GOLDLAW – West Palm Beach Personal Injury Lawyers, Car Accident, Slip & Fall – Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb

Category: Trucking Accidents

trucking accidents, semi-truck crashes, and 18-wheeler crashes

  • Fuel Tanker Explodes on I-95 in Delray Beach

    Fuel Tanker Explodes on I-95 in Delray Beach

    A fuel tanker crashed and exploded on I-95 near the Atlantic Avenue exit in Delray Beach at 1:17pm, Tuesday afternoon.

    Fire rescue teams from Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and Palm Beach County responded to the crash and were able to put out the fire, which was brought under control as of 2:25pm.

    According to officials, three people are in critical condition, and a fourth person was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries, as multiple vehicles erupted in fire.

    All southbound and northbound lanes on I-95 between Linton Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue were closed just before 2:00pm. According to Palm Beach Fire Rescue, “Traffic delays will be severe, and will last for the “foreseeable future.”

    Officials have not said how many vehicles were involved in the incident and have not yet announced a cause. An official investigation is ongoing, and officials will post updates as they acquire more information.

    If you or someone you care about was hurt in the incident, please call our office at 561-222-2222 or email us at intakelead@800goldaw.com.

  • Family of Supraja Alaparthi May Have Legal Case in Parasailing Incident

    Family of Supraja Alaparthi May Have Legal Case in Parasailing Incident

    Supraja Alaparthi’s family may have a case against any company or person found responsible for the tragic parasailing incident on Memorial Day in the Florida Keys that killed her and injured her young son and nephew.

    The 33-year-old mother from Schaumburg, Illinois, was killed after a sudden storm prompted a boat captain to cut loose the parasail. The inflated parasail then dragged the family across the ocean and slammed them into Old Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys, according to a report by the Associated Press.

    The boat captain, Daniel Couch, 49, who works for Lighthouse Parasail Inc., which is based in Marathon, cut a line tethered from the 31-foot boat to the parasail because it was dragging the boat, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Couch could face criminal charges, according to news reports.

    Mark McCulloh, a parasailing safety consultant from Maitland, Florida, told the Associated Press that boat captains should never cut the cord when people are in the air.

    “No, no, no. That’s not even in the cards,” McCulloh said. He noted that, generally speaking, a captain is giving up control by cutting the line.

    “You run a huge risk because it’s windy. When the parasail lands in the water, it doesn’t stop moving,” he said. Turning the boat from side to side is considered a better way to lessen the tug on the line.

    Good Samaritan

    A nearby boater, John Callion, witnessed the incident around Pigeon Key and tried to rescue Supraja Alaparthi and the boys, pulling them into his boat and taking them to waiting paramedics, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release.

    Callion told the Miami Herald that the storm developed suddenly, “It was pretty much flat calm, but you could see the storm coming. All of the sudden, the temperature dropped by 10 degrees and the wind started blowing like crazy.”

    Supraja Alparthi was pronounced dead at the scene. Her son Sriakshith Alaparthi, 10, and nephew Vishant Sadda, 9, were both injured.

    The Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife are continuing to investigate.

    Notice: As a personal injury law firm, we frequently provide legal analysis and opinion on news stories in the hope that the family and friends of the victims may gain some valuable insight into our theories of negligence surrounding the available facts. Respectfully, our hearts and thoughts are with those who have suffered a catastrophic injury or death.

    For a free, confidential consultation about an incident, contact us today at 561-222-2222.

  • Reynald French: Truck Driver May Be At Fault in Pedestrian’s Death

    Reynald French: Truck Driver May Be At Fault in Pedestrian’s Death

    Deerfield Beach resident Reynald French, 55, was killed March 24 by a turning tractor-trailer on State Road 7 in Boca Raton.

    In situations such as these, it is not always clear whose fault the incident was. Truckers are subject to many different detailed regulations requiring them to get adequate sleep, only travel a limited number of miles per day, and satisfy many different federal rules.

    In addition, most commercial trucks have a “black box” which records vehicle data such as stopping distance, speed, and other data.  An experienced personal injury firm can investigate such tragedies to determine if the trucker may have been partially at fault for this unfortunate tragedy.

    In Florida, a jury can find any percentage of fault against a driver in a fatal crash.

    Authorities say Reynald French was walking on the sidewalk along State Road 7. The truck driver was making a right turn into the Twin Meadows Lake development. French stepped off the sidewalk, hit the side of the truck, and fell. He was then run over by the truck driver’s rear wheels. An ambulance was called, and Reynald French was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

    Florida is the most dangerous state for pedestrians. A study from pedestrian safety organization Smart Growth America found that the state leads the nation in pedestrian deaths in traffic accidents. From 2010 – 2019, Florida had 5,891 pedestrian deaths, or about 2.8 for every 100,000 people.

    Reynald French’s funeral was held on Saturday, April 1. Friends and family members remembered Reynald as a kind, loving member of his church and community.

  • Lake Worth Beach Woman Dies After Tractor Trailer Strikes Her Car on the Turnpike

    On Sunday, December 13, a tragic accident on Florida’s Turnpike left one Lake Worth Beach resident dead.

    Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officials say the accident happened around 5:15 AM, just south of the Boynton Beach Boulevard exit, in the southbound lanes at mile marker 86. The woman’s sedan had stopped in the outside lane. A tractor-trailer struck and partially ran over it, according to FHP. Both vehicles were pushed into the guard rail. Unfortunately, when first responders arrived, the 60-year-old woman driving the sedan was pronounced dead.

    The truck’s driver had minor injuries.

    Unfortunately, commercial truck accidents are a frequent problem here. Florida is one of nine states in the US that produce roughly half of all fatal truck crashes. Nationally, commercial motor vehicles (mostly large trucks) make up about 12 percent of all traffic fatalities. As with the Boynton Beach case, the fatalities are most often the occupants of passenger vehicles involved in accidents with a truck.

    Because of their large size and weight, tractor trailers can easily do much more damage to a small passenger vehicle like a car than vice versa, thus increasing the risk of injury and death for those in the smaller vehicle.

    The causes of large truck accidents are varied. Speed and distracted driving are often factors. Accidents involving a stopped vehicle frequently happen because the moving car was going too fast and the driver was unable to stop in time. It’s important to always maintain a safe following distance, whether you drive a tractor trailer or a small passenger vehicle.

    If you’ve ever had your car stall out unexpectedly, you know that a sudden mechanical failure can lead to unexpectedly stopping in the middle of the road. Maintaining a safe speed and following distance will help reduce the risk of accidents if this happens to another driver on the road.

     

  • Motorcyclists Sandra Rios, Dead, and Rodolfo Rios Critically Injured After Commercial Dump Trunk Runs A Red Light

    Motorcyclists Sandra Rios, Dead, and Rodolfo Rios Critically Injured After Commercial Dump Trunk Runs A Red Light

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A crash Friday morning, October 9, at Beeline Highway and Northlake Boulevard left one motorcycle rider dead, and the driver in critical condition.

    Authorities say the accident happened when a dump truck moving south on Beeline failed to stop at a red light. The large truck then crashed into a motorcycle that had the right of way. The bike’s driver, Rodolfo Rios, 25, was rushed to the hospital and remains in critical condition. Sadly the motorcycle’s passenger, Sandra Rios, 46, was pronounced dead at the scene. test

    Police say they are investigating the crash, but do not believe alcohol or drugs played a role.

    Large Commercial Vehicles are particularly dangerous

    Large commercial vehicles can be particularly dangerous when involved in any kind of accident because of their size and weight. It is very important that drivers who operate these vehicles have proper training and understand the potentially deadly consequences of ignoring simple traffic laws like stopping for a red light.

    Unfortunately, Florida has one of the highest rates of large truck accidents in the country. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) it consistently ranks #3 in the nation, behind only California and Texas.

    There are many causes of commercial trucking accidents. Aside from intoxicated driving, speeding and distracted driving are two common causes. Another frequent issue is companies hiring drivers who lack the necessary experience and training.

    In some cases, they may not even have the right type of license for the truck they are assigned to drive. When trucking companies fail to ensure proper training, they’re doing a disservice both to the driver, and to others who may be affected by an accident.

    All drivers should be aware that it’s easy to miss a motorcycle due to its small size. “Look twice and save a life!” is something motorists are encouraged to do. Stopping at red lights will give you ample time to do this.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Man’s Death on Interstate 95 Reveals Safe Driving Concerns for Truck Drivers

    An 85-year-old man died on Saturday, September 19, after a mishap on a wet road led to his vehicle being struck by a tractor-trailer.

    Authorities say the accident happened on Donald Ross Road near Jupiter, around 4 PM. The victim, who hasn’t been identified yet pending notification of next of kin, lost control of his vehicle on a wet patch of road, according to Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). His pickup veered off the road, hit an inside guardrail, and made it back onto the highway, where it was hit by a tractor trailer.

    That collision sent the pickup into the outside guardrail, where it again bounced back violently onto the highway, hitting another pickup truck and camper before finally coming to a stop. Sadly, the 85-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene after rescue crews arrived. No one else was hurt.

    Slick roads can always be hazardous, and drivers should be extra cautious in rainy weather. However, truck drivers need to be especially careful due to the large size of their vehicles. Although the initial report in this case indicates that the man lost control of his vehicle, tractor trailer drivers are trained to avoid vehicles, and must make every effort possible to avoid accidents.

    It is possible that the driver of the tractor trailer could bear a portion of the responsibility for this tragic collision. An experienced attorney may be needed to investigate whether the tractor trailer driver and the truck bear any responsibility for this loss.

  • One Adult and One Infant are Dead After a Dump Truck Driver Collides with Multiple Vehicles

    One Adult and One Infant are Dead After a Dump Truck Driver Collides with Multiple Vehicles

    On Monday, August 6, a multi-vehicle crash caused by a dump truck led to the tragic death of a 2-month-old baby, and a 46-year-old man.

    Florida Highway Patrol reports that a dump truck driven by 74-year-old Daniel Ragan of Spring Hill collided with two other vehicles around 2:30 in the afternoon. The dump truck then overturned onto a van driven by 46-year-old David Garcia, of Inverness. Sadly, Garcia died at the scene.

    Two-month-old Asher Gaspard was a passenger in another of the eight vehicles struck by the dump truck. Gaspard was rushed to a local hospital, but ultimately died of injuries suffered in the crash.

    Charges are pending in the crash, although officials say alcohol was not a factor.

  • Motorcyclist Ryan Carter Killed After Being Repeatedly Run Over By Truck

    [vc_row][vc_column][norebro_testimonial block_type_layout=”default” block_type_alignment_default=”center” quote=”I was helped. I was helped. I was helped. I was helped. I was helped. I was helped. “][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Efrem Dwyanna Crawford Killed in Fiery Crash Involving Two Semi Trucks Near Okeechobee

    Efrem Dwyanna Crawford Killed in Fiery Crash Involving Two Semi Trucks Near Okeechobee

    Efrem Dwyanna Crawford, 49, of Pahokee, died Wednesday following a fiery crash with two semi trucks southeast of Okeechobee.

    Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officials say the crash happened about 6:30 AM, near the Lake Okeechobee shore, along U.S. 441, about 2 miles northwest of the Martin County line.

    According to the police report, Crawford was driving northbound on U.S. 441 in a 2005 Freightliner 18-wheeler. A 1997 Peterbilt 18-wheeler and a 2017 Jeep Patriot were heading southbound. The Jeep slowed to turn off, and the Peterbilt, driven by Ivan Cruz, 58, lost control and swerved to the left, hitting the Jeep’s left rear.

    The Peterbilt then veered into the northbound lane, hitting the Freightliner and causing both 18-wheelers to go up in flames. According to the FHP report, Crawford died in the cab of his truck as it burned. Cruz was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. The Jeep went off the road and hit a parked car, but the driver was unhurt.

    Sadly, big truck accidents like this one can cause serious injury and death. In 2017 alone, Florida saw nearly 32,000 accidents involving large trucks. Of these, 27 resulted in fatalities, 57 people were incapacitated, and 1,053 suffered other injuries. Because large trucks can weigh up to 30 times more than a passenger vehicle, it’s easy to see why they can cause so much damage. Companies that use these large vehicles have a duty to ensure they are properly maintained, and that their drivers are thoroughly trained and follow all safety regulations.

  • Miami Resident Armas Gallego Killed in Collision with 18-Wheeler

    On Thursday, April 25, Miami resident Armas Gallego died after his SUV collided with an 18-wheeler, got stuck under the truck, and was dragged without the truck driver even realizing a collision occurred.

    Gallego was driving a 2013 Nissan Rogue northbound on U.S. 27 around 5:51 in the morning. He was at Pines Road in Pembroke Pines when the 2012 Freightliner truck turned into the intersection. The Nissan struck the Freightliner and became stuck under the trailer. Unaware of the collision, the truck’s driver complete the turn and headed south. The truck was south of Pembroke Road in Miramar before the driver realized there was another vehicle stuck under the truck.

    Pembroke Pines Police responded to the accident, and Gallego was pronounced dead at the scene, says Sgt. John Baker.