Will There Be Consequences For A Negligent Tractor-Trailer Driver?
The most recent available data reported by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) states that around 4800 people died in accidents involving large trucks in 2022. In addition, the likelihood of severe injury is generally higher than in accidents between passenger cars, trucks, or SUVs. For as many accidents happen each day, there are just as many different reasons why they happen – but if a crash can be laid at the door of the tractor-trailer driver, one may wonder what consequences that driver might face. The answer will of course depend on the specifics of an individual case, but it is important for injured drivers to have faith that whomever caused their crash will face some kind of consequence.
The Cost Of The Crash
As one might imagine, the more severe the crash (and the attendant injuries), the higher potential that the driver will face long-term consequences. If a driver causes an accident that does not lead to serious injury or significant property damages, there is no reason to impose serious punishment in most cases. If a driver is held to be at fault for life-changing injuries or multiple vehicles being totaled, they may not only face consequences at work (up to and including termination) – they may face criminal penalties if the negligence is severe enough.
It is important to keep in mind that even if a truck driver is not necessarily negligent, they still may face pay cuts or termination at work simply because the business must assess the risk of keeping them employed. It might be found that a driver was not liable for an injured plaintiff’s injuries once, but afterward, many employers cannot accept having to worry about such an employee being held liable for another crash in the future.
Do Not Be Motivated By Vengeance
All this being said, it is important for an injured plaintiff to focus more on becoming ‘whole’ than on “sticking it” to a defendant. The civil law system is intended to make an injured plaintiff whole, in the sense of providing damages. Many civil defendants are not malicious or intent on causing pain; rather, most of the time, this type of traffic crash occurs due to negligence. Negligence is seen as a lesser “evil” than malice; a lack of intent to cause pain will generally result in a less serious penalty.
That said, the concept of gross negligence does exist, and it is seen as more serious than ordinary negligence. Under Florida law, it is defined as conduct “so reckless or wanting in care” that it rises to the level of “conscious disregard” for human life or safety. In other words, conduct so outstandingly negligent that one could presume the perpetrator did not care if anyone else was harmed by their actions. Gross negligence is not a colloquial discussion; it is a legal concept, and if you have been the victim of a grossly negligent driver, you may be entitled to punitive damages in addition to recovering for the initial harm you suffered.
Contact A Tampa Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney
If you have been involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer, enlisting the right Tampa tractor-trailer accident attorney can make all the difference between recovering on your own and recovering the damages you deserve for what you have been through. The Rinaldo Law Group has handled many of these cases, and will work hard on yours – call us today to set up a free consultation.
Source:
iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/large-trucks
