Semi-Truck Accident on I-75 in Florida Kills Seven

January 4, 2019 | Attorney, Matthew Dolman
Semi-Truck Accident on I-75 in Florida Kills Seven

Alachua County Semi-Truck Accident Results in Deadly Fire  

At least 7 people lost their lives with an additional 8 injured on the Thursday afternoon of January the 3rd in one of the most destructive tractor trailer accidents in the history of I-75 running through Alachua county. The accident involved two commercial tractor-trailers and several smaller vehicles including a van carrying several children of which five lost their lives. The other two fatalities included both drivers of the two tractor-trailers involved in the accident.

I-75 Multi-Car Accident Details

The accident's exact cause has since not yet been determined but accident witnesses claim that at around 3:45pm a northbound truck and car collided with each other. Once the two vehicles collided, they lost control and broke through the I-75 median guardrail and made their way into oncoming southbound traffic. It is not known whether the guardrail failed or simply gave way to the overwhelming force of the crashing semi-truck and car.

Two Semi-Trucks Involved in Accident Cause Massive Fireball

Once the semi-truck and car that collided made their way across the median and into oncoming southbound traffic, the tractor-trailer collided with another truck and the aforementioned van carrying the children. The accident resulted in extensive damage to all vehicles involved and was notably complicated by the combustion of several vehicles. Both tractor-trailers proceeded to burst into flame after the accident and their high fuel capacities lead to over 50 gallons of diesel to be spilled out into the road making the fire all the more intense and widespread. Authorities stated that the intensity of the flames actually caused damage to the road itself.

Possible Legal Ramifications of I-75 Semi-Truck Accident

As a consequence of such an intensely destructive accident, those that suffered damages from the accident will likely be placed in a position where they have to contend with medical expenses, life-changing injuries, and lost wages due to their injuries. As of now, the investigation into the accident is still ongoing but the discovery of fault with a liable party could result in those that suffered injuries filing injury claims against them.

The Possible Causes of a Semi Truck Accident

Semi-truck drivers have to not only drive a vehicle that is notoriously difficult to maneuver safely, but they have to do so for long spans of time with very few breaks. Despite the best efforts on the part of many truck drivers and other drivers on the road, semi-truck accidents manage to occur and the sheer number of ways that such catastrophic events can be caused are staggering. Some of the most common causes of commercial tractor-trailer accidents include:

How Does a Semi-Truck Accident Lawsuit Work?

In the case of this recent catastrophic accident that occurred on I-75, those injured by the accident as the loved ones of those who lost their lives will likely want to take legal action against those responsible for the accident. In order to do this, they would have to file a truck accident claim. A truck accident claim is a legal action in which a plaintiff sues a party liable or their damages caused by a truck accident. These damages can be things like medical expenses, disability caused by an injury, wrongful death, etc.  Before considering a truck accident claim, one must take into consideration the component factors required in order to make a viable claim. First of which is that there must be some kind of injury or damages suffered due to a truck accident and those damages must be significant enough to warrant making a claim. You can't expect to make a very successful claim when you only have some bruising and your car was only scratched. 

Negligence and Your Semi-Truck Accident Claim

Next, there must be a liable party that was negligent in some way. This means that someone had to be responsible for the truck accident because they did do something to prevent an event that could have been foreseeable. For example, a trucking company could be considered negligent and liable in a truck accident claim if they had failed to vet a driver with a history of drug and alcohol abuse while driving properly and that driver then caused an accident. The negligence that a liable party is responsible for, needs to be directly connected to the damages suffered by a plaintiff. Otherwise, a defendant would not have much trouble making the argument that your injuries could have just as easily been caused by something other than their negligence.

Contact an Experienced Florida Truck Accident Attorney

With a skilled attorney at your side, you have a significantly higher chance at success when pursuing an accident claim. Not only will your claim more likely to be successful but a lawyer can help negotiate a much better settlement than you ever could on your own. Even with a lawyer's fee taken into account, settlements obtained in claims that utilize a lawyer consistently remain larger than those obtained when someone goes at a claim on their own. There is no substitute for expert knowledge when it comes to seeking compensation for damages like lost wages, disability, and pain and suffering. If you or a loved one suffered from personal injuries as the result of a truck accident, you are entitled to compensation for your suffering. Take advantage for your no-risk, free consultation with the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, your premier personal injury and truck accident lawyers in the greater Tampa Bay area. Our lawyers are happy to speak with you about your accident and what legal options are available to you They are here to fight for your right to operate your vehicle in safety, and they can advise you as to whether you have a claim for personal injuries under Florida law. Contact them today online or at (727) 451-6900. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA 800 North Belcher Road Clearwater, FL 33765 727-451-6900 https://www.dolmanlaw.com/legal-services/truck-accident-attorneys/  

 

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.

Learn More