Big-Rig Carrying Sharks Crashes on Florida Freeway

In a surprising story out of Volusia County, Florida, it is being reported that a semi-truck carrying a group of sharks crashed into a grove of trees. The cause of the accident was a split tire on the truck that caused the truck to veer off the road and crash into the trees as it traveled north on Interstate 95. According to reports, one of the sharks, a 5-foot sandbar, was killed but the rest of the sharks survived.

While this is an interesting story, and possibly comical, it underlines how serious large truck accidents can be. Fortunately no person was injured in this accident, but in a different set of circumstances there could have been a number of tragic injuries. Typical car accidents are not like big-rig accidents at all. And truck driver negligence on Florida’s roads cause many accidents each year. We don’t know whether this driver was negligent in how he kept his tires, but this could have easily been an accident that involved a family in a minivan as victims along with the sharks.

Federal Government Standards

The federal government has established standards that each driver must follow in order to drive on America’s highways and byways. Those standards are established and enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Established by Congress in the 90s as an offshoot of the Department of Transportation, the FMCSA is focused solely on regulating large motor carrier trucks and buses.

The standards established by the FMCSA are simple and straightforward. And if a trucking company or trucker breaks them, they can be suspended. The rules involve driver qualifications, how much time a driver can spend driving in a week, and truck maintenance. These rules are tied to whether a trucking company or driver can operate, and they are applicable all over the U.S.

The FMCSA enforces these regulations regularly. In fact, several companies were shut down this year because of rules violations impacting safety. In April a company from South Carolina was shut down by the agency for failing to systematically repair, inspect, and maintain its commercial trucks. It also failed to test its truckers for controlled substance and alcohol abuse.

What to Do if Injured in a Trucking Accident

Besides the federal government’s law, there are Florida state laws that protect drivers. Under civil law, every trucking company and truck driver has duty to operate their business and truck in a reasonably safe manner. If they fail to do that, and hurt another driver in the process, they are liable for the damage. Essentially, nearly every accident can be avoided and the damage prevented if all truck drivers and truck companies did their job to this standard. But sadly there are too many stories of innocent drivers and their passengers who have their whole lives turned upside down due to negligent truck drivers.

If you are injured in an accident involving a big-rig in the Miami area you will need an attorney with a practice focused on this area of law. At Alan Goldfarb, P.A. we are dedicated to representing victims of accidents and injuries. Contact us so we can evaluate your case and inform you of your options.