Florida truck accidents often involve larger, commercial trucks. According to a 2007 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration report, tractor trailers and other large trucks cause accidents because of a number of common reasons:
1) Drug use. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration report, more than a quarter of crashes involving commercial trucks involved a banned substance or prescription drugs, which affect driver response times. About 18 percent of accidents were caused by prescription drugs specifically. According to the report, drug use was the most common cause of tractor trailer accidents.
2) Excessive speed. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration report found that speed was a factor in 26 percent of the crashes studied. When truck drivers travel at high speeds, there is virtually no way for them to stop in time to prevent an accident.
3) Lack of familiarity with route. Truck drivers who drive along familiar travel routes are less likely to be in a collision than drivers in an unfamiliar area. Unfortunately, commercial truck drivers are routinely asked to make deliveries to new areas. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration report, this factor contributed to 22 percent of accidents.
4) Blind spots. Truck drivers have many more blind spots than the drivers of passenger vehicles. In training, truck drivers are carefully instructed to check blind spots before making any maneuvers. Despite this, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported that 14 percent of collisions were caused by a truck driver’s failure to check blind spots.
5) Driver fatigue. There are hours of service regulations to ensure that truck drivers get adequate sleep. As well, truck drivers are supposed to be screened carefully for any illnesses – such as sleep apnea – that can lead to car accidents. Despite this, 13 percent of truck accidents studied in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration report were caused by driver fatigue.
If you have been in a Florida truck accident, contact the Flaxman Law Group for a free initial consultation to discuss your case. The experienced legal team at the Flaxman Law Group has successfully handled thousands of South Florida cases from offices in Miami, Homestead, and Hollywood. Call up today to find out what your options and rights are.