Truck accidents in Florida contribute significantly to the state’s total traffic crash numbers. According to Florida truck accident statistics, the state had thousands of crashes annually involving semi trucks, construction vehicles, garbage trucks, and other heavy trucks.
Trucking companies are liable for injuries that result from their negligence in loading, maintaining, and operating their trucks. A Florida truck accident lawyer from Shaked Law Firm, P.A. can help you seek compensation after a collision. Contact us today for a free consultation.
How Shaked Law Firm, P.A. Can Help After a Truck Accident in FL
The attorneys at our law firm have over a century of combined legal experience. We have a record of successfully standing up to trucking companies and their insurers, and we have recovered millions of dollars for injured clients.
When you suffer a significant injury in a collision caused by a negligently operated, loaded, or maintained truck, our attorneys provide the following assistance:
- Reviewing your records and talking to you about your accident
- Analyzing your legal claims and developing a strategy to pursue compensation
- Filing an insurance claim with the trucking company’s insurers and sureties
- Attempting to settle your case through negotiation
- Filing a lawsuit if we cannot resolve your claim
A truck collision often causes permanent injuries due to the crash energy involved. Contact Shaked Law Firm, P.A. to schedule a free consultation to learn how an experienced Florida truck accident attorney from our firm can help you pursue financial compensation for your injuries.
Truck Accidents in Florida: What the Numbers Show
According to the Crash Facts summary, Florida had 47,197 commercial motor vehicle accidents in 2023. This number continues a three-year trend of increasing crash numbers. The state had 47,003 crashes in 2022 and 44,271 collisions in 2021.
This increase could have resulted from a few factors. Truck traffic recovered after the pandemic. Economic activity also increased in the early 2020s.
Notably, the crash total applies to all commercial motor vehicles regulated by the government, including:
- Buses
- Tractor-trailer combinations
- Tractors without trailers
- FedEx and UPS delivery trucks and vans
- Construction equipment
If a truck with a USDOT number is involved in a single- or multiple-vehicle crash, it will generally be counted in the state’s truck crash numbers.
Florida Truck Crash Outcomes
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates commercial vehicles across the U.S. As part of its regulatory role, it requires commercial truck operators to report crashes. According to its statistical database, Florida had 8,830 large truck collisions that caused injury or death.
Specifically, the state’s large truck crashes included:
- 248 fatal accidents
- 8,582 non-fatal injury accidents
These accidents are classified by the most serious injury suffered in the crash. As a result, they do not reflect the total number of people injured.
These crashes caused the following:
- 268 deaths
- 4,423 non-fatal injuries
Notably, those injured or killed in these crashes include motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Truck drivers are less likely to suffer injuries than those they hit because the truck protects them.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents Throughout Florida
Truck accidents occur for diverse reasons, with certain factors being most common:
Mechanical Failure
Heavy trucks are more prone to mechanical failures than automobiles. Worse yet, the stresses experienced by heavy trucks can lead to a catastrophic failure. The following equipment issues can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle or load:
- Brake failure
- Broken tie-downs or anchor points
- Blown tires
- Hitch decoupling
Trucking regulations require companies to maintain their equipment in a safe condition. When they fail to follow maintenance schedules or make necessary repairs, they can cause crashes.
Driver Impairment
Illegal drugs, alcohol, prescription medication, and over-the-counter medicines can affect a driver’s coordination, reflexes, and judgment. They can also make a driver jittery or, conversely, drowsy.
Driving Error
Truck drivers, like all drivers, make mistakes. They speed, disobey stop signs, and make unsafe lane changes. When they make these errors, they can cause severe damage and life-threatening injuries.
Driver Fatigue
Federal regulations require trucking companies to limit a driver’s time on duty. When companies and their drivers violate these rules, drivers may doze off at the wheel. Even if they stay awake, their ability to make snap decisions may be compromised.
Loading Issue
Truck drivers may lose control of their vehicles when their load shifts or falls. Additionally, the load may strike other road users. Even if drivers avoid a falling load, they may hit a fixed obstacle or vehicle when swerving out of the way.
Contact Our Florida Truck Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Truck accidents are far too common on Florida’s roads. Contact us today at Shaked Law Firm, P.A. for a free consultation by calling (305) 937-0191 for a free consultation to discuss your crash and the compensation we can seek for your injury-related losses. Our Florida truck accident lawyers are standing by, ready to help.