Jacksonville Personal Injury Blog

You drive next to a big rig on the highway. Has anyone ever that thought they are not big enough?

Well, your consumer concerns are not even in the radar of Kraft Foods Inc., MillerCoors, or Coca-Cola, which would all like trucks to be bigger so they can carry more product around the country on fewer trips. The companies then save money on gas.

Kraft is part of 150 companies that are lobbying Congress to allow trucks 20% heavier on the nation’s roadways, according to Chicago Breaking Business. Instead of the maximum of 80,000 pounds, they could weigh up to 97,000 pounds. Mega-trucks could add two, even three trailers to allow for the heavier loads, bringing the length up to 120 feet up from the current limit on most interstates of 53 feet.

But consider that heavier trucks increase the likelihood for more catastrophic failures of our bridges, such as the collapse of the I-35 Bridge in Minneapolis where 13 people were killed and 145 were seriously injured.

Nineteen western governors like the idea of the “double” and “triple” tractor trailers. It’s already happened in the train industry. Union Pacific Corp. ran a test of a “monster train” that ran 3.4 miles through Southern California. Union Pacific failed to alert local authorities of the test. Imagine what could happen if an emergency vehicle had to cross the tracks when this monster was passing through?

There is a bill in the House and one in the Senate to allow for the larger big-rigs. Rep. Michael Michaud (D-Maine) proposes raising the weight limit to 97,000 pounds.

In the last 50 years, the trucking industry has been relentless in its push to put larger and larger trucks on the road and to push its drivers to log longer and longer hours behind the wheel. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.) and Rep Jim McGovern (D., Mass.) have filed legislation to ban bigger and heavier trucks.

Where do consumers weigh in? Truck Safety Coalition’s Jane Mathis, who lost a son and his wife in a big rig accident in Florida says, “We don’t need bigger trucks; we need safer trucks,” in her support of the Lautenberg bill.

This concerns Florida truck accident attorneys and personal injury lawyers throughout the nation.

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A Tallahassee, Florida man died on January 9, 2010, when he crashed into the rear of a semi-tractor-trailer rig on I-10. The 48-year-old man was traveling on I-10 just west of SR 77 near Chipley in Washington County.

The Florida Highway Patrol says he was heading east just before noon when he hit the rear of the tractor-trailer. The driver of the truck said he was on cruise control at 68 mph when he felt a large explosion. When he looked into his rear view mirrors all he saw was dust and debris. The 48-year-old man’s vehicle was actually stuck under the trailer rig. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics from Washington County.

Our condolences go out to the family of this motorist.

When a fully loaded tractor-trailer weighing in at over 80,000 pounds collides with an automobile weighing about 3,000 pounds, even if it is a rear-ender, 98 percent of the fatalities occur to people in the passenger vehicles. It sounds as though there was nothing the driver of the big-rig could have done to be safer on the road.

Distracted Driving
Almost weekly we are reporting about people who collide into the back of the vehicles. Dialing a cell phone and texting can contribute to distracted driving. But also, reaching into the back seat, changing the radio, having an argument in the car, and being sleep deprived, may all contribute to a less than safe driver.

According to a study by Virginia Tech last year, dialing a cell phone made the risk of crash or near-crash event 2.8 times as high as non-distracted driving; while talking or listening to a cell phone made the risk of crash or a near-crash event 1.3 times as high as non-distracted driving; and reaching for an object such as an electronic device made the risk of crash or near-crash event 1.4 times as high as non-distracted driving.

In Florida, there were 243,342 traffic crashes in 2008, which averages 665 per day. The type of crash, rear-ending the vehicle in front, tops the list of types of crashes, according to the Florida Highway Patrol in its 2008 statistics. In that year, there were more than 29,000 car accidents in Florida of this nature that resulted in more than 74,000 injuries and 318 deaths.

Nationally, NHTSA finds that at least 25% of police-reported crashes involve some form of driver inattention. That means more than 4,300 crashes each day across the country. And many suspect that estimate is low.

Source article: http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/81075122.html

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Truck Accident , Wrongful Death

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Two big-rigs were involved in a fiery collision the early hours of Tuesday, January 12, 2010, shutting down the Florida Turnpike under the Boggy Creek overpass in Kissimmee, Florida. The crash caused a huge fire when it erupted around 12:30 a.m. filling up the space under the bridge as the flames shot up into the air.

The first vehicle was a Target store delivery big-rig. The driver and passenger in that truck were injured, and are hospitalized with serious injuries. Their survival was amazing considering the cab of the truck was engulfed in fire. Troopers say the fire might have actually started when the refrigeration unit that keeps food cool inside the trailer, was damaged. The food inside the Target truck was a complete loss, along with the cab of the truck.

A Good Samaritan jumped out of his vehicle and helped save the occupants of the first truck. We wish the drivers a swift recovery and are thankful that their injuries were not more serious.

So what happened here? The Florida Highway Patrol says that it appears an 18-wheeler in front of the Target truck blew a tire and was hit in the rear by the Target big-rig. Then a third big-rig hit debris from the initial crash and also sustained damage to its fuel system. Traffic was closed both northbound and southbound and was reopened just after 6 a.m. while crews cleaned up a 200-gallon diesel fuel spill caused by the crash.

The Orlando Sentinel reported the next day that damages to the Boggy Creek Road overpass are estimated to be about $300,000.

The Dangers of Semi Tractor-Trailers
In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that 11,674 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes.

Nearly one-quarter of all large-truck drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2008 had at least one prior speeding conviction, as did 18 percent of passenger car drivers.

263 people lost their lives in 2008 in Florida collisions with a large truck, a number that has been in decline since 2004.

Continue reading "Fiery Semi-Truck Crash Near Orlando" »

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Eight people were injured Saturday afternoon, January 16, 2010, when three cars collided. The Florida Highway Patrol says a white pickup truck was traveling southbound on I-295 in Jacksonville, when it lost control. An 18-wheeler hit the truck and went into the median, spinning out of control and hitting a Cadillac that was traveling north. A van carrying eight people traveling northbound had to overcorrect to avoid hitting the collision and overturned in the median. It is reported by First Coast News that all of the injuries are non-life threatening. The injured have been taken to various hospitals.

We are very hopeful that those in the van were not seriously injured and thankful that there were no fatalities or serious injuries reported.

Big-Rigs
Large trucks, also known as tractor-trailers and semis, or eighteen-wheelers, make up only about 3% of the vehicles on the road. However, they account for far more traffic fatalities.

National statistics point to poor driver training, driver fatigue, speeding, overloaded and oversized trucks, brake failure, and poor driving conditions, the inexperience of the driver and a failure to yield the right-of-way, as a cause of trucking accidents.

But in fairness, those who drive 18-wheelers or big-rigs often complain that it is people driving in vehicles that cause accidents with big-rigs.

According to a 2002 study by the American Association of Automobiles, 80 percent of fatal truck-involved crashes are caused by passenger vehicles. A 2006 Virginia Tech analysis of two studies conducted for the Department of Transportation found that 78 percent of crashes were caused by passenger car drivers.

Continue reading "Eight Injured in I-295 Crash" »

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A 27-year-old woman was critically injured after driving her Toyota sedan into the rear of a semi truck on Interstate 75 early Monday morning January 11. The Florida auto injury accident happened about 1 a.m. near Big Bend Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The injured woman is in Tampa General Hospital in critical condition, while the truck driver of Palm Bay Florida was not injured. We send her our prayers for a swift recovery.

After the woman hit the truck from behind, she spun into the grass median. The FHP will have to determine if she ever applied the brakes. If not, it is likely she was distracted or too tired to be behind the wheel.

Distracted Drivers
An investigator should begin by checking the cell phone records of this driver to see whether she was on the phone before hitting the back of the tractor-trailer. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates at least one quarter of crashes involves some form of driver inattention. Distraction is just one form of inattention and is a factor in more than half of these crashes. And distracted driving can include tuning the radio, reaching into the back seat, picking up something from the floor, drinking and smoking, texting, and putting on makeup, among other things.

Following Too Closely
Following a vehicle too closely is called tailgating and it is a form of aggressive driving that gives you few options if you need to stop suddenly.

Want to figure out how closely to follow the vehicle in front? Try the three-second rule. Select a fixed object such as a sign or tree. When the vehicle ahead passed the object slowly count ‘one-one-thousand” “two one-thousand” “three one-thousand” - making sure there is at least three seconds between you and the vehicle in front.

Continue reading "Tampa Woman Tailgating Semi in Critical Condition" »

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A trucker is dead after an early morning accident on I-95 in northern Flagler County, two miles south of the St. Johns County line in North Florida.

The accident happened after the driver of a tractor-trailer rig was trying to pull back onto I-95 from the emergency lane where he was stopped to check for a problem. Heading south, he was struck from behind by another semi pulling onto the highway. The Florida Highway Patrol says the second truck was pulling onto the highway and the first vehicle just pulled in front of him.

Damage to the first rig was estimated at $100,000. The driver who died was wearing a seat belt. No tickets have been issued in the accident.

Continue reading "I-95 Trucking Death in Flagler County " »

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Married for 33 years, a couple, both 67-years-old, were looking forward to spending their retirement in the Palm Coast area of Florida between Daytona and Jacksonville. But that was not to be. On November 13, 2009, a Circuit Court jury in Flagler County granted the husband $5.1 million in the wrongful death of his wife. Back in 2006, she was killed instantly in a wreck between her Honda minivan and a fully loaded tractor-trailer. Her husband suffered a pelvic fracture.

The lawyer for the husband presented evidence that the tired trucker ran a stop sign at a well-known, isolated intersection in the southwest part of the county known as Cody’s Corner. The driver of Palatka was driving for McMaster Sod LLC of Bunnell, Florida.

An attorney argued that the county shared part of the fault for the accident because there was poor signage at the intersection, and there were worn rumble strips just before the stop sign. But the jury didn’t agree, placing 60 percent of the blame on the trucker, and 40 percent on McMaster and no blame on the county.

Some of the most compelling evidence included a Valentine’s card from the first year of the the couple’s marriage that said, “Our happiness is our wealth.”

Our hearts go out to the widower for his loss. No amount of money will replace his wife, whom he obviously adored.

Unfortunately, we are hearing more often about tired truck drivers. With the cost of fuel going up, and jobs scarce, many drivers are pushing beyond the legal limits on time behind the wheel and hiding those hours by keeping a second set of books so they are not fined. Then there are the added distractions on the road today. To stay in touch with their dispatchers and family, the cab of a truck is often filled with electronics so the driver doesn’t have to stop.

Continue reading "Widower Awarded $5 Million for Trucking Accident" »

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A Westside family is making funeral plans for a 19-year-old woman and her unborn baby who died in a collision between two pickup trucks Tuesday afternoon.

A pregnant 19-year-old was reportedly riding in the bed of the pickup truck traveling east on Normandy Boulevard, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. That’s when a late-model blue truck made an illegal turn into a mobile home park and collided with a red truck going west. The pregnant woman was riding in the back of the blue truck and was ejected when it turned in front of the other at the intersection with Parrish Cemetery Road. She was a quarter mile from their home. Today flowers mark the spot where the accident occurred.

The woman was seven months pregnant but the baby could not be saved. Fortunately, her one-year-old was in the truck in a car seat sitting next to the woman’s brother who threw himself over her during the collision. Neither was seriously hurt.

Our hearts go out to the family of this pregnant woman. There are many questions that go unanswered in media reports such as – was there a glare in the windshield of the truck? What were the road conditions at the time and was there rain? Were they speeding? Even 50 mph in a post 50 mph area in the rain is too fast for the conditions.
The Florida Highway Patrol says charges are pending.

Florida Statute 316.2015 says it is unlawful for a person to ride on the exterior of a vehicle, such as the bumper, fender, hood or truck of a car. And it is unlawful for the operator of a vehicle to allow a minor (under the age of 18) to ride within the open body of a pickup truck, unless the person is wearing a seat belt and sitting in secure seating.

Continue reading "19 Year Old Pregnant Woman Dies in Wreck" »

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A 16-year-old female and a number of other teens had attended a birthday party for a fellow friend who was turning 19. The party lasted until the early morning hours of July 27.

For some reason, the teens decided to leave the party house. That’s when the 19-year-old got behind the wheel of his pickup truck to drive everyone home. Since there were six kids and only three seats in the cab, three of the teens decided to ride in the bed of the pickup.

But according to police, the 19-year-old was driving recklessly and too fast in the 13000 block of Bartram Park Boulevard in Mandarin, just south of Jacksonville and Old St. Augustine Road. Traveling at twice the 40 mph speed limit, the pickup flipped, and rolled several times, throwing the 16-year-old girl and two others riding in the bed out of the vehicle.

The 16-year-old, a student at Lee High School, was pronounced dead at the scene of the auto accident in Jacksonville. Four other teens were seriously injured. Law enforcement said the truck appeared to have rolled over her. Another young woman was in critical condition.

Now the young male driver has been charged with vehicular homicide. He turned himself into the Jacksonville Sheriff’s office on Wednesday and was later released on $10,000 bail.
This month, if the deceased teen were still alive, she would have turned 17. Her family said that they would still celebrate her birthday and that she is still in their hearts.

Our hearts go out to the family of this young woman as well as the injured teen who was in ICU. We wish her a speedy recovery.

Continue reading "Teen Driver Facing Vehicular Homicide Charges for 16-Year-Old's Death" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident , Truck Accident , Wrongful Death

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What caused the driver of a gravel truck to crash into an SUV and overturn on I-295 is still unknown. The driver was taken to the hospital and there is no word on his condition, while the SUV driver was not hurt. The truck was reportedly leaking diesel fuel causing the road to be shut down for awhile on Thursday night.

Then on Monday night, one person was taken to Shands Jacksonville in critical condition after a truck slid into a guardrail along the 15000 block of West Beaver Street. That truck crash in Jacksonville happened near the Winn-Dixie distribution center.

What is going on with truck accidents in our area?

Florida lawmakers want to ban texting while driving, though a bill has not yet made it through the legislature. Though we don’t know what happened in the two incidents above, truck accidents are becoming a regular occurrence in our area.

Continue reading "Concrete Truck Overturns after Crash - What is Going On?" »

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The outcome of this crash could have been much worse.

A three-vehicle crash in Jacksonville has left the driver of a tractor-trailer uninjured even after his semi burst into flames, overturned, and slid into a pond. The tractor-trailer was traveling in the right lane of U.S. 1 when an SUV driven by a 21-year-old, who was trying to merge from I-295, lost control in the curve and hit the gas tank of the truck.

Once that happened, the tank burst into flames and the driver was forced to hit another vehicle, before hitting a concrete barrier and overturning. It only stopped when it landed in the water.

Thankfully no one died in this scenario, though it had every possibility. An experienced Jacksonville auto accident attorney would ask a number of questions, among them, what were the conditions of the road, and how fast was the driver traveling?

There are likely some liability questions to pursue as an experienced tractor-trailer driver, who was going the speed limit, should never be forced off the road.

The 33-year-old driver of Middleburg, amazingly escaped with non-life-threatening injuries. And the driver he hit also did not have any major injuries. The SUV driver was not injured either.
Had these drivers not been wearing their seat belts, there would be a different story to report here. Wearing your seat belt is now mandatory in Florida and you can be pulled over just for a seat belt offense. Previously, you had to be doing something else, and the failure to buckle up would be added on.

Continue reading "Three-Vehicle Crash Sends Tractor Trailer into a Pond" »

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Highway 301 in North Florida was closed in both directions, according to a story, for more than three hours Friday morning after a three-car wreck took one driver’s life. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 76-year-old woman of Callahan was driving south on Highway 301 in Nassau County and was trying to make a left turn across the highway to enter her driveway. While slowing down, she was struck from behind by a Toyota sports car being driven by a 21-year-old man of Hilliard. The Toyota bumped the woman’s Buick into the path of a Wal-Mart tractor-trailer.

The decedent’s car was pushed off the road and into the woods. She was wearing her seat belt but the car was a tangled mass of metal and she sadly died upon impact after the auto accident in Florida.

Our hearts go out to out to the family of this woman who was loved in the community and well-respected. She was just trying to pull into her driveway as she had done so many times over the years she lived in Callahan. The young driver, who suffered a minor injury, will have to live with this for the rest of his life as will the big-rig driver, who apparently could not stop his tractor- trailer in time.

The FHP says charges are pending after an investigation is complete.

Normally if you are injured by a tractor trailer in a Florida truck accident, the driver is liable for your injuries and the company they were driving for might be liable as well. In these cases, it is important to have an accident attorney determine the ownership of the vehicles involved, the number of hours the driver was on the road, and whether he had a CDL or commercial driver’s license.

Continue reading "North Florida Three-Car Wreck Kills Woman Heading Home" »

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An early morning pile-up auto accident in Florida on Interstate 4 Monday has left a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper and three others injured, according to an account.

A tractor-trailer driver of Orlando was driving westbound when the FHP says he approached a construction zone around 2 a.m. A FHP trooper was in his car and had his emergency blue lights flashing to ensure that drivers slowed down from the road construction ahead. He was between two construction trucks that also had flashing arrows and all were reported to be moving slowly in the center lane.

Instead of slowing down, the semi hit a construction vehicle which then hit a FHP trooper’s vehicle, which then ran into another construction truck.

The truck driver, the FHP officer, and two construction workers are in serious condition.

We are very sorry that someone in law enforcement doing his job was hurt in the line of work as were those who work to make our roads better. It is dangerous work and we wish everyone injured a speedy recovery.

FHP will question whether at any time the truck driver applied his brakes. If not, he may have fallen asleep and faces losing his commercial license and could be charged.

Continue reading "Florida Highway Vehicle Crash Injures 4" »

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Lake City is located in Columbia County, Florida and is known as the “Gateway To Florida.” With a population of about 12,000 and in a county whose population is on the rise (Columbia County has close to 68,000 inhabitants as of 2006), Lake City has become a popular tourist destination as well as a stop for those on route to Southern Florida. Lake City got its name as the “Gateway to Florida” because two major highways, Interstate’s 10 and 75, converge within city limits. I-10 is one of the major east-west thoroughfares in the United States running from Santa Monica, CA all the way to Jacksonville, Florida.

With so much tourist and commuter traffic traveling through Lake City, truck accidents and auto accidents are an all too common occurrence. Unfortunately, tractor trailer and commercial truck accidents on I-10 and I-75 happen quite often. When these accidents are fatal due to another driver’s negligence, a Lake City wrongful death lawyer can help a family receive compensation for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and other expenses.

Truck accidents truly present the largest danger on our highways today. If you are involved in a full speed crash with a semi-truck, it is equivalent to colliding with 20 cars - all at the same time. This is very serious and can have catastrophic consequences. In the aftermath of serious large truck accidents and tractor-trailer accidents, the Lake City tractor trailer accident attorneys of Farah and Farah in Florida are prepared to represent victims and help them receive the compensation they are owed. Due to the deadly nature of truck accidents, the advice of an experienced attorney is invaluable to accident victims or surviving family members. Contact Farah and Farah today to speak with a member of our legal team or contact us at our Lake City offices:

212 N. Marion Ave Suite 208
Lake City, FL 32055
Phone: (386) 754-7534

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Orange Park is a suburb of Jacksonville located in Northeast Clay County, Florida, just south of Jacksonville, Florida. Rich in history and a thriving community, Orange Park has a great deal to offer. Being in such close proximity to Jacksonville makes Orange Park’s roads and highways well traveled with locals and tourists alike.

Clay County, which Orange Park is located in, is also a bustling region of Florida. With a population in excess of 180,000 and a very high population density, trucks frequent Orange Park’s roads to deliver a variety of goods. As a result of 303 people per square mile in the region, busy roads, fatigued drives, and negligent acts, car and truck accidents in Orange Park are a frequent occurrence and can cause serious personal injury. When these accidents are catastrophic due to another driver’s negligence, an Orange Park wrongful death lawyer can help a family receive compensation for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and other expenses.

Truck accidents truly present the largest danger on our highways today. In the aftermath of serious large truck accidents and tractor-trailer accidents, the Orange Park tractor trailer accident lawyers of Farah and Farah in Florida are prepared to represent victims and help them receive the compensation they are owed. Due to the deadly nature of tractor-trailer accidents, the advice of an experienced attorney is invaluable to accident victims or surviving family members. Contact our firm today:

1534 Kingsley Avenue
Orange Park, Florida 32073
Phone: (904) 264-0700

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St. Augustine is home to the oldest port in the continental United States – in fact, St. Augustine is commonly referred to as “the nation’s oldest city.” In 2004, the population was estimated to be 12,157. Home to beautiful beaches, museums that depict life for the early Spanish explorers who settled there and classic architecture from an era long past, St. Augustine continues to be a popular tourist destination in Northern Florida.

Located about 40 miles south of Jacksonville and 60 miles north of Daytona Beach just 5 miles east of Interstate 95, St. Augustine is also a well traversed location. With hundreds of trucks passing through delivering goods and on their way to other destinations mixed with residents and tourists, auto accidents involving trucks happen far too often. These truck accidents can cause serious personal injury and in the most severe cases - death. When these truck accidents are fatal due to another driver’s negligence, a St. Augustine wrongful death lawyer can help a family receive compensation for loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and other expenses associated with the loss of a loved one.

Truck accidents truly present the largest danger on our highways today. In the aftermath of serious tractor-trailer accidents and large truck accidents, the St. Augustine tractor trailer accident lawyers of Farah and Farah in Florida are prepared to represent victims and help them receive the compensation they are owed. Due to the deadly nature of tractor-trailer accidents, the advice of an experienced attorney is invaluable to accident victims or surviving family members. Contact Farah and Farah today at:

1301 Plantation Island Drive
Suite 206A
St. Augustine, Florida 32080
Phone: (904) 797-7977

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Brunswick is a city in southeastern Georgia located about 30 miles north of Florida. Home to the fourth-largest automobile port in the eastern United States, the city's economy encompasses manufacturing, agricultural processing, and bulk cargoes. Nicknamed “the shrimp capital of the world” the region is also famous because it is the center of Georgia’s shrimp and crab industries. In 2007, the city proper had an estimated population of 16,235 and an estimated metropolitan population of 101,792.

Brunswick’s metropolitan area is the twelfth-largest in the state of Georgia and includes the counties of Glynn, Brantley, and McIntosh. With a region that encompasses such a large, varied area and a population that is on the rise, it is no wonder that so many auto accidents involving trucks occur in the region. With such a high commercial demand for products and goods, the potential for being injured due to the negligence of others in a truck accident is prevalent, as it is in all metropolitan regions. These accidents can cause serious personal injury or death. When these truck accidents are fatal due to another driver’s negligence, a Brunswick, George wrongful death lawyer can help a family receive compensation for loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and other expenses associated with the loss of a loved one.

Truck accidents truly present the largest danger on our highways today. In the aftermath of serious tractor-trailer accidents and large truck accidents, the Brunswick tractor trailer accident lawyers of Farah and Farah are prepared to represent victims and help them receive the compensation they are owed. Due to the deadly nature of tractor-trailer accidents, the advice of an experienced attorney is invaluable to accident victims or surviving family members. Don’t hesitate to contact Farah and Farah today at:

4216 Coral Park Drive
Suite 107
Brunswick, GA 31520
Phone: (912) 466-8896

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Palatka, Florida houses a population of 10,804 (as of July 2007), and has experienced a 7.5% rise in population since 2000. More residents translate to more people out and about and on the road. Located in Putnam County, Palatka is 6.96 square miles in size, and has a population density of only 1553 people per square mile, relatively low in comparison to other cities that are comparable in size.

Only slightly more than 20% of Palatka residents both live and work in the city. Consequently, there are a large number people who commute outside of the city limits each day; all rushing to make it to their jobs on time. With so many people present on Palatka roads, accidents, particularly those involving trucks, are of concern. Combine impatient residents who are rushing to work with truck drivers who are trying to deliver goods on time, and you have a less than desirable combination that can lead to truck accidents in Palatka. Regardless of whose fault it is, it is of extreme importance that you have a skilled Palatka truck accident attorney on your side so that you don’t have to sift through the legal waters alone.

Every city across the country has its own risks. Unfortunately for residents and visitors, wrongful death occurrences are a risk that Palatka is not immune to. When wrongful death rears its ugly head, it is important that skilled Palatka wrongful death attorneys are on the case, ensuring that negligent parties are punished and those seeking retribution are duly compensated. The wrongful death attorneys at Farah and Farah are knowledgeable and prepared to examine every aspect of your wrongful death case to ensure that your compensation is enough to help pay off the brunt of hospital bills, funeral fees, and other costs associated with the loss of a loved one. Call the wrongful death attorneys at Farah and Farah today for a consultation, and allow us to assist you with all your wrongful death legal needs. Contact us today at:

417 St. Johns Avenue
Palatka, Florida 32177
Phone: (386) 328-2889

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Amelia Island, known as the “Isle of Eight Flags”, is part of Nassau County, and is home to both Amelia City and Fernandina Beach. It is part of the Sea Islands, a grouping that stretches from the north easternmost point of Florida to the South Carolina coast. Amelia Island has a population of about 68,347 people, and is only 18.2 square miles in size. Its principle industry is tourism, with attractions centering-around beach-going, sailing and camping. In such a small community setting, it is always important for visitors to treat the locals with all due respect, and vice versa. In particular, safe driving practices are of utmost importance.

With tourism such a vital part of Amelia Island’s economy, the transportation of goods is undoubtedly a common occurrence on any given day. Trucks or other large vehicles pose a risk to tourists who are not as familiar with the area. That is, truck drivers may exercise negligence in their travel routes, putting unsuspecting tourists and even locals at grave risk. When Amelia Island truck accidents do occur, it is important to have legal counsel and representation from someone who will fight for your rights and ensure you are duly compensated. The Amelia Island truck accident lawyers at Farah and Farah are here to help in all matters of the road.

In any tourist town, above all else, it is imperative that caution be taken to ensure safety. Sometimes, safety is taken for granted and wrongful death accidents can occur. At Farah and Farah, our Amelia Island wrongful death attorneys will expose negligence and seek retribution for the losses you have suffered. Whether wrongful death occurred due to an automobile accident, a pedestrian accident, or any other personal injury accident, the attorneys at Farah and Farah are skilled and ready to assist you with all matters pertaining to wrongful death cases. For an evaluation of your case, contact our Amelia Island office today at:

501 Centre St.
Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034
Phone: (904) 261-4440

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Jacksonville Beach, Florida is the largest town in the Jacksonville Beaches community, housing a population of 21,849 as of July 2007. Since the year 2000, the population has grown by 4%. The area is referred to by locals as “Jax Beach” and is a part of Duval County. As is common in most coastal locales, Jacksonville Beach attracts numerous tourists to its sandy shores. With tourism being a substantial part of its economy, Jacksonville Beach is easily accessible via highway. It is the eastern terminus of U.S. Route 90, which culminates a mere three blocks from the Atlantic Ocean.

Tourism always provides increased traffic congestion. Not only do Jacksonville Beach roads consist of shoreline enthusiasts, but also delivery trucks and other large vehicles that transport goods and materials to the surrounding area. Truck accidents can occur for a variety of reasons, whether out of negligence on the part of the truck driver, dangerous road conditions, or manufacturing defects in the truck itself. Regardless of the reason, it is important that you have an experienced Jacksonville Beach truck accident attorney on your side in the event of an accident.

Accidents often times lead to serious injury, and may even result in death. If a loved one has recently been the victim of a fatal accident, please don’t hesitate to contact the wrongful death lawyers at Farah and Farah. If negligence played a significant factor in the loss of your loved one, the wrongful death attorneys at Farah and Farah are prepared to get you the compensation you need to help cover steep medical costs, funeral arrangements, and other expenses. Our knowledgeable and skilled Jacksonville Beach wrongful death lawyers have been aggressively representing clients for over 25 years. Contact us today at:

472 Osceola Avenue
Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250
Phone: (904) 249-2585

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Posted In: Personal Injury , Truck Accident , Wrongful Death

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On July 1, 2007, the United States Census Bureau reported Jacksonville, Florida as having a population of 805,605 people. By population, Jacksonville, is the largest city in the state of Florida, and, as of 2007, had the 12th largest population of any major U.S. city of at least 100,000 people. The city of Jacksonville has a total area of 874.3 square miles, making it the largest city in land area in the United States. Located in the First Coast region of northeast Florida, Jacksonville is centered on the banks of the St. Johns River 340 miles north of Miami and 25 miles south of the Georgia border.

As a result of location, Jacksonville is a prime tourist spot, in addition to permanently housing a vast number of people. Because there are so many inhabitants and mere passers-by, transportation and its resulting traffic play a significant role in the life of any Jacksonville resident. A hub of industry in the state of Florida, Jacksonville is host to countless motor vehicles, some transporting passengers and others transporting goods. With such a high volume of traffic, auto accidents and other personal injury accidents that result in Jacksonville wrongful death cases are extremely prevalent.

At Farah and Farah, we are dedicated to helping injured victims of car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and truck accidents in Florida get the medical treatment and money they need to recover properly. We will aggressively represent you in negotiation with insurance, with the truck driver and trucking company, and if necessary, in court. Our skilled Jacksonville truck accident attorneys have vast experience in truck accidents and are familiar with the law regarding negligence on the part of truck drivers. At Farah and Farah, we understand that every accident is different and has unique circumstances that deserve to be fully examined to get the best results. Contact us today for a free consultation at:

10 West Adams Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
Phone: (904) 396-5555

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Posted In: Personal Injury , Truck Accident , Wrongful Death

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Lake City is known as the “Gateway To Florida” and is located in Columbia County, Florida. With a population of about 12,000 and in a county whose population is on the rise (Columbia County has close to 68,000 inhabitants as of 2006) Lake City has become a popular tourist destination as well as a stop for those on route to Southern Florida.

Lake City got it’s moniker as the “Gateway to Florida” because it has two major highways that converge in the city. Interstate’s 10 and 75 intersect within the city limits. I-10 being one of the major east-west thoroughfare’s in the United States. It runs from Santa Monica, CA all the way to Jacksonville, Florida.

With so much tourist and commuter traffic traveling through Lake City, auto accidents are an all too common occurrence, which is why it helps to have a skilled Lake City personal injury attorney close by. Further, tractor trailer and commercial truck accidents on I-10 and I-75 often happen as well. With so many tourist autos and commercial vehicles driving at high speeds in such close proximity, it is really a wonder that there aren’t more accidents.

Truck accidents truly present the largest danger on our highways today. If you are involved in a full speed crash with a semi-truck, it is equivalent to colliding with 20 cars - all at the same time. This is very serious and can have catastrophic consequences.

In the aftermath of serious large truck accidents and tractor-trailer accidents, the Lake City tractor trailer accident lawyers of Farah and Farah in Florida are prepared to represent victims and help them receive the compensation they are owed. Due to the deadly nature of tractor-trailer accidents, the advice of an experienced attorney is invaluable to accident victims or surviving family members. Contact Farah and Farah today to speak with a member of our legal team or contact us at our Lake City offices:

212 N. Marion Ave Suite 208
Lake City, FL 32055
Phone: (386) 754-7534

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Truck Accident

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It turns out the driver of an 18-wheeler that ran into a school bus killing one student, had been texting, according to a report on the fatal Florida truck accident.

30- year-old Reinaldo Gonzales turned himself into the Florida Highway Patrol last Tuesday. He was booked in the Marion County jail in Ocala, Florida charged with vehicular homicide and reckless driving with serious bodily injury.

The auto accident in Florida happened seven months ago and Gonzales has been a free man since then. This angers the parents of 13-year-old Frances Schee, who was the last child trapped on the burning bus when passersby in the Florida town of Citra came to the rescue.

The Florida Highway Patrol explains the seven months by saying that these investigations take time.

Gonzales admits he was text messaging just minutes before he slammed into the rear of the bus with his 18-wheeler.

On the side of the road, U.S. 301 where the crash took place, a memorial still stands to honor the 11 children hurt and one girl killed.

Since the Florida bus accident, several lawsuits have been filed. The Key family has sued Marion county schools. “Since this tragedy we have not felt the board has been responsive to our concerns.”

Continue reading "Florida School Bus Crash Caused by Negligent Trucker Kills One, Injures Many" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Bus Accident , Personal Injury , Truck Accident , Wrongful Death

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Last September, a Florida tractor-trailer driver slammed into a school bus in north Florida killing a 13-year-old girl. It turns out he was on his cell phone. Some heroic passersby pulled the children from the bus before it caught on fire. Two of the children were critically injured.

On Thursday, March 19, according to a report, a similar incident occurred in a Jacksonville tractor-trailer accident, but with a less tragic ending.

The bus was on a field trip in downtown Jacksonville, Thursday morning. The kids, from Lake Forest Elementary, were going to the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens.

The truck hit the rear of the bus. The tractor-trailer smashed its front right headlight in the process, but did not injure any students.

Ten students had to be transported to hospitals to be checked out. The driver was seen at a hospital as well. Fortunately, none of the injuries were serious in this bus accident in Jacksonville.

One mother picked up her child at the scene at Union and Davis Street at about 11:30 after hearing about the accident. Her child was shaken up and she took him home.

The question as to what caused this tractor-trailer to rear-end a school bus needs to be answered.

The First Student bus company has a contract to carry students in Duval County. The company said “The safety of our students is our No. 1 priority…regardless of whether they’re in the classroom or in a school bus headed to an event.”

Continue reading "Jacksonville Tractor-Trailer Accident Involving School Bus Injures Students " »

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Posted In: Bus Accident , Truck Accident

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