Broward Rollover Closes Sawgrass Expressway

In May 2024, a rollover accident involving a tractor-trailer closed most of the lanes on the Sawgrass Expressway. The tractor-trailer wound up on its side, spilling trash onto the road, and while a white vehicle with clear damage was spotted off to one side, authorities were unwilling to release any information about the vehicle or its driver. They also did not disclose any injuries or fatalities – but in the event of a rollover accident, injuries are disproportionately probable.

Rollover Crashes Are Potentially Deadly

Rollover accidents have been known to be disproportionately dangerous, even when compared to other crashes. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that the fatality rate for this type of accident is generally higher than average, and the major factor found in fatal rollover crashes is speed. The majority of rollovers tend to be single-vehicle crashes, but this does not mean that another driver might not play a role in causing the crash itself.

A ‘single-vehicle’ crash simply means that only one vehicle crashed – it does not mean that there was no potential intervening cause that resulted in injury to the driver or passengers. In the accident on the Sawgrass Expressway, it is plausible that the tractor-trailer was the only vehicle to roll over, but either the vehicle or its cargo could have led to the white vehicle sustaining damage and/or its driver being injured. If you have been in a similar type of accident, it is still possible that you could seek compensation from the driver and their employer (or certain other defendants) for any damages you sustained.

Who Was Negligent?

If you have been injured in a rollover crash, whether it was your vehicle or another that rolled over, you do have the right to seek compensation. These types of accident cases require extensive preparation and concrete evidence, such as witness statements and the ‘black box’ data from the devices installed in most tractor-trailers – trucking companies actually have a duty, under Florida law, to ‘protect the public,’ which includes everything from training their employees properly to preserving records of work performed.

As of this writing, no further information has been released about the Sawgrass Expressway incident, but if the driver of the white vehicle chose to file suit against the tractor-trailer driver and their employer, they might have a case, even though the tractor-trailer got the worst of the alleged collision. Negligence requires proving three things: (1) that the driver failed to exercise reasonable care with regard to other road users; (2) tangible injuries suffered by the plaintiff; and (3) a showing that the driver’s breach of duty was the direct cause of the plaintiff’s injuries. Establishing those points means a prima facie case for negligence exists.

Contact A Tampa Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney

It remains to be seen whether any kind of litigation will result from the Sawgrass accident. If you have been involved in a rollover crash, specifically one involving a tractor-trailer, you may want to pursue a case yourself. A Tampa tractor-trailer accident attorney from the Rinaldo Law Group can help you determine how best to handle your situation. Contact our office today for a free consultation.

Source:

msn.com/en-us/news/us/rollover-crash-involving-tractor-trailer-snarls-traffic-on-sawgrass-expressway/ar-BB1mAgWC