Examples of Trucker Negligence in Tampa

While some tractor-trailer accidents in Tampa are caused by mechanical issues or road conditions, others are clearly the result of negligent truckers. These individuals may engage in all kinds of reckless misconduct, despite being “professional drivers” who shoulder an enormous amount of responsibility. What are some common examples of trucker negligence? Can any of these situations lead to truck accident lawsuits?

Trucker Impairment 

Truckers often consume various intoxicating substances behind the wheel. This line of work is highly monotonous, and some truckers consume drugs or alcohol out of boredom. Others consume stimulants in an attempt to stay awake for long hours.

Whatever their motivations might be, truckers often become heavily impaired after consuming these substances. Depending on the drug, the trucker could become more aggressive behind the wheel. They might also struggle with slower reflexes and poor judgment. If you were injured by an impaired trucker, you can probably sue them and their employer.

 Distracted Driving

 Distraction can be just as dangerous as intoxication. While intoxicated drivers still have their eyes on the road, distracted drivers are effectively “flying blind.” The most common type of distraction is texting and driving, but there are many others to consider. Virtually anything that takes your eyes off the road is considered illegal in Florida. This might include food, drink, books, or even passengers. As with intoxicating substances, the boredom and monotony of trucking make distractions particularly tempting.

 Breaking the Speed Limit 

Speeding truckers are inherently dangerous to everyone else on the road. In fact, they are more dangerous than other speeders because of their slow braking distances. A speeding sedan can still come to a complete halt within a relatively short distance. However, a semi-truck takes what seems like forever to slow down when traveling above the speed limit. When a speeding trucker sees a traffic jam up ahead, it may be too late to slam on the brakes.

 Failing to Yield 

A semi-truck driver might also fail to yield, and this type of misconduct can be especially dangerous on the highway. Merging truckers must yield to traffic already on the highway. If they merge without checking, they may cause serious accidents and catastrophic injuries. Another common example of this misconduct is suddenly switching lanes without indicating.

 Driver Fatigue

 Many truckers drive for 10-14 hours before taking breaks. At a certain point, it is no longer safe to drive – and some experts believe that a heavily fatigued trucker is just as dangerous as a heavily intoxicated one. Coffee may help in the short-term, but the only safe solution to fatigue is sleep.

Can a Truck Accident Lawyer in Tampa Help Me Get Compensation? 

If you were injured by a negligent truck driver, an experienced personal injury attorney in Tampa may be able to help you pursue compensation. You can use this compensation to cover your medical expenses, missed wages, emotional distress, disfigurement, and any other damages you might have experienced. To learn more about your next steps, consider booking a consultation with Anderson & Anderson today.

Sources: 

bbc.com/news/articles/c2lklqk4p1vo#:~:text=Tiredness%20is%20even%20more%20dangerous,continuing%20to%20drive%20while%20tired.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16884056/