BUSHNELL, FL – Two truck drivers were injured when their vehicles collided in Sumter County Friday morning, according to WKMG.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the two semi-trucks were both going south on Interstate 75 in Bushnell when the incident occurred at about 8:48 a.m.
As one truck moved from the center lane to the outside lane near mile marker 313, it hit the back of the trailer being towed by the other truck.
OCALA, FL – Two people were hospitalized Saturday when a semi truck hauling a tank of water overturned and struck a passenger vehicle in northeast Ocala, ClickOrlando reports.
Emergency responders were called to the 2400 block of NE 14th Street at about 3:25 a.m. that morning. They extricated the passenger vehicle’s driver from the wreckage and transported that individual and the truck’s driver to an area hospital. The extent of their injuries remains unknown at this time.
The water the truck had been transporting was safe to drink and consequently was not considered an environmental hazard.
PALM HARBOR, FL – A 23-year-old man lost his life after a crash on US-19 northbound in Palm Harbor Tuesday morning.
According to FOX13, the crash happened around 5:20 a.m. in the northbound lanes of the highway near Curlew Road.
The 23-year-old man from Holiday was traveling in a Nissan sedan behind the tractor-trailer. For “unknown reasons” the man crashed into the rear of the truck.
A biker was killed in a fatal wreck involving a large truck on Interstate 4 in Polk County on Monday night around 7:30 p.m.
Reports indicate that the 52-year-old motorcyclist was riding his 2015 Harley Davidson heading west in I-4 when a trooper who was assisting a construction crew crashed into him. The biker was thrown from his Harley Davidson motorcycle and landed in the path of a big rig, which ran him over.
The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, according to troopers.
The trooper and the driver of the tractor trailer were not harmed in the crash.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has compiled data involving collisions with large trucks for the latest year available – 2018. They have recorded approximately 499,000 large truck accidents for 2018, with 4,415 fatalities and 107,000 injuries. Most fatal accidents involving semi-trucks occur on Interstates and at night between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. For 2018, the majority of fatal truck accidents (82%) did not involve any occupants of the large truck.
Truck transport is growing by the day in the United States, and 70% of all products reach their destination by some type of delivery truck. With so many trucks on the roadways, we have seen a surge in accidents and injuries caused by these enormous vehicles carrying all sorts of cargo. Due to their size and weight, large trucks can cause very serious injuries when a crash occurs, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord damage, broken bones, internal bleeding, head and neck injuries, and more. If a person is lucky enough to survive a crash with a big rig, then they are most likely looking at immediate medical attention and numerous surgeries, which can become quite costly rather quickly.
A large truck is classified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as any vehicle that weighs over 10,000 pounds. The vast majority of truck accidents are not caused by drugs or alcohol, but rather mechanical defects, driver’s switching to new routes, and truck driver fatigue. Issues with tires, wheels, steering wheel defects, brakes, and the weight of the truck are all top contributors of crashes. Large trucks weigh much more than a normal vehicle, and sometimes large trucks surpass 40 tons where a regular passenger vehicle weighs approximately 2.5 tons. Because of the weight of their cargo, large trucks require a greater stopping distance than a traditional passenger vehicle, especially when cargo Is not loaded properly and evenly. While a passenger vehicle may only need 300 feet to come to a complete stop after hitting the brake, a large truck usually needs double that length – around 525 feet – in order to completely stop.
Big rigs injure or kill a person every 15 minutes in the U.S. This adds up to a great deal of accidents, injuries, and deaths. If you or a loved one has been involved in a crash with a large truck, you may be wondering what you can do to hold the at-fault driver accountable for your suffering. Our Florida Truck Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton are here to help guide you through the recovery process. We can be the ally you need during this difficult time, not just your legal advocate. We understand how devastating these accidents are and will listen to your side of the story and take the stress of these situations off your shoulders so that you can focus on what is truly important: getting better.
Truck accidents are quite different from traditional car accidents. When you are involved in a crash with another driver, it is usually that driver that you file a suit against. Trucking accidents can have multiple parties that are responsible, such as the truck driver, the truck company, the loading company responsible for the cargo, the manufacturer of the truck parts, and the maintenance crews responsible for safety inspections. Truck accidents can also involve both state and federal laws, further complicating these matters. You need an attorney who knows trucking regulations and laws and has the resources needed to fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve. Continue reading
The driver of a girls home van involved in an Alabama interstate crash that killed eight children has filed a lawsuit against trucking companies in California and Georgia as well as another driver, according to reports.
The federal lawsuit is seeking an unspecified amount of money and involves the director of the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch who was trying to help free the victims involved in the fiery crash. Two of the women’s children and two of her nephews were killed in the collision.
The woman was pulled from the van by others nearby and rushed around trying to free anyone else she could, but was unable to because of the flames and damage.
The suit said that all of the children were killed by the fiery crash. In total, eight children ranging in age from 3 to 17 died in the van.
The woman driver of the van that was rescued from the crash suffered bruises, burns, and severe emotional and mental distress.
In a separate crash, a Tennessee man and his daughter also died on Interstate 65.
The lawsuit names the California-based Hansen & Adkins Auto Transport and Asmat Express of Clarkston, Ga., which both were identified by the National Transportation Safety Board as being involved in the crash. The suit also named an Asmat driver.
None of the companies involved have made a comment.
The woman was driving the van on the left lane of Interstate 65 heading north when the Hansen & Adkins truck failed to stop in traffic, struck an SUV and swerved into her lane. The van was then struck from behind by the Asmat Express truck, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that the crash should not have ever happened. The trucks were not equipped with anti-crash safety technology and the drivers were going too fast, distracted or following too closely.
A preliminary report by the NTSB recounted the crash similarly to the lawsuit, but did not place blame on a certain party or say what exactly caused the wreck.
You can be the safest driver on the road, but when another driver on the road acts carelessly or negligently, then all bets are off. While any car accident can result in severe injuries, semi truck collisions can result in even more severe injuries or as this case shows, wrongful death. If you have had a loved one pass away as a result of a tragic accident with a semi truck driver, then our Florida Truck Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you take the appropriate steps to help you recover compensation for your suffering. While nothing we do can bring your loved one(s) back, it can hold the at-fault party responsible for their recklessness and prevent them from ever repeating their actions. It can also reward you with the financial compensation you need to move forward with your life as best as you can.
The sad truth is that when a truck accident happens, the truck driver usually walks away unscathed while the other parties involved are not so lucky. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has studies that show 87% of all trucking accidents are caused by driver negligence. Negligence can include the following behaviors:
As legal experts in the field of commercial truck accidents, our Florida Truck Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton will thoroughly investigate every truck accident that is brought to us in order to determine exactly what caused the collision. We will start by investigating whether the truck companies involved in the crash and the driver violated any state and federal regulations. We will do this by using the following tools:
A 28-year-old Dade City man was killed Saturday night when the pickup truck he was driving rolled over and ejected him.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) believes the man has issues negotiating a curve in the road around 10:50 p.m. near Zephyrhills.
His truck left the road and rolled over on the shoulder. He was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the FHP.
Any type of motor vehicle crash can be dangerous, but a truck rollover is especially risky as the truck usually crushes whatever is in its path. A pickup rollover collision can result in serious injuries and even death. If you or someone you love has been involved in a truck rollover crash, you need legal help right away so that you can understand whether or not you can seek financial compensation for the damages incurred in the accident. Our Tampa Truck Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help you determine if you can file a personal injury or wrongful death claim.
Trucks can rollover for a variety of reasons, but the two main ones include having an uneven load and driver error. Our Truck Accident Lawyers often see rollovers happen as a result of:
What Should I Do After a Truck Accident in Tampa?
You absolutely MUST file an accident report when you are involved in a crash with a truck. Even if you think you are not injured and there is no damage or very little damage to your car, you need to get a police report of the crash so that you have this crucial piece of evidence if your case does move forward to trial.
After any type of crash, you need to make sure you get medical attention as your health is the number one priority. Certain types of injuries may not show symptoms for a few weeks or months, so you need to get checked out by a doctor to rule out any injuries. Keep in mind that if you refuse medical care, then this could be used against you later on in court.
This is where things can get tricky. Our Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can walk you through this process and make sure you do not say anything that may be used against you later on. But, if you speak with insurance adjusters before reaching out to us, just remember to watch what you say and keep conversations at the scene of the crash to a minimum. If you end up speaking with the at-fault party’s insurance provider, stick to the facts and don’t offer up any extra information.
We are truck accident attorneys in Tampa that understand the complicated liability factors that arise in truck accident cases. We will immediately gather evidence for your case, contact the insurance companies involved, and fight for your rightful compensation. Continue reading
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 that are full-sized are used for various purposes, including everyday travel for personal use and even tools of the trade for certain industries and professions. Construction companies often use these trucks as part of their fleet for their workers to carry heavy tools and supplies to and from job sites. Landscapers and other industries also utilize pickup trucks for their business.
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:
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. Continue reading
A recent tractor-trailer collision in Jacksonville is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol that left two girls, 8 and 10, and a 48-year-old woman injured and killed a 67-year-old woman.
The 48-year-old woman was driving a Ford Explorer and traveled into the median that caused a chain reaction that sent her vehicle slamming into a semi-tractor-trailer truck.
According to the crash report from FHP, the SUV smashed into a guardrail in the median that pushed the SUV into the right shoulder where it crashed into a semi-tractor-trailer truck that was entering the ramp to the Florida Department of Transportation Weigh Station.
The 48-year-old driver and the 67-year-old passenger were ejected from the SUV. The 67-year-old died at the scene.
According to FHP, the two girls were seriously injured, but not ejected from the SUV.
The driver of the semi-truck was not harmed.
The crash report did indicate that all parties involved in the wreck were wearing their seatbelts except for the 47-year-old driver of the SUV.
While you may be a perfectly safe driver, there are others that share the roadways with you that are not. Cra accidents of any kind can result in very serious injuries, and when you are involved in an accident with a large truck, the aftermath can be deadly. If you do survive a crash with a semi-truck, then you may suffer from catastrophic injuries leaving you with intense physical pain, the inability to work or get back to your usual daily activities.
If you have been injured in a serious truck accident or suffered the loss of a loved one in an accident with a semi-truck, then our Jacksonville Truck Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton are here to help you hold the at-fault party accountable for their reckless actions so that you can receive compensation for all of your losses.
Compensation for Your Truck Accident Injuries
When you trust our Jacksonville Truck Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton to handle your case, you can rest easy knowing that we are doing everything possible to make sure that you are adequately compensated for your injuries. Depending on the facts of your accident claim, you may be eligible to various types of financial compensation, including:
Medical Costs: The responsible party or trucking company could be required to pay for all past, present, and future medical costs that arise due to the accident.
Lost wages and Loss of Future Earnings: When someone is injured in an accident with a tractor-trailer, semi-truck, box truck, etc., then they may be left recovering from severe injuries that leave them unable to work. In certain cases, the victim may not be able to return to their previous line of work ever. The law provides for people in these situations and victims can be compensated for all lost wages, temporary or permanent.
Non-economic Damages: These damages are intended to compensate victims for pain and suffering, emotional agony, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium (the loss of a loved one/spouse).
Punitive Damages: These damages are set in place to sway the responsible driver from causing another accident of this kind in the future. Not every case warrants punitive damages, but we can determine if you are entitled to damages of this kind.
In order to receive financial compensation after a truck accident, you have to file a claim within a short time frame. What does this mean to you? This means you need to speak with our Jacksonville Truck Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton right away – there is no time to waste.
Our team of trucking lawyers will treat you with compassion to make sure your case gets the personalized attention it deserves. Not sure if you have a case? We offer free consultations and are happy to meet with you and listen to the details of your accident and provide you with our honest feedback. We service all of Florida, and have several office locations to meet you at. We also make house calls and hospital visits. You can reach us at any time of day or night by calling 866-608-5529. You can also fill out our online contact form at your convenience. Continue reading
A fiery crash between Florida rapper Tafia and a tractor-trailer last month shut down all lanes of SR-112/Airport Expressway in the early morning hours.
The collision occurred near NW 12th Avenue a short time after 3:30 a.m.
The tractor-trailer driver claims the other vehicle involved in the crash was speeding on the shoulder at the time of the crash, according to reports.
Officials said that the truck smashed into a concrete barrier, which caused the 100 gallons of fuel it was carrying to burst into flames.
The truck driver was luckily able to kick open the door of his cab and exit the vehicle.
Four people were involved in the accident, but none were reported to have suffered serious injuries, according to Miami Fire Rescue.
One of the people in the SUV that was involved in the crash with the truck was North Miami rapper Tafia, according to reports.
According to Miami Fire Rescue, the firefighters at the scene were able to extinguish the flames in about 10-15 minutes. The Miami-Dade County Environmental Resources Management Team was also on the scene to assist with fuel that was leaking into a storm drain.
Motor vehicles are involved in thousands of crashes on Florida roadways every year that result in tragic consequences from costly repairs to fix damaged vehicles to serious personal injuries, road shutdowns, and even death. The truth is that the trucking industry is involved in a good portion of car accidents across the country each year.
If you happen to be involved in an accident with a tractor trailer or large semi-truck, then you are much more likely to suffer catastrophic consequences as a result. Big rigs and commercial trucks weigh anywhere from 20 to 30 times more than your typical passenger vehicles on the roads, so it is easy to see why accidents with these vehicles can bring about tragic results.
All vehicles—cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles—can cause traffic accidents for a variety of different reasons. Speeding, distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or prescription or over the counter meds, and fatigue are all leading causes of truck accidents.
Our Florida Truck Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton have an experienced team of truck accident attorneys on staff with decades of experience handling personal injury law cases. We are happy to offer you or your family members a free case evaluation following a truck accident so that you can fully understand your legal options.
Our Recommended Steps To Take After A Truck Accident in Florida
We know how frightening it can be when you are involved in a collision with large vehicles. Timing can be a very important factor when it comes to gathering evidence that can help with the process of filing a personal injury claim, so we always recommend contacting local authorities so that they can get to the crash site and preserve critical evidence.
If you have been injured or suffered damages to your vehicle in a truck accident, then we urge you to follow these important steps:
Safety is the number one priority following a collision. If you or anyone else at the scene is injured, or could be, then call 9-1-1 right away so that everyone can get immediate medical attention and so that the police can be notified.
Medical records and an official police report are very important to support your claim after a truck accident. Once law enforcement has arrived at the scene, they can take notes of the accident, the time and location the accident occurred, and take statements from any witnesses or other drivers involved.
We want to reiterate how important it is to get medical care right away whenever you are involved in an accident. Even if you do not think your injuries are serious, you still need to be checked out by a doctor to rule out any complications that could present themselves later on.
If you are able to, get as much information as you can from drivers, passengers, and any witnesses of the accident. You can get their names, phone numbers, email addresses, license plate numbers, driver’s license information, and insurance information. Any information you can obtain might prove useful when it comes to recovering damages following an accident.
Take pictures of your injuries, the crash site, and any property damage so that this can support your claim. While police should collect their own photos for evidence to keep with the accident report, it can be a good idea to take your own just in case important evidence is missed, lost, or even destroyed.
Once you are medically cleared, you want to assert your legal rights, but doing this on your own is not a good idea. The best thing you can do is to reach out to our Florida Truck Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton as we can guide you through the injury claims process and help protect your legal interests. Continue reading
A semi truck lost control Tuesday and slammed into a car, resulting in the death of two young people.
The accident occurred along Interstate 95 near Lem Turner Road is the same roadway that has been the crash site for more than 100 car crashes in the last five years, according to data from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).
The FHP found that 127 collisions have happened in the same area where the semi truck lost control. The majority of the crashes have taken place at a curve in the interstate that is located just past an on-ramp.
The only accident that has been fatal of the 127 that have happened in the past five years was the one that happened Tuesday, according to FHP.
The crash report indicates that the semi lost control while travelling south and smashed into a concrete barrier and hit a car in the right hand lane. The 21-year-old driver of the car and her 23-year-old passenger were killed. The 65-year-old driver of the semi truck suffered no injuries.
According to the FHP, they have handled 109 of the 127 crashes that have resulted in 33 injuries. The other 18 collisions resulted in 6 injuries and were handled by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
The fatal accident that happened Tuesday is one of 22 that has occurred near the I-95 and Lem Turner Road interchange. The majority of these accidents were caused by off-road or rear-end wrecks.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is responsible for examining the roadways and identifying if any improvements need to be made. Cost, speed limit reductions, restructuring intersections, and other safety projects are looked at after accidents happen. FDOT will be reviewing the roadway to determine what needs to be done to make it safer for drivers.
The FHP said that Tuesday’s fatal crash is still being investigated and that charges are pending.
Semi truck collisions can be caused by numerous factors, some of the most common being:
Federal Highway Trucking Regulations Suspended in March Due to Coronavirus
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), who oversees trucking regulations, temporarily suspended the mandate that dictates how many hours that truck drivers are allowed to drive back in March when the novel coronavirus first entered the scene in the U.S. The Trump Administration did this in an effort to get more goods out to people for emergency relief due to the global pandemic. These regulations are implemented to protect drivers sharing the roadways with semi trucks from truck drivers who have been operating their vehicles for prolonged periods of time. The rules are as follows: a truck driver can drive 11 hours in a 14 hour time frame. After this, they are required to take 10 hours off.
While the details surrounding the cause of this crash are not clear yet, it is true that tired truck drivers are operating on America’s roads. This is a danger for the foreseeable future.
If you are injured or have lost a loved one in a semi truck or tractor trailer accident, our Florida Semi Truck Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton want to remind you that we have the knowledge and experience needed to handle these types of cases. The trucking industry must follow strict regulations, but companies will do everything they can to find loopholes in these rules to protect at-fault drivers that have caused serious accidents. We know how these companies operate and how to investigate these types of cases so that those harmed can achieve justice.
We want to help you recover financial compensation from all parties responsible for any acts of recklessness or negligence. We may not be able to undo what has already been done, but we can fight to make sure that full and fair compensation is recovered from those responsible.
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