A 67-year-old man was killed and his passenger was seriously injured in a crash with a semi truck on I-95 in St. Augustine on January 21, 2016. The accident happened about 10 am near the International Golf Parkway exit ramp.
A northbound semi was following a Honda CRV in the center lane of the highway when the traffic began to slow and stop. The semi truck hit the Honda and both vehicles left the roadway. After colliding with the passenger car, the semi ran into a tree. The driver of the semi was not injured.
News reports claim that that stretch of highway is very dangerous, with speed playing a role in many of the crashes. In fact, 25 people died on I-95 from April 2014 through April 2015 in this state. That part of the road has the highest fatality rate of any road, anywhere in the country, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Crashes between semi trucks and passenger cars usually result in death or serious injury to those in cars, since the large trucks are so much heavier than cars. Highway accidents can be very complicated, involving speed, lack of attention, vehicle maintenance, and other factors. If you or a loved one is involved in one of these accidents, you can sue for several reasons:
- Medical expenses
- Lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional suffering
- Other damages
Wrongful death lawsuits have certain elements that must be proven, including breach of duty, that the breach caused the death, and that the family suffered harm. You need an experienced attorney to see you through this complicated law at this difficult time.
Laws governing the operation, maintenance, and driving of these large trucks are very different from laws governing passenger vehicles. Drivers may only drive a certain number of hours a day. They must be specially trained and licensed. And they must keep a driver’s log of maintenance and incidents. The trucking companies also must follow certain laws, including maintaining vehicles to a certain standard, and being responsible for their employees.
