Jacksonville, Florida Tractor Trailer Accidents Statistics 2024

Florida is listed as one of the states with the highest rate of accidents each year. Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that, as of December 15th, 2022, there have been over 360,000 accidents reported in Florida. Those accidents have resulted in nearly 240,000 injuries and over 3,000 deaths.

Traffic accidents can happen to anyone on the road, but accidents involving trucks can be particularly dangerous. Tractor-trailers are much larger and heavier than most other vehicles on the road. When they are involved in accidents with other vehicles, they can cause significant damage and injuries. The most recent data for Florida accidents involving large trucks is from 2020. It shows that there have been over 600 injuries due to accidents involving large trucks. To avoid any type of accident, it is important to know what events and circumstances may cause a tractor-trailer accident.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Many different things can cause a truck accident in Florida.

• There may be severe weather that makes conditions unsafe.
• Parts of the truck may break or malfunction.
• Other drivers may not be aware of how close they are to a truck.
• The driver may drive while distracted.

Some of the most common factors that cause truck accidents in Jacksonville are:

• Driving while distracted.
• Drivers who are reckless and unsafe.
• Severe or changing weather conditions.

If drivers are aware of the things that cause these accidents, then they can be more easily avoided.

Most Common Types of Tractor Trailer Accidents

Driving a tractor-trailer is much different than driving a normal vehicle, so it is understandable that the types of accidents they are involved in will also be different. Some of the most common types of accidents involving tractor-trailers are:

• Jackknife Accidents: These accidents do not always involve another vehicle but are caused when the driver must hit the brakes very quickly. The trailer is so heavy that it is pressed up against the cab and is then pushed to a 90-degree angle against the trailer.
• Sideswipe Accidents: This occurs when a truck is traveling in the same direction as another vehicle, and the two vehicles collide on their sides. In many cases, these accidents happen when a truck driver does not check a blind spot and is unaware that there is another vehicle beside them.
• Rollover Accidents: Large trucks sit much higher than other vehicles and are much heavier. This means that they have a different center of gravity. If a truck driver turns too quickly, has a trailer that was loaded improperly, or blows a tire on the road, then they run the risk of their trailer rolling over, which may flip the entire truck.
• T-Bone Accidents: As with any other vehicle, a T-bone accident occurs when a truck driver fails to stop at a sign or traffic signal and runs into the side of a passing car. Since tractor-trailers are so large, these accidents can cause extreme damage, significant injuries, and even death for the occupants of the other vehicle.

FAQs About Jacksonville, Florida Tractor Trailer Accidents Law

How many semi-trucks crash each year?

Truck drivers are an essential part of keeping our economy running, but their job is one of the most difficult and dangerous. Drivers of semi-trucks are responsible for safely transporting large loads of goods over long distances, so it is inevitable that accidents will happen. Many accidents involving large trucks are recorded based on whether they cause any injuries. According to a 2020 report from Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, heavy trucks caused over 600 injuries, with thousands of potential injuries.

What trucking company has the highest percentage of accidents?

Accidents are an inevitable part of any trucking company. No matter how well the drivers are trained, how often the trucks are maintained, or how careful the drivers are on their routes, accidents will happen. There are some companies, however, that tend to have more accidents than others. According to reports that have tracked accidents from 2020 until 2022, drivers and trucks from FedEx, UPS, Swift Transportation, Inc., and Werner Enterprises have been involved in the most accidents.

What is the cause of most truck accidents in Florida?

There are many things that can cause a truck accident. There are certain circumstances where a truck driver is not at fault for an accident at all. These may include severe weather conditions, like high winds or heavy rain, or unsafe road conditions. In other cases, however, the driver is fully responsible for the accident. These accidents can be caused by things like equipment failure because the driver did not properly maintain their truck or driving while distracted with a cell phone.

How many crashes happen per day in Florida?

It can be difficult to track how many accidents occur each day in Florida. The state is consistently ranked as having one of the highest rates of accidents in the country. As of December 15th, 2022, there have been 366,076 accidents reported by Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. When calculated, that averages out to approximately 1,049 accidents per day in the state of Florida.

Spohrer Dodd: Your Jacksonville Truck Accident Attorneys

When drivers are on the road, they must be responsible for the safety of themselves and other people on the road. That is particularly true for truck drivers because their vehicles are so large. Reckless driving and driving while distracted are two of the most dangerous things that a driver can do. It is essential that truck drivers remain aware of their surroundings and drive as safely as possible to avoid any major accidents or injuries to themselves or other drivers.

Truck accidents can cause major damage physically, financially, mentally, and emotionally for the individuals involved. If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident with a semi-truck, it is essential that you receive the support and compensation you need to help your recovery. The experts at Spohrer Dodd can help guide you through the process to ensure that you receive what you deserve.