How Safe are Florida’s Interstates?

May 1, 2018 | Attorney, Matthew Dolman
How Safe are Florida’s Interstates?

Semi-truck Accidents on I-4, I-75, and I-95

What are the Dangers of Interstate Truck Accidents?

The state of Florida has one of the of the more extensive systems of interstates in the country and therefore a greater chance for truck accidents to take place along its highways. I-75, I-4, and I-95 all have developed a reputation for being the sites of several of the most deadliest Truck collisions in the state of Florida. They also maintain a well known reputation for their frequency of car accidents in general.

The Danger of Florida Interstates

Florida has become a nexus for a high concentration of truck accidents within the United States. It places at number three on the list of highest truck fatalities by state, compiled by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration.

How Dangerous is I-75 for Truck Accidents?

  • According to the last available statistics, from 2011 to 2015, the number of truck-related accidents on I-75 nearly doubled from 171 to 331.
  • There are more than 10,000 trucks that enter and leave Florida every day on I-75.
  • There were 4,050 fatal crashes involving large trucks in 2015, the highest number since 2008, according to federal data.
  • In 2015, 3,852 people died in large truck crashes

How Dangerous is I-4 for Truck Accidents?

  • Rated the deadliest interstate based on Fatalities Per Mile, Collectively from 2010–2015 and has made the lists top ten for the past six years
  • 132 miles long with 1.41 fatalities per mile
  • Notorious amounts of construction which in 2008 led to a 70 car pile up due to smoke fog from a forest clearing effort

How Dangerous is I-95 for Truck Accidents?

  • Between 2004 and 2008, there were 1.73 fatalities per mile on Florida's I-95 making it the highest fatality rate in the country
  • a total of 662 fatal accidents and 765 total fatalities in that time frame
  • Considered the second deadliest interstate in the United States by auto insurance center

Why are Florida Interstates so Likely to Have Truck Accidents?

Florida's Growing Population Congesting the Roads

With Florida's growing population there has been an increase in truck accidents once again despite a lull in numbers due to increased safety precautions implemented in the late 2000's. The statistics speak for themselves in regard to the danger awaiting commercial vehicles and those traveling beside them on Florida's interstates. With congestion comes stress which is a primary contributor to aggressive driving. People have places to be and nothing can frustrate a driver like bumper to bumper traffic at rush hour and all it takes is one turn into the wrong lane at the wrong time for a terrible accident to occur.

Inattentive Drivers Can Cause Truck Accidents

Driver's now have more things than ever to be distracted by. With the advent of the smartphone the amount of accidents caused by distracted driving has only increased. Changing the music playlist, answering a text or even checking the address on a navigation app can increase risk of an accident

Construction Work Can Contribute to Truck Accident Chances

At any point of time there is always some form of construction going on somewhere on one of Florida's interstates. Sometimes this can directly cause accidents with things like the aforementioned smoke fog. Roadside construction work contributes towards accident risk through lane closures and traffic slowing leading to stressed drivers and conditions dangerous for inattentive drivers who may fail to notice eager drivers wanting to maneuver through congested roads around construction sites.

Why are Truck Accidents on the Interstate so Dangerous?

Any auto accident, truck accidents especially, have the potential to cause intense bodily and vehicular harm. It is on the interstate that truck accidents become the most deadly. Naturally the interstate is the the most typical site for one to find the most commercial vehicles, let alone commercial vehicle accidents.

Passenger Vehicle Fatalities are Greater Than Trucks

“Most deaths in large truck crashes are passenger vehicle occupants,” said the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety wrote in a report late last year. Typically the truck driver is much less likely to be injured as badly in a truck accident on the interstate.

Truck Height can Lead to More Deadly Accidents

They also said “The main problem is the vulnerability of people traveling in smaller vehicles. Trucks often weigh 20-30 times as much as passenger cars and are taller, with greater ground clearance, which can result in smaller vehicles under-riding trucks in crashes.”

Truck Weight is a Danger to Passenger Vehicles

In addition to the height, trucks typically weigh a whopping 80,000 pounds compared to a large passenger vehicle's 10,000. With this weight comes the expected dangerous physics that can lead to extreme injury or death on the interstate.

When driving on Florida's interstates, keep these helpful driving tips in mind

In order to help keep Florida's interstates as safe as possible and decrease your risk of contributing to a truck accident follow these tips.

1. Be Alert and Well-Rested

When driving, do not get distracted by things like your smartphone, and give the highway your undivided attention. Stop to get up and stretch every couple hours and avoid sleepy driving.

2. Manage Your Speed

Drive at the posted speed limit in optimal conditions, and change your speed when the going gets rough. Factors like snow, ice and rain, as well as construction and dense traffic, are all indicators that you may need to slow down.

3. Stay to the Right

On many highways, the left lane is considered the passing lane, so if you are not overtaking a slower-moving vehicle, stay in the right lane.

4. Maximize Your Visibility

Turn on your headlights when the sun begins to set or whenever you use your windshield wipers, and make sure that your windshield, windows and all exterior lights are clean.

5. Keep to a Safe Following Distance

Nobody likes being tailgated, and if the driver in front of you has to come to a quick stop, following too closely could result in an accident. If you or a loved one have been affected by the tragedy of a commercial vehicle collision like the ones described please reach out to Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA to help consider your options for legal action. The lawyers of Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA have a long history of successfully helping those affected by tragedies such as this to receive the compensation they deserve. Please feel free to contact us with any questions. You can reach us in one of these 3 ways:
  • Call Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA at (727) 451-6900
  • Complete this online contact form
  • Click the Live Chat button in the bottom right corner of this page
https://www.dolmanlaw.com/florida-truck-accident-lawyer/

 

Matthew Dolman

Personal Injury Lawyer

This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has successfully fought for more than 11,000 injured clients and acted as lead counsel in more than 1,000 lawsuits. Always on the cutting edge of personal injury law, Matt is actively engaged in complex legal matters, including Suboxone, AFFF, and Ozempic lawsuits.  Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.

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