Jacksonville Truck Accident Lawyers
Jacksonville Truck Accidents
Jacksonville is the largest city in Florida and with two major interstates, I-10 and I-95, intersecting through the heart of the downtown area, creating the busiest intersection in the region with over 200,000 vehicles each day. I-295 forms a beltway around the western part of Jacksonville along with the newly opened 9A running north and south. With all these major transportation highways, the Jacksonville Port, and the military, it's not surprising that Jacksonville, located in Duval County, is leading the rest of Florida cities with the highest number of large-truck accidents.
According to the 2009 report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were 259 large-truck accidents in Jacksonville. Although this number has decreased since 2005, for fiscal year 2010 it had increased to 325, at a time when the number of trucking accidents is on the decline elsewhere.
Large truck accidents can be the most devastating type of vehicular crash, and usually the occupants in the passenger car or SUV are the ones who more likely to be killed or suffer life-changing injuries. Given the enormous size of large trucks compared to passenger cars or even SUVs, the large truck is generally going to fare better. Statistics show that one in nine accidents involve a large truck on the highway. So it is not a question of "if" but "when" you or someone you know will be involved in a Jacksonville truck accident, particularly if you travel any of the main highways.
Accident statistics tell the story:
- In 2008, according to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), Florida ranked a close third in the United States for highest number of fatal truck accidents at 236, with California coming in second at 283, and Texas ranking first with 381 accidents.
- Duval County had 14,102 traffic crashes in 2009, resulting in 114 fatalities.
- In 2009 in Duval County there were 999 crashes of commercial vehicles that resulted in 9 fatalities, a drop from 14 fatalities in 2008.
Truck Driver Regulations
There is an extensive body of federal and state regulations that are designed to keep motorists safe when they share the roads with truckers. Because traveling long distances is a problem, federal hours-of-service (HOS) rules are intended to prevent driver fatigue. They limit drivers to no more than 11 hours behind the wheel, but sometimes, the Jacksonville truck accident attorneys of Farah & Farah find that drivers violate the HOS rules, putting us all at great risk. A General Accounting Office (GAO) study issued in 2008 found that more than 500,000 commercial big rig and bus drivers were also eligible for full disability benefits. That means the drivers were behind the wheel of commercial carriers with a history with seizures, heart attacks, and other maladies.
While not all truck accident are caused by big rig drivers, you will want the experience and track record of Farah & Farah behind an investigation into the medical condition of the driver, a review of the log books, and maintenance records of the tractor trailer to uncover any irregularities that may have contributed to your catastrophic Jacksonville truck accident. Truck accident litigation can be complex and involve both federal and state rules. Call our Jacksonville trucking accident attorneys at 1-800-533-3555 so we can get started on your case.