Florida Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Very often, a truck accident involving a large truck and a smaller vehicle can have very tragic results since a large truck can weigh more than 80,000 pounds and can be up to 75 feet in length. So, it is not surprising that truck accidents result in more serious injuries and a higher number of deaths than other traffic accidents.

The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) compiles data about truck accidents, and statistics show that twelve percent of all traffic fatalities in the United States are due to truck accidents. Tractor trailer truck accidents are the most dangerous, and studies show that 98% of the time, the passengers or driver in the other vehicle are killed as opposed to the occupants of the truck.

The victim in this case was a 30 year old husband and father of two young sons, both less than three years old at the time of this accident.

While working to support his family, this victim was driving a truck on Interstate 10 in Madison County, Florida, when all of a sudden, a Mack truck carelessly and negligently attempted to make an unauthorized U-turn from the emergency shoulder across the eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 immediately in front our driver. This caused the Mack truck to collide with the motor vehicle being driven by the victim, causing the victim’s truck to become engulfed in fire, resulting in the death of this young father as he burned alive. The passenger in our victim’s truck was able to escape the fire, but unfortunately, he was not able to pull the driver to safety.

The family of the victim in this Florida truck accident case contacted Attorney Richard D. Schuler to assist them in their case against the driver of the Mack truck and the company that owned the Mack truck for the inexcusable neglect of its driver in attempting to make to make a U-turn under a bridge of a major throughway.

Mr. Schuler also pursued a claim against the company that employed the victim in this case because at the time of this accident, the victim was within the course and scope of his employment. The company did not carry workers’ compensation coverage for the benefit of its employees, in accordance with Florida Statute Section 440.02(16), subject to the provisions of Chapter 440, Florida Statutes. Since the company employed more than three (3) employees, all of which were non-exempt employees pursuant to the compliance requirements of Florida Statute Section 440.05, this company had a duty to secure workers’ compensation coverage for the benefit of its employees.

This was a very sad case since, of course, the wife and mother in this case has had to endure losing the comfort and companionship of her husband and best friend, and will have to raise their two sons on her own with the help of the children’s grandfather. The two little boys will never know their father, and will never have his guidance and companionship during their lifetimes. He will not be there to play ball or attend any of their sporting events, or to participate in any of the many activities young boys enjoy doing with their father. And they will all have to live with the memory of the horrible nature of his death for the rest of their lives.

With extensive investigation and discovery, Mr. Schuler was successful in obtaining a $3,000,000.00 settlement in this case for the family of this young father.