Can I Do Anything To Prevent Tractor-Trailer Accidents?

Unfortunately, tractor-trailer accidents happen with regularity on Florida roads, and the injuries they cause can be severe or even fatal. While there is only so much one can do to keep themselves safe on the road, there are a handful of tips that both tractor-trailer and automobile drivers can use in order to increase the odds they will get home alive – and to avoid being held liable for causing injury to another.

Don’t Drive Distracted

It is becoming more and more common for drivers to be distracted behind the wheel – everyone might take their attention off the road momentarily, but far too many drivers admit to engaging in behaviors like texting and driving, which is both illegal in Florida and unwise. State law holds that in order to establish negligence in car accident cases, a plaintiff must show that the defendant breached their duty to exercise reasonable care (a duty owed by every road user to every other). The mere act of texting and driving breaks a law, which establishes a prima facie finding of negligence even without arguing other points of law.

Allow Space

Whether in a large tractor-trailer or a small car, it is pivotal to leave a healthy amount of space behind a tractor-trailer on the road. Large trucks, carrying significant amounts of weight, require much longer to stop than smaller or lighter vehicles do, and as such, have to be given plenty of space to accomplish that objective. If you are following a tractor-trailer too closely, the vehicle will not have time to stop, and you may wind up rear-ending it, or ‘under-riding’ it, meaning your vehicle could get lodged underneath the tractor-trailer if it is smaller.

Avoid Blind Spots

It is generally true that if you cannot see a tractor-trailer’s mirrors, the driver cannot see you. While this truism is usually aimed at automobile drivers, this can also be true for some tractor-trailers, particularly those shorter and lighter. Regardless, attempting to pass or swerve when in a tractor-trailer’s blind spot will mean the driver has little to no time to react, and is more likely to cause serious injury.

Know Your Options

If you are so unlucky as to be involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer, it is crucial that you be aware of your options for seeking compensation, as it is likely your injuries will be serious. Florida law allows an injured driver to file suit against a negligent driver, as opposed to requiring they file claims with their personal injury protection (PIP) insurance carrier, if their injuries meet a certain injury threshold – generally, if they are “significant and permanent.” Whether you intend to file suit or not, contacting an attorney may be a good idea regardless.

Contact A Tampa Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney

No matter what type of vehicle you are driving, an accident with a tractor-trailer can lead to injury or even death. If you have been through this type of accident, a Tampa tractor-trailer attorney from the Rinaldo Law Group can offer compassionate and knowledgeable representation to guide you through the legal process. We are ready to work for you – call us today for a free consultation.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.305.html