Florida Truck & Bus Accident Statistics

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported that in 2016 there were 34 driver and passengers fatalities involving medium to large trucks of 5 tons or heavier and buses. Additionally, the same report concluded that buses and heavy trucks were involved in 256 incidents of accidents that resulted in an incapacitating injury. Unfortunately, there will likely always be truck accidents involving serious or fatal injuries as long as there are trucks on the road.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found that Florida is currently one of the top 10 states in the country that represented over 50% of fatal crashes involving a large truck or bus in a report published in November of 2017. This same  FMCSA report concluded that speeding was a factor in 17% of fatal truck accidents and that 6% of fatal accidents were attributed to driver distraction (16% of those involved distraction were caused by a mobile device).

While trucks have generally gotten safer over time, there will always be dangers when a 30 ton truck is driving side by side with other cars, passenger trucks and motorcycles. Due to the size & weight differences of a big rig versus a smaller passenger vehicle or SUV, the resulting injuries are often very serious or fatal. If you or a family member was seriously injured in a trucking collision, you need to talk to a truck accident lawyer in Florida with the experience and reputation to secure the compensation your family needs to move forward.

Statute of Limitations for Truck Accidents in Florida

A “statute of limitation” is defined as the reasonable length of time that a plaintiff has to bring an action against a defendant. This varies based on state, and the type of incident: civil or criminal. Generally, the statute of limitations for truck accident injury lawsuits in Florida is 4 years, this is inclusive of nearly all personal injury claims involving drivers, passengers, pedestrians, etc. Source. In some instances it’s possible to not know that you’ve been injured for several months after the injury-causing incident. In these cases, and extension may be granted based on the date of discovery of the injury. The civil statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in Florida can be shorter, (3 years), if the incident & resulting claim involves a government agency. Additionally, if the incident caused a death, the family of the person killed can bring a wrongful death lawsuit within a 2 year statute of limitations – 95.11(4)(d).

In some cases, you may not even know all of the parties in a truck accident lawsuit if it involves a government entity because the claim might involve defective road design, a government vehicle, or a city that fails to replace road safety signs. For this reason and many others you should seek the advice of a qualified truck accident lawyer in Florida.

Pursuing a Truck Accident Injury or Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Florida

If you or a family member was seriously injured, or if a family member was killed in a truck accident you should seek the advice and representation of a skilled and experienced Florida truck accident attorney. TruckAccidentAttorneyNetwork.org has organized a database of law firms who focus their practice on Motor Vehicle collisions, with significant experience litigating trucking accidents.