Florida is routinely ranked as one of the top five worst states for fatal auto accidents. Recently, VOX released a report naming The 10 Deadliest Interstates. Two of Florida’s interstates were ranked among the top ten deadliest highways in America. Interstate 295 (I-295), which is an auxiliary route of Interstate 95 around central Jacksonville, was ranked as Number 6. Interstate 4 (I-4), which stretches from Tampa to Daytona Beach, was ranked ninth on the list of the ten most deadly interstates. Using data from the National Traffic Safety Administration, the rankings were based upon the number of fatal auto accidents for every ten miles of interstate highway.

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Semis, tractor trailers, and other large trucks account for nearly 40% of the vehicles on the interstate highways. As trucking traffic continues to increase due to the continuing growth in population and ever-increasing demand for transportation and shipment of goods, automobile accidents involving trucks of all sizes (semi-trucks, tractor trailer, box trucks, pickup trucks and passenger buses) will also continue to increase. Unfortunately, because these trucks are so much bigger than the other vehicles on the road, a large number of these tractor trailer accidents will result in catastrophic or fatal injuries. If you are involved in a semi or tractor trailer accident, you need an aggressive and experienced Tampa large truck accident lawyer to ensure every potential contributing factor is evaluated and all responsible parties are identified and held accountable.

According to data compiled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, some of the main causes of semi and tractor trailer accidents include: driver fatigue, prescription and over-the-counter drug use, speeding and aggressive driving, illegal maneuvering, and inadequate company supervision and surveillance. In light of this, it is important for you to practice defensive and safe driving to reduce the risk of serious truck accidents. Some things to remember to help protect yourself and your family when driving alongside big trucks on the interstate include:

1. Do not travel beside a tractor trailer and never travel between two tractor trailers.

2. Yield to large trucks. Due to their size and weight, trucks are less maneuverable than other vehicles.

3. Remain at least ten car lengths head of a large truck before making a lane change.

4. Try to avoid passing a large truck on the left side. A truck’s blind spot on the right is the length of the trailer and extends out three lanes.

5. Check the truck’s side mirrors. If you cannot see the truck driver’s face, the truck driver cannot see your vehicle.

Contact an Experienced Tampa Tractor Trailer Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a tractor trailer, semi truck, or some other large commercial truck, it is important to act immediately. Our Tampa truck accident law firm understands that time is of the essence to preserve important evidence that is essential to ensuring full compensation for victims of large truck accidents. Contact our experienced Tampa tractor trailer accident lawyers at Capaz Law Firm.