Ocala Truck Accident Lawyers
Ocala Truck Accidents
Ocala, Florida is the county seat for Marion County and is one of the major thoroughbred horse centers of the world, with over 1,200 horse farms in total and about 900 thoroughbred farms totaling some 77,000 acres. It is also has more than its share of large truck accidents in Florida. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) 2009 report, Ocala and its surrounding area reported 103 large-trucking accidents.
Being centrally located in the state and having several major highways pass through Ocala, including I-75, U.S. Highway 27, U.S. Route 301, and U.S. Highway 441, it is no surprise that Ocala large truck accidents are prominent. These interstates and highways carry over hundreds of thousands vehicles on a daily basis. This enormous transit system sets the stage for catastrophic accidents involving large trucks and tractor-trailers with passenger cars. These accidents are some of the worse accidents, usually resulting in death or life-changing injuries to the occupants in the passenger car.
While motorists often stop too short in front of a big rig or cut off a large truck resulting in a catastrophic collision, the Ocala truck accident attorneys of Farah & Farah find there are other causes of Ocala truck accidents:
- Fatigue - Drivers are limited to no more than 11 hours behind the wheel under hours-of-service rules. These federal rules are somewhat complex and dictate how much time between shifts a driver must rest. Since fatigue is a major contributing factor to major truck accidents, Farah & Farah will always look at whether the truck driver received adequate rest.
- Log Books – Must be maintained accurately, however we find some drivers falsify these records and may be covering more miles than allowed in an effort to earn more money, putting the public at risk.
- Distracted Drivers – A distracted truck driver can cover the length of a football field in a few seconds traveling at 55 miles per hour. And there is a lot of distraction within the cab of a big rig from monitors, radios, lap tops to smart phones, a cab is frequently electronic central so the driver can stay entertained and on schedule.
- Load Weight – Some drivers exceed the load weight and improperly secure the cargo which can cause it to shift and the vehicle to be unstable.
- Alcohol Consumption- This rule is very strict. Drivers are considered intoxicated if they have a blood alcohol level of 0.04%, half the level for the driver of a passenger vehicle. A drunk driving charge can result in a suspended commercial license.
- Speeding - According to federal data from 2008, speeding is one of the most prevalent factors that contributes to about 31 percent of fatal crashes
It is incumbent for the Ocala personal injury attorneys at Farah & Farah to consider all of these factors when determining whether or not the trucking company or driver is negligent. If so, they should be held accountable as a disregard for the public's safety is a violation of state and federal laws and amounts to gross negligence.
When an accident occurs, Farah & Farah will have representatives on the scene of the accident to make sure crucial information does not go missing. Do not give a statement to anyone other than police and certainly not to the investigator for the other side. Farah & Farah will help protect your rights following a devastating truck accident. We will always offer a complimentary consultation to determine if you can obtain compensation from the at-fault party including lost wages, medical bills, and the cost of getting better. Call our Ocala trucking accident lawyers today at 1-800-533-3555.