Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Misconceptions About Commercial Motor Vehicle Accidents
Florida defines a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) as a conveyance that (1) uses special fuel; (2) is not owned by a governmental entity; and (3) has at least 3 axles or weighs more than 26,001 pounds. If a passenger car is involved in an accident with a CMV, it is likely that the occupants’… Read More »
Accidents In Tractor-Trailers’ Blind Spots Can Be Deadly
Due to their large size and construction, large tractor-trailers have a number of blind spots that other drivers must be aware of while on the road. Data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) estimates that around one-third of all crashes involving large trucks occur within one of the truck’s blind spots. If… Read More »
Tractor-Trailers & Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous behaviors in which a person can engage. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that approximately 3500 people died as a result of these accidents in 2021, and that number continues to rise. If a tractor-trailer is involved in a distracted driving accident,… Read More »
Several Different Definitions For Commercial Motor Vehicles
Between U.S. federal law and the law of each individual state, what exactly constitutes a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. While this may not affect the majority of drivers, it can matter if you are ever involved in an accident with a CMV. If you have been injured in… Read More »
After A Tractor-Trailer Accident
Auto accidents are an unfortunate fact of life in Florida, given the sheer volume of traffic on the state’s roads. The accidents involving tractor-trailers can be among the most serious, simply because most of them will yield more serious injuries (if any occur). If you have been injured in an accident with a tractor-trailer,… Read More »
Are Charter Buses Commercial Motor Vehicles?
The definition of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in Florida is narrow, but it nonetheless covers quite a few types of vehicles. One that sometimes gets overlooked is the charter bus, which is becoming an increasingly popular way to get around the state. A charter bus does generally qualify as a CMV (with some… Read More »
13 States Begin Crackdown On Unsafe CMV Drivers
Each year, a coalition of states from across the southeast part of the United States (Florida included) participates in an initiative known as Operation Safe DRIVE, aimed at cracking down on unsafe commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The initiative is aimed toward education of the public and a notification to truck drivers who bend… Read More »
Wrongful Death In Tractor-Trailer Accidents
The weight and the potentially unwieldy nature of a tractor-trailer can lead to severe accidents if one ever comes in contact with a passenger vehicle, or even fatalities if the wreck is bad enough. Losing a loved one suddenly to an accident like this is a life-changing tragedy, and it can feel somehow wrong… Read More »
1 Killed, 10 Hospitalized In Polk County Bus Crash
In early April 2023, a tanker truck and a passenger bus collided head-on after the bus crossed the center line of I-98 in Polk County. According to law enforcement, the bus had been carrying migrant workers to pick strawberries in Plant City, when the driver lost control for some unknown reason. 1 person was… Read More »
Florida Legislature Makes Major Changes To Negligence Law
When an accident involving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) or tractor-trailer happens on Florida roads, sometimes there are no injuries, or they are sufficiently minor that they can be handled in Florida’s no-fault auto insurance system. If a plaintiff’s injuries are sufficiently severe as to merit filing suit against the person who (allegedly) caused… Read More »
