Road Debris In Tractor-Trailer Accidents

Most tractor-trailer accident cases involve one or more vehicles being impacted by a tractor-trailer (or a smaller vehicle impacting a tractor-trailer). However, there is one other type of accident in which a tractor-trailer driver or their employer may be held liable, and that is in cases where debris winds up on the road. Whether due to a cargo spill or the driver’s loss of control, unforeseen obstacles on the road can cause serious accidents and injuries.

Cargo Spills

Cargo spills are perhaps the most common reason to encounter road debris. Obviously, the level of danger will differ depending on the exact nature of the cargo – say, gasoline or radioactive materials versus cartons of milk – but the fact remains that if there is a sudden obstacle in the road, a driver must react more quickly than usual in order to avoid it, and this can result in injuries and fatalities if they do not.

Some cargo spills are seen as accidents, while others can be traced to the negligence of the driver, their employer, the cargo loader, or another possible defendant. An unforeseeable accident will usually not be prosecuted – after all, a person cannot plan for every possible eventuality. A tractor-trailer driver must exhibit a lack of care for the safety of others before the issue of negligence can be raised – but the line between accident and negligence is a thin one.

Single-Vehicle Accidents

The other major reason why a tractor-trailer might shed debris onto the roadway is if the vehicle crashes. For example, a recent Broward County crash involved a tractor-trailer driver losing control of their vehicle and striking the median, after which large pieces of the vehicle wound up in the road. Thankfully, there is no indication as of this writing that anyone was hurt in the crash, but it is not implausible for such a scenario to result in liability for the driver or their employer.

No one wants to accuse another driver of poorly operating their vehicle, but if the evidence is there, you do have the right to hold a negligent driver accountable. If the debris played a role in causing you injury, and it was there because of a defendant’s alleged negligence, it can be difficult to prove this chain of events, but it is far from impossible to do so. Florida law holds that all road users have a duty to treat each other with reasonable care, and if the tractor-trailer driver did not, you may be entitled to damages.

Contact A Tampa Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney

An auto accident is always a scary thing to experience, but if you have been injured in a crash that involves road debris, it can feel particularly frustrating. A Tampa tractor-trailer accident attorney from Rinaldo Law Group can help you understand your legal options and guide you through the process with care and compassion. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation.

Source:

wfla.com/news/florida/photos-spilled-milk-shuts-down-florida-highway-after-crash/