The Causes of Dump Truck Accidents
The Orlando Sentinel recently reported that one person is dead and two other people were seriously injured in an accident along SR-50 in Lake County that involved three vehicles, including a dump truck. The crash reportedly occurred when the dump truck, which was traveling east, crashed into a car from behind and pushed it into incoming westbound traffic. The 28-year-old driver of a 4-door Buick was slowing down to make a left turn when the vehicle was hit by the truck, causing it to crash head-on into a 2005 Nissan SUV driven by a 62-year-old. The SUV driver was pronounced dead at the scene and a second passenger had to be transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center with critical injuries. The Buick driver also had to be transported to the hospital with serious injuries. However, the 33-year-old dump truck driver was not injured in the crash whatsoever.
How Dangerous Can Accidents Involving Dump Trucks Be?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in 2017 alone, there were almost 5,000 large trucks and buses, such as dump trucks, that were involved in fatal crashes. This represents a nine-percent increase from 2016. During that same period, large truck and bus injury crashes also increased four percent from 112,000 in 2016 to 116,000 in 2017.
What Are the Causes of Dump Truck Accidents?
Unfortunately, the unique shape and size of commercial dumping vehicles allows for many factors that can contribute to a collision. These factors include:
- Large blind spots. Unfortunately, vehicles to the side of a dump truck or behind a truck when a driver is backing up are often not visible, which may result in a collision with an approaching or parked car.
- Loose loads. In addition to the fact that cargo can become unbalanced and cause the vehicle to be susceptible to tipping or rolling over, loose loads can also fall off the truck altogether and create hazards on the road for other drivers.
- Bad weather. Larger vehicles are already more difficult to operate than vehicles of a standard size. However, extreme weather conditions can make maneuvering the vehicle even more of a challenge. Wet roads can also create slippery conditions that contribute to causing a collision.
Understanding How Our Lawyers Can Help.
We understand how tragic the implications of a collision with a dump truck can be and we also understand the fact that this kind of accident can have life-altering consequences. When a dump truck driver acts negligently, our law firm wants to make sure these drivers are held accountable and that injured victims like you obtain the compensation you are entitled to. The Orlando truck accidents attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm are the legal team that you can depend on for help because we have substantial experience providing effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person. Contact us for help today.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Jacksonville, Tampa, Bradenton, Miami, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale and Daytona Beach areas.
Resource:
orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-sr-50-lake-county-fatal-crash-20190302-story,amp.html
