Miami Accident Lawyer Blog
There can be no question that truck accidents lead to devastating loss of life, but you may not realize the extent of the problem until you have statistics to put things into perspective. In its Traffic Crash Facts 2018, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported that there are more than 16,000 large truck collisions in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties every year. For injured victims and their families, the physical, financial, and emotional losses are overwhelming.
If you were hurt or lost a loved one in a crash involving a semi, 18-wheeler, or other large truck, Florida law does provide you with options. You can rely on a Miami truck accidents attorney to assist with the legal process and help you recover fair compensation for your losses. Some additional truck crash statistics shed light on the severity of these incidents.
Summary of South Florida Truck Crash Statistics and Trends
There are approximately 3,000 fatalities and injured victims that result from the 16,000 truck accidents that occur in South Florida every year. Breaking these figures down by county:
- Miami-Dade has the highest numbers of casualties, at a three-year average rate of 21 deaths and 1,227 injuries.
- In Broward County, the average is 13 truck accident fatalities and 892 injured victims. It is disturbing to note that the number of deaths more than doubled from 2017 to 2018.
- 15 people die and another 720 are hurt in Palm Beach County truck collisions every year. While the number of fatalities was down from 2017 to 2018, injuries rose by one-third.
Common Moving Violations by Truck Operators
In general, truck accidents happen because of careless acts by truckers. Data on the citations truck drivers most frequently receive for moving violations can shed light on the specific types of negligence:
- Speeding;
- Improper lane changes;
- Following too closely;
- Drunk or drugged driving;
- Improper turns;
- Reckless driving; and,
- Failure to obey a traffic device, i.e., running a red light, or passing in a no-passing zone.
Compensation for Miami Truck Crash Victims
You may be entitled to recover monetary damages from all individuals and entities responsible for causing the truck accident, which may include parties beyond the truck operator and insurance company. The trucker’s employer, owner of the semi, trucking company, and others may share in liability.
The first step in recovering compensation is filing a claim with the truck driver’s insurer, which covers at least $750,000 in damages by law. If the insurance company will not agree to settle, you will have to take your case to court. In a successful claim, you may obtain amounts for:
- Medica costs;
- Pain and suffering; and,
- Emotional distress.
Contact a Miami Truck Accidents Lawyer to Discuss Your Rights
For more information on your legal options as the victim of a truck crash, please contact Gerson & Schwartz, PA. We can set up a free consultation at our offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach, FL. Once we review your circumstances, our team can begin developing a legal strategy for your case.