Two men were killed in head-on crash in Hillsborough County early Saturday morning around 3:50 a.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).
The crash occurred on U.S. 301 in Thonotosassa and involved a 29-year-old Dade City man who was behind the wheel of a pickup truck heading north. For reasons that have yet to be confirmed, the 29-year-old driver crossed into the path of a 61-year-old Zephyrhills man travelling south in an SUV.
The FHP reported that the two vehicles smashed into each other, causing the SUV to rollover, fall off a bridge, and ultimately land in a ditch. The pickup spun and landed in the northbound lane.
Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Reports confirmed that both drivers were wearing seatbelts.
Pickup trucks come in half, three-quarter, and even 1-ton size varieties, so they are larger and heavier than most passenger vehicles, which makes them more dangerous to be involved in an accident with. If you or a loved one is harmed in a pickup truck accident, then it is very important to understand your rights for holding the at-fault driver liable so that you can recover financial compensation for your injuries and all other damages.
What You Need to Know About Pickup Truck Accidents
While most pickup trucks do not require a special license in order to drive, they are used quite often as commercial vehicles. When a company leases or buys a pickup truck for their workers to drive, this dynamic can change the financial responsibility for the crash. In these cases, the at-fault driver of the truck can be responsible as well as the company that owns the truck. Accidents involving company-owned trucks can be harder to negotiate with for a variety of reasons, including:
- Insurance: Pickup trucks that are used as part of a fleet for a business may have commercial vehicle insurance. For these purposes, it must be known what is exactly covered and how to maximize payouts when it comes to this kind of insurance.
- Liability of the Employer: Even if an employee was driving the pickup truck, the owner of the truck/company may still be responsible for the accident.
- Worker’s Compensation: Any employee drivers who are harmed in a pickup truck accident owned by the company could be eligible for worker’s comp.
There are various aspects that must be explored when it comes to pickup truck accidents. For these reasons, legal representation can be quite beneficial for pickup truck accidents, especially when the truck is classified as a commercial vehicle. This increases the complexity of the case, so you will need an attorney who fully understands insurance laws and nuances, so that you can get the compensation that you need and deserve. Our Tampa Truck Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton are experienced truck accident lawyers that specialize in commercial trucking accidents, so we know how to investigate these accidents and what to look for to achieve maximum compensation for the victims involved.
Pickup truck accidents can involve a variety of special/different circumstances than traditional passenger vehicle collisions, which is why we recommend seeking the help of a qualified truck accident lawyer to make sure that you are fully compensated for all of your losses. Third party liability and commercial insurance can further complicate matters and lead to more headaches for victims of the accident, so it is best to have legal counsel on your side to guide you through the recovery process. Our Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton have the knowledge and experience to handle all types of truck accidents, so we urge you to reach out to us today for a free consultation. You can call us in Tampa at 813-221-3200 or contact us 24/7 online.