Truck Accident FAQ: Answers from Tampa’s Experienced Attorneys at Brooks Law Group

The holiday season means shopping, and in Tampa Bay, that means lots of trucks on our local highways. Keeping up with the demand of stores keeps hundreds of truckers on Florida’s roads throughout December and beyond. Unfortunately, that increases the likelihood of trucking accidents. As one of Tampa’s leading truck accident law firms, our team…

Why Are Semis So Dangerous? Know The Big Risks of These BIG Trucks

If you spend any amount of time on Florida’s highways, you are familiar with the fear of driving around semi-trucks. Why are these trucks so scary, and what makes them more dangerous than other vehicles? There are a variety of factors that play into the stigma of accidents with semi-trucks, but most of them are related…

Tampa Semi Crash Kills One and Injures 3: Local Lawyers Weigh In on Defensive Driving

Tampa residents are saddened to hear of yet another deadly semi-crash right here in our own city. On Thursday, August 31, a semi-truck traveling East struck a Mitsubishi Outlander attempting to make a left-hand turn onto Adamo Drive. Of the four passengers in the SUV, the adult female passenger died from her injuries at the…

Pay Attention at The Port: Tips for Avoiding Car Accidents around Port Tampa Bay

If you’ve ever booked a cruise, you know that many of these vacations start here in Florida. Port Tampa Bay is the largest (and most diverse) seaport in that state. It’s a hub of both tourism and commerce and boasts huge expansions to its cargo management and storage capabilities. As a central point in Tampa, it’s busy…

Deadly Weekend in Tampa Bay: Fatal Commercial Truck Accident Kills Driver

June brought many wonderful things to the Tampa Bay Area, but it also brought tragedy in the form of another commercial truck accident fatality. On Friday, June 9th, a 31-year old Tampa man lost his life when his work truck flipped on I-75 around exit 220. He struck the guard rail and died on impact….

What Does “Catastrophic Injury” Mean Under Florida Law?

As injury lawyers, we use terms like “catastrophic injury” frequently. Our clients, however, do not. This can be unsettling for them when we use phrases like this during their initial consultation. We’re also passionate about educating the public on Florida law and how it applies to their daily lives. Here on the blog we attempt to answer…

How Long Can I File a Claim After My Car Accident?

A car accident leaves drivers and passengers traumatized, especially if the accident caused injuries or fatalities. Because of the subsequent shock, many victims delay filing a claim for their damages and injuries because they are coping with recovery. Unfortunately, the moment your accident occurs it begins the countdown on the statute of limitations of your…

More Trucks, More Accidents

Florida’s highways aren’t exactly known for being the safest roads in the United States. However, lately, there has been a significant uptick in accidents involving commercial vehicles. Specifically, we’re talking about semi-trucks. Many motorists fear them and associate them with catastrophic accidents. While there is no single reason for this increase in truck-involved accidents on…

What Is a “Personal Injury” and Which Winter Haven Attorney Is Right for You?

When you are in an accident or suffer an injury that was someone else’s fault, everyone will tell you that you need to get a lawyer ASAP. While they’re correct that you need representation, it’s important to know that not all lawyers are created equal, and finding one that has experience and knowledge specific to…

The Delivery Guy Brought an Accident: Now What?

In the last three years, delivery services have become the norm for households across America. From your favorite takeout restaurant to your toothpaste and groceries, you can have (almost) anything delivered right to your front door within a matter of hours. Because delivery services have grown astronomically though, the influx of new delivery drivers on…

Comparta el camino con Florida Semi Trucks

¡Los accidentes con semirremolques son peligrosos y el equipo de Brooks Law Group está comprometido a proteger a los conductores de Tampa de este riesgo! Los semirremolques son una gran parte del tráfico de Florida, ya que dependemos de ellos para transportar mercancías dentro y fuera del estado. La I-4, la Autopista 75 y la…

Share The Road with Florida Semi Trucks

Accidents with semi trucks are dangerous, and the team at Brooks Law Group is committed to protecting Tampa drivers from this risk! Semi trucks are a huge part of Florida traffic, as we depend on them to haul goods in and out of the state. I-4, Highway 75, and Highway 95 are all congested with…

Know The Steps: 5 Things to Do After A Car Accident

Being involved in a car accident is scary, no matter how minor. Injuries, damages, and even deaths are all potential effects of vehicle collisions. They can traumatize both drivers and passengers, even if they did not sustain any physical injury. Hundreds of accidents occur each week in Tampa. In each one, drivers face the same…

Can Tampa Drivers Handle A Big Freeze?

Over Christmas weekend, Florida experienced some unseasonably cold temperatures, and some locations even got ice! While that’s almost unheard of here in the Tampa area, it does occasionally happen, and as many driver’s experienced and will continue to experience during this cold snap, driving in freezing temperatures can be complicated. Some things to watch out for as…

Estadísticas Aterradoras: No Se Convierta en Víctima De La Distracción

Florida central es una meca para las personas que desean alejarse del clima invernal, y podemos entender por qué Winter Haven es un punto caliente (literalmente) para los turistas. Durante la temporada navideña, es común que las carreteras en el condado de Polk y sus alrededores estén muy ocupadas con personas de fuera del estado…

Scary Statistics: Don’t Become A Victim of Distraction

Central Florida is a mecca for people wanting to get away from winter weather, and we can understand why Winter Haven is a hot spot (literally) for tourists. During the holiday season, it’s common for the roads in and around Polk County to become very busy with people from out of state who have come to soak up…

Handy Traffic Guide for Holidays in Polk County: Drive with Caution This Week!

Thanksgiving week is here, and that means people from all over the country will be heading to see their family and friends. Whether they’re coming here to Central Florida, or are Polk County locals headed out of town, the roads will be filled with heavier-than-usual traffic, and that means a much higher chance of accidents (and…

Large Trucks are Involved in 1/3 of All Fatal Crashes Occurring in Work Zones

Work zones are some of the most treacherous places on Florida roadways. As the number of people killed in work zones along roads continues to climb, federal regulators are calling on the public to exercise caution as they navigate work zones. In particular, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is asking truck drivers to…

Inside Look – Truck Blind Spots

Steve: Welcome to Wednesday’s Inside Look by Brooks! Steve Brooks here alongside my co-host Beach Brooks III. Today we are talking about truck blind spots. Trucks weigh, generally, about 80,000 pounds when they’re loaded. A car is about 7,000 pounds, so there’s 10 times the weight in a truck. So if you’re in a collision…

Inside Look – Semi-Truck Driver Violations in 2020

Beach III: Good afternoon, everyone, and happy Wednesday! Thank you for joining us on Wednesday’s Inside Look by Brooks. I’m Beach Brooks here. Today I’m joined by Connor Keith, who works in marketing for us. Connor and I were working on a project together and we discovered that it’s pretty amazing how many truck driver…

FMCSA: More Than 56,000 Truck Driver Violations in 2020

A federal clearinghouse identified more than 56,000 drug and alcohol violations among the nation’s truck drivers in 2020. More than 45,000 drivers lost their jobs as a result. Truck drivers are held to stricter standards than other motorists, especially when it comes to alcohol consumption. The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for truckers is 0.04…

Top 10 Most Dangerous Intersections in Tampa

Some car accidents are inevitable. But there are some areas in Tampa where crashes are more likely. A local advocacy group, All For Transportation, recently delved into crash statistics and identified the most problematic intersections. The purpose of the study is to encourage government leaders to make road and highway improvements in Tampa and Hillsborough…

Study: Truck Drivers Could Be At Risk for Sleep Apnea

A collision with an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer usually does not end well for other vehicles on the road. Some accidents can be linked to drivers suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, according to new research from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Previous studies have shown that the number of truck drivers experiencing sleep apnea is increasing. Many…

Truck Fleets Facing Hours of Service Challenges

Trucking industry representatives embraced recent changes to the hours-of-service regulations, which mandate how long drivers can stay on the roads before resting. While the changes will likely save money on operating costs, they could also have a less desirable side effect: More truck drivers will be behind the wheel with less rest. This poses a…

Semi-Truck Crash in Lakeland Shuts Down Roads

Early this morning, a Lakeland semi-truck crash had roads closed for hours. The collision occurred near the I-4 overpass on State Road 33. The road remained closed until much later this morning, forcing drivers to find another route to work. One of the drivers was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries. Accidents…