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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that a total of 3,660 people died in U.S. large truck crashes in 2014 (latest available figures). 16 percent of these deaths were truck occupants and 68 percent were occupants of other passenger vehicles. 

Following are a couple of the truck-related accidents in our area: 

• In March 2016, a Chrysler van traveling on the I-75 off ramp collided with a Fort Myers city garbage truck at the intersection of SR82. The impact pushed the van about 50 feet east, down SR82. The driver of the van was pronounced dead at the scene. 

• In early May 2016, a 67-year-old woman was killed because she did not realize a dump truck ahead of her in the same lane was moving slower, and crashed into it from behind. 

“South Florida has a large number of trucks on its roads and highways. These trucks increase in number as the construction projects and retail businesses increase. Passenger vehicle drivers need to drive defensively around these large trucks so they do not cause injury or death to themselves and other drivers on the road,” said Fort Myers Truck Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey, of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. 

Many crashes between heavy commercial trucks and passenger cars can be avoided by following these safety tips from RoadSafe America: 

1. Be extra alert as you approach a large truck. They behave very differently from cars.
2. Avoid blind spots around trucks. If you cannot see a truck’s side mirrors, the truck driver cannot see you. One-third of all crashes between large trucks and cars take place in the blind spots around a truck.
3. Do not pass a truck on the right while the truck is turning right. Trucks must swing wide to the left to negotiate right turns safely, as the rear wheels follow a shorter path than the front wheels.
4. Do not cut in front of any large vehicle, including a truck or a bus. Since they require much more distance to stop in comparison to cars, forcing a large vehicle to stop quickly can result in a fatal accident.
5. Use the proper procedure to pass a large truck or bus on the highway. Accelerate slightly and maintain a consistent speed while passing. Wait until you can see the entire cab in your rear-view mirror before signaling and pulling in front of it.
6. Observe a truck’s turn signals before trying to pass it. If the truck appears to be starting a left turn, check which way the driver is signaling before passing the truck on the right.
7. Give trucks at least four to six seconds of space in wet conditions and at highway speeds.
8. Call authorities if you see unsafe driving.
9. Do not cut off a truck in traffic or on the highway to reach your exit or turn. 

“Our Fort Myers personal injury lawyers consult with the best trucking experts in the state of Florida in order to determine how an accident occurred, and how it could have been avoided. Contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. if you have been involved in an accident,” said Attorney Randall Spivey.  

Fort Myers Truck Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.