The A1A is an important artery in Florida, linking many of its major cities and beach communities. Spanning nearly 200 miles along the coastline, the scenic highway is a favorite of visitors and locals alike. It offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and provides access to some of Florida’s most beautiful beaches and tourist attractions.
Whether you’re looking for a leisurely drive or a day at the beach, the A1A offers something for everyone. Starting up in Amelia Island, the scenic highway heads south, passing through St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, Vero Beach, Stuart, and Fort Lauderdale before reaching its southernmost point in Key West. Along its 200-mile journey along the coastline of Florida, the A1A offers spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and access to some of Florida’s most iconic beaches and tourist attractions.
Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Well, with all there is to love about State Road A1A and the scenery it brings travelers through, none of these will feel important if you or a loved one is suffering the consequences of an accident with a semi-truck or 18-wheeler on this route. The A1A is a heavily trafficked road with its fair share of truck accidents.
If you or someone close to you has been in an accident with a truck on the A1A, you will need an experienced and knowledgeable truck accident lawyer in Florida.
Contact 1-800-Injured To Connect With a Truck Accident Lawyer Today
1-800-Injured is a lawyer and medical referral service that connects truck accident victims with proven legal representation. After an accident, filing an insurance claim and following the adjuster’s lead is a simple enough process, but the effort necessary to get the money you rightfully deserve is much greater.
The attorneys that 1-800-Injured refers its clients to have the experience needed to get you the full compensation you are entitled to. They will work diligently and use their experience in personal injury law, trucking regulations, and insurance company tactics to ensure that your case is handled properly and with your best interest in mind. These lawyers work on contingency fees, meaning that you don’t pay anything until your case is settled, at which point your attorney collects a pre-agreed percentage of the award. If you don’t win, you don’t pay a dime.
If you have been involved in a truck accident on the A1A, contact 1-800-Injured to connect with an experienced professional who can help you get back on your feet. Don’t wait – after an accident, time is of the essence! Read more about these accidents below.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Florida
With Class 8 trucks (any truck with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 33,000 lbs) averaging many more miles than any other vehicles on the road, and with some commercial truck drivers clocking over 100,000 miles behind the wheel every year, it’s no surprise to know that these trucks are involved in accidents from time to time. Fortunately, truck drivers are some of the most experienced and responsible vehicle operators on the road, but they still can’t always prevent accidents.
Driver Fatigue
Driver fatigue is a major problem and contributes to many truck accidents. Truck drivers often drive for long hours, leading to exhaustion and drowsiness on the road. In addition, poor sleep quality or lack of adequate rest before driving can contribute to driver fatigue.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has established regulations regarding Hours of Service, which limit the maximum number of hours a truck driver can drive without taking rest breaks. Unfortunately, some drivers may ignore these regulations, and these limits have no bearing on whether or not a driver gets enough sleep at night, so there is always a risk of fatigue causing a crash.
Distracted Driving
With the new technological advances available for commercial trucks and buses, there are now more distractions than ever for drivers on the road. Drivers may use their phones to make calls, text, check emails, or use GPS navigation services. Some drivers also fail to focus on the task of driving and may instead become distracted by checking social media or reading materials while behind the wheel.
All of these activities can lead to serious accidents if the driver is not paying attention to the road and other drivers around them.
Speeding
Commercial truck drivers are under pressure from their superiors to finish routes as quickly as possible, so they may be tempted to speed. Speeding, however, reduces reaction time for all drivers on the road and can lead to serious accidents. Even if a truck driver is below the posted speed limit, they may be driving too fast for the conditions.
In addition, large commercial vehicles have a much longer stopping distance than cars and other smaller vehicles, so even if a truck driver brakes slowly and at safe speeds, they can still cause an accident if the vehicle in front of them stops suddenly.
Mechanical Failures
Due to the tremendous weight of commercial trucks and buses, it is essential that these vehicles are well-maintained and inspected regularly. If a truck’s brakes or steering mechanisms fail, even an experienced driver may be unable to prevent an accident from occurring.
Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring their vehicles are safe for the roads and need to be held accountable when they fail to do so. When a trucking company fails to maintain its vehicles properly, it can lead to serious accidents that could have been prevented had the truck been in proper working order.
Improper Cargo Storage
There are a number of different arrangements that a trucker may be a part of, including being responsible for their own cargo, or simply transporting trailers that are loaded by specialized warehouse teams or other third parties. Regardless of who loads it, the responsible party must ensure that the cargo is loaded properly and that any hazardous materials are securely stored.
If a load is not properly secured, it can lead to items falling off the trailer and endangering other drivers on the road. In addition, improper storage of hazardous materials can put everyone in danger if there is an accident or spillage of those materials.
DUI
Commercial truckers have a BAC limit of 0.04, which is half of an adult passenger driver’s BAC limit of 0.08. This is because commercial truck drivers are held to a higher level of responsibility than other drivers due to the size and weight of their vehicles.
Driving under the influence is considered a serious crime, and any CDL driver caught driving a commercial vehicle with a BAC above 0.04 can face severe penalties, including hefty fines and jail time.