3 Dead In Nassau County Tractor-Trailer Accident
In June 2025, three people were killed in a Nassau County crash involving a tractor-trailer when they attempted to pass in the northbound lane of US 17. Their Chevrolet Equinox struck the tractor-trailer head on as it was traveling in the northbound lane, unfortunately killing the driver and their two passengers. This type of accident shows a textbook example of how a person may wind up being largely responsible for their own injuries in a tractor-trailer crash.
Seeking Damages For Negligence
Most road accidents in Florida do not give rise to personal injury lawsuits, either because there are no significant injuries or because no one is definitively negligent. However, if a driver is seriously injured or killed as a direct result of the negligence of another driver, they (or their next of kin) have the right to file suit against them and seek money damages for the harm they have experienced. In a road accident, an injured plaintiff may sue for things like lost wages, medical bills, or pain and suffering damages.
If the allegedly negligent driver is a commercial vehicle operator, seeking damages can become more complex, because if the commercial driver was acting within the scope of their employment at the time of the accident – for example, delivering an order, making money for their employer – the driver’s employer may be named as a defendant as well. This is known as the theory of vicarious liability.
Comparative Fault Recently Changed
While a significant or permanent injury in Florida can lead to compensation for a plaintiff, this is not always the case. One of the major reasons why a plaintiff can be denied compensation even when it is shown that the defendant was the direct cause of their injuries is under a rule Florida refers to as comparative fault. Comparative fault is a common-law concept that essentially holds that if a person is a certain percent at fault for their own injuries, they cannot recover money damages.
In 2024, Florida amended their comparative fault rule to reflect what is known as pure comparative negligence. What this means for a plaintiff involved in a tractor-trailer accident is that if they are found to be more than 50 percent at fault for their own injuries, they are barred from any monetary recovery. In the Nassau County accident, law enforcement reported that the Equinox was unlawfully in the northbound lane, trying to pass a slower car – thus, unfortunately, had the passengers survived, they likely would not have been able to recover damages from the tractor-trailer company.
Call A Tampa Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney
Any road accident where someone loses their life is a tragedy – but not every tragedy is legally actionable. If you have been through a tractor-trailer accident and have questions about your case, a Tampa tractor-trailer accident attorney from the Rinaldo Law Group may be able to help guide you through the legal process. Call our office today at (813) 831-9999 to schedule a free consultation.
Source:
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