Focus On The Right Evidence In Your Tractor-Trailer Accident Case

On August 12, 2025, an accident on Florida’s Turnpike resulted in the deaths of three people after a tractor-trailer driver attempted to turn their vehicle around using a road designed for official use only. The driver was caught on video trying to turn around on the Turnpike, and the evidence appears to point to his being civilly liable for these deaths. However, the media appears to be focusing on the fact that the driver was present in the U.S. without documentation – which, in court, will do very little to assist the families of the deceased in seeking compensation.

Immigration Status Is Not Relevant

A tractor-trailer accident case usually causes severe injuries and, often, fatalities, usually outside the tractor-trailer itself. In an auto accident case of any kind, Florida law requires that an injured plaintiff show that the defendant breached their duty of care toward other road users, and that their action (or lack thereof) was the direct cause of tangible injuries that the plaintiff suffered. If these criteria are met, the defendant can be held liable for part or all of the plaintiff’s injuries.

In addition to the driver of a tractor-trailer, it is possible in some cases to hold their employer liable for injuries the driver caused. This is known as the theory of vicarious liability, and very often, it can yield a greater award than simply suing the driver – after all, many drivers do not have enough assets to offset a jury award, while many if not most trucking companies do. A driver’s undocumented status is not relevant at any point in this legal process – though the Turnpike accident driver will likely be deported after the conclusion of his civil and criminal cases, it will not be for causing a tractor-trailer accident.

Focus On The Facts

While it is illegal under U.S. federal law to hire undocumented immigrants, it is not, in general, legally negligent. The Turnpike driver appears to have been negligent, but if the driver had been a U.S. citizen, the same choices would be facing the families of the deceased, and the amount of media attention being paid to the driver’s documentation is concerning simply because it takes focus off the facts of the case. Arguments in the media over such things as whose administration granted the driver his work permit, and calling his licensure “asinine” are disrespectful to the families who lost loved ones.

It is worth noting that the driver will almost certainly be deported, particularly if he is convicted of vehicular homicide; this offense falls under the umbrella of what are known as aggravated felonies – an immigration category that often includes offenses that are neither aggravated, nor felonies under standard criminal law. However, it is important to understand that the driver’s immigration offense was obtaining a work permit under false pretenses – not in the mere act of driving while undocumented.

Contact A Tampa Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney

The accident on the Florida Turnpike claimed three lives, and the person who is allegedly responsible will face trial as the law requires – but to make this case a talking point, on grounds that are legally irrelevant, runs the risk of doing a massive disservice to the deceased and to the populace as a whole. If you have been involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer, a Tampa tractor-trailer accident attorney from the Rinaldo Law Group is ready to help – we focus on what is important to you and yours. Contact our office today at (813) 831-9999 to schedule a consultation.

Source:

cbsnews.com/miami/video/dashcam-video-shows-truck-drivers-illegal-u-turn-that-caused-deadly-st-lucie-county-crash/