A Ponce de Leon man has died after losing control of his truck in Calhoun County. The 68-year-old log-truck driver was on Highway 20 near SW Bob Mayo Lane when the accident happened.
According to officials, the driver caused the truck’s loaded trailer to flip when he made an abrupt turn near a right shoulder. As a result of the maneuver, the logs that had been secured to the truck broke loose and hit the cab of the truck, which then hit a utility pole.
There were no other vehicles involved. The driver died as a result of the injuries sustained in the crash.
When truck accidents cause catastrophic injury and death
When an accident happens involving a large truck or semi, the sheer size of such a large vehicle can contribute to catastrophic injury or death. A fully loaded commercial truck weighs many times more than a passenger car, and when it is hauling hazardous or highly flammable material, there can be severe secondary injuries or death in a post-collision fire or explosion.
Because trucks are prone to jackknifing under slippery road conditions or when they are forced to break suddenly, the risk of serious injury goes up when they are driving under adverse road conditions or in heavy traffic.
Truck wrecks cause thousands of deaths in the United States each year, not to mention millions of dollars in catastrophic injury claims and property loss. According to the FMCSA, of the 37,133 lives lost in motor vehicle crashes in 2017, large trucks and buses accounted for 13% of those traffic fatalities.
Coping with the aftermath of a serious wreck
There are significant injuries and financial damages in a serious accident that victims may not recover from for a long time. Crash victims and their families must deal with medical treatment or rehabilitation, and it can be challenging to get insurance companies to pay out needed compensation.
If the other driver was distracted, drowsy or otherwise negligent, it is possible to pursue a claim for damages as long as this is done within the Florida statute of limitations, which is four years. If the truck driver works for a shipping or trucking company, the employer may also be liable for the accident. Establishing if there were violations of hours-of-service or weight limits, or if the driver was improperly trained, is an important part of any successful lawsuit.
It is essential for Florida residents to seek experienced legal assistance serving the Tallahassee community when pursuing full compensation for a victim’s injury or loss.