Florida highways are among the country’s major freight corridors. That means you share the road daily with large commercial trucks and the drivers who operate them. When a truck accident happens, the results can devastate smaller vehicles. But before looking at what causes these crashes, it helps to understand just how serious they can be.
Why truck crashes are more dangerous
Sharing the road with an 18-wheeler or semi-trailer truck is different from driving near a regular car. This is because these vehicles can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. That size and weight make crashes far worse for smaller passenger vehicles.
Additionally, their stopping distances are much longer and the impact force in a crash can cause serious and life-altering injuries. Beyond that, truck crashes also increase the risk of underride collisions and rollovers. With those risks in perspective, it is worth knowing exactly what puts these massive vehicles on a collision course.
Five truck crash hazards to watch out for
Most truck accidents trace back to a handful of common causes. Here are five hazards every Florida driver should know about:
- Speeding and aggressive driving: Large trucks need far more distance to stop than regular cars, making speeding and sudden lane changes a serious threat to nearby vehicles.
- Mechanical and equipment failure: Defective brakes, tire blowouts, broken lights and steering malfunctions can cause a truck driver to lose control with little to no warning.
- Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo: Overloaded or unevenly distributed cargo makes large trucks unstable and increases the risk of rollovers, jackknifes and spilled debris on the road.
- Distracted driving: Truck drivers managing GPS units, dispatch radios, paperwork or smartphones can lose focus in the time it takes to cross an entire intersection.
- Adverse weather conditions: Florida’s heavy rain and dense fog reduce visibility and create slippery roads, leaving large trucks especially vulnerable to hydroplaning.
Knowing these hazards puts you in a better position to stay alert on the road. But even so, careful drivers can still find themselves caught in a truck crash through no fault of their own.
What to do after a Florida truck crash?
If you are ever involved in a truck crash, your first priority is getting to safety and calling for emergency help. Once you are able, take photos of the scene and note any witness information. These early steps can make a real difference as you work through the aftermath. From medical bills to vehicle repairs, the road to recovery can feel overwhelming. This is why reaching out to the right people early on can help you better understand your options and take the right steps forward.