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The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reports just over 24,000 accidents in Palm Beach County each year. West Palm Beach, as the largest city in the county, likely saw the majority of these collisions. However, the data does not note what percentage of these crashes were caused by commercial vehicles.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Large Truck Crash Causation Study, in truck accidents involving a passenger car and a commercial truck, trucks were responsible for 44% of the collisions; passenger vehicles were liable for the balance (56%).
In another study conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), car drivers were at fault in 70% of fatal crashes, compared to 16% for truck drivers. Data was gathered from over 8,300 vehicle crashes in which large trucks were involved.
These are scary numbers. After getting into a truck accident, you’re probably wondering what your legal options are. Our West Palm Beach truck accident lawyer can advise you of your options for your truck accident case, even if you think you may have played a role in its causation.
What makes commercial trucks so dangerous?
Commercial semi-trucks are one of the most likely vehicles to be involved in fatal traffic collisions. When fully loaded, semis weigh about 80,000 pounds, nearly 20 times more than what a car or SUV weighs. The sheer inertia of the truck means that it causes severe physical trauma to occupants in any smaller vehicle it collides with.
While our statistics indicate that car drivers are primarily responsible for many large truck crashes, they also bear the brunt of the consequences, including permanent disability or death.
How do drivers in passenger vehicles cause large truck crashes?
Trucks are unwieldy and difficult to maneuver, and require more time and distance to stop. This makes a crash with a driver zooming in and out of traffic, or cutting them off and slamming on the brakes, a lot more likely.
While truck accidents can arise in an endless range of situations, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), these are the most common causes.
Distracted driving
There’s a reason texting and driving is illegal in Florida, but phones aren’t the only distraction that takes a motorist’s attention off the road. Navigating directions from the GPS, unruly passengers or pets, or eating or putting on makeup can all take the driver’s attention away from surrounding traffic.
Driving under the influence
Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol pose a hazard to everyone on the road, including themselves. Certain drugs can delay your reflexes or make you drowsy and dangerous behind the wheel. Taking medication with indications not to operate heavy machinery after use or driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher (0.04% or higher for commercial drivers) can result in DWI or DUI charges and render you liable for accidents you cause.
Driver fatigue
Drowsy driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. Driving after being awake for 17 consecutive hours is the equivalent of driving with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.05% (a BAC above the legal limit for commercial drivers). After 24 hours, it’s the equivalent of driving with a BAC of 0.10%. If you’re tired, you may make avoidable mistakes that cause a serious collision.
Your rights matter after a large truck crash
Truck accidents can cause serious injuries and overwhelming medical bills. Whether you were driving the passenger vehicle or you were the commercial truck driver, you deserve to understand your rights, and you may be entitled to compensation, even if you think you were partly at fault.
Have you been hurt in a truck accident and need help getting compensation for your injuries and property damage? We can help you secure a fair settlement. Call Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath today at (561) 655-1990 for a free case review.