Strict deadlines placed on dump truck drivers often cause drivers to speed and engage in other dangerous behaviors. If you or your loved one has been injured or killed in a dump truck accident that was not your fault, you need to reach out to a skilled Miami truck accident attorney who can help. At our Law Offices, we are committed to helping South Florida clients obtain the compensation they need to move on with their lives.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly accident that occurred in Southwest Miami-Dade last week. Troopers say a dump truck was attempting to make a left turn into a concrete plant when it collided with a rental car, which burst into flames. Sadly, the 30-year-old driver was burned to death and died at the scene of the accident. He was driving a Dodge Charger at the time. The collision is being investigated to determine if speed was a factor.
A dump truck refers to a truck with a body that tilts or opens at the back for unloading. These trucks are typically used for transporting loose material such as sand, gravel or demolition waste for construction. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, dump and cement truck accidents caused the second most injuries and deaths among all large commercial vehicle crashes in 2015. Given the weight and ungainly distribution of mass, dump trucks can be prone to rollovers, which may lead to serious accidents and injuries. Other causes of dump truck accidents include, but are not limited to:
- The dump truck turning in front of your vehicle;
- Rear-end collisions;
- Failure to maintain the truck;
- An inexperienced driver;
- Dropped rocks and gravel.
Dump truck accidents typically take place because of negligence. In general, you can recover compensation from a dump truck driver if you can establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the driver was negligent. This requires you to prove the following elements: the dump truck driver owed you a duty of care; the dump truck driver breached the duty of care owed to you; the dump truck driver’s breach was a direct cause of the accident; and you suffered bodily harm or property damage as a result.
Victims of dump truck accidents may be entitled to a variety of economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages compensate for quantified, actual losses such as medical expenses, lost wages and property damage. Non-economic damages include things like mental anguish, pain and suffering, disfigurement and other damages that are much harder to quantify. Every case is different and the exact amount of compensation a plaintiff will be able to obtain will vary based on the specifics of the case.
If you have been injured in an accident with a dump truck in Florida, you need to contact a seasoned Miami truck accident attorney who understands this area of law. At our Law Offices, we are committed to helping victims and their families recover damages they are rightfully owed. You can rest assured that we have extensive experience handling dump truck and other utility vehicle accidents. To set up a free consultation, call us at 1-877-499-HURT (4878) or contact us online.
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