many lives each year and also cause serious spinal cord injuries, fatalities, head injuries, amputation, burn injuries, and other serious injuries. Everyone has a duty to help prevent these accidents. Employers who hire truck drivers can ensure that their drivers are trained, rested, and experienced for the job. Truck companies can ensure their trucks are in good shape. Car drivers can help prevent car and truck collisions by using extra caution around trucks.

However, you do not have to be on the roads or involved in the trucking industry to make changes that result in safer streets for everyone. If you are a customer or a patron of businesses that rely on trucks, you can make a difference. Every time you buy products, you vote with your dollars. By pressuring companies to make changes in the ways they hire and screen employees, you can make trucking accidents a rarer occurrence.

One thing you can do is join an advocacy group. There are a number of groups which target unsafe practices in the trucking industry. Road Safe America and the Truck Safety Coalition are two advocacy groups which aim to make changes in the trucking industry and work to educate the public about trucking safety issues. There are many ways you can support these groups. You can stay informed through their education programs or participate in petitions. You can also contribute time or money to these groups. These groups are able to create changes through the sheer amount of pressure they are able to generate.

You can also write to your governor or local political representatives about your concerns. If you are concerned about specific issues in the trucking industry or trucking practices, you can request changes be made. You can organize petitions on your own to send to your political representatives. Remember that political representatives are voted in to represent your concerns, so if one of these concerns involves trucking accidents, be sure to write in.

You can also help companies make better decisions about their trucking choices. If you do business with a company that uses delivery trucks and you notice truck drivers taking unnecessary risks, report this fact to the company and explain how this behaviour might affect your future business. If you see trucks on the road driving unsafely, note their license plate numbers and contact the companies they belong to. Refuse to do business with companies you know have poor driving records, truck maintenance records, and poor safety records in general. Let companies know why they are losing business.

If you have suffered personal injury or the death of a loved one due to a trucking accident, contact a good Florida personal injury attorney. A qualified attorney can help you get answers about a trucking accident and can ensure that companies are held accountable if they have poor safety records or have willingly taken risks. Legal action can help ensure that these companies take safety far more seriously in the future and this can help prevent more tragedies.

Pedestrian accidents involving trucks are almost always fatal. The sheer size of a truck means that pedestrians often suffer fatal head injuries, internal damage, and other injuries which lead to life-long disability or to death. There are, however, several things that pedestrians can do to help prevent trucking accidents:

1) Be careful when walking around trucks. If you need to walk in front of a truck, make eye contact with the truck driver to ensure that he or she sees you clearly and has time to stop the vehicle. If you need to walk between trucks or behind a truck, make sure that drivers can see you in their mirrors. If you cannot see a driver in the truck mirror, you are likely in a driver’s blind spot. Avoid running around trucks – give truck drivers plenty of time to slow down and stop. Keep in mind that trucks need more time to see you.

2) Obey signals. Avoid walking across streets when your light is red and avoid crossing between cross walks. Obey traffic signals. Trucks require more time to stop and may not be able to brake in time if you do something unexpected.

3) Report unsafe trucks and truck drivers. If you see a truck driver behaving aggressively or driving recklessly, report him or her. You can take down the name of the truck and the license plate number and report the truck to local authorities. Many trucks also have 1-800 numbers on the side that allow you to reach a driver’s employer.

4) Stay visible. In preventing bus accidents, car accidents, and truck accidents, visibility is key. Drivers will only be able to avoid hitting you if they can see you. If you walk or jog at night, wear reflective clothing and make sure that you stay visible.

Truck accidents occur all year. Unfortunately, due to the size of trucks, many accidents involving these vehicles are not survivable, especially for pedestrians and car drivers involved in the crash. Those who survive a trucking accident often suffer from serious burns, broken limbs, brain trauma, spinal cord injuries, and other serious personal injuries. While these accidents and injuries can occur at any time of year, there are some factors that increase the risks of trucking accidents during the holiday season.

Higher traffic volumes can increase the risks of vehicle accidents at this time of year. During the holiday season, there are extra deliveries to make and stores usually require more inventory, putting more trucks and truck drivers on the road. In some cases, truck drivers are pressured to meet very demanding deadlines. At the same time, more passenger vehicles are on the roads as more people attend holiday events and run holiday errands. More pedestrians are on the streets, as well, as more shoppers visit stores. Extra traffic can create congestion, short tempers, and an increased risk of accidents.

Drunk driving accidents can involve both car and car-truck collisions. Many holiday parties at this time of year include alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately, even though drunk driving campaigns have been in place for years, some drivers still choose to drink and drive, a decision which often leads to tragedy. When a drunk driver causes a collision with a truck, the results can be even more devastating.

Driver distraction and illness can make truck accidents more common at this time of year. Unfortunately, holiday season coincides with cold and flu season, and some drivers make errors while driving due to illness. Some truck drivers may be pressured to work even when under the weather, because of the pressure of holiday deadlines. The cold or flu can be a major distraction and the feeling of grogginess that accompanies illness can lead to accidents. Some flu and cold medications can also cause drowsiness and can be as dangerous as alcohol consumption when driving. Even perfectly healthy drivers are often distracted at this time of year. Drivers are often thinking about the upcoming holidays and trying to multitask in order to keep up with holiday demands. This can distract them from driving and can lead to accidents.

Poor weather conditions can make truck accidents more common at this time of year. At this time of year, additional rain and less light can mean worse weather conditions. Truck drivers who drive between winter states and Florida may find themselves driving through heavy snow and then through rain. Changing weather and resulting poor visibility can cause vehicles and trucks to lose control on the roads.

Although truck accidents are always a tragedy, they tend to be felt very keenly during the holidays. Truck accidents can happen at any time of year, but when they happen during the holidays, they tend to be especially keenly felt as friends and family gather together to celebrate the season. A loss or injury at this time of year can feel devastating and can have a considerable financial impact as well.

Year round, trucking accidents cause fatalities, property damage, and serious personal injuries – including severe burns, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries. However, during the holiday season, truck accidents are a special concern. More companies are relying on trucks during the holiday season to deliver inventory and products for the season. This time of year tends to be the most intensive retail period of the year and companies order more products, which means more trucks on the road. Unfortunately, it can also mean more stressful schedules for truck drivers and tighter delivery deadlines, which can mean tired (and dangerous) drivers.

In addition to more inventory deliveries, many companies offer special delivery options at this time of year. Some companies offer holiday-only rush deliveries within a specific area. Other companies offer delivery year-round, but more customers take advantage of delivery during the holiday season as they try to cross off holiday lists.

During the holidays, there is more taking place, and this can mean more deliveries and more trucks on the road – a fact that can mean more accidents. For example, seasonal businesses, such as Christmas tree lots, use trucks to transport products. Holiday parades and “pictures with Santa” services require delivery trucks to open for business. Even holiday parties can mean more delivery trucks on the roads, as caterers are more busy at this time of year, shuttling appetizers and treats to parties.

Extra delivery trucks on the road can mean that truck drivers are overextended and rushed, especially as customers and businesses require rush deliveries to meet holiday goals. This can mean that some drivers are pressured to drive too quickly to make deadlines or are pressured to work longer hours in order to keep everyone happy during the holiday season. Unfortunately, speeding and driver fatigue are two leading contributors to car accidents and truck accidents. Tired, stressed drivers may make deadly mistakes on the road or may even fall asleep behind the wheel. Speeding can mean that drivers do not have enough time to react in avoiding an accident.

There are additional factors that can increase the risks of a truck accident at this time of year. In many areas of the country, poor weather conditions can be a contributing factor to truck accidents and car accidents. As well, as companies try to complete holiday deliveries, some companies hire additional drivers at this time of year. Some companies do not carefully screen or train new drivers, due to the holiday rush. This can mean that some drivers are behind the wheel when they should not be. Unqualified and untrained drivers are a risk on the roads, especially when they are driving larger trucks which can be deadly in an accident.

Some factors contributing to truck driving accidents at this time of year are outside the control of truck drivers. For example, there are more pedestrians and drivers on the roads, as more people complete holiday shopping and head on the road to visit family and friends. Additional traffic can mean a bigger risk of accidents, especially when pedestrians and drivers are distracted by their own holiday plans.

It’s cold and flu season again and this year there is the added concern of a new flu virus, the H1N1 flu. Unfortunately, for the nation’s truck drivers, flu and cold season is more than an annoyance. It can be dangerous, as illness can lead to trucking accidents and the personal injuries and fatalities that these accidents can cause.

Flu and cold symptoms are a major issue that contributes to trucking accidents. Drivers who develop symptoms may have stuffy noses, coughing, high fever, aching limbs, and grogginess. All of these symptoms can make truck drivers dangerous. Drivers may not be able to fully focus on the road while ill or may make mistakes behind the wheel. Unfortunately, due to the size and force of trucks, even small errors can result in big accidents.

Drivers should never drive their truck while they are ill. Unfortunately, even healthy drivers can be affected by flu symptoms. If a passenger vehicle driver is driving while ill, that driver may make mistakes on the road that cause a collision between a truck and the car.

A new flu also has many businesses worried. The H1N1 flu is starting flu season early and many people do not have a natural immunity to this new illness, which means that more people may become ill from the flu – even those who do not usually become ill during flu season. As well, symptoms of the H1N1 can develop quickly. This means that drivers may start their route feeling well but become unwell rather quickly. The fact that more people will be ill may also put more pressure on healthy truck drivers to work beyond reasonable limits to replace workers and drivers who are ill. This may create unsafe trucking conditions.

Flu vaccines are available, but all vaccines carry a risk. Some people may develop reactions to vaccines. It is important that truck drivers get vaccinated against the flu, but drivers should not operate their trucks immediately after getting the vaccine. Drivers should rest until they are certain that they will have no negative reactions to the vaccine.

Medication for the cold and flu is available, but many medications have serious side effects that can make truck drivers dangerous on the roads. Many over-the-counter medications and prescribed medications given for colds and the flu can make drivers sleepy or groggy, making them dangerous on the road. It is important for truck drivers to speak to pharmacists and doctors before taking or combining any medication. It is also important not to drive immediately after taking a new medication. This is to ensure that you will not develop a dangerous allergic reaction that could be dangerous to you and to other drivers on the road.

Truck accidents are dangerous at any time of the year. They can always cause spinal cord injuries, head trauma, fatalities, burn injuries, and other serious injuries. However, there are a number of factors that make holiday accidents more likely:

1) More people on the roads. More people tend to be on the roads in the weeks leading up to the holidays because of family visits, parties, social events, and holiday shopping. More traffic can mean more risk for accidents, as cars of many types share the road with truck drivers.

2) Worse weather conditions. Florida truck drivers may enjoy fair weather in their home state, but they might need to leave the south to travel to snowy and wintry areas, where the possibility of whiteout conditions and ice are a real problem. Drivers need to have trucks that are ready for winter driving and need to have the expertise to deal with potentially dangerous – and changeable – conditions.

3) Truck driver distractions. Truck drivers may be distracted by their own holiday plans, additional holiday stress, and extra time spent on holiday preparations. Unfortunately, driver distraction is a contributing cause in many trucking and car accidents.

4) Tight deadlines. Many companies are in a rush at this time of year, trying to deliver more goods and services to more customers. Customers and clients, in turn, are often eager to get shipments immediately. This can place a lot of pressure on drivers to drive quickly and give up rest in order to make deadlines. This sort of extra work can be very dangerous and can increase the odds of driver error.

5) Illness. Unfortunately, many people have the cold or flu, which can affect truck drivers in a number of ways. Drivers may be pressured to take on extra work to cover for sick colleagues. They may be pressured to work when not feeling 100% themselves. Some drivers may become ill on the road.

6) Temporary workers. Most companies hire temporary employees at this time of year. While temporary employees are welcome additions to any business, they may not fully know all the standards and polices of their temporary workplace. They may make mistakes that affect a driver’s ability to do their job. For example, an employee may send a driver to a wrong address. Temporary truck drivers may be less familiar with delivery routes and company policies as well. This can cause confusion. In some cases, employee uncertainty can cause mistakes that lead to accidents.

Truck drivers are vital to businesses and customers all year round, but especially so at this time of year. As the holidays approach, customers and companies rely heavily on truck drivers to deliver certain products and services on time. Truck drivers, however, also have a duty to deliver things safely. Here are some ways that truck drivers can stay safer and can help prevent trucking accidents:

1) Get extra training. Additional training can help refresh certain safety standards and ideas in the minds of truck drivers. Training sessions can also help remind drivers about defensive driving techniques that can help prevent truck accidents and the personal injuries they can cause.

2) Help companies stay safe. If you are a truck driver and see something that is unsafe – whether it is unrealistic deadlines, poor truck maintenance, or poor driver screening – point this out to your employer. Your employer has an obligation to keep drivers and their workers safe. However, not all companies are aware of problems that exist. By speaking up, you could save a life. If no one listens to your concerns, take these issues to higher authorities. Poor safety practices will eventually cause personal injury and loss of life, so act now.

3) Inspect your truck. Whether your truck has been properly maintained or whether you are not kept aware of maintenance procedures, check your truck before you get into it. Mechanical problems can arise at any time, so frequent once-overs can really help. If you notice a problem, bring it to the attention of the company mechanic or your employer. Refuse to drive in an unsafe truck

4) Allow for more traffic. During the holidays, more pedestrians are often around, shopping for gifts and taking care of holiday errands. More cars also tend to be on the road, as more customers shop and more businesses work around the clock to deliver goods and services. Take holiday traffic into account and give yourself extra time to get to your delivery destinations.

5) Take care of yourself. Holiday months also coincide with the cold and flu season. The flu and extra work can be a terrible combination, leaving you too tired to drive safely. To stay well, take extra good care of yourself: eat well, get exercise, and get plenty of rest. If you are ill, do not drive. Stay home and rest until you are well again. Keep in mind, too, that many medications for flu and colds make you sleepy, so you should never drive while taking medications unless you are certain that the medication will not affect your ability to drive safely

If you own a business, holiday time often means extra business and more busyness. Many companies rely on trucks heavily in the weeks and months leading up to the holiday season: inventory must be shipped in, deliveries need to be shipped to customers, and last-minute shoppers often require last-minute deliveries. All of these tasks often require truck services. Whether you have your own in-house drivers and trucks or whether you use a transportation service, however, there are several things you can do to help prevent truck accidents:

1) Screen drivers carefully and insist that transport companies do the same. Just one badly trained or unqualified truck driver can cause an accident that claims lives or causes serious, permanent personal injuries. Check anyone who drives for you carefully and check out-of-state driving records as well. A private investigator is usually very thorough and can do this for a flat fee. If you use a transport service or truck company service, ask to see evidence of their screening process to ensure that they screen applicants correctly. Refuse to do business with any company that does not screen its drivers very thoroughly.

2) Inspect any trucks that deliver on behalf of your business. If a truck delivers your products, team members, or is associated with your company, you are responsible for the safety of that truck. If you have in-house trucks, have a seasonal tune up completed and ensure that your trucks are safe and ready for the holiday season. If you will be delivering outside of Florida, ensure that your trucks have the right tires for winter driving.

3) Do not let the holiday rush create unreasonable deadlines. Yes, it is important for customers and clients to get your products and services on time. However, it is just as important for everyone to stay safe on the roads. Rushed, overextended truck drivers are a major cause of accidents. If your drivers are overextended, hire additional drivers so that everyone can get the rest they need. If customers require rush services that do not allow for truck transport, consider paying extra for air mail delivery, which will not put your drivers at risk. Refuse to create deadlines that encourage drivers to lose sleep or speed.

4) Review safety standards. In any company, the holiday season often means more work and a changeover as temporary workers are used to replace ill workers or supplement your work force for the holiday rush. This means that you need to take time to review safety standards with your truck drivers and everyone in your company. It ensures that everyone is reminded of safety protocols and that new workers understand how to stay safe on the job.

5) Give yourself some delivery wiggle time. If you need to guarantee a product or service will arrive by a specific time, add some time (a few hours or a few days) to the delivery date. This will ensure that your truck drivers are not rushing (or speeding) to make a deadline. It also ensures that your drivers have time for safety.

There are many devices and safety features that can be added to a truck in order to help prevent car-truck accidents and trucking accidents. Whether you are a company owner looking to outfit your fleet or a truck driver buying your own truck, here are some features that can help prevent a truck accident and the injuries it can cause:

1) Seat belts. Seat belts, of course, are required by law and come standard with all trucks. However, they need to be used to be effective. If you are buying a used truck, ensure that the seat belts work properly. They are the most basic device used to help prevent brain injuries and other serious injuries in an accident. Some trucks come with “reminder” bells that chime if someone in the cab is not wearing a seatbelt. This can be very handy for reminding drivers about the importance of seat belts.

2) GPS devices. GPS devices can help drivers avoid distractions. Good GPS systems are accurate and include voice instructions, so that drivers do not have to look at the device map itself. Since delivery drivers are often sent to unfamiliar locations, a good GPS system is crucial for directing drivers safely and with minimal distractions to their location.

3) Back view devices. Some GPS systems come with a special “rear view” feature which allows drivers to see what is behind them when they are backing up. This is invaluable, since it helps prevent pedestrian accidents and other tragedies caused by a driver’s blind spot.

4) Alarms. Alarms on a truck can notify pedestrians and other drivers when a truck is backing up. This is essential in helping to prevent workplace and pedestrian accidents.

5) A brake transmission shift interlock device. Industry regulators and the National Transportation Safety Board are considering making these devices mandatory, as they might prevent accidents caused by drivers hitting the accelerator instead of the brakes. These devices can reduce trucking accidents caused by driver error.

If you own a company and will be hiring a temporary truck driver or truck driving service to fill holiday orders, taking a few extra precautions can help ensure that you prevent any accidents that could cost you money and could cause personal injury:

1) Recruit carefully. You can place ads in newspapers, but you can also find applicants by hiring a recruiting service. Look for recruiters who carefully screen applicants and have a good record of providing quality truck drivers. It is a good idea to look for local recruiters who regularly place truck drivers and drivers – these services will have the best idea of where to find qualified workers.

2) Screen applicants. Whether you use a recruiting agency or hire yourself, you need to screen applicants. If a truck driver you have hired causes a personal injury or fatality with your company truck or causes an accident while working for you, you could be held liable. The situation will be even worse if there are reasons to believe that a driver is not qualified. If you do not screen carefully, you could find yourself in a difficult legal position. Check references carefully and check to ensure that a driver has the training and credentials he or she claims to have. There are PI (private investigation) services that can help you run screens on drivers for a flat fee. Often, this small investment is worthwhile, since PIs can find car and accident records as well as criminal records from other states.

3) Develop rules in writing and ensure that your drivers or service will adhere to those rules. For regular employees and new drivers, you should have written rules of work. These should include safety rules – such as how long a driver should drive before taking breaks – as well as general rules regarding safety and customer service. Go over these rules and have your new driver sign them.

4) Offer training. A new driver should be trained by someone in your company to ensure that deliveries are made safely and to your company standards. This will help ensure that the driver understands exactly what you need from him or her as a worker.

5) Follow up. For temporary drivers, check to see that deliveries are made on time and safely and check to make sure that your driver is taking correct breaks and is adhering to speed limits. Often, this can be determined with a through look at the paper work.

6) Do truck maintenance. If you are hiring a truck driver and a truck, have the truck inspected to ensure that it is safe. If your temporary truck driver will be using a company truck, have the truck inspected and go over the inspection results with the driver. Look at the truck with the driver, so that everyone is clear about the condition of the vehicle. If a driver expresses concerns about a truck’s safety, have the issue looked into and resolved immediately.

A new federal initiative aims to reduce trucking accidents and make the roads safer for everyone by, among other things, gathering additional information about truck drivers. The aim is to ensure that fewer truck accidents claim lives and that fewer accidents cause burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, head trauma, and other serious personal injuries. The new initiative is being overseen by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Under the new initiative, information will be gathered by the CSA 2010 from motor carriers. The CSA 2010 will gather facts about driving safety and safety records of motor carriers. This monitoring, as well as the additional powers granted to the CSA 2010 by the government will allow the CSA 2010 to give out more penalties as well as allow the group to issue warnings, launch investigations, and intervene when it sees unsafe trucking practices. These new regulations will mean a more prompt response to unsafe trucking as well as more regular interventions when unsafe conditions do occur.

Trucking companies and motor carriers will have to follow all the same rules, but the enforcement of those rules will change under the new initiative. There are signs in the industry that new enforcement is necessary. According to the FMCSA, less than 2% of the approximately 750,000 trucks and trucking companies are reviewed for compliance each year. The current review system is SafeStat. Under SafeStat, some trucking companies have not been reviewed for safety compliance since 1989.

The new initiative will also allow intervention. It will also hold individual, specific drivers accountable for unsafe driving practices. Currently, under SafeStat, where safety problems are found but no collision has occurred as a result of them, neither the motor operator nor driver are required to face any consequences. Under the new initiative, individual truck drivers will be monitored for safety over the course of their careers and their safety records will be reported to all employers.

Under the new rules, if a motor carrier or driver is found to be unsafe, a letter will arrive for the carrier or driver, outlining the issue. Then, a computer-based investigation will be launched into the matter. Eventually, investigators will visit the driver or carrier or collision site to glean more details. If penalties or other actions must be taken, they will be initiated after the investigation is complete.

The new initiative will evaluate motor carriers and drivers based on seven issues which have been proven by the FMSCA to lead to trucking accidents. These issues include fatigue (which will be based on hours driven as well as other factors), unsafe driving practices, driver physical fitness for the job, use of controlled substances, truck maintenance, proper storage and transportation of cargo, and accident histories.

Trucking accidents cause many fatalities each year as well as serious personal injuries, including spinal cord injuries, burns, brain trauma, and other serious injuries. Many people can help prevent these accidents. Drivers of passenger vehicles can use extra caution when passing or driving around trucks, recognizing that trucks require more time to brake and respond to situations. Motor carriers can ensure that drivers have reasonable deadlines and that trucks are correctly maintained. Truck drivers, too, can do many things to help prevent accidents:

1) Proper physical maintenance. Although truck driving requires a lot of sitting, it is a physically demanding job. Truck drivers need to take care of their bodies in order to stay safe on the road. Regular, good rest, for example, is essential in helping prevent accidents caused by driver fatigue. Inattention and fatigue often lead to trucking accidents, so drivers need to exercise, eat well, get rest, and get regular physical exams to stay safe behind the wheel.

2) Stay alert to blind spots. About one in three truck accidents involve a truck driver missing something that was in a blind spots. Drivers need to adjust and check mirrors regularly. Truck drivers also need to check blind spots carefully, especially when reversing or turning.

3) Reduce speed in work areas. Work zones involving road construction are unpredictable areas and areas that also contain lots of extra people and vehicles. It is important to slow down and stay extra alert. About 33% of fatalities in these zones involve trucks.

4) Maintain the truck. Even if a motor carrier is responsible for maintaining trucks, drivers should still inspect the vehicle before each drive – damage to the truck can occur at any time, even between maintenance checkups. Check brakes, tires, and give the truck a general once-over before getting into the cab.

5) Place plenty of distance between the truck and other vehicles. Although a truck’s height gives driver’s a better view and allows them to anticipate stops, trucks do require more space to stop. Drivers need to give themselves extra space to avoid collisions.

6) Drive defensively. One out of two fatal traffic collisions may be caused by aggressive driving, according to studies. Driving defensively rather than aggressively can help save lives. Driving defensively includes maintaining a safe speed and maintaining a distance from drivers who behave aggressively on the road.

Trucking accidents involving commercial trucks and passenger vehicles tend to end in tragedy. The two vehicles are simply unevenly matched. A large commercial truck can easily crush a small passenger car, causing fatalities or serious personal injury for everyone inside. According to Road Safe America, however, there are several things that drivers can do to avoid collisions with trucks:

1) Stay alert about visibility when approaching a truck. Keep in mind that trucks have many blind spots. Generally, you need to be able to see a truck’s side mirrors to ensure that a driver can see you. Try to make eye contact with the driver in the truck in the mirrors to ensure that he or she can see you. Keep in mind, too, that trucks are large enough to affect your visibility. Do not make assumptions about what might be in front of a truck or behind it, where you cannot see. Up to one in three car-truck collisions occur due to blind spots, so make sure drivers can see you and drop back behind a truck so that you can see what you need to see around the truck.

2) Do not cut in front of trucks. Trucks require more time to stop and may not be able to stop in time to prevent a major accident. If you need to pass a truck, accelerate your car and ensure that your speed is consistent, so that the truck driver can predict what you are doing and can anticipate your actions. When you can see the entire truck cab in your rear-view mirror, signal your lane change and pull in front of the truck.

3) Be extra careful when a truck is making a right turn. To turn right, large trucks must move to the left quite wide. Never pass a truck when it is turning right – your vehicle may be crushed as the truck turns. Always take note of a truck’s signal lights to ensure that you can pass safely.

4) Give trucks extra room. Trucks require extra time to execute most manoeuvres and keep in mind that trucks have many blind spots and can affect your own visibility as well. Giving trucks an extra space ahead ensures that you stay safe. In bad weather or on highways (where higher speeds are a factor), give trucks even more room. About six seconds of space is a good idea.

5) Act if you see unsafe driving. If you see a truck driver weaving on the road or otherwise acting unsafely, leave even more room between yourself and the truck, so that you have time to respond if the truck does something unexpected. Contact local authorities to report the truck and to help prevent an accident.

The federal government has many rules and regulations governing the driving of 18-wheeler trucks on the road. All states also have their own laws and regulations regarding these trucks. These large trucks are essential for businesses and transport, but due to their size, they can cause a great deal of harm and injury in an accident. Trucking accidents involving 18-wheeler trucks often result in fatalities, burn injuries, head injuries, and other serious and permanent injuries. All drivers and motor carriers who own such trucks must abide by state and federal laws. These laws include provisions such as:

1) Licensing requirements put in place by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). All drivers who operate a tractor-trailer rig need a special license, known as the commercial driver’s license (CDL). To qualify for this license, a driver must demonstrate his or her ability to drive a large truck. To do this, the driver must pass CDL examinations and complete training as a truck driver. A driver must be 21 years of age to qualify for a CDL. If a driver will be transporting hazardous materials, he or she needs to pass additional testing and must get additional training, as a special CDL license is required.

2) Federal laws dictate that trucking companies, motor carriers, trucks, and drivers must have specific levels of insurance. Often, this insurance is based on the cargo being transported. In many cases, if a driver is an employee of a trucking company, the company will arrange all insurance needed.

3) DOT regulations also impose “Hours of Service” restrictions on truck drivers. This means that the number of consecutive hours a driver can drive is strictly regulated. These rules also regulate how often a driver must stop to take a rest. Drivers are required to maintain a written record of stops, hours, and distance traveled to ensure that they are following these regulations. These regulations are in place to ensure that drivers are not overly fatigued and therefore dangerous on the road.

4) Federal regulations also impose certain restrictions on cargos and weights of trucks. For example, some hazardous materials are not permitted to be transported along specific public roads. As well, all loads must be secured according to regulations and correctly itemized and labeled.

5) DOT regulations dictate some driver behaviors on the road. For example, all truck drivers must follow road signs and must follow the rules of the road. Drivers are not permitted to drink and drive or possess controlled drugs.

The National Transportation Safety Board and other investigators from other agencies are citing sleep apnea as a contributing factor or even chief factor in a number of transportation truck accidents. Trucking accidents, bus accidents, train accidents, boating accidents, aviation accidents, and other accidents have all been linked to the disorder. Now, the federal government and some experts want new regulations which would screen pilots, sailors, truck drivers, bus drivers, and other operators of heavy equipment and vehicles for the disorder.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder which causes a patient to very briefly stop breathing or lose breath in his or her sleep. This can cause the patient to get inadequate rest due to interrupted sleep. Some patients have their sleep interrupted hundreds of times a night, causing a bad quality sleep. During the daytime, sufferers of sleep apnea may feel fatigued and may have a harder time concentrating that those who are able to get a full, restful sleep.

The National Transportation Safety Board has cited a number of trucking accidents caused by sleep apnea. According to their findings, about 7% of adults have sleep apnea and may be unsafe behind the wheel as a result of it. Drivers who suffer from sleep apnea, like all fatigued drivers, may have slower response times and may fall asleep behind the wheel.

The problem with sleep apnea is that many adults who suffer from the disorder are not aware that they have it. Often, there are no symptoms of the disorder other than habitual drowsiness, but many people dismiss fatigue as the normal result of a full and hectic life. For many people, drowsiness becomes habitual and “normal” so that they do not even see fatigue as a symptom.

Often, sleep apnea is caused by an airway obstruction. As a result, many people who suffer from sleep apnea also snore in their sleep. Once detected, sleep apnea can be treated effectively by removing the obstruction causing the problem. If sleep apnea is not treated, it cause many health problems which can also be dangerous for truck drivers: high blood pressure, headaches, heart problems, memory difficulties, and weight gain.

The National Transportation Safety Board has recommended that transport truck drivers be screened for sleep apnea annually during a physical check-up. The National Transportation Safety Board has made a similar recommendation to the Federal Aviation Administration regarding pilots in order to prevent aviation accidents. Regular screening would help uncover those adults who suffer from sleep apnea so that they can get treatment before the disorder causes an accident.

The OSHA reports that an estimated 95,000 workers are in industrial truck accidents or incidents. These accidents result in everything from burn injuries to head trauma to spinal cord injuries and fatalities. Worse, not all employees are correctly insured to ensure that medical costs resulting from these accidents are fully covered. In many cases, investigations into these accidents revealed poor operator training.

Lift trucks are one of the most commonly used industrial trucks in the workplace. Some employers do try to save money by taking on less insurance for workers, by offering less training, and by doing less maintenance on trucks. In the long run, these strategies can result in accidents and in much higher costs for companies. According to Safe-T-Consultants, many companies skimp on training and maintenance, even though these two things can keep insurance costs and overall costs down.

Insurance costs are something that many companies struggle with. The National Coalition on Healthcare reports that health insurance premiums for small companies increase 12% each year, on average, while inflation has been an average of 2.5% annually. As a result, some companies do not offer employees coverage or offer only minimal coverage. Unfortunately, if a workplace accident occurs and a truck accident in the workplace causes personal injuries, the injuries are likely to require a great deal of coverage. Truck accidents, due to the size and force of trucks, often result in fatalities or permanent personal injuries requiring extensive hospital stays. Employees may be forced to seek legal redress to cover these costs if employers do not offer adequate insurance. For the employer, offering good health insurance despite the premium costs, is a priority.

Training truck drivers and other employees is much more affordable than health coverage for employees and can keep accidents as well as insurance premiums down. Training can cost very little per hour, since all employees can be trained at the same time. Insurance companies may also be willing to consider driver training and such additional safety measures taken when considering premiums, so such training can start saving companies money upfront. In many cases, training costs can also have tax benefits for motor carriers. Extra training, however, can significantly help reduce trucking accidents. Well trained drivers and employees know what to do to prevent accidents and can react appropriately to prevent an accident.

Maintenance can also keep insurance costs down while reducing car accidents. Regular maintenance of trucks should include frequent checks of all system, seasonal tire changes, immediate repairs when needed, and careful consideration of truck or truck part recalls. Maintenance helps ensure that trucks will not cause an accident and can help prevent expensive suits after an accident.

Good safety processes are also important in helping businesses prevent trucking accidents. Good business practices for safety include limiting truck driver hours and encouraging reasonable deadlines which will not require the driver to speed. Other best practices can include random tests for controlled substances, employee background checks, and proper storage and securing of truck cargo. All of these extra steps will help prevent high long-term costs and will also help prevent accidents.

Workplace accidents are always a tragedy, but they can be especially dangerous when they involve trucks. Many workplaces require employees to operate or work near trucks, and if safety measures are not adhered to scrupulously, dangerous trucking accidents can occur. Truck rollovers can easily occur when safety procedures are not followed, and employees can be involved in truck collisions or may be crushed by trucks. Like trucking accidents on the roads, trucking accidents at the work place can result in brain trauma, spinal cord injuries, fatalities, and other tragedies.

Technology in some places may help employees avoid trucking accidents on the job. For example, in municipalities across the country, some sanitation employees are driving more automated trucks rather than the traditional vehicles. These trucks allow sanitation workers to remain in the trucks, which reduces the risks of an employee being hit by a vehicle while getting in and out of the truck.

Many jobs requiring trucks have a high risk rate. For example, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2008, refuse collection has the sixth-highest death rate of jobs. In 2008, 31 refuse collection workers died on the job. In many cases, these accidents involved truck accidents or a worker being struck and killed by another vehicle when exiting the truck.

In addition to refuse collection, other jobs involving trucks also have a high risk rate. For example, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2008, loggers have the second-highest fatality rate on the job, second only to fishery workers. In 2008, 82 loggers died on the job. Transporting lumber – which can be an unstable cargo if not securely tied down – can be a danger for loggers. Farmers and ranchers had the fifth-leading number of fatalities on the job in 2008. That year, 317 ranchers and farmers were killed on the job. Accidents involving farming equipment as well as farm truck rollovers are a danger for these workers. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2008, truck drivers, sales workers, and drivers had the ninth deadliest job. In 2008, 815 drivers were killed on the job.

There are of course many things that employers can do to help prevent trucking accidents at the workplace. Ensuring that trucks are properly maintained is an important first step. Carefully screening and training employees who work with trucks is also important. In many cases, ensuring that trucks can be easily seen and heard helps prevent pedestrian accidents involving workplace trucks. Many workplaces now also review safety procedures regularly to ensure that all employees know how to stay safe.

Of course, employees also have a responsibility to remain safe. Employees should get the training they need for their job and take continuing education classes as needed to stay safe on the job. Employees who drive trucks as part of their work should get the correct licensing and should take care to not overexert or overtire themselves while driving. All employees should report safety issues immediately and should persist until any problems have been satisfactorily resolved.

All trucking accidents have the potential to be devastating. Even accidents involving smaller delivery vans can result in fatalities, brain trauma, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other serious personal injuries. However, some trucks, by their very nature, are far more dangerous in a collision. For example, tanker trucks carry liquid cargo which often includes hazardous, flammable, or otherwise dangerous materials.

When tanker trucks are in a collision, their liquid cargo reacts very differently than solid materials in a standard truck. If a tanker truck is not filled to capacity, for example, the liquid cargo can slosh around when the truck is speeding or taking turns. This can cause the truck to move more and can make the vehicle harder to control. When a tanker truck is not filled to capacity, there is no way to properly balance or secure the liquid so that it will not move. This means that the truck is less stable. When tanker trucks are less than three quarters full, the weight of the liquid can shift dramatically, causing the truck to potentially spin out of control and roll over. These tankers tend to continue rolling after their initial roll, because of the shifting weight of the liquid.

In the event of a collision, the chemicals in a tanker truck can spill out or explode, specially if the outer hull of the tanker is damaged in the accident. If the liquid is flammable, the large amount of liquid in the truck can cause a massive fire and can put many people at risk of death or severe burn injuries. If the tanker truck is carrying a flammable liquid such as gasoline, the substance can burn at such high temperatures that it can destroy roads, bridges, and overpasses. Obviously, it can completely consume any vehicle or person it its path.

A tanker truck that catches on fire after a collision can cause a chain reaction of accidents and injuries. Since the fire can destroy roadways and infrastructure, other vehicles not involved in the initial crash may inadvertently drive along the damaged road and cause a car accident. As well, the flames from the initial accident can spread to other trucks full of flammable cargo or to other vehicles.

States have strict rules about the weight limits trucks can carry. Unfortunately, liquids are difficult to weigh since different liquids have different densities. Most trucking companies calculate their tanker cargo weight based on water weight. This can result in severe overloading of a truck when a liquid is very dense. A tanker truck that is overweight can be extremely dangerous and at a high risk of accidents.

Trucking companies transporting dangerous or flammable liquids must adhere to certain conditions. They are only allowed to transport these dangerous liquids on certain roads, for example. Trucking companies must also ensure that drivers entrusted with such dangerous loads have special training and are tested in addition to having their commercial trucking license. Any trucking company who is negligent in adhering to these regulations may be held liable and may even be charged in the event of an accident.

Unfortunately, many trucking accidents result not only in serious personal injuries, such as spinal cord injuries or head trauma, but also tend to result in fatalities. Due to the size and weight of most commercial trucks, they can easily crush passenger cars or pedestrians. Many people simply do not survive a truck accident.

If you have lost a loved one in a trucking accident, in addition to the tremendous sense of loss, you may face financial hardship. If the lost loved one contributed to your family income, you may find yourself suddenly with a much diminished income while also facing memorial expenses and final illness and medical costs. The loss of your loved one is devastating, and in addition you will lose many years of an additional income. You may be too grieved to return to work immediately yourself.

If a trucking accident has been caused by negligence on the part of the truck driver, trucking company, or truck manufacturer, you may decide to file a wrongful death suit. A wrongful death case seeks to recover some of the financial damages caused by the loss of your loved one. While it cannot erase the pain, it does allow you to access the financial resources you may be entitled to under the law. This financial help can at least ensure that you can meet your financial obligations while you attempt to recover your life.

A wrongful death suit often also highlights the negligence that has caused a trucking accident. Most attorneys investigate the causes of a trucking accident very closely, so that the trucking company and the insurance provider become very aware of the conditions that permitted an accident to occur. In this way, wrongful death cases often bring about changes which help prevent future trucking accidents.

The decision to launch a wrongful death suit is usually very difficult. The decision must be made at a very difficult time, when you are still grieving. For this reason, choosing a good Florida personal attorney is essential. A good personal injury attorney will be compassionate and sensitive to your needs and will pursue your case for you, so that you can focus on recovery.

Companies owning fleets of trucks – whether for rentals, deliveries, or for some other purpose – have a responsibility to ensure that those trucks are driven safely. Unfortunately, thousands of accidents involving trucks occur on American roads and some of these accidents lead to fatalities or serious personal injuries. In some of these cases, it is found that trucking companies are not doing all they can to ensure that their vehicles are safe. Trucking companies can do a number of things to ensure that their trucks are safe:

1) Maintenance. Regular maintenance is vital for trucks. In addition to changing oil, checking for problems, and fixing any issues a truck has, regular maintenance by a qualified mechanic ensures that possibly dangerous mechanical problems are fixed. Responsible trucking companies ensure that maintenance is regular and that any repairs suggested by a mechanic are completed before a truck is placed on the road again.

2) Safe trucks. Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring that their trucks are safe to drive. This means that if a truck manufacturer recalls a model or issues a recall on any part of a truck, the trucking company must comply and ensure that the mechanical issue is resolved before the car operates on the road.

3) Proper business practices. Irresponsible trucking companies sometimes have business practices that ensure unsafe driving. For example, some companies place excessive loads on their trucks or demand that their drivers meet nearly impossible deadlines, which compels the drivers to speed or drive until they are very fatigued. If a company’s policies are found to have contributed to an accident, the company can be held partly liable for the collision and any personal injuries or property damage that results.

4) Employee screening and training. Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring that their drivers are safe. This means that companies must work to hire safe drivers, must check their drivers to ensure that they are qualified, and must ensure that all drivers have adequate training for their job.

5) Insurance. Trucking companies are responsible for having adequate insurance to cover any damages and injuries caused by a trucking accident.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a trucking accident, contact a qualified Florida attorney. A personal injury attorney can launch an investigation to determine whether a trucking company was negligent in failing to meets its responsibilities and duties. A Florida personal injury attorney can also protect your rights and ensure that you have all the help you require as you heal from your injuries.

Each year, drivers sustain serious head injuries, broken bones, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries while driving rental trucks. Investigative reports and investigations into rental truck companies have found that some rental companies are not as careful as they should be concerning safety. If you need to rent a truck, here are some steps you should take if you are not sure of a truck’s safety:

1) Test before you drive. Before you drive off the rental car lot, do a walk-around inspection with the rental agent and then ask the rental agent to drive around the lot with you. This gives you a chance to notice any problems with the truck and allows you to ask any questions you need to ask before you drive the vehicle. If you notice any problems with the truck, seek another truck or rental company. Once you drive off the lot, visit a mechanic you trust to look at the truck, just to ensure it is road-worthy.

2) Ask for verification of the truck’s safety. Ask the rental agency for proof of the truck’s last maintenance and inspection. The rental agency should be able to tell you exactly when the last maintenance was done on the truck and what that maintenance involved.

3) If you notice something unusual, call the rental truck company right away. If you notice the truck behaving unusually while on the road, call your rental company right away to report the problem and ask for assistance. Most rental companies have road side assistance.

4) Visit a mechanic. If you notice anything unusual about the way the truck handles, pull into a mechanic’s shop right away. This ensures that you have proof of mechanical problems in case there is a dispute with the rental company. Evidence of mechanical problems also usually pressures the rental company into offering you assistance right away.

5) Refuse to drive further. If there is a problem with the truck or you suspect that the truck is not safe, refuse to drive any further with the vehicle. If you suspect that something may be amiss and you continue to drive, you may be held partly liable for any accident that results.

6) Do not drive a truck that is unsafe for you. Sometimes, a truck is not mechanically unsafe but it is still dangerous to drive if you are unfit to drive the vehicle. If you are not qualified to drive a truck or do not feel that you can safely operate the vehicle, do not drive the truck. Even if it is mechanically sound, you might cause an accident.

Trucking accidents cause many tragic fatalities each year as well as serious personal injuries, including broken bones, head injuries, scarring, spinal cord injuries, and other serious trauma. While these are undoubtedly the worst outcomes of trucking accidents, in many cases the sheer size and power of a truck also causes property damage. While not as devastating as loss of life or personal injury, property damage can be very expensive. Some of the more common types of property damage caused by truck accidents include:

1) Residence damage. Trucks will sometimes leave the road when a driver loses control and careen into a residence. Such a collision can cause serious structural damage and can seriously injure anyone in the residence at the time.

2) Business damage. If a truck leaves a road, it can careen into business signs or storefronts. Since most businesses are closer to the road than residences, the damage can be extensive. Businesses may lose stock and may need to lose business while they are closed for repairs. In addition, any employees or customers who are inside and injured at the time of the accident can pursue legal action.

3) Car damage. If a truck and car collide, the car is often damaged seriously. In many cases, the car is simply crushed and needs to be replaced entirely. In some cases, expensive body work is required before the car is safe to drive again.

4) Personal effects damage. Any item – such as a laptop, digital camera, or cell phone -- in your car at the time of the accident will likely be badly damaged and will need to be replaced.

5) Fire and chemical damage. If a truck is carrying dangerous or flammable chemicals at the time of an accident, these chemicals can spill after a collision, causing extensive fire damage as well as an evacuation of an area. Even a simple evacuation can cost local businesses significant amounts of lost revenue.

Replacing damaged items and repairing property damage after a truck accident usually takes time as well as a great deal of money. If your property has been damaged in a trucking accident, contact a personal injury attorney. He or she can help you seek the help you are entitled to under the law so that your property is restored to you. Without an attorney’s help, you may need to pay all damages out of your own pocket.

If you have been in a trucking accident and have lost a loved one or have sustained a serious personal injury – such as a spinal cord injury, brain injury, or other injury – you will need an attorney. Even if an insurance provider promises you that you do not need an attorney, there are several reasons why you should call a qualified Florida attorney right away:

1) The insurance provider has an attorney. Trucking companies are insured by insurance providers in the event of an accident, and insurance companies have teams of very talented attorneys at their disposal. These attorneys may wish you to sign documents and may even offer to help you understand the legal text, but it is important to understand that these attorneys work for the insurance providers, not for you. They are paid to keep expenses low for the company. You need an attorney representing you to protect your best interests and your rights.

2) Trucking accidents involve complex legal issues. You need an attorney working on your behalf to help you understand the legal issues, procedures, and papers that are inevitable after a trucking accident. A good attorney will explain your options and the legal system to you so that you can make the right decisions for you.

3) You will need all the protection the law requires after a trucking accident. If you have been injured or have sustained property damage, the law protects you and entitles you to compensation for your losses. Settlements and compensation are vital to help you pay for medical expenses and recover lost income. However, it is easy to sign away your rights or give away some of your rights. An attorney works for you to ensure that you get all the protection you are entitled to under the law.

4) You should not sign anything until you have spoken to an attorney. An attorney can look over documents for you and advise you about documents and clauses that are not in your best interests. By signing documents without your attorney present, you may sign away your rights or even lose your ability to get a fair settlement.

5) Attorneys have access to investigative teams. Attorneys work with private investigations to uncover all the possible causes behind a trucking accident. This can help you get answers that bring you peace of mind. Investigations can also help you determine who is liable in an accident and can ensure that you are not held liable yourself if someone else caused a collision.

If a trucking accident has occurred, the immediate concern is usually helping victims at the scene. Unfortunately, since trucks are so large, many collisions involving trucks result in fatalities or serious brain injuries, burn injuries, and other serious injuries. Many trucking accidents also involve significant property damage.

Soon after a trucking accident, however, questions begin to arise about the causes of a trucking accident. Unfortunately for victims, resolving issues of liability can be challenging for a few reasons:

1) Memories fade. Victims and witnesses may start to forget the details of an accident after a time, making it more difficult to recreate exactly what happened. This can increase the possibility that witnesses and victims will have differing or even conflicting accounts of an accident. For this reason, securing witness testimony and evidence quickly is crucial.

2) Evidence is destroyed. Construction in an area – which may have contributed to an accident – will progress and eventually finish, leaving little evidence of its role in an accident. A truck may also destroy evidence by the sheer force of impact. Investigators need to act quickly to secure remaining evidence and need to use modern technology – such as accident reconstruction software – to determine what happened.

3) Evidence is misplaced. With time, important pieces of evidence, such as police records and other evidence, may simply become misplaced. Trucking investigations are complex and often require many professionals. Any one professional may inadvertently lose track of an important piece of the case, affecting the outcome of the investigation.

4) Evidence is erased. Most commercial trucks have an electronic device which records average speeds, maximum speeds, distance traveled, and other vital information. This information can be crucial to an investigation but these devices only hold so much data. If a truck continues to drive after an accident, the data is eventually erased and re-recorded over with new data. Attorneys need to act quickly to subpoena trucking companies in order to preserve these devices and the data they contain.

Trucking accidents and their resultant personal injuries can be caused by common factors such as driver fatigue, speeding, and driving under the influence. However, many common causes of trucking accidents are in fact not frequently discussed. Some of the issues that have contributed to trucking accidents include:

1) Driver distraction. Driver distraction is one of the most common causes of trucking accidents and the resulting broken bones, fatalities, burn injuries and other serious injuries. However, the cause of driver distraction vary widely. Some drivers are distracted by the food they are eating on the road, by pedestrians and other drivers, by music in the car, by cell phone conversations, or even by road signs.

2) Road conditions. Badly paved roads, lack of proper lighting on roads, too-narrow roads and road construction can cause conditions that are unsafe for trucks. Municipalities are responsible for maintaining certain minimum road conditions and for posting adequate signs and warnings of dangerous road conditions.

3) Poor signs. Trucks require additional time to stop, brake, and switch gears. They require adequate signs explaining problems ahead, such as bumps, construction, and other perils. When signs are too few, not very visible, or not back enough truck drivers might not have time to adequately respond to dangers on the road.

4) Weather conditions. Weather can make roads slippery or may cause poor visibility. In these conditions, even experienced truck drivers may have a hard time maintaining control of their vehicles.

5) Other drivers and pedestrians. Pedestrians sometimes step in front of a truck or walk into a truck’s blind spot, where the driver cannot see them. Cars, also, sometimes cut truck drivers off or drive too close to trucks that are turning. Tragedy can result when trucks are not given extra space.

Fork lifts are a major part of many road construction projects, building projects, and work environments. While many fork lift operators are trained and operate their machinery safely, however, fork lift accidents do cause serious personal injuries each year. Fork lifts can roll over, collide with other vehicles, or cause pedestrian accidents. These machines can cause burn injuries, broken bones, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and even fatalities.

September sees a disproportionate number of fork lift accidents. September sees more fork lift accidents than any other time of year. During the year, more than one person per day dies or needs hospital attention as a result of a fork lift accident. In September, this accident rate nearly doubles. As a result, the Fork Lift Truck Association is organizing a Fork Lift Safety Week for the week of September 21st through the 27th.

SG World will be working with the Fork Lift Truck Association to offer free trials of their Safe-truck system and awareness campaigns will be organized by the Fork Lift Truck Association during the week. In addition, the Fork Lift Truck Association plans to organize other activities to make pedestrians and employees safer near fork lifts.

According to the Fork Lift Truck Association, there are many things that employers can do to prevent fork lift accidents on the job:

1) Maintain good visual and auditory clues. It is important for fork lifts to be visible and easy to hear at all times, especially in poor weather and in areas where pedestrians may be walking. Reflective strips, auditory alarms, lights, and other cues can help alert people when a fork lift is moving through.

2) Post good signage. Employees with signs indicating constriction work is a good way to ensure another pair of eyes on the job. Employees can hold signs and direct traffic but can also ensure that no pedestrians or drivers take unsafe risks near fork lifts.

3) Educate workers. Make sure that fork lift operators have the training and experience to work with the latest equipment. Also, ensure that other employees on site know how to get out of the way and how to safely work near fork lifts.

4) Run frequent visual and mechanical checks. Regular maintenance of fork lifts will ensure that no mechanical failures cause an accident. In addition, regular pre-shift visual checks will ensure that no problem leads to an accident. Any issues or mechanical problems should be resolved right away.

The US Fire Administration reports that many fatalities in car accidents and trucking accidents are caused by post-crash fires. In many cases, these fires occur as a result of fuel leaks, manufacturer defects, and the intensity of a collision. Unfortunately, burn injuries from trucking accidents are more likely to be fatal or serious, simply due to the large amount of fuel a truck can spill and due to the large force a truck collision usually creates.

Many trucks also carry flammable materials or toxic chemicals in their cargo holds. If these cargo holds are not secured correctly, flammable materials can leak out and fuel a fire after a collision. If a truck is carrying particularly noxious chemicals, these chemicals can cause burn injuries even if they do not ignite. In rare cases, trucks carry such dangerous substances that large areas must be evacuated after a truck accident because the chemicals pose a health hazard.

If trucks are carrying dangerous chemicals and traveling at high speeds, any collision can cause the truck to explode, simply due to the high force. Similarly, if a truck collides at high speeds with a wall or other barrier or rolls over, the flammable ingredients in the truck can explode or catch fire.

A post-collision truck fire can quickly veer out of control. Most trucks carry large amounts of fuel which can easily feed a fire. If a truck’s cargo is explosive or flammable, these substances can add to the fire, causing serious property damage and loss of life over a wide area.

Manufacturers of trucks have a responsibility to ensure that product defects – such as fuel tank defects – do not contribute to post-collision fires. Trucking companies and drivers also have a responsibility to ensure that trucks are maintained and operated in a safe manner.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident fire, contact a Florida personal injury attorney at once. Trucking companies often have the right to destroy some information related to a truck after a set period of time, so it is imperative that an attorney acts quickly to preserve this information. An attorney can investigate the cause of a collision and can ensure that you and your family have the resources to get the best medical attention possible.

Sleep deprivation is a major cause of commercial trucking accidents. Being sleepy behind a wheel is always dangerous. It slows response times and can cause a driver to fall asleep on the job. For truck drivers, the situation is even more dangerous. Due to their size, trucks can cause a lot more damage in a collision. Trucks also require longer response times to brake or swerve. A sleepy truck driver can cause serious pedestrian accidents, car accidents, and damage.

Unfortunately, the very life of a commercial truck driver can encourage poor sleep. Truck drivers spend a long time sitting down. Little air and exercise can impede a restful sleep. In addition, truck drivers often work odd hours. This can interrupt a body’s natural rhythm and make it harder to sleep well. Finally, some drivers drive too far and too long and therefore become drowsy on the job.

The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) has implemented rules about “hours of service.” These rules aim to prevent how long big rig drivers, commercial truck drivers and semi drivers can drive before they have to rest. The rules permit drivers to have 14 hour work shifts. In each shift, drivers can drive for a total of 11 hours. After these 11 hours, drivers are supposed to have 10 hours off duty.

In addition, the rules stipulate that drivers must drive no more than 60 hours in a 7-day period or 70 hours in an 8-day period. Once a driver has had 34 consecutive hours off-duty, this period of time is reset. These rules are designed to ensure that drivers get adequate rest and do not drive longer than scientifically safe.

However, many non-profit groups believe that these rules do not go far enough in keeping sleepy truck drivers off the streets. Groups such as the Truck Safety Coalition, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Public Citizen, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters note that the FMCSA rules do not ensure enough rest and do not address the issue that drivers are often given financial incentives by trucking companies to violate such rules.

Many groups claim that trucks should have black boxes that prevent trucks from running if they have been driving too many hours. According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, more than100,000 accidents each year are caused by sleep deprivation. Groups note that drivers and companies who violate hours of service rules should be held liable.

Research released by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reveals that up to 4000 people are year are killed in America as a result of trucking accidents involving trucks that have known safety violations. Most Florida personal injury attorneys have worked on trucking accident cases that involve trucks with known brake defects, bad tires, dangerous loads, and other violations. In some cases, these trucks have been cited as unsafe many times but remain on the roads anyway. Some drivers involved in trucking accidents have histories of accidents, substance abuse, or no training. As a result, many experts and attorneys know that many trucking accidents are preventable.

In every state, roadside checks and federal government standards are meant to determine which trucks have less than satisfactory ratings. Although many trucks are given poor ratings, however, many remain on the roads, according to experts. These trucks can easily be involved in accidents which lead to fatalities, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries.

Many personal injury attorneys note that the current financial situation is creating even more unsafe conditions on the roads. The trucking industry is facing financial woes and any costly measures – even safety measures – are often seen as an unneeded expense. Many drivers, worried about the economy, are willing to put up with tight deadlines or other unsafe work conditions to make a wage. And, according to some experts, state agencies are overwhelmed and understaffed, making it less likely that traffic violators are caught and persecuted.

Some states have unsafe laws which give trucking companies and truck drivers an “out.” For example, Michigan does not allow punitive damages to be awarded against trucking companies in wrongful death or personal injury suits. As a result, some personal injury attorneys believe that dangerous companies and drivers tend to move to states such as Michigan, where they are protected from laws and allowed to keep working. Unfortunately, these drivers can and do cross state lines, causing dangerous conditions across the country.

Even in states with tougher laws, many companies are not forced to face responsibility for poor business practices. In many cases, insurance carriers pay for the costs of damages in an accident. In some of these cases, the dangerous trucks which caused an accident are put right back on the road.

Speaking to an attorney after a trucking accident can be a powerful way to break this cycle. A qualified Florida personal injury attorney can investigate all the causes of an accident, gather evidence, and compel a driver or trucking company to face their responsibility in an accident. A Florida attorney can also pursue the case and pressure a company to adopt safer practices.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations exist to keep the roads safe and to create guidelines for commercial truck drivers. Despite these and other regulations, however, some trucking companies and drivers violate these rules, leading to accidents. Unfortunately, due to their sheer size, trucks can cause massive damage in a collision.

Brain injuries are just one of the serious, often permanent, injuries that you may sustain as a result of a truck accident. Brain injuries can occur from two reasons. If your body is thrown about violently during a trucking accident, your brain may crash against the inside of your skull. This can cause damage to the brain. Secondly, you may sustain blunt force trauma the head in an accident if your head hits something with enough force. This can cause foreign objects to enter your skull, injuring your brain, or can cause your skull to fracture, causing trauma to the brain.

If you have sustained a brain injury in a trucking accident, you may lose your ability to remember, concentrate, or even move normally. You may need additional assistance for every day tasks, rehabilitation therapy, and expensive brain surgery. You may face long-term or permanent disabilities as a result of your injury.

There are many reasons for trucking accidents, and if you have sustained a brain injury or other personal injury as a result of a trucking accident, it is important to contact a qualified Florida personal attorney immediately. Trucking companies are only required to keep log information and other personal information about a truck or accident for a limited time. By contacting an attorney quickly, you can ensure that this information will not be destroyed. This information can help you discover whether a trucking company or driver took unnecessary risks that led to your accident.

Some trucking companies have drivers exceed safe driving times or speed limits and some companies do not perform required maintenance on trucks. If a trucking company or driver has violated Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations or other legislation and has caused your injuries, you may have a right to compensation or a settlement under the law. This can help you get the best medical care so that you can recover as fully as possible after your accident.

Even though a trucking company may offer you a settlement, it is still a good idea to consult a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. An attorney can determine the full costs of your injury and can represent you so that you get the fairest settlement possible. This can help you get better medical treatment and can even help you make a fuller recovery.

Most commercial truck drivers train diligently to operate their vehicles and most are patient, skilled, and courteous. However, some truck drivers have characteristics that make them dangerous on the road. These dangerous characteristics can lead to accidents that cause personal injuries. These characteristics include:

1) Lack of training and experience. Truck drivers need to be well trained and experienced because they are responsible for operating large vehicles that can cause a lot of damage. Drivers should have training and experienced in defensive driving, driving in a variety of conditions, safety issues, and driving techniques. Drivers should be familiar with the roads and the truck they are driving.

2) Rage. Drivers with anger management problems are more likely to experience road rage, which can cause drivers to take risks and drive erratically. Rage has no place on the road.

3) Hurriedness. Drivers who are in a hurry and take short cuts can cause accidents. Some companies encourage drivers to be rushed by creating tight deadlines for shipments or by creating incentives for drivers to hurry excessively.

4) Substance abuse problems. Any driver who takes alcohol or drugs before driving may become drowsy or unable to respond adequately to potentially dangerous situations. Such a driver is almost certain to cause an accident.

5) Sleepiness. Truck drivers must remain alert and awake at all times. Drivers who have sleeping problems, insomnia or other conditions that cause drowsiness are a hazard on the road. Even drivers who suffer from sleep apnea – a common condition -- can fall asleep behind the wheel and cause an accident.

Trucking accidents often cause serious personal injury as well as property damage. If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of a trucking accident, however, it is important to understand that the injuries caused by trucking accidents also cause a severe emotional reaction. Since the injuries caused by trucking accidents tend to be severe, many victims suffer from these common problems after their accident:

1) Depression. Many of the personal injuries caused by trucking accidents create long-term or permanent problems for victims. The changes in a victim’s life may be hard to bear, and this can cause depression. Victims may have a hard time accepting that their life has changed so dramatically.

2) Withdrawal. After a trucking accident, personal injury victims are often unable to return to normal social activities, and this can lead to a withdrawal from usual groups of friends. Additionally, some victims may be unsure how friends and family will respond to their injuries and withdraw from social activities. Burn injury victims, for example, may have a hard time facing the world because they feel uncomfortable with their current appearance.

3) Anger. Many victims of personal injury find that they face new limitations. Someone who has sustained a spinal cord injury after a trucking accident, for example, may have a hard time walking or taking care of themselves. The resulting frustration can easily boil over into anger.

4) Social Problems. Some victims of personal injury have a hard time resuming social relationships after a trucking accident. For example, someone who has sustained a brain injury in a truck accident may have certain difficult personality traits after an accident or may have memory problems that makes even normal conversation difficult.

5) Substance Abuse. Although many victims of personal injury bravely work to better their lives after a trucking accident, victims of personal injury are at greater risk of developing substance abuse problems. Some victims turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with the emotional aftermath of an accident. The pain medication given to many victims is also habit forming and can create problems when patients need to take the medication long-term.

Commercial trucking accidents often capture headlines because they tend to end so tragically. Commercial freight trucks and eighteen-wheelers can weigh tens of thousands of pounds and when these vehicles collide with smaller cars, the personal injuries, fatalities, and property damage that occurs can be devastating. A number of factors can contribute or lead to trucking accidents. These include:

1) Poor choices made by drivers of passenger vehicles. Commercial truck drivers are not always to blame for trucking accidents. In many cases, passenger vehicle drivers take risks on the road that lead to car accidents involving trucks. Car drivers may not understand the limits of truck, and may drive closely behind or beside a truck, in the truck driver’s blind spots. Some drivers cut off trucks making right turns or change lanes too quickly in front on trucks, not allowing truck drivers time to respond. Some drivers take risks by not following the rules of the road. In all cases, passenger vehicle drivers are likely to be seriously injured or killed if an accident results.

2) Poor choices made by pedestrians. Some pedestrians step out in front of trucks, not realizing that trucks have many blind spots and take longer to stop than passenger vehicles. Some pedestrians also do not pay attention to trucks that are turning or reversing. In all cases, a pedestrian accident involving a truck almost always leads to a fatality.

3) Poor driving by truck drivers. Some truck drivers make mistakes or take risks on the road. Some drivers drive under the influence or while sleepy, increasing the odds of an accident. Some truck drivers are too inexperienced or too under-trained to be safe on the road.

4) Unsafe road conditions. Weather can wreak havoc with a driver’s ability to steer a large truck. Slippery roads and poor visibility can be especially problematic for a truck driver, who needs to start braking and responding much earlier than a passenger vehicle driver. In addition, big ruts in the road, unevenly paved roads and poor road maintenance can lead to truck rollovers and other accidents.

5) Unsafe truck conditions. Some trucks are poorly maintained or incorrectly loaded. Trucks that exceed their maximum capacity are especially dangerous on the road. Product defects – such as defective truck tires or brakes – can also lead to accidents.

In news media after an aviation accident, reporters and journalist often refer to a “black box.” In an airplane, this black box gathers information about a flight and after an accident becomes a crucial piece of evidence for investigators. While most people associate the black box with aviation incidents, most commercial trucks have similar pieces of evidence.

Many trucks that have been made in the US since the 1990s have a device incorporated into their engine. Called the Electronic Control Module (ECM), this device is similar to the device placed on planes and is in fact also called a “black box.” For attorneys investigating a trucking accident, ECMs contain plenty of useful information, since these devices continuously gather information while a truck is in operation.

Over a period of thirty days or so, these devices gather information about time driven, highest speeds driven, average overall speeds a truck has attained, seat belt use, idling times, air bag use, the average revolutions per minute (RPMs) of the tires, and other pertinent information. For Florida personal injury attorneys, ECMs can be vital in determining negligence on the part of drivers, truck manufacturer’s and truck owners.

Originally, ECMs were designed to protect truck manufacturers from bogus warranty claims made by owners. The devices were meant to show any evidence of driver or owner abuse, so that manufacturers could protect themselves against claims of product defects. Now, however, ECMs are often used by victims who have sustained personal injuries as a result of trucking accidents. Attorneys can use the information in ECMs to compare against a driver’s account of events.

After a trucking accident, it is important to quickly secure an ECM and its information. ECMs only record so much information. If a truck is driven after an accident, there is a risk that previous data will be erased and recorded over. Some states make the ECM information the property of a trucking company. This may mean that a trucking company can legally erase ECM data or even destroy an ECM after an accident. In states with such laws, it is important to get a court order to secure ECM data.

In addition to securing information from an ECM, there are other sources of information that attorneys can gather. Professional truck drivers must keep logs of distances traveled and trucking companies are expected to keep information about truck repairs and drivers hired. In addition, trucks must report to trucking weigh stations and data from these stations can often be gathered through court order. In addition, some trucking companies use a cab electronic module. This device records information about deliveries and dispatch and may contain information about a vehicle’s performance, maintenance, and number of hours on the road.

Hopefully, you will never be in an accident with your truck. If you are in a truck accident, however, you want to have the resources on hand to help anyone who is injured and the resources to help yourself legally. Here is what you need in your accident and emergency kit.

1) Pen, paper, and camera. Soon after the accident, you will want to begin documenting the accident. You will want to exchange information with any other driver involved and will want to gather the names and contact information of any witnesses. Taking pictures of the scene can also help your attorney make a claim for you if your case goes to court. Even an inexpensive disposable camera can help you capture information that can be important when you are negotiating with insurance carriers.

2) Flares and lights. If your trucking accident takes place at night, flares can help alert other drivers of obstacles on the road while a flashlight or other light can help you evaluate your situation more effectively.

3) First aid kit and blankets. Trucking accidents can cause serious personal injury, including head injuries and serious permanent disability. A first aid kit can help people at the accident scene and can even save lives. It is especially helpful if you familiarize yourself with your kit before placing it in the truck. Knowing how to use a first aid kit will help you in an emergency. In addition to your kit, be sure to stow blankets in your truck. These are important if someone at the accident scene is in shock. Blankets are also useful if you are in an accident or your truck breaks down in cold weather.

4) Documentation. Keep your insurance information, copies of your ID, and the name of a personal injury attorney you trust in your truck. If you are in a truck accident, you don’t want to be looking for important phone numbers or papers.

5) Food and water. In bad weather or in the dark, it can take tow trucks or personnel some time to find you. If your truck breaks down in bad weather, especially, it can take some time to get help. Having food and water on hand can ensure that you can stay comfortable as you wait.

About a hundred fatalities result each week from trucking accidents across the country. Many more people are injured or face long-term brain injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other serious personal injuries as a result of trucking accidents. Some trucking accidents are caused by the drivers of passenger vehicles, but many experts note that when truck drivers are liable for an accident, there are often deeper reasons and causes at work.

Most commercial truck drivers are hired by companies. These companies often see drivers as a means to a profit. The more products are ferried from one location to another in a shorter period of time, the more money the company stands to make. The more costs are put into trucking – to hire union drivers, for example, or to hire more drivers – the more these costs cut into profitability.

Some experts accuse some companies of cutting corners and putting all drivers at risk. Investigations have revealed that some companies do not screen drivers carefully and do not maintain trucks to keep them in good condition. Some companies hire too few drivers and put in place incentives to encourage drivers to drive too fast and too long to make deadlines. This can encourage unsafe trucking practices that lead to trucking accidents.

Companies requiring interstate trucking services do not need to pay drivers overtime in order to adhere to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act, because the act does not cover trucking between states. As a result, many companies hire one driver to work 60 hours a week rather than hire more drivers. This can be dangerous when the driver is behind the wheel for too long and becomes exhausted and clumsy.

Many companies pay their drivers by the mile or the load. This means that drivers are pushes to work long and quickly. This can encourage drivers to take short cuts or to speed, since they are not paid for unloading, loading, or waiting. By not giving truckers an hourly wage – and therefore paying them more – companies sometimes compel drivers to work dangerously long hours or to cut corners in order to make a living wage.

Trucks are large vehicles and often take up a great deal of room. As a result, they can block your view of the road and upcoming dangers, and this can make it harder for you to avoid an accident. Trucking accidents can lead to serious personal injuries and even fatalities, so you will want to improve your visibility in order to stay safer. Here’s how:

1) Stay back. Give trucks extra room. Tailgating trucks is extremely dangerous, since you will not have enough time to stop if the truck brakes suddenly. If a truck is following too close behind you, the truck may not have time to stop if you have to brake suddenly. Keep in mind, too, that if you are behind a truck, you may not be able to see obstacles ahead. Give yourself plenty of room so that you can anticipate and see problems.

2) Avoid passing a truck if you’re not sure what’s ahead. If you can’t see what’s around a truck, don’t pass unless you are sure you know what’s ahead. If a truck stops and you want to pass, for example, you could cause a pedestrian accident if the truck has stopped for a pedestrian and you charge ahead, not seeing the person crossing the road.

3) Use extra caution at night and in poor weather. When visibility is already poor, trucks can block your view to a dangerous extent. In addition, in poor weather conditions, trucks may have a harder time stopping. Giving yourself extra room can help you in these conditions.

4) Be wary of truck lights at night. Since trucks are higher, their headlights may shine directly into your eyes, making it hard to see. Try driving in another lane or pull over until a truck passes so that you can see properly.

5) Slow down and drop back in dangerous conditions where you need greater visibility. If you are passing through a construction zone or a school zone, for example, poor visibility caused by trucks can be deadly. A pedestrian can easily emerge seemingly out of no where. Stay well back so that your visibility stays good.

Truck accidents cause serious personal injuries, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, and permanent disabilities each year. Since trucks are so much larger than passenger cars, collisions involving trucks and smaller vehicles can and do often lead to fatalities. If you drive a truck, however, there are many things you can do to help prevent trucking accidents:

1) Take refresher courses. Many truck drivers only take driver education classes when getting their trucking license. However, additional and refresher courses can help correct bad habits, can strengthen your driving skills, and can ensure that you get a professional’s feedback about your driving. This can make you a far safer and more effective driver.

2) Take an extra level of driver licensing than you need. If you are driving a small pickup truck, for example, consider getting a license for light commercial vehicles. Getting extra licensing gives you more options, but more importantly, it also makes you safer and more effective with smaller vehicles as well. It makes you more confident behind the wheel and teaches you skills you can apply in your driving.

3) Learn to drive different trucks. Different trucks require different skills, but many trucks require the same attention to loads and hill grades. Learning to drive different models of trucks will boost your confidence and will allow you to become a better driver as well.

4) Try different roads. Even if you tend to drive the same streets again and again on your commute to work, consider driving your truck on different types of roads. You may find that driving on city roads is very different than driving on twisting country roads. Becoming familiar with the way your truck handles in different roads is an important step to becoming a good driver.

5) Drive with and without loads on quiet streets. Different loads can affect how your truck handles. Learn how to effectively and safely load your truck, distribute the weight of a load, and secure the load of your truck. Experiment with different loads on quiet streets until you get used to handling your truck in these conditions.

If you have been in a trucking accident, you may have lost a loved one, sustained property damage or have sustained an injury such as a burn injury, head injury, spinal cord injury, or amputation. You will likely need help negotiating with insurance providers and getting a settlement that will help pay your medical bills, lost income, and other expenses. The right attorney can be invaluable, and to find a qualified Florida personal injury attorney, make sure that you:

1) Find an attorney experienced in handling trucking accident cases. A good attorney will be happy to tell you about past trucking accident cases and the settlements he or she was able to help people secure. Look for an attorney who has experience with similar cases as yours, as this ensures that the attorney is experienced enough to help you.

2) Find an attorney with good investigating teams. In a trucking accident case, your attorney will have to investigate all the possible causes of the accident to determine who is liable for the accident. Therefore, you will want an attorney who is skilled at investigating cases.

3) Look for attorneys who come highly recommended. Ask your attorney to provide you with testimonials or references from previous clients who were happy about the service they received with the law firm. Or, ask your friends and family to recommend a good personal injury attorney.

4) Look for an attorney you trust. Find a Florida personal injury attorney who offers a free initial consultation. This can be a good way to see whether you feel comfortable with an attorney and whether you get along with your attorney. Find an attorney you feel comfortable with, since you will need to trust your attorney with personal information and facts.

5) Understand what an attorney can do for you. A qualified Florida personal injury attorney can represent you if you have sustained an injury or loss as a result of a trucking accident. Even if you do not want to sue or go to court, an attorney can investigate the causes of a trucking accident and can negotiate with insurance providers on your behalf. Your attorney can also ensure that you get a fair settlement that covers all your medical and incidental costs.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, American roads were the site of over 350,000 crashes involving commercial trucks in 2007 alone. Truck accidents tend to occur on highways, where many trucks drive, and where speed is often a factor as well. Speed, combined with the large size of most commercial trucks, ensures that most truck collisions result in tragedy. Many trucking accidents result in spinal cord injuries, loss of life, amputations, broken bones, burn injuries, brain injuries, and other serious injuries and damages.

Being in a truck accident is far more deadly than being in a car accident. While two cars tend to be fairly well matched and tend to weigh only about 3000 pounds, a fully loaded commercial truck can weigh over 80,000 pounds. In an accident, such a truck can completely crush a passenger vehicle and everyone in it. While the truck driver is often somewhat protected in the cab, simply because he or she is elevated and in a larger vehicle, those in a passenger vehicle have very limited protection against such a massive force.

According to The National Transportation Safety Board, the major causes of trucking accidents tend to be poor driver training, driver fatigue, and speeding. In addition, overloaded or oversized trucks, poor weather conditions, mechanical failure, defective parts, and driver inexperience contribute to many truck accidents. Finally, some truck accidents occur due to reckless driving. Drivers may not give right of way, may drive aggressively, or may even be driving under the influence.

The way some companies are structured can contribute to truck accidents. Some companies, for example, do not carefully screen their drivers or do not take proper care of their fleet of trucks. Some companies pressure drivers to overload trucks or to make very challenging deadlines, which can push drivers to speed or to take stimulants in order to stay awake.

In some cases, poor driving on the part of passenger vehicles contributes to trucking accidents. Some cars do not take precautions when passing or following trucks. Some drivers, for example, do not take pains to ensure that truck drivers can see them at all times. Since trucks have more blind spots, it becomes important to use extra caution around them. Some drivers also do not give trucks additional space, especially on hills.

Being aware of the major causes of trucking accident can help you avoid these accidents. Using extra caution and watching for danger signs can help you keep back and can help you avoid a serious accident.

Research has shown that experienced drivers are less likely to be involved in accidents. Experienced drivers are simply better able to anticipate certain driving situations and better know how to react to avoid collisions. As a result, experienced drivers and their passengers are less likely to be trucking accidents and are less likely to sustain serious injuries, such as burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, head injuries, and other injuries.

One of the best things you can do as a truck driver is to get additional training in order to become more familiar with your truck and the roads. There are many ways to get additional training. Many dealerships and car manufacturers offer training and driving courses. Local driving schools and truck driving institutes offer partial or refresher courses for drivers who are already licensed. Some licensed driving instructors also offer private lessons. For a small hourly fee, these instructors will drive with you in your truck and offer you additional tips and help.

Getting additional training can make you safer on the road and may also qualify you for lower insurance rates in your area. Call your insurance company to find out whether you can save money by getting additional truck training. You may find that the cost of your additional training is covered or nearly covered by your savings on insurance.

There are specific situations in which you should seek out additional training. If you have just moved to a new area with a different climate, for example, you will want to get additional driver training if you drive a truck. If you are new to winter driving, for example, you will want to take additional training. Driving even a pickup truck on snowy roads is dangerous if you are not familiar with those conditions. Even a new, hilly area can be a challenge until you learn how to respond appropriately.

If you have been in a serious accident you might also want to consider additional training to bolster your confidence and skill level. Timidity behind the wheel can be dangerous, so if you find yourself nervous in your truck after a trucking accident, consider some additional training. Additional training can also help you address some of the issues and habits that may have led to your accident in the first place.

If you have a new truck or have a truck for the first time. If you are just starting to drive a truck or have purchased a new truck that is significantly different from you last model, training will help you get comfortable behind the wheel and will teach you how to react appropriately in your new vehicle. You don’t want to wait until you are in a challenging situation on the road to learn how to handle your truck.

According to The National Transportation Safety Board, driver inexperience, poor driver training, poor driver choices (like speeding) and driver fatigue are major causes of trucking accidents. Unfortunately, when you are sitting behind a truck driver on the highway, you may not always know which drivers are dangerous and which are responsible and safe. If you want avoid truck accidents and the personal injuries they cause, look for these red flag signs of poor driving in trucks:

1) Abusive language. If a truck driver is yelling outside his window at passers-by or other drivers, he or she may be in the throes of road rage or may be simply an aggressive driver. In either case, by focusing on abusive language and not on the road, this type of driver is extremely dangerous.

2) Extra activity in the cab. Truck drivers who have too many cab passengers or who are eating, texting, talking on the cell phone or doing something else while driving do not have their full attention on the road. This means that they may not have time to react to avoid an accident. It may also mean that they are not aware of everyone and every car around them.

3) Reckless driving. If you see someone in a truck driving recklessly, the driver may have poor driving skills, may be too angry or emotional to drive, or may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In either event, the driver is not safe.

4) Mistakes made. If a truck driver is making mistakes on the road – such as driving on the wrong side of the road or not signalling passes – he or she may be driving under the influence or may be so fatigued that he or she is making careless mistakes. The driver may also be too inexperienced or too under-trained to drive well. Unfortunately, one mistake is all it takes to cause a serious accident.

5) The truck shudders or lists to one side unnaturally. If a truck seems to be tilting, shuddering, or otherwise proceeding strangely, it may be overburdened or may not have its load correctly secured. If the truck’s load comes loose, it can crash into cars and cause serious injury. A truck that is over its weight limit can also rollover or cause a serious accident.

If you see a truck driving unsafely, trust your instincts. Pull over, give the truck extra room, fall back, and generally get out of the way. If you believe that a truck driver may be driving unsafely to the extent that he or she is a danger or if you believe that a truck driving is driving under the influence, call local authorities to report the problem.

Each year across the country, more than 1.1 million Americans need medical help for burn injuries. About 4500 victims die directly as a result of their burn injuries and another 10 000 die from complications caused by their injuries. Burn injuries can be caused by anything from hot water to a fire, but many burn injuries are also caused by trucking accidents.

Many commercial trucks are used to carry flammable substances and chemicals. Some trucks on the road even carry fuels. These large trucks contain large amounts of fuel or flammable substances. If a truck carrying such dangerous cargo is in a car accident, the resulting collision can cause the fuel or flammable substances to leak, explode, or catch on fire. Any driver or pedestrian in the near vicinity can experience severe burn injuries as a result.

Trucking accident burn injuries are especially dangerous because the size of the truck and the impact of the collision can cause very hot fires and explosions that can cause damage over a wide area. Worse, trucks carrying flammable substances usually carry large amounts of these chemicals. If these trucks are in a collision, the large amount of fuel can feed a fire, causing it to burn very hot and to grow quickly out of control. Fatalities caused by truck accident burn injuries are very common as a result.

In addition, trucking accidents often cause additional injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, head injuries, and other serious injuries. When combined with burn injuries, these additional injuries may be very slow in healing. In fact, complications can easily result when burn injuries are sustained at the same time as other injuries. This can make treatment very challenging and can increase the likelihood of infection, heart failure, and other problems.

Burn injuries caused by trucking accidents are often devastating. In addition to facial scars that can leave victims withdrawn and unable to resume normal social activities, serious burn injuries – such as those caused by trucking accidents – are often extremely painful. If the injury has penetrated the outer layers of skin and has damaged tissues and muscles, patients may be unable to walk or move normally. Treatment may require months or even years of physiotherapy and surgery.

Drivers and companies who own trucks have a legal responsibility to keep their trucks safe. They must adhere to safety standards, maintain trucks correctly, operate the trucks responsibly, and not overload the trucks. Unfortunately, not all drivers and companies are careful with trucks. If you or a loved one has sustained an injury as a result of a trucking accident, it’s important to seek help from a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. A good Florida attorney can help ensure that you have all the resources available to you by law so that you can focus on healing.

Many motorists eventually decide to buy a truck. Many people enjoy the idea of being able to carry more items and some drivers assume that trucks are safer. If you want to buy a truck, however, you should consider more than the make, price, and color of your new vehicle. You also want to ensure that your new vehicle is safe and can be safely operated by you. Here’s how:

1) Learn about truck manufacturers and their safety records. Before purchasing a truck, read magazines, truck reviews, and publications such as Consumer Reports to find out about the safety standards and reputations of any trucks you are interested in. Look for trucks and manufacturers that get good grades in safety from independent testers. Also, keep in mind that different models from the same manufacturer may have different safety ratings. Look for the safest models.

2) Get licensed for trucks. Even if you are buying a small truck that does not require additional licensing, it is a good idea to get some additional classes and licensing in a larger vehicle than you will be getting. Trucks – even smaller ones – do handle differently than sedans or economy-sized passenger cars. The more training you have with larger vehicles, the safer you will be behind the wheel of your new truck.

3) Practice driving in trucks. The more you can practice, the safer you will be. Try renting a truck, driving a friend’s truck or arranging for a few lessons. The more you know, the safer you will be.

4) Start practicing good habits. Texting or talking on the phone while driving causes many car accidents each year, and these accidents lead to fatalities and serious personal injuries, such as brain injuries, broken bones, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries. When you get your new truck, practice safe driving by keeping mobile devices off.

5) Take good care of your truck. In a trucking accident, the sheer size of a truck can mean more fatalities, injuries, and damage. Therefore, sign up to receive information from the dealership. If you get notice of a recall that affects your truck, get the issue fixed right away. Find a mechanic who is experienced with your model of truck and ensure that you get adequate tests and maintenance on your new vehicle.

If you drive a truck, you may at some point wish to add a trailer to your vehicle to transport additional items. While trailers are very handy, they can also be dangerous. Using trailers incorrectly can cause a truck accident which can result in head injuries, spinal cord injuries, other serious personal injuries, and even fatalities. Here’s how to use trailers correctly:

1) Hitch the trailers to your truck correctly. Read the manuals included with your trailer and ask for help if you need it. Make sure that the lighting connector is properly installed and make sure that the lights work correctly on the trailer. Use safety chains for added security.

2) Before you use the trailer, inspect the trailer and truck. Before each use, check that the wheel bearings are properly lubricated and the tires are in good condition. Make sure that if your trailer has brakes, they are working correctly. Trailers can sustain more stress on the road because they are pulled along, so check each time to make sure the trailer is in good condition.

3) Load your trailer correctly. Always lock the brakes before beginning to load the trailer and make sure that the trailer is on a level surface to ensure that weight is properly distributed. Use binders or tie downs to secure items securely to the trailer. You don’t want things shifting or flying out of the trailer while you are on the road. When you take a break while driving, you might want to check your binders or tie downs again. If your load has shifted, you may need to adjust them to account for that. When loading your trailer, make sure that you put about 60% of the weight near the front of the trailer. If you have too little weight in front, your trailer may fishtail and pose a danger to other drivers. If you have too much in front you may have a hard time maintaining steering control. Understand the gross vehicle weight and towing capacities and ensure that you do not overload the trailer.

4) Clean your trailer and decks regularly. Keep in mind that trailers do not have to be in motion for an accident to take place. A slippery surface on the trailer or deck can lead to a slip and fall accident, so stay safe when loading and unloading your trailer.
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5) When on hills, use the same speed and gear both up and down the hill. Maintain a steady speed and pace and try to brake suddenly, as this can cause your trailer to fishtail. If you will be driving in very hilly areas, consider practicing on a few small hills first to build your confidence.

Most farms rely on trucks for farm work and for transporting goods. However, trucking accidents on farms are a common cause of brain injuries, fatalities, and other serious personal injuries. Trucks can easily rollover or collide with other farm machinery. The uneven ground on most farm lands can make collisions especially dangerous. There are several things you can do to help prevent farm truck accidents:

1) Use extra caution on hills. If you are driving a truck on a hilly far, travel up and down hills or along the top of hills rather than traversing the hilly area. Be especially cautious if your truck is heavily loaded – objects may shift on a hill, causing the truck to become front or back heavy.

2) Inspect your truck regularly. If you are driving your truck on muddy back roads, unpaved roads, and over fields, your truck may need more frequent maintenance to keep things safe. Do not scrimp on inspections and maintenance.

3) Be careful of blind spots. You may worry less about blind spots because there is less traffic in rural areas, but you can still be in a terrible collision if you run into another person, a piece of farm equipment, or a building. Be especially careful if you are driving in an area where animals or people are near or on the road.

4) Have backup alarms installed on your truck or indicate you are backing up by tooting your horn. This is especially important if you are not the road. People and animals may be milling near the truck and may not be aware that you intend to back up.

5) Understand what you are carrying. If you have livestock in your truck, the animals may move, especially during turns. They may crowd into one side of the truck, creating an imbalance of weight. Try to compensate for this. If your truck is filled with liquids, they may slosh around. If your truck is tall, be sure to consider overhead power lines and trees as you drive.

6) Load your truck safely. Use a good loading ramp to load your truck and make sure that you use wheel chocks before your start loading the vehicle. This will prevent the truck from moving. When loading the truck, keep in mind the total weight the truck can bear. Overloading a truck can cause the vehicle to lose control and can put additional stress on brakes and other truck systems.

Many people rent trucks for moves, small jobs around the house, and even vacations. Unfortunately, rental truck accidents are serious and can cause fatalities, serious brain injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries. Some accidents involving rental trucks occur due to mechanical failure, but many experts also note that many rental truck accidents occur because drivers renting these trucks do not always know how to handle the vehicles safely. Professional truck drivers get specialized training and licensing, but many rental companies rent trucks – even very large trucks capable of hauling many tons – to people who only have a regular driver’s license. If you don’t have experience with trucks but want to rent one, consider these tips for a safer experience:

1) Consider hiring a driver as well as a truck. If you need to move a heavy load, it is often much safer to hire a professional driver who is licensed for trucks. Often, it costs only a little bit more to rent a truck and driver than to rent a truck itself. It is, however, much safer. A professional driver experienced with trucks knows how these vehicles perform and is better prepared to avoid accidents.

2) If you need to rent a truck, get training before you drive. If hiring a driver is not an option for you, at least consider getting some training before you drive the truck. A local school or instructor may be willing to even offer a few lessons so that you can master the basics of driving a truck safely.

3) Carefully consider the truck you rent. Get the smallest truck you need for your purposes. The larger the truck, the harder it may be to handle. At the same time, make sure that the truck is large enough for the weight you want to carry. Overloading a truck is dangerous.

4) Insist that the truck rental company show you all the features of the truck before you leave the lot. Have someone from the rental company drive around the block with you in the truck and show you all the features and how everything works. Do not sign the lease agreement or leave the lot with the truck unless you are comfortable with the vehicle.

5) Drive with a friend – preferably someone who knows trucks well. A friend can be an extra set of eyes in the truck and can help you back up or check your blind spots. A friend who knows about trucks may also make you feel more confident behind the wheel.

6) Get the truck checked out before you drive it. Before your move or project, take the truck to a mechanic for a quick check. Not all rental companies are as scrupulous as they should be when it comes to checking the mechanical soundness of their vehicles. You want to make sure that the truck is road-worthy before you drive it.

Although it happened far from Florida, the truck accident that took place in Lockport, New York this past week should serve as a reminder to truck drivers across the country. Nicholas Sparks crashed his flatbed truck into a car and a swimming pool. According to authorities, Sparks was speaking on one cell phone and texting on another at the time of the accident.

Niagara County sheriff's deputies note that Sparks may have been distracted by talking and texting when he hit a car, then smashed through a fence, brushed by a home and rolled into a pool. The passengers of the car Sparks hit included an 8-year old girl and an elderly woman. The child suffered minor injuries while the woman sustained head injuries as a result of the crash.

Sparks has been charged with talking on a cell phone while driving, following too closely, and reckless driving. It is unknown how he will plead at this time. However, the case does point to larger problems that need to be addresses to prevent other such truck accidents.

The role of cell phones in car accidents has been widely reported in the media. Some states are banning cell phone use on the roads. Many authorities and studies have proven a link between cell phone and mobile device use and car accidents. Experts claim that mobile devices such as cell phones distract drivers from the road and can lead to accidents. Cell phone use encourages drivers to focus less on the road and texting encourages drivers to take their eyes off the road entirely.

Less has been written about truck accidents and cell phone use, but common sense would suggest that mobile device use while driving a truck is just as dangerous – and possibly more so – than talking and texting while driving a car. Fully loaded trucks can weigh tens of thousands of pounds. On inclines, especially, braking and swerving can be more challenging, making it even more important for truck drivers to anticipate and keep their eyes on the road.

Texting or talking while driving a truck can also be far more deadly than texting and talking while driving a car. Because of their sheer size and weight, trucks can cause far more damage than cars in a collision. Trucking accidents frequently cause fatalities and serious, permanent injuries. This is an excellent reason to ask truck drivers to pull over before placing a call or sending a text.

Lift trucks can lead to workplace accidents and pedestrian accidents. A study by Hyster Co. has found that employers can reduce serious accidents involving workplace lift trucks by using some safety precautions:

1) Improve workplace layout. Creating separate travel zones for pedestrians and lift trucks is important and can reduce the number of pedestrian accidents, especially in situations where there are many pedestrians or many lift trucks present in a small area. It is important to keep in mind, too, that many pedestrian accidents involving lift trucks involve workers who are working with the lift truck operator at the time of the accident. Therefore, it is a good idea to create separate areas for employees working on foot and employees working in lift trucks.

2) Increase visibility, especially at the rear of the lift truck. Reflector lights, lights, and visible signs or colors are important. Many pedestrians involved in lift truck accidents simply did not see the lift truck at the time of the accident, according to the Hyster study. It is especially important to improve visibility on the back of a lift truck, since lift truck drivers are likely to have more blind spots when reversing.

3) Install alarms on lift trucks and instruct workers to always use these alarms. Flashing lights or clearly audible noise alarms can raise the awareness of pedestrians about lift trucks in the vicinity. However, these alarms must be used each time a lift truck is in motion to

4) Reduce speeds in workplace areas involving lift trucks. Any time trucks are present in a work place, it is important to reduce surrounding traffic in order to create a safe work area. It is also a good idea to place a maximum speed on lift trucks. The slower a lift truck is moving, the more time a driver has to take evasive manoeuvres to prevent a crash.

5) Train pedestrians and workers. Place signs in a work area, reminding visitors and pedestrians to be aware of lift trucks in the area. Train employees to exercise additional caution around moving lift trucks. Make sure that any employees driving lift trucks are fully qualified and trained for the job; trained drivers are more likely to avoid collisions than drivers unfamiliar with lift trucks.

Delivery trucks play an important role in carrying products to businesses and customers. While many delivery trucks are very safe and deliver products safely, some delivery trucks can be a danger on the road. One common problem with delivery trucks is that drivers are often under considerable pressure to deliver products by a specific deadline.

When drivers of delivery trucks are in an excessive hurry, mistakes are often made and these mistakes can cause fatalities, pedestrian accidents, car accidents, personal injuries, and property damage. Drivers who are in an excessive hurry may not take the time to properly secure loads. They may run red lights or speed to make a specific delivery by a deadline. They may drive under the influence in order to meet quotas. In all these instances, these behaviours can lead to an accident.

In addition to rushed drivers, other factors may contribute to delivery truck accidents. The trucks themselves may have defects or may not be adequately maintained, leading to failure of major systems on the road and therefore to accidents. In some cases, delivery truck drivers may not have safe driving records or may not be adequately trained to drive a truck.

By law, employers are held responsible for the delivery trucks and delivery truck drivers they hire. If an employer places unsafe pressure on a driver, that employer may be held liable if the driver is in an accident that causes personal injury or property damage. Similarly, the employer may be held liable if the trucks are not carefully maintained and checked. The employer is also expected to have safe hiring practices and is expected to verify the qualifications of drivers hired for deliveries.

If you have been injured or have lost a loved one to a delivery truck accident, it is important to seek the help of a qualified Florida personal injury attorney at once. Employers have a protection to protect and are not always willing to consider their role in an accident. Florida attorneys can investigate an employer’s practices and the cause of a crash so that you get the help you are entitled to under the law.

Keep in mind, as well, that there are many strict regulations set forth by the federal government regulating commercial trucks, including delivery trucks and vans. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established mandatory training requirements for drivers, substance abuse prevention programs for drivers, maintenance standards for trucks, and other regulations designed to keep you safe. When an employer or company is negligent in adhering to these rules, you can often help prevent further trucking accidents by holding the business responsible for their actions.

Truck accidents can and do cause serious personal injuries and fatalities each year. They also cause many millions of dollars in property damage annually. While personal injuries are often far more devastating, property damage can also cause serious financial problems for people and businesses. Some of the more common kinds of property damage caused by trucking accidents include:

1) Damage to real property. When a truck careens out of control, it can easily hit a home, house, or other building, causing considerable damage to the structure. Smaller structures – such as trailer homes – can be completely destroyed by a truck. Even if there is no building on a property, a truck can create gaps or gashes in the soil or can cause damage to driveways, roads, and other paved or soft surfaces.

2) Damage to cars and other vehicles. If a truck collides with a vehicle, the car is often severely damaged, sometimes beyond repair. A collision with a truck can shear off parts of a car, can crush a car, or can break major systems of a car.

3) Damage to shipped property. If a truck is in an accident while carrying a shipment of products, those products may be thrown against the sides of the truck, possibly breaking. While properly securing a load can reduce the possibility of breakage, property damage to shipped property is almost inevitable in a serious truck accident.

4) Incidental property damage. In addition to the direct damage caused by a truck accident, there are incidental types of damage which can also occur. For example, if a truck collides with a car, the items stored inside a car – including cameras, luggage, and other personal items – can also be damaged.

5) Property damage caused by hazardous materials. Sometimes, trucks carry dangerous products, such as flammable or corrosive liquids or substances, which can cause damage when spilled. Flammable materials may spill from a truck during a collision, for example, causing fire damage to property as well as burn injuries to people nearby.

It is important to hire a Florida personal injury attorney when coping with the aftermath of a trucking accident. Since there are so many types of property damage possible in a trucking accident, it is vital to evaluate the true costs of all these types of damages. A qualified Florida attorney can assist you with this process.

Truck accidents can and do frequently cause fatalities. Due to their size and power, when truck accidents collide with cars or even buildings, they can kill a person inside. In a pedestrian accident involving a truck, the pedestrian’s chances of survival are sometimes quite small. In addition to fatalities, however, trucking accidents can cause a number of serious and permanent injuries:

1) Brain injuries. A collision involving a car and truck can cause the car to rollover or travel at very high speeds. This can cause a passenger’s head to whip around, causing brain injury as the brain bumps against the hard surface of the inner skull. In a collision, a passenger’s head may also come into violent contact with a hard surface – such as a dashboard – causing a brain injury.

2) Broken bones. The impact of a car-truck collision can cause passengers in the car to the thrown about inside of the vehicle. As well, any unsecured objects in the car can become projectiles, forcibly smashing against passengers. In both cases, bones can easily break under the impact.

3) Spinal cord injuries. When a truck and car collide, passengers of the vehicle may be thrown from the car or may be crushed inside the vehicle if the car is smashed. In both cases, the spinal cord can become damaged, leaving the passengers unable to walk.

4) Amputations. Objects can become airborne in a car accident involving a truck, and when objects have sharp edges, they can amputate limbs if these objects come into direct contact with a passenger’s limbs. As well, if a passenger sustains very serious injuries in a trucking accident, doctors may be unable to save a limb.

5) Burn injuries. If a truck is carrying flammable substances, these substances can easily ignite in an accident, if the accident produces sparks. In a serious accident, even the truck’s own fuel can ignite. Depending on what the truck is transporting, a fire can quickly get out of control, causing burn injuries to the driver and anyone nearby.

If you drive a truck or work with a truck, there are several things you can do to prevent trucking accidents and the personal injuries they cause:

1) Inspect the truck daily. Even if someone else – such as your employer – is doing regular maintenance on the truck, check your tires, turn signals and lights, windshields, mirrors, and fluids daily. If your truck is not in good condition, ensure that it is repaired before you drive it.

2) Get the correct training. Make sure that you familiarize yourself with truck driving in a controlled environment before taking a truck out on the road. Even if you have been trained in truck driving, get familiar with a new truck before you take it out on the road. You need to be familiar with the particular characteristics of a truck in order to understand how the truck will respond in various situations.

3) Do not drive if you are not alert. If you are drowsy or sick, it is dangerous to drive a truck. Trucks respond slower than cars and take longer to stop or slow down. Anything that reduces your response times is a hazard. While driving, take frequent breaks and walk around the truck to stretch to ensure that you don’t fall asleep at the wheel.

4) Keep well back from other vehicles. In a truck, you have more blind spots, so give yourself extra room. You also need additional space because it will take you longer to brake with a truck than with a car.

5) Be wary of ditches and soft shoulders. The heavy weight of a truck makes soft shoulders and ditches especially dangerous. Keep well back from these danger areas – they can cause your truck to tip over.

6) Be wary of what you load into the truck. Secure any heavy loads carefully to ensure that nothing moves or shifts as you drive. If you are transporting anything dangerous, make sure that you understand and follow all safety protocols.

Trucking accidents cause devastating fatalities each year as well as serious injuries, including brain injuries, broken bones, amputations, burn injuries, and more. Although there are many possible reasons for truck accidents, some of the more common culprits include:

1) Rollovers. Since trucks are very top-heavy, they can easily rollover in a collision, causing more injuries than the collision itself. Driving on slopes, near ditches, and soft shoulders can also cause trucks to overturn easily, leading to a rollover. An uneven truck bed or poorly distributed loads can also make trucks liable to turn or roll over.

2) Crushing. If you are working on the hoist, it is essential to block the raised bed so that the bed does not crash down on top of you, crushing you.

3) Collisions. Driver error, speeding, and loss of control of the truck can all cause collisions with other trucks, cars, or inanimate objects.

4) Overloading trucks. Trucks that are carrying more than their maximum load are very dangerous on the roads. Overloading a truck strains the brakes and the tires, and may cause either of these two systems to fail. An overloaded truck is also harder to control, especially on hills. A trailer that is too heavily loaded can easily crash into the truck in front of it down hill or can cause the truck to lose control.

5) Backing. Experts claim that up to one fourth of all trucking accidents involve a driver backing up over an object or person. Unfortunately, trucks have many blind spots and it is important to check carefully to ensure that there is no one behind your truck when you are reversing.

6) Trailer load problems. Not loading a trailer correctly or not securing a load properly can cause objects to fall from the trailer, which can result in a traffic accident. As well, and incorrectly loaded truck is more difficult to control and this alone can cause an accident.

Continue reading "Understanding the Common Causes of Trucking Accidents Can Help You Avoid an Accident" »

Moving truck accidents can be devastating. Due to the size of trucks, a moving truck accident can cause fatalities, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, property damage, brain injuries, and other serious injuries. Unfortunately, many families who choose to rent trucks for their move are not familiar with driving a truck. This can make moving truck accidents more likely. Follow these tips to make moving day a little safer:

1) Rent the right truck for your move. Before you rent your truck, estimate the total weight of your possessions as accurately as you can and ensure that you have a truck that can hold all the weight of your things. Overloading a truck greatly increases your odds of an accident, so err on the side of a larger truck than you’ll need. At the same time, however, don’t rent a truck that is larger than what you are comfortable with. When renting your truck, look for a newer model which may have more safety features and fewer mechanical problems.

2) Get the truck inspected. At the very least, take your truck for a test drive to ensure that all lights, brakes, and other features of the truck work correctly. If at all possible, have the truck inspected by a mechanic. Not all truck rental companies take proper care of their fleets and this is really the only way to know if your truck is safe and road-worthy.

3) Familiarize yourself with the truck. Before you load and drive your truck to your new destination, take the truck on some less-populated areas so that you feel comfortable behind the wheel.

4) If possible, move with a friend. A co-pilot can help you read the map and can help you check your blind spots. In a large truck, this can be very useful and can help you feel more confident on the road.

5) Plan your move and route for maximum safety. Drive at a time when you are well rested. Try to avoid rush hour, since less traffic is safer when you are in a larger truck that you are not familiar with. At the same time, plan your move so that you are driving during the daytime, when visibility is good.

Continue reading "Preventing Moving Truck Accidents" »

Across the state and across the country, many jobs require employees to drive a truck. Commercial transport companies, for example, hire truck drivers to haul freight across the country and across the continent. Courier and delivery personnel often drive trucks as part of the job. Shuttle drivers must often drive trucks or vans as part of the job. If an accident occurs on the job in such a truck, the legal implications can be quite complex.

When an employee is in a car accident in a company truck, the business is necessarily implicated. Truck accidents, by their very nature, tend to be more serious than car accidents, simply due to the size and the power of a truck. Serious brain injuries, property damage, fatalities, spinal cord injuries, and other damages are a frequent result. If someone has been seriously injured, the company owning the truck can be held liable for a great deal of money.

The driver’s liability is often a consideration in a company truck accident. Often, the driver’s responsibility in an accident is carefully investigated. Investigators try to determine whether a driver was driving recklessly, under the influence of controlled substances, or was tired when driving. In some cases, drivers feel betrayed by their employers because employers as well as insurance companies investigate driver responsibility. As employers try to determine what caused an accident, some employees feel that they are being burdened with the responsibility of a truck accident.

The business’s liability is also often an issue in a company truck accident. Investigators may examine how carefully a business marinated its trucks, how well it trained its drivers, and the steps the company took to prevent car accidents. In many cases, businesses and their insurers stand to lose a great deal of money if it is determined that a company was reckless with the public’s safety.

Another consideration is the Electronic Control Module (ECM). Since the 1990's most trucks have an ECM as part of the engine components. This device is often compared to the “black box” that is part of large aircraft. The ECM records information about a truck, including a truck’s average speed, the fastest speed the truck attained, the amount of time a truck was driven, and additional information. In many cases, the ECM can help determine liability.

In a company truck accident, drivers who are employed by the company owning the truck also make workers compensation claims. In some cases, these claims may be delayed while an investigation into the accident is underway. Many drivers find that hiring an attorney is essential in determining exactly what happened in the accident and in preserving their rights.

In the summer, many people rent trucks to tackle home projects or moves. Some people also rent trucks to go camping or to travel on vacation. Unfortunately, when an accident occurs involving a rented truck, customers often find themselves faced with a serious legal problem. Even in cases where negligence on the part of the rental company seems evident, customers may have a hard time getting their claim handled quickly and fairly.

The truth is, most rental truck companies promise a hassle-free rental experience. Most people who rent a truck have no problems. However, if a customer finds himself or herself in a truck accident in a rental tuck, the rental company may be unwilling to help. Most motorists are covered under their own driver insurance. However, this insurance may not cover all the costs of a truck accident. Unfortunately, truck accidents often result in serious burn injuries, fatalities, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries as well as property damage. The costs of such an accident can be immense.

Most truck rental companies are large and powerful. They have many resources and much legal assistance, whereas the average consumer may not have these advantages. In some cases, consumers do not carefully weigh their options before accepting an offer. Some customers are not aware of their rights.

If you have been in a truck accident involving a rental truck, it is important to contact a qualified South Florida attorney. A good personal injury attorney can help you negotiate with a rental company or your insurance carrier. You will find that most insurance companies and rental companies are far more willing to pay all the costs you have incurred in a truck accident if there is an attorney representing you.

In addition, a South Florida personal injury attorney can help you by uncovering all the causes of a truck accident. Rental truck accidents may be caused by poor truck maintenance, lack of instructions about using the truck, weather conditions, road conditions, and other factors. Attorneys work with private investigators who can determine the exact cause of an accident. This can be especially important if you have been accused of causing an accident.

Before renting a truck, it is important to read the fine print. Most rental agreements have complex fine print. Generally, agreements state that you will be liable for damages if you drive a rental vehicle drunk. However, rental agreements vary widely in terms of how they resolve disputes and in terms of how much insurance the consumer is granted in the rental cost.

Tractor trailers are also known as semi-trailer trucks and these trucks are often used in transporting many tons of commercial or retail products. Tractor trailers consist of two parts: the trailer carrying the freight and the tractor or cab where the driver sits. Due to their sheer size, tractor trailers can cause fatalities and very serious injuries in an accident. In a pedestrian accident, pedestrians stand no chance against the size of the tractor trailer. In a car accident involving an tractor trailer, the car and all occupants can easily be crushed flat by the truck.

1) The tractor and trailer are separate units. If the two are not attached properly and if the tractor and the trailer are not kept in good condition, the two parts can become unattached, causing massive damage as the packed trailer careens through traffic.

2) Tractor trailers carry many tons of products. Tractor trailers can carry tens of thousands of pounds of material, and the sheer weight can easily flatten a car or smaller truck. The heavier load can also make tractor trailers more difficult to control, as these trucks take longer to stop and speed up more on downhill slopes.

3) Tractor trailers carry many kinds of products, including hazardous products. Some tractor trailers carry hazardous materials, flammable materials, toxic chemicals, or even explosives. If these potentially dangerous materials are not correctly stored and attached, they can cause explosions, fires, and other hazards on public roads and highways.

4) Tractor trailers require additional training and expertise to operate. In the US, drivers of tractor trailers must be at least 18 years of age and must possess a valid Class A commercial driver's license. To get this license, drivers must get additional training to learn how to operate a tractor trailer. An inexperienced or unqualified driver can easily make mistakes on the road or lose control of the truck, causing serious injuries and fatalities.

5) Fully loaded tractor trailers are unwieldy. Large tractor trailers make wide turns, take a long time to stop and can be more difficult to control. Making mistakes with a tractor trailer is easy and can have dire consequences. Driver fatigue, mechanical problems, driver inattention, and small driver errors can result in tragedy simply because tractor trailers require more focus to drive.

Summer is often a time of moves. Many families want to move during the summer, before the school year begins, so that their children do not have to interrupt their school year. College students often move before the start of the fall semester as well. For this reason, many moving trucks are on the road during the late summer and early fall. These trucks range from large vans to huge multi-ton trucks, capable of transporting several cars and several homes’ worth of items.

There are a number of factors that can make moving trucks especially dangerous and accident prone:

1) Do-it-yourself moves require inexperienced drivers to drive large trucks. Some moving truck carriers allow families to rent a truck, load the truck themselves, and drive the truck to their new destination. Do-it-yourself moves are popular because they are far less expensive than hiring movers. Unfortunately, renting a moving truck can be dangerous since it allows a driver to drive a much larger vehicle than he or she is used to. Professional truck drivers have special licenses and extensive training, but the average driver renting a multi-ton moving truck lacks this training and certification. On the road, this can lead to an accident.

2) Moving trucks frequently enter residential areas. Many trucks carrying commercial products mainly travel along highways and commercial areas. Moving trucks, however, move between one residence and another. These large trucks also park in driveways. This makes the possibility of pedestrian accidents more likely, simply because these trucks are frequently in areas frequented by pedestrians.

3) Moving truck carriers do not always take proper care of their trucks. While many moving companies and truck rental companies are responsible, some are not. Many serious legal allegations have been made against moving truck rental companies who do not perform required maintenance on their trucks.

4) Moving trucks can easily be overburdened with weight. All trucks have a weight limit, but when people are loading up a rented moving truck, they do not always have a scale present to weigh the total weight of the cargo. Some moving companies are also cavalier about weight limits. A truck that is overburdened is at an increased risk of a rollover or accident.

When moving truck accidents occur, serious injuries are often the result. The sheer size of these trucks ensure that in the event of an accident, pedestrians or motorists colliding with the truck are killed or seriously injured. In addition, moving truck accidents can cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage.

Florida truck accidents cost far too many lives. In addition to fatalities, trucking accidents cause serious injuries, including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, and other injuries. While truck drivers and carriers are responsible for ensuring that drivers and trucks are safe, there are also a number of things that motorists can do to make the highways and roads of Florida safer for trucks and motorists:

1) Use extra caution around trucks. Driving around trucks is not the same as driving around smaller vehicles. Large, heavy trucks take longer to slow down, for example. When driving behind a large truck, consider giving them extra room to brake safely. Don’t cut trucks off or brake suddenly in front of them; they may not be able to stop in time to prevent an accident. Also, keep in mind that large trucks making a turn require more space.

2) Report unsafe trucks on the road. If you see a truck driver driving erratically, making unsafe lane changes, or displaying unsafe driving behaviours, call your local authorities at once to report the truck. Many trucks also have a toll-free number prominently displayed that allows you to contact the carrier owning the truck. Getting an unsafe truck off the road can prevent an accident.

3) Write to your congressperson to promote safer trucking laws. Consider writing to your congressperson to ask for stricter laws and penalties for trucks that break the law. Currently, trucks that are dangerously over weight limits only have to pay a small fee. Ask for stricter controls and laws.

4) Support advocacy groups dedicated to making the truck industry safer. Some groups raise awareness about trucking accidents and lobby the government to change trucking laws and regulations. Your support will help these groups get tougher laws passed.

5) Never stay in a truck’s blind spots. Most trucks have large blind spots and drivers may not be able to see cars behind them or right beside them. A good rule of thumb is that if you cannot see the driver, the driver likely cannot see you. If you cannot see a truck’s driver, get out of the blind spot so that they can see you and make eye contact to ensure that the driver can indeed see you.

According to Road Safe America, an advocacy group aiming to reduce the number of trucking accidents across the country, 5000 Americans die as a result of truck accidents each year. Florida is considered one of the states with the highest rate of truck accidents in the nation. Many years, Florida is second only to Texas in the number of fatal truck accidents it sees.

Truck accidents have a high rate of fatalities because a fully-loaded commercial truck can weigh 20 times what the typical passenger car weighs. In a collision at high speeds, especially, the car and its passengers can be crushed. In addition to fatalities, however, trucking accidents also cause serious injuries, including spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, burn injuries, and many other types of injuries. Many people have had their lives permanently devastated by a truck accident.

The American Trucking Association reports that the US has more than 3,000,000 commercial truck drivers and more than 500,000 commercial carriers. Each of these drivers and truck carriers share the road with much smaller cars. It is important to ensure that carriers and drivers alike are held responsible for their behavior on the road and for the condition of the trucks they drive.

Some groups claim that up to 30% of the commercial trucks on the road are carrying a load that exceeds safe weight limits. The penalties for violations of weight rules are quite low in Florida. In some cases, a truck that is carrying an overweight load pays only a $100 fine. For a commercial truck, the potential fine is much smaller than the possible profit in carrying more goods.

In addition to excess weight , advocacy groups are concerned about the speeds that drivers are allowed to travel. To make deadlines and to improve profitability, some drivers drive over the speed limit in their semis and rigs. In a trucking accident, high speeds can cause dangerous rollovers. In a truck-vehicle collision, high truck speeds can be a death sentence for the passengers in the vehicle. Road Safe America and other groups have advocated the use of speed governors, a low-cost solution to ensure that all trucks remain within speed limits.

In addition to these issues, many truck accidents are caused by driver or mechanical failure. While many drivers are quite responsible, some truck drivers do drive under the influence or drive while fatigued, increasing the chances of an accident. Not all commercial carriers are as scrupulous about the mechanical condition of their trucks, either. Lack of adequate inspections and lack of proper maintenance do lead to trucking accidents. Many things can malfunction in a truck, including service brakes, trailer break connections, lights, windshield wipers, mirrors, chains and straps, parking and hand brakes, horns, steering, and truck tires. Any such malfunction can lead to an accident.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a trucking accident, call the Flaxman Law Group at 1 866 Flaxman (1 866 352 9626). Our team of compassionate, experienced South Florida personal injury attorneys have successfully handled many trucking accident cases and we can help you through the difficult time after an accident. The Flaxman Law Group even provides a no-cost, no-obligation initial consultation. This consultation is an opportunity to ask questions and get legal advice without having to commit to a course of action or a large fee. It’s an excellent way to get some answers at a time when you may need support and assistance.