Florida Injury Attorney Blog

Consider this auto vs. tractor trailer accident that occurred just outside of Jacksonville, Florida on Highway 301 which, in the area of this accident, has two lanes going north, two lanes going south and a median in between. At night, Mr. Smith was driving his car on Highway 301 North. A tractor trailer was approaching Highway 301 from his right on a side road. The tractor trailer driver intended to turn left across the two northbound lanes, through the median and into the southbound lanes of Highway 301. The tractor trailer driver completed the first part of the turn. However, he stopped with his tractor in the median and his trailer blocking the two northbound lanes of Highway 301 because a car was coming in the southbound lanes preventing him from completing his left turn. Mr. Smith, driving in one of the northbound lanes of Highway 301, did not see the trailer blocking his lane until the last second which resulting in a serious crash and severe injuries to Mr. Smith.

Setting aside the issue that the tractor trailer driver should have waited to begin his turn until he knew both the northbound and southbound lanes were clear, this kind of accident illustrates the importance of having the appropriate lights and markers on the tractor trailer other than the normal headlights and taillights.

Tractor trailers are supposed to have what is called conspicuity tape (often red and silver reflective tape) on the side of their trailers to help other drivers see it from the side and understand the length of the tractor trailer when visibility is limited. They are also supposed to have clearance lights on the truck. These are the lights on the corners of the truck that help make the truck more conspicuous and also help another driver appreciate the size of the vehicle. Identification markers, which are a set of three lights on the front and back of the tractor trailer, are also important to help other drivers see the vehicle and determine its size and length.

Driving a tractor trailer with proper and functional headlights and taillights is not sufficient. Driving with the other lights and markers mentioned here can be equally important from a safety perspective so other drivers on the road can fully observe, and appreciate the dimensions of, a big truck, semi, 18 wheeler or tractor trailer as they are often called, which has stopped or slowed on the road so that an injury accident can be avoided.

If you have been involved in an injury accident with a tractor trailer under circumstances where it had stopped or slowed on the road at night or in the fog, even one where your vehicle struck the tractor trailer, there may be more to the story of who caused the crash. It will be important to inspect the tractor trailer and investigate whether or not the tractor trailer had a complete set of lights and markers in the proper condition to determine what chance you had of seeing and appreciating the size of the tractor trailer.