Articles Posted in Truck Accidents

A 28-year-old Dade City man was killed Saturday night when the pickup truck he was driving rolled over and ejected him. 

The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) believes the man has issues negotiating a curve in the road around 10:50 p.m. near Zephyrhills. 

His truck left the road and rolled over on the shoulder. He was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the FHP. 

Any type of motor vehicle crash can be dangerous, but a truck rollover is especially risky as the truck usually crushes whatever is in its path. A pickup rollover collision can result in serious injuries and even death. If you or someone you love has been involved in a truck rollover crash, you need legal help right away so that you can understand whether or not you can seek financial compensation for the damages incurred in the accident. Our Tampa Truck Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help you determine if you can file a personal injury or wrongful death claim. 

Trucks can rollover for a variety of reasons, but the two main ones include having an uneven load and driver error. Our Truck Accident Lawyers often see rollovers happen as a result of: 

• Speeding and failing to negotiate a curve in the road
• Speeding in inclement weather 
• Steering errors
• Poorly loaded cargo
• Cargo that has not been secured properly 

What Should I Do After a Truck Accident in Tampa? 

• Get Police to the Scene 

You absolutely MUST file an accident report when you are involved in a crash with a truck. Even if you think you are not injured and there is no damage or very little damage to your car, you need to get a police report of the crash so that you have this crucial piece of evidence if your case does move forward to trial. 

• Get Medical Care ASAP

After any type of crash, you need to make sure you get medical attention as your health is the number one priority. Certain types of injuries may not show symptoms for a few weeks or months, so you need to get checked out by a doctor to rule out any injuries. Keep in mind that if you refuse medical care, then this could be used against you later on in court. 

• File a Report with Your Insurance Company 

This is where things can get tricky. Our Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can walk you through this process and make sure you do not say anything that may be used against you later on. But, if you speak with insurance adjusters before reaching out to us, just remember to watch what you say and keep conversations at the scene of the crash to a minimum. If you end up speaking with the at-fault party’s insurance provider, stick to the facts and don’t offer up any extra information. 

• Call Our Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers at 813-221-3200 or Contact Us Online

We are truck accident attorneys in Tampa that understand the complicated liability factors that arise in truck accident cases. We will immediately gather evidence for your case, contact the insurance companies involved, and fight for your rightful compensation.  Continue reading

Two men were killed in head-on crash in Hillsborough County early Saturday morning around 3:50 a.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).  

The crash occurred on U.S. 301 in Thonotosassa and involved a 29-year-old Dade City man who was behind the wheel of a pickup truck heading north. For reasons that have yet to be confirmed, the 29-year-old driver crossed into the path of a 61-year-old Zephyrhills man travelling south in an SUV. 

The FHP reported that the two vehicles smashed into each other, causing the SUV to rollover, fall off a bridge, and ultimately land in a ditch. The pickup spun and landed in the northbound lane. 

Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. 

Reports confirmed that both drivers were wearing seatbelts. 

Pickup trucks that are full-sized are used for various purposes, including everyday travel for personal use and even tools of the trade for certain industries and professions. Construction companies often use these trucks as part of their fleet for their workers to carry heavy tools and supplies to and from job sites. Landscapers and other industries also utilize pickup trucks for their business. 

Pickup trucks come in half, three-quarter, and even 1-ton size varieties, so they are larger and heavier than most passenger vehicles, which makes them more dangerous to be involved in an accident with. If you or a loved one is harmed in a pickup truck accident, then it is very important to understand your rights for holding the at-fault driver liable so that you can recover financial compensation for your injuries and all other damages.  

What You Need to Know About Pickup Truck Accidents

While most pickup trucks do not require a special license in order to drive, they are used quite often as commercial vehicles. When a company leases or buys a pickup truck for their workers to drive, this dynamic can change the financial responsibility for the crash. In these cases, the at-fault driver of the truck can be responsible as well as the company that owns the truck. Accidents involving company-owned trucks can be harder to negotiate with for a variety of reasons, including: 

• Insurance: Pickup trucks that are used as part of a fleet for a business may have commercial vehicle insurance. For these purposes, it must be known what is exactly covered and how to maximize payouts when it comes to this kind of insurance. 
• Liability of the Employer: Even if an employee was driving the pickup truck, the owner of the truck/company may still be responsible for the accident. 
• Worker’s Compensation: Any employee drivers who are harmed in a pickup truck accident owned by the company could be eligible for worker’s comp. 

There are various aspects that must be explored when it comes to pickup truck accidents. For these reasons, legal representation can be quite beneficial for pickup truck accidents, especially when the truck is classified as a commercial vehicle. This increases the complexity of the case, so you will need an attorney who fully understands insurance laws and nuances, so that you can get the compensation that you need and deserve. Our Tampa Truck Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton are experienced truck accident lawyers that specialize in commercial trucking accidents, so we know how to investigate these accidents and what to look for to achieve maximum compensation for the victims involved.  Continue reading

A fiery crash between Florida rapper Tafia and a tractor-trailer last month shut down all lanes of SR-112/Airport Expressway in the early morning hours.

The collision occurred near NW 12th Avenue a short time after 3:30 a.m.

The tractor-trailer driver claims the other vehicle involved in the crash was speeding on the shoulder at the time of the crash, according to reports. 

Officials said that the truck smashed into a concrete barrier, which caused the 100 gallons of fuel it was carrying to burst into flames. 

The truck driver was luckily able to kick open the door of his cab and exit the vehicle. 

Four people were involved in the accident, but none were reported to have suffered serious injuries, according to Miami Fire Rescue.

One of the people in the SUV that was involved in the crash with the truck was North Miami rapper Tafia, according to reports.  

According to Miami Fire Rescue, the firefighters at the scene were able to extinguish the flames in about 10-15 minutes. The Miami-Dade County Environmental Resources Management Team was also on the scene to assist with fuel that was leaking into a storm drain. 

Motor vehicles are involved in thousands of crashes on Florida roadways every year that result in tragic consequences from costly repairs to fix damaged vehicles to serious personal injuries, road shutdowns, and even death. The truth is that the trucking industry is involved in a good portion of car accidents across the country each year. 

If you happen to be involved in an accident with a tractor trailer or large semi-truck, then you are much more likely to suffer catastrophic consequences as a result. Big rigs and commercial trucks weigh anywhere from 20 to 30 times more than your typical passenger vehicles on the roads, so it is easy to see why accidents with these vehicles can bring about tragic results. 

All vehicles—cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles—can cause traffic accidents for a variety of different reasons. Speeding, distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or prescription or over the counter meds, and fatigue are all leading causes of truck accidents. 

Our Florida Truck Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton have an experienced team of truck accident attorneys on staff with decades of experience handling personal injury law cases. We are happy to offer you or your family members a free case evaluation following a truck accident so that you can fully understand your legal options.  

Our Recommended Steps To Take After A Truck Accident in Florida

We know how frightening it can be when you are involved in a collision with large vehicles. Timing can be a very important factor when it comes to gathering evidence that can help with the process of filing a personal injury claim, so we always recommend contacting local authorities so that they can get to the crash site and preserve critical evidence. 

If you have been injured or suffered damages to your vehicle in a truck accident, then we urge you to follow these important steps: 

1. Call for help – Dial 9-1-1

Safety is the number one priority following a collision. If you or anyone else at the scene is injured, or could be, then call 9-1-1 right away so that everyone can get immediate medical attention and so that the police can be notified. 

Medical records and an official police report are very important to support your claim after a truck accident. Once law enforcement has arrived at the scene, they can take notes of the accident, the time and location the accident occurred, and take statements from any witnesses or other drivers involved. 

We want to reiterate how important it is to get medical care right away whenever you are involved in an accident. Even if you do not think your injuries are serious, you still need to be checked out by a doctor to rule out any complications that could present themselves later on. 

2. Get as much information as you can 

If you are able to, get as much information as you can from drivers, passengers, and any witnesses of the accident. You can get their names, phone numbers, email addresses, license plate numbers, driver’s license information, and insurance information. Any information you can obtain might prove useful when it comes to recovering damages following an accident. 

3. Take pictures/videos 

Take pictures of your injuries, the crash site, and any property damage so that this can support your claim. While police should collect their own photos for evidence to keep with the accident report, it can be a good idea to take your own just in case important evidence is missed, lost, or even destroyed. 

4. Contact our Truck Accident Attorneys 

Once you are medically cleared, you want to assert your legal rights, but doing this on your own is not a good idea. The best thing you can do is to reach out to our Florida Truck Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton as we can guide you through the injury claims process and help protect your legal interests.  Continue reading

A semi truck lost control Tuesday and slammed into a car, resulting in the death of two young people. 

The accident occurred along Interstate 95 near Lem Turner Road is the same roadway that has been the crash site for more than 100 car crashes in the last five years, according to data from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). 

The FHP found that 127 collisions have happened in the same area where the semi truck lost control. The majority of the crashes have taken place at a curve in the interstate that is located just past an on-ramp.  

The only accident that has been fatal of the 127 that have happened in the past five years was the one that happened Tuesday, according to FHP. 

The crash report indicates that the semi lost control while travelling south and smashed into a concrete barrier and hit a car in the right hand lane. The 21-year-old driver of the car and her 23-year-old passenger were killed. The 65-year-old driver of the semi truck suffered no injuries. 

According to the FHP, they have handled 109 of the 127 crashes that have resulted in 33 injuries. The other 18 collisions resulted in 6 injuries and were handled by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. 

The fatal accident that happened Tuesday is one of 22 that has occurred near the I-95 and Lem Turner Road interchange. The majority of these accidents were caused by off-road or rear-end wrecks.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is responsible for examining the roadways and identifying if any improvements need to be made. Cost, speed limit reductions, restructuring intersections, and other safety projects are looked at after accidents happen. FDOT will be reviewing the roadway to determine what needs to be done to make it safer for drivers. 

The FHP said that Tuesday’s fatal crash is still being investigated and that charges are pending.

Semi truck collisions can be caused by numerous factors, some of the most common being: 

• Drivers operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Drivers who are fatigued or drowsy
• Drivers who are distracted by their phones, navigation devices, the radio, etc. 
• Speeding drivers
• Inclement weather
• Road hazards or dangerous conditions
• Trucks that are not properly maintained
• Poor visibility
• Construction zones

Federal Highway Trucking Regulations Suspended in March Due to Coronavirus 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), who oversees trucking regulations, temporarily suspended the mandate that dictates how many hours that truck drivers are allowed to drive back in March when the novel coronavirus first entered the scene in the U.S. The Trump Administration did this in an effort to get more goods out to people for emergency relief due to the global pandemic. These regulations are implemented to protect drivers sharing the roadways with semi trucks from truck drivers who have been operating their vehicles for prolonged periods of time. The rules are as follows: a truck driver can drive 11 hours in a 14 hour time frame. After this, they are required to take 10 hours off. 

While the details surrounding the cause of this crash are not clear yet, it is true that tired truck drivers are operating on America’s roads. This is a danger for the foreseeable future. 

If you are injured or have lost  a loved one in a semi truck or tractor trailer accident, our Florida Semi Truck Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton want to remind you that we have the knowledge and experience needed to handle these types of cases. The trucking industry must follow strict regulations, but companies will do everything they can to find loopholes in these rules to protect at-fault drivers that have caused serious accidents. We know how these companies operate and how to investigate these types of cases so that those harmed can achieve justice. 

We want to help you recover financial compensation from all parties responsible for any acts of recklessness or negligence. We may not be able to undo what has already been done, but we can fight to make sure that full and fair compensation is recovered from those responsible. 

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