Trucker may be to blame for chain-reaction crash in Florida

It can be dangerous to drive around semi-trucks in New Jersey or any other state in America. One recently tragic case in Florida illustrates this. In early January 2019, a semi-truck on I-75 near Gainesville suddenly moved left from the right lane, crashing into a 2007 Honda sedan that was in its path. Why the driver, a 59-year-old man, did this is still unknown.

The two vehicles broke through the median guardrail and onto the southbound lane. There, the truck collided with a 2006 Chevrolet passenger van, the 12 occupants of which were traveling to Disney World. The truck flipped the van over, causing an unknown number of its occupants to be ejected. Whether they were wearing seatbelts or not has not been determined.

The chain reaction ended with the truck colliding into another semi, driven by a 49-year-old man from New Mexico, and causing a fire. The two truckers in addition to five children, ranging in age from 9 to 14, were killed.

Florida Highway Patrol made a preliminary accident report, but a thorough investigation into the matter will take three to four months to complete. However, FHP has already ruled out alcohol as a possible factor.

Many truck accidents end in fatalities, usually on the side of any passenger vehicles involved. The survivors may be left dealing with severe injuries. Those who lost a loved one in a truck accident, however, may want to file a claim for wrongful death. If the trucker was drowsy, distracted, drunk or driving a rig with defective parts or improperly loaded cargo, then these can be good grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. A lawyer could negotiate for a settlement covering pre-death medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, loss of support and more.

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