$10M Settlement For Cyclist Killed In Truck Accident
Truck accident attorneys for a Florida woman who was killed in a truck accident recovered $10 million on behalf of her estate. The victim was legally riding her bike on the sidewalk when the truck jumped the curb and struck her. The verdict comes at a time when major players for the trucking lobby are attempting to get legislatures to relax standards related to trucking safety.
The lawsuit was filed against the trucking company, its subsidiary, and the driver of the truck. Since 2014, truck accidents have increased by over 80% in Florida. That includes 350 who have been killed in accidents with commercial trucks and over 10,000 injuries.
HB 7055 is the piece of legislation that, if passed, would reduce the trucking industry’s duty of care to the public. There would be no duty to retrofit commercial vehicles with needed safety equipment such as underride guards. Personal injury attorneys would be prevented from introducing arguments that trucking companies could have prevented a death or accident if they had only installed side and back underride guards on their vehicles.
South Florida has higher-than-average truck accidents
South Florida is one of the busiest sea ports in the world and for that reason, has more truck accidents per capita than other places across the United States. The trucking industry makes billions each year from transporting goods from point A to point B. In so doing, they are required to abide by certain safety standards that are handed down by the federal government. Civil litigation is a major stressor for the industry, but in many cases, they make fatal errors that cost people their lives.
The proposed legislation would prevent a personal injury attorney from arguing that an accident or death could have been avoided had the trucking company installed relevant safety equipment.
Truck accident lawsuits in Jacksonville, FL
Those injured in truck accident lawsuits often face an uphill battle when it comes to recovery. Injuries in these cases are severe and require months of rehabilitation. In other cases, commercial trucks and negligent operators kill members of the public. Many newer trucks have safety features that reduce the risk to members of the public. But they cost money to install on older vehicles. Safety features such as side underride guards are not required by law. However, in many cases, they can prevent a serious accident, injury, or even death. The trucking lobby does not want to bear the cost related to these upgrades and further doesn’t want personal injury attorneys to bring the failure to install them up in court.
Talk to a Jacksonville, FL Truck Accident Attorney Today
Truck accidents are on the rise in Jacksonville and across the state of Florida. If you have been injured by a negligent truck driver, call the Jacksonville truck accident attorneys at Gillette Law today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help you recover damages related to medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced quality of life.
