While commercial trucks serve as a vital part to the economy, they also account for an unfortunate large amount of accidents resulting from driver negligence. Luckily for us, not just anyone can jump into a tractor-trailer and drive it down the roads of Florida. Operators of commercial vehicles, such as tractor-trailers must obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) before they may begin driving. In order to obtain a CDL, a driver must first possess a non-CDL license, apply for a commercial learner’s permit (CLP), pass a vision test, and pass a skills test. The skills test includes aspects such as vehicle inspection, basic controls, and a commercial driving road test.
While commercial vehicle operators are held to similar standards as operators of regular motor vehicles, there are some additional precautions they must take before and during the operation of these vehicles. For example, they must inspect their vehicle to ensure they are in a proper operating condition, they must not operate their vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater, and they may not operate their vehicle for more than 14 consecutive hours.
Unfortunately, even these extra precautions cannot prevent all operators of commercial vehicles from driving their vehicles negligently. In 2014, there were over 2,000 commercial vehicle-related accidents in Hillsborough County alone. Due to the sheer size of these vehicles, it is no shock that these accidents can have a devastating effect on the injured person’s life. Injuries that can result from commercial vehicle related injuries can be, but are not limited to, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or even death.
Although every accident is different, some of the most common causes of commercial vehicle accidents are as follows:
Excessive speed
Improper lane change
Driver fatigue
Operator blind spots
Failure to maintain vehicle in a proper manner
Incorrect cargo loading
If you are the victim of an automobile accident caused by one of these acts of negligence, you may be wondering who is going to be responsible for your injuries. Typically, there are a number of parties that may be responsible. The most common parties will be: the insurance company for the commercial vehicle, the owner of the commercial vehicle, the operator’s employer, and the operator himself.
If you have been injured in a commercial vehicle accident, you may be entitled to, amongst other things, compensation for you injuries, medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages. In order to ensure the best outcome for yourself, you will need to hire an aggressive attorney who is experienced in handling commercial vehicle accident cases. At Dennis Hernandez & Associates, we are committed to helping injured parties get the representation and compensation they deserve. If you have been injured in a commercial vehicle-related accident, feel free to contact us at (813) 250-0000 to find out more about how we can help you recover for your injuries.
