Not all Commercial Trucking Accidents are Driver Error

A career in commercial truck driving demands a lot out of an individual. Whether they are driving an 18 wheeler semi –tractor trailer, a dump truck, a postal vehicle, or any other type of large commercial vehicle, they are often driving for long hours while operating a very large machine with a lot of moving parts. As a result of this occupational demand, and the fact that they are driving amongst everyday commuters, accidents are going to happen. At Dolman Law Group, we often have clients who were victims of an accident because of negligent driving from either a commercial truck driver or a regular motorist.

However, not all accidents involving commercial trucks in the Tampa Bay area are due to driver error. As mentioned above, many of these large vehicles have moving parts. This can lead to a part of the vehicle breaking or malfunctioning while in transport and lead to an accident. An example of a situation like this is an accident that occurred back in April.

A dump truck was travelling eastbound on I-4 when a front tire separated from the truck. As a result, the dump truck veered off of the road, crashed through the guardrail and into westbound traffic I-4 where it was involved in a fatal 4-car wreck, killing one man on the scene. The other victims involved in the accident suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

It is required by Florida law that the maintenance logs of each vehicle are completed and updated in accordance to federal and state statutes. The driver should have also checked to make sure that the tires were not defective or excessively worn down before operation, along with checking to make sure the brakes, axels, and all other moving parts were working and secured properly. These types of accidents are almost always preventable if the operator or company takes the necessary safety precautions before each time the vehicle is run. It is when shortcuts are taken or laziness sets in when tragedy occurs.

At Dolman Law Group, we have access, and will use, the best experts in the field to determine if a vehicle malfunction was preventable by either proving faulty equipment was used or vehicle maintenance was ignored. Our experienced truck accident attorneys can navigate through the sometimes complex web of state and federal laws regarding commercial trucking procedures. We have the resources to recreate accident scenes and scenarios to determine if the law was violated or not.

If you or your loved one has been a victim of an accident involving the malfunction or improper care of a commercial trucking vehicle, please contact us at Dolman Law Group. We will never represent an insurance company, only the consumer. Our attorneys are available 24/7 and even list their personal cell phone numbers on their business cards. We will work aggressively to maximize our client’s settlement offers, and are not afraid to go to trial if needed.

Dolman Law Group
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33765
727-451-6900