Your passenger car may be able to stop on a dime, which can help you avoid crashing into a pedestrian or hitting another car. Unfortunately, the large commercial trucks you see on the road next to you do not have this advantage. Large trucks take much longer to stop when compared with your car, which is one reason you will always want to give 18-wheelers and big rigs added room. It’s also why truck drivers are especially trained to brake correctly. Even with these precautions in place, however, trucking collisions caused by stopping distance issues can and do take place in Miami Lakes and other Florida communities.
If you have been injured by this type of collision, the attorneys at Flaxman Law Group would be pleased to talk to you about your legal options. You can always call our law firm for a free case review that comes with no obligation. Our attorneys have more than six decades of experience handling stopping distance and other personal injury cases, so we can address some of the concerns you may have after your collision.
Issues that Can Increase Stopping DistancesThere are many things that can exacerbate the problems of stopping distances and can potentially lead to a collision:
1) Drunk driving. When a driver is under the influence, he or she may not notice a need to stop and may have delayed reaction times, meaning that they increase stopping distances because they do not start breaking when they need to.
2) Distracted driving. Much like drunk driving, distracted driving in Miami Lakes and other communities can increase stopping distances because it increases the amount of time before a truck driver notices that they need to brake.
3) Speeding. Excessive speed not only increases the chances that a truck collision will be serious, but it can also increase stopping distances and can make it harder for a truck driver to avoid a collision. When a truck driver slams on the brakes while speeding, extra pressure is placed on brakes and tires, which can leading to tire and brake failure and a crash.
4) Driver fatigue. Tired drivers have slower response times, meaning that they may not brake in time to avoid a collision.
5) Overweight and overloaded trucks. When trucks exceed safe weight loads, they have even longer stopping distances because the heaviness of the truck pushes the truck forward, especially on hills and inclines. In addition, overloaded and overweight trucks place extra pressure on brakes, increasing the likelihood of brake failure.
6) Bald tires. Worn down or bald tires cannot grip the surface of the road as efficiently, meaning that it can take a truck much longer to stop than usual, especially on slippery surfaces or when driving at higher speeds.
7) Mechanical defects. Sometimes, manufacturers of brakes as well as mechanics installing the brakes make errors that result in brake failure. In cases where manufacturers and other liable parties could have or should have known about a design, manufacturing failure, or other potentially dangerous issue these people can be held liable in the event of a car or truck accident caused by brake failure.
Have you suffered serious injuries because of a longer stopping time or a slower application of brakes by a truck driver? Contact the law offices of Flaxman Law Group at any time to find out whether you have a claim.