Florida regularly witnesses fatal dump truck accidents!
Reports are piling up on dump trucks running red signals and creating nightmares for other drivers on the roads in Florida.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles(FLHSMV), at least 50 fatalities are reported on places like Lee County roadways in 2022.
Let us dive into a recent dump truck accident that snatched the lives of an aged couple and the U.S. truck accident lawsuits. Are you affected by a traumatic truck accident lawsuit?
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On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, 68-years-old Robert Spiker and 71-years old Nancy Spiker from Alva were traveling in their car. They were moving northbound on River Hall Parkway and stopped at a red traffic signal. When the signal turned green, the car moved into the intersection.
Suddenly a dump truck traveling eastbound on Palm Beach Boulevard smashed into their car, causing a deadly T-bone crash on the left side. The couple died tragically with severe injuries.
But how did the mishap happen? Let’s check it out.
The dump truck driving east on Route 80 ran a red light at the intersection and caused the disaster!! After crashing the car, the dump truck came to a controlled stop in the inside lane of eastbound Palm Beach Boulevard, east of the intersection. The truck driver, aged 55, was issued a traffic citation for running the red signal and causing the victim’s death.
Since 2017, the River Hall Community Development District has been fighting to implement a delay between the red and green lights and add flashing warning signs in the dangerous intersection. They want the authorities to lower the speed limit to and from that intersection.
What could be the reasons for the rising dump truck accidents in Florida? Let us dissect it.
- Due to the vast size, dump trucks demand a longer distance to stop safely.
- When the dump truck drivers drive very fast, ignoring the traffic signals, they risk the lives of other motorists.
- When a massive dump truck runs a red light and approaches fast, the other vehicles would not get time to react and be safe.
Now you would understand that if the dump truck drivers obey the traffic signals, the accidents can be avoided.
Factors Contributing to Truck Accidents in Florida
There are major factors that significantly contribute to accidents in the state of Florida. One of the main reasons for making truck accidents deadly and dangerous is “tiredness.” Long hours of restless driving can impair the driver’s judgment and reaction time, increasing the risk of accidents. Sometimes, these accidents may occur due to distracted driving, which includes activities like texting and talking on the phone.
These activities can pose serious risks to both the drivers involved and other vehicles on the same road. Additionally, overspeeding and reckless driving behaviors also contribute to the risk of drivers getting involved in dangerous situations on the highway. This emphasizes the importance of obeying speed limits and practicing defensive driving techniques.
Maintaining the vehicles properly is essential to ensuring that trucks are in good working condition and don’t experience mechanical failures while on the road. By understanding these factors, truck accidents can be less common, and the road safety of every individual can be improved.
What makes the dump truck drivers in Florida so negligent?
Aren’t they well-trained and licensed?
Let us find the answers to these queries.
Florida uses the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) criteria that make it mandatory for dump truck drivers to have a Class B Commercial Driver’s License. With the license, they can operate a vehicle that weighs more than 26,000 pounds but tows less than 10,000 pounds.
What are the requirements to get a Class B Commercial Driver’s License?
- Operator’s license
- Passing a vision test, knowledge and skills test
- Meeting age guidelines
When a negligent dump truck driver causes an accident, he is liable to compensate the victim for his damages. The following are the damages covered in a dump truck accident lawsuit.
- Past, present, and future accident-related medical cost
- Non-medical expenses
- Present and future lost wages and benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Mental agony
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The legal representative can claim the following damages in dump truck accidents involving the victim’s death.
- Lost wages, benefits, and other earnings
- Lost “prospective net accumulations” of the estate
- Medical and funeral expenses
Have you been victimized in a dump truck accident in Florida? Contact the best truck accident lawsuit attorney to know the possibility of your dump truck accident claim.
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1/7 Dump trucks running red lights- Accidents surge in Florida!!
On May 24,2022, a dump truck ran a red light at the intersection of Palm Beach Boulevard and River Hall Parkway, smashing into a car.
Dump Truck Accident Claims…#spiveylawfirm #dumptruckaccident #medlegal360 pic.twitter.com/75G7WYk6VD— MedLegal360.com (@medlegal360) August 3, 2022
