Driver Killed in Florida Tank Truck Accident

In a tragic Florida truck collision Wednesday morning, the driver was killed. The man’s identity is expected to be released on Thursday after medical examiners complete their autopsy. According to the Tampa Bay Online, the fuel tank driver was operating his truck when it collided with a train on State Road 60 and the highway was closed down in both directions in the area of the crash. Details on how the truck and train collided are not clear at the moment, but it is believed that the force of the collision caused the train to push the tanker several hundred feet.

Commercial motor vehicles are a vital resource for a strong economy. Each day tank trucks transport many business-related products such as petroleum, chemical and food commodities across the U.S. highways and interstates. Further, these vehicles are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) which is an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation. The FMCSA works with federal, state and local enforcement agencies to enforce federal and state regulations in order to prevent the number of commercial motor vehicle related accidents and injuries. Based upon the most recent statistics provided by the FMCSA, in 2007 there were a total of 368,000 motor vehicle crashes that involved a large truck. A large truck is defined by the agency as one with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 10,000 pounds.

The Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyers at our firm are all too familiar with cases involving trucking accidents and their causes. After all, tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers and semi-trucks are very large and heavy motor vehicles that require the driver to exercise the highest degree of safety while operating. Additionally, automobile operators should use caution when traveling alongside a commercial motor vehicle since weather conditions, such as high winds, can also cause these vehicles to sway back and forth on a highway. Nevertheless, accidents involving a large truck often results in an injury or death of a person, including passengers.

There are many different reasons for a Florida trucking accident including speeding, driver fatigue, road conditions, faulty equipment, and cell phone use. However, in trucking litigation many claims are based upon violations of the FMCSA’s regulations. For example, the plaintiff’s attorney could prove that the driver violated the Hours of Service (HOS) rule; this provision makes it illegal for motor carrier operators to drive more than 11 cumulative hours following 10 consecutive hours off-duty.  In order to prevail on this claim, evidence from the motor carrier’s logbooks could demonstrate that the driver violated this law and caused an accident due to driver fatigue.

Also, many accidents involving large trucks are based upon negligence. If you or a family member was recently involved in this or a similar type of accident, you should contact an attorney to discuss your case. Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys represent injured persons who have been hurt in an accident involving large trucks, buses or motor vehicles. Since these vehicles are frequently associated in accidents in which a loved one was killed, or a person has suffered serious injuries due to negligence, it is important to consult with an attorney who can thoroughly investigate the matter further and to assess what legal options are available to you.

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