truck accident lawyer

Fatal Florida Trucking Accident Lawsuit Nets $1 Billion Jury Verdict

September 5, 2021 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

A fatal Florida trucking accident lawsuit involving two distracted truck drivers has resulted in a $1 billion verdict. Palm Beach truck accident lawyer

As our Palm Beach trucking accident lawyers can explain, this type of verdict is not typical. However, it does reflect how a punitive damage award can substantially increase the amount one is compensated. Punitive damages, as outlined in F.S. 768.72, require special permission from the court as well as evidence the defendant was grossly negligent or acted with intention or wanton disregard for the safety of others. Punitive damages can amount to treble (triple) the compensatory damages.

This case involved an 18-year-old freshman at the University of North Florida who was struck and killed by a distracted semi-truck driver in 2017. His car was one in a line of standstill traffic on I-95, all backed up because another semi-truck driver had crashed earlier into an RV, causing it to burst into flames. The two vehicles and debris blocked highway traffic well over a mile for more than an hour.

According to the Florida Times-Union, a truck driver approaching from behind was reportedly operating his semi on cruise control at 70 mph. The data recorder on board showed he didn’t even attempt to brake until just one second before the fatal impact. However, he wasn’t the only one deemed negligent.

Testimony at trial revealed the driver whose semi truck flipped in the earlier crash, causing the stalled traffic, reportedly:

Was distracted by his cell phone at the time of the crash.
Was in violation of federal Hours of Service limit regulations.
Did not have a commercial driver’s license at the time of the crash.
Ha previous traffic violations on his record, including for speeding and other acts of aggressive driving.
Was not given a background check prior to being hired.

Contact a South Florida Truck Accident Lawyer

March 24, 2020 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

Florida truck accidents have steadily risen in recent years. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports in a single recent year, there were more than crashes involving large trucks, resulting in more than a dozen deaths and 1,000 injuries – 57 of those catastrophic.

Still, there is little denying how critical trucks are to our economy. They have proven a lifeline to necessary products.

Recently, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) relaxed hours-of-service rules for commercial drivers carrying essential goods. It remains to be seen whether this might lead to an uptick in more Florida truck accidents. Continue reading

Congress Advised on Effective Action to Reduce Truck Accidents

June 15, 2019 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

A coalition of freight and logistics firms recently testified before Congress on the urgent need for improved trucking standards and safety, noting that while large trucks our indispensable to our economy – they’re killing us. truck accident attorney

In the last year reported per federal data, there were 415,000 large truck accidents, within which:

4,761 people died
More than 600 truck drivers were killed
148,000 were injured.

Further, more truckers were killed in 2017 crashes than in any other year in the past decade.

In recent testimony before the House’s Infrastructure Sub-Committee on Highways and Transit. The trucking Alliance spoke at a hearing titled, “Under Pressure – the State of Trucking in America.” Members of the Trucking Alliance in a prepared statement said the greatest pressure on the trucking industry should be on reducing these truck crashes and the deaths and injuries that result. Continue reading