Tampa Bay Injury Attorney Blog
Sharing the road with large trucks can be frightening, and also very dangerous. Large trucks, including semis and tractor trailers, are particularly dangerous when they are traveling too close to the cars in front of them at a high rate of speed. If you have ever experienced this while driving on a highway then you know exactly how terrifying it can be, especially when you are in a smaller vehicle. When trucks are travelling along side you it is crucial to avoid the truck’s blind spots and to make sure that you keep a safe distance from the truck. However, sometimes there are no warning signs that a truck is driving too fast or too closely to your vehicle and there is no way to avoid being struck by one of these large vehicles. Sadly, this is exactly what happened on I-75 in Hillsborough County in a truck crash where two people were killed.
The northbound lanes of Interstate 75 just past Bruce B. Downs Boulevard were reopened Thursday morning after a fiery semi truck crash that left two people dead and five others injured Wednesday night.
The lanes were reopened just before 8 a.m., more than 12 hours after the crash, which happened just before 7 p.m. Wednesday night.
At least eight vehicles were involved in the crash.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of the semi could not slow down in time to avoid the traffic ahead that had slowed to an almost stop. The semi plowed into multiple vehicles and collided with a pillar for an overhead roadway sign on the outside shoulder.
The semi and another vehicle became engulfed in flames. Both those drivers died. Troopers have not released the names of the people killed.
Crews were finally able to remove the semi just after 7 a.m. and reopened the lanes. Cleanup has continued along the side of the roadway.
The crash remains under investigation.
Truck accidents can lead to devastating injuries that require expensive medical care and could prevent you from working for days, weeks or even permanently. Due to the severity of the injuries that result from truck accidents, it is absolutely vital that you receive the maximum compensation you deserve. Our Tampa Bay Truck Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can conduct an investigation into your crash to build a strong case on your behalf.
In order to successfully prove fault in your case, we must show that someone else’s negligence caused the truck accident. We will gather all of the evidence necessary to help you obtain maximum financial compensation. We will start by reconstructing the accident scene and reviewing the police and accident reports. We can then analyze any photos or video footage of the crash site. We will look into the truck driver’s driving history and figure out how many hours the trucker had driven and when their break was before the accident. We will also work with industry experts to investigate and build your case. This includes making sure that the truck trailer did not exceed weight restrictions and was loaded properly, as well as verifying the truck drivers’ background, driving records and criminal background.
While some truck accident cases are easy to find where the fault lies, others can be more complex. This is why we utilize the latest technology and expert guidance to uncover what was happening in the moments leading up to, during, and after the collision. This helps us piece together the entire picture of what caused the accident.
The victims who are killed in truck accidents leave behind their spouses and children. Close relatives can be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver and/or the trucking company for the death of their loved one. Wrongful death suits can be tricky, which is why it is best to have our experienced Tampa Bay Wrongful Death Lawyers at Whittel & Melton on your side. We are a team of caring and compassionate legal professionals who will guide you through the process of recovering from your injuries or losses and recover the full and fair monetary damages to which you are entitled. We know that nothing we do can replace a lost loved one or minimize your injuries, but we can make sure that your financial reward is just so that you can focus on moving on from your pain.
A consultation with us is completely free of charge, so you have nothing to lose by contacting us.