It’s Dangerous Out There: Trucks on our highways and how they affect you


Attorney Jason MacriAuthor: Attorney Jason Macri

Anyone who has driven on I-95 in the tri-county area lately has surely noticed how dangerous South Florida’s roads can be. Experienced drivers already know that they need to give themselves about an extra 30 minutes of travel time no matter where they are headed in order to compensate for the fact that there will likely be a serious accident on the highway that will significantly delay traffic. The fact that we are diverse population of drivers may have something to do with it. Many people on our roads are from out of town and don’t necessarily know their way around. Others are in a rush to get to or from work and may be driving hastily. A motorcyclist may be weaving in and out of traffic, adding to the already present danger. Add a large truck or tractor trailer to the mix and you’ve got a clear recipe for disaster.

No matter the time of day, Florida’s roads are loaded with large trucks. The more populated an area becomes, the more necessary it is for trucks to make deliveries to that area. These trucks can present quite a danger to the average motorist. Semi-trucks and tractor trailers are typically quite large and therefore, they obstruct traffic for most drivers. They also do not stop and accelerate very quickly, making them less able to flow properly with heavy traffic. Though most truck drivers are experienced professionals, it can become quite difficult for them to safely navigate our roads considering the mix of Florida drivers mentioned above. All it takes is one simple mistake for a truck driver to be involved in a serious wreck.

Many truck drivers are on a time crunch. They sometimes get paid according to how quickly they deliver a load. This creates a clear incentive for a truck driver to increase speed and minimize sleep. The problem is that speeding trucks and sleepy drivers do not make a good mix. Add the fact that the truck they are driving may weigh in excess of 100,000 pounds when fully loaded and you now have one of the most dangerous machines on the road. It wouldn’t matter how fortified your vehicle was, it wouldn’t stand a chance in an accident with a loaded truck.

Federal and State laws dictate not only who is allowed to be driving these trucks but they also determine what amount of hours a truck driver is allowed to be on the road. The truck driver’s employer is typically responsible for monitoring the driver to ensure compliance with these rules. When the driver and/or the employer fail to comply with these rules, they may be fined by the government. If there is an accident involving one of these drivers and it can be shown that non-compliance was a factor in the accident, the driver and the employer will be considered negligent. Anyone injured in the accident will be able to pursue a damages claim against the driver and the employer in an effort to seek compensation.

Our lawyers handle a multitude of automobile and trucking accidents. Trucking companies are typically insured very well and thus, they have a team of lawyers ready to respond to any accident in an effort to minimize their potential exposure. Any individual injured in a trucking accident should seek a lawyer immediately. Your lawyer will protect your rights and ensure that you have the ability to access proper compensation.



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