Catastrophic Semi-Truck Accidents
In September, a driver was killed after losing control of his pickup truck creating a Semi-Truck Accident in Tampa Bay. It was an otherwise uneventful afternoon on the Veterans Expressway, before the day took a tragic, and deadly, turn. Police say that the male driver was traveling north, when he lost control of his truck, entered the outer shoulder of the road, and slammed into a concrete wall.
After the initial impact, police say, the truck careened back into the road and struck the axles of a semi-truck. The semi then jack-knifed as both vehicles hurdled into the barrier wall and were engulfed in flames. The accident resulted in untold loss for the victims and their families and caused the northbound roadway to be closed down for several hours.
Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore Discusses the Rise of Semi-Truck Accidents in Tampa Bay
Here at Wagner Law, our experienced Tampa Bay personal injury attorneys have worked on all kinds of shocking and traumatic auto accident cases. But it is always disquieting to hear first-hand about the damage and terror that a semi-truck accident can create.
Unfortunately, these types of accidents are only increasing in prevalence in the state of Florida. According to the NHSTA, Florida is Number #3 nationally for traffic fatalities that involve semi-trucks.
Because of the size, mass, and sheer power of these commercial cargo vehicles, accidents that involve large commercial trucks can be far more dangerous than ordinary accidents. As any experienced Semi-Truck Accident Attorney in Tampa Bay will tell you, the stories, the injuries, and the damage that can result from these accidents are enormous. As a driver on Florida roads, you should understand the elevated risks involved in such accidents.
If you’ve spent any time near a highway, you’ll be familiar with the noise that semi-trucks make when they must come to a stop on a declining stretch of road. It sounds something like two incredibly enormous pieces of rubber scraping together. This is what truck drivers refer to as the “jimmy break.” It is a breaking system located not in any of the wheel drums, but within the engine itself. It is a system designed to slow the tremendously powerful machine that delivers power to the wheels. In addition to this exotic braking system, semi-trucks also have conventional breaks within the drums of their wheels. That should give you some idea of the fantastic amount of power these trucks generate, and the forces that must be overcome before they can come to a complete stop.
As a Tampa Bay Catastrophic Accident Attorney with more than fifty years of experience, Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore will tell you that nearly every collision incident involving one of these monster vehicles is as terrifying as it is potentially deadly.
If there is any good news to be shared on this topic, it is the fact that most road-bound cargo services, rendered using these huge trucks, are owned by large trucking corporations. That means if you have been hurt, suffered property damage, or both in a semi-truck accident, you are more likely to have a full measure of legal recourse. Any good trucking company will be well insured, and if you deserve compensation for your damages, then a Tampa Bay Catastrophic Injury Attorney can help.
If you have been the victim of a semi-truck accident and are either not at fault or share some fault with the semi-truck driver, you need to speak to a qualified Tampa Bay Truck Accident Attorney. After such a traumatic event, handling legal documents, filing papers, and the stress of dealing with health care bills can be a huge burden to shoulder. A Tampa Bay Semi-Truck Accident Attorney will handle the red tape and the legal work for you, working hard to maximize any compensation you may be owed. That will leave you free to focus your energies where they need to be: on fully recovering and moving on with your life.
Get in touch with Wagner Law today to learn more.
Driving is an important part of everyday American life. Over the course of our lives, most of us will spend tens of thousands of hours behind the wheel, if not more. That being the case, it is all but a certainty that at some point you will encounter an accident, even if you aren’t involved. You may have heard about the recent incident in which a firefighter was seriously injured and another individual was killed. The crash closed northbound lanes of US 19 at Innisbrook Drive for several hours.
Here at Wagner Law, our team of Tampa Bay personal injury attorneys are deeply concerned any time we hear about accidents like this one –especially about the problem of so-called “pile-up accidents.” Incidents like these pose not only a terrible problem of danger to the victims but also a significant challenge to any good Tampa Bay car accident lawyer.
As firetrucks arrived on the scene, they were struck by trucks going in the opposite direction. Sadly, this is a danger that first responders must deal with on a regular basis. Given this danger, it is so important that passing cars and onlookers know how to respond when they witness or come upon an accident on the road.
The question so many people ask their Tampa Bay car accident attorney is, “What’s the best thing to do if I witness an accident?” Whether you witness the accident as it happens, or come upon the scene moments later, there are certain things you should do and should not do.
Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore on What to Do if You Encounter the Scene of an Accident
The list of things to do and not to do are ranked with deference to the prevention of further accident and injury. Everything you do and do not do should be prioritized by that one principle.
Be Alert
The first step must be preventative in nature. It is critical that drivers be alert when they are behind the wheel, looking ahead as much as practicable; scanning for danger before you encounter an accident is a skill that every driver should develop. This includes being aware of the sounds and light patterns that emergency vehicles use. Become familiar with the various sounds ambulances, firetrucks, and police vehicles employ. Knowing these things will help you respond accordingly.
Keep Your Distance
This may be the most important thing to keep in mind and to do at or near the scene of an accident. Do whatever it takes to not contribute to the accident by becoming an obstruction to first responders. In some cases, people are compelled to view the scene of a crash. If someone you know is involved, this may be understandable. If you must observe, move your vehicle away from the accident and watch on foot from a reasonable and safe distance.
Can You Help?
If you saw the accident take place, your description of the event may be valuable to police and other first responders. You may observe from a distance, as described above, and wait for the time and opportunity to tell police, firefighters, and EMTs anything you saw which you believe might help.
If you are willing and able, you might use any road flairs or road cones you may have to create a warning for drivers coming toward the scene. Do not deploy your cones or flairs in the middle of the road and do not attempt to cordon off the crash area yourself. Simply deploy your alert traffic devices on the shoulder of the road, perhaps several yards apart, along a quarter-mile of road approaching the scene. This should not create an obstruction of any kind but should only warn drivers that they are approaching a hazard.
Of course, you are not obligated to do any of these things if you are not involved in the accident. The most important thing is to be alert enough to see the accident before you reach it and to get clear of the area as quickly as possible.
When to Call a Tampa Bay Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in an auto accident, and believe you deserve compensation, an accident attorney in Tampa Bay at Wagner Law is standing by to help.
