Overturned Tractor-Trailer Blocks I-95 Lanes

In November 2024, a tractor-trailer overturned on I-95 S near Palm Beach Gardens, blocking the right lane traffic for a significant amount of time and causing at least one more tractor-trailer to crash. The Florida Highway Patrol said that injuries had occurred in the crash, but declined to elaborate further – a fairly standard outcome, in accidents involving tractor-trailers, and in turn, accidents involving overturned tractor-trailers are more common than one might think, and the injuries possible for both the driver and anyone else involved can be life-threatening.

Disproportionately Deadly

Tractor-trailers are fairly solidly built vehicles, but they have a different center of gravity than a standard civilian vehicle, and depending on different factors, may be prone to overturning. A rollover accident in any vehicle can be frightening, but a crash where a tractor-trailer rolls over is disproportionately more likely to result in serious injury or death simply because of the size and speed of such vehicles. Data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that 45 percent of the fatalities in large truck occupants could specifically be attributed to rollover crashes.

While a strong majority of rollover accidents only result in one vehicle overturning, this does not mean that another driver may not be liable. One of the most common scenarios for a tractor-trailer rollover accident is when another vehicle swerves or drives recklessly, causing the tractor-trailer driver to slam on the brakes or take evasive action. This in turn “trips” the vehicle – that is, it stops abruptly enough where the tires leave the road, making it impossible to control.

Seeking Damages

In the Palm Gardens accident, it is possible that the first tractor-trailer’s crash was the cause of the second tractor-trailer crash, which could open up the driver and their employer to liability. If you have been injured in this type of accident, however, it can be difficult – though not impossible – to establish a case against them. This type of case is rooted in (alleged) negligence – the truck driver had a duty to exercise reasonable care toward other road users, and allegedly failed to exercise that duty, which resulted in your injuries.

Another potential tactic is to involve the driver’s employer. If you can show that the driver was acting within the scope of their employment at the time of the accident, their employer may be liable for your injuries, due to a theory known as vicarious liability. This is not always successful, but with the right legal help, you may be able to prove your case. A tractor-trailer accident often results in serious expenses after the fact, and a jury award can help to ease the financial burden.

Contact A Tampa Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney

While it remains to be seen what the ultimate fallout of the Palm Gardens crash will be, know that you have the right to seek money damages if you find yourself in a similar situation. A Tampa tractor-trailer accident attorney from the Rinaldo Law Group can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.

Source:

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