Whether driving along city streets or cruising on the highway, large trucks are a common sight on a Florida roadway. If you were to be involved in an accident with one of these large trucks, it could result in significant damage, including lifelong injuries, paralysis, and even death.

Here are the top 5 reasons for Florida truck accidents and how to avoid them and stay safer on Florida’s roads.

Distracted Driving

Truckers spend a good majority of their time behind the wheel. They are also often given strict deadlines that they have to meet, and these time restraints cause them to eat, drink and do other things while driving to stay on schedule. However, this kind of multitasking is dangerous and divers the truck driver’s attention from the road.

Some of the bigger distractions that may plague a truck driver is talking on their cell phone, checking their social media accounts, texting, or watching videos. Accidents caused by distracted driving can be disastrous for truck drivers and those traveling in smaller vehicles.

According to information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 2,880 people died in a distraction-related crash in 2020. Florida also ranked 14 in an overall analysis conducted regarding distracted driving deaths by state, with 514 distracted driving deaths between 2019 and 2020.

Improper Truck Maintenance

Another common cause of Florida truck accidents is improper truck maintenance. The trucking company is responsible for ensuring its rigs are functioning as they should. This means regular safety inspections before any trip out. However, even with these regulations in place, many trucks on the roadways have bald tires, failing electrical systems, and inadequate brakes.

Impaired Driving

Since truck drivers are on the road for long hours, many turn to stimulants to help them stay awake. Some also rely on other medications so they can continue working. These can all put their safety at risk, as well as the other drivers on the road.

Driving While Fatigued

Those long hours behind the wheel can also result in fatigue. When you drive while tired, your reflexes and response time are much slower. Truck drivers are also more likely to fall asleep at the wheel if they don’t take regular rest breaks.

Federal law states that truck drivers cannot skip these break times or cut their sleep short to make delivery times. However, drivers are often paid a premium for making faster deliveries, prompting them to skip their breaks. This can result in truck accidents.

Reckless Driving

Another common cause of Florida large truck accidents is reckless driving. If drivers adhere to stringent break policies, they may want to find other areas to make up time lost. In these cases, they may speed and drive recklessly. This can lead to tailgating, lane changes without signaling and failing to yield.

Trucking Companies With the Highest Percentage of Accidents
You may wonder which trucking companies account for the highest percentage of roadway accidents. Well, you may or may not be surprised to learn that UPS and FedEx usually have the largest number of truck accidents reported in the US.

According to the FMCSA Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System, between April 2020 and April 2022, FedEx Ground was involved in 80 fatal truck accidents, making it the highest in the nation.

Tips for Avoiding Large Truck Accidents

Now that you know the most common causes, let’s take a quick look at what we can do as motorists to try to avoid these accidents from happening in the first place.

• Stay Out of Blind Spots: Trucks have large blind spots, so you want to keep your distance to improve your safety around these big rigs. If you can’t see the truck driver’s face in their rearview mirror, it is safe to assume they can’t see you.

• Pass Safely: When passing a truck, do so safely. Slightly increase your speed to get around without staying next to it for too long. Make sure there is enough space to get in front, and do so carefully.

• Understand Trucks Need Time to Stop: Finally, a large truck needs more time and distance to stop, so don’t follow too closely and increase your distance.

If you followed these tips but still were involved in an accident with a large truck, you may be entitled to compensation. Consult an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss the steps you need to take when filing a claim.