The large trucks of today are much different than the very first versions of the early 1900s. These extra-large vehicles are all over American roads and provide an extremely important function of transporting most of our goods throughout the nation. In the United States, more than 70% of all goods are transported via large trucks. These combination trucks can be composed of one trailer, two trailers, or even three trailers.
Alexander Winton, who founded the Winton Motor Carriage Company was one of the first automobile manufacturers in the U.S. as well as a pioneer when it came to the trucking industry. His first version of what we know today as our big rigs was just a tractor attached to a truck. It was used to transport and deliver his cars to the customers across the country who bought them. While his early version of a large truck was only able to transport one car with each trip, it was a crucial first step towards the evolution of the large trucks we see on our roads today.
What are the Challenges to Driving Near Large Trucks?
When a smaller passenger vehicle is hit by a large truck or suffers a crushing accident from a rollover by a large truck, the occupants of the passenger vehicle most often sustain the majority of the damages. Large trucks are very heavy with some combination trucks weighing as much as 80,000 pounds. Even the engines of modern-day trucks are massive with sizes that are six times that of your average passenger vehicle.
To qualify as a truck driver, one must go through training and pass an exam to receive a CDL license A, B, or C. Truck drivers must learn the rules of the road, the special requirements that apply to large trucks as set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Administration, and they must spend time practicing how to operate these huge vehicles. Even though there are more regulations and guidelines put on individuals that drive trucks, truck accidents are common.
Driving a truck is a challenging proposition, it is much more difficult than driving a passenger vehicle. Most large trucks require at least 55 feet to turn. However, with many roads in the country being much smaller than this minimum amount of space required to turn, truck drivers have to be very careful and tactical when it comes to safely get the job done. If a truck driver misjudges even a simple turn, an accident can happen.
Trucks can cause a traffic incident to happen in many ways including:
- Trailer rollovers
- Jackknifing accidents
- Technical/Mechanical issues
- Underride accidents
- Tire blowouts
- Improperly loaded cargo or unsecured loads
Have You Been in a Florida Large Truck Accident?
If you have been the victim of a large truck accident in Florida you need the best legal representation possible so that you can get a fair settlement. When serious injuries are inflicted, victims need a high enough settlement amount to help them fully pay for their damages. The Florida personal injury attorneys at Vaughan Law Group have the highest rating, an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and more than 30 years of experience helping victims of Florida injury accidents see their full legal justice. Call the Orlando serious injury attorneys at Vaughan Law Group today at (407) 648-1426 to schedule your free consultation.
