Squeeze Play Accidents

Because of a truck’s size, shape, and weight, drivers of these vehicles are required to go through specific training and obtain specialized commercial driver’s licenses in order to operate them safely on the roads. Part of this training involves learning how to engage in certain maneuvers that drivers of normal-sized vehicles may handle without much thought, like simply making a turn. Squeeze play accidents occur when a truck driver squeezes another vehicle between the truck and a curb while trying to make a turn. These types of accidents may result in severe injuries to another driver being squeezed. The Miami truck accidents at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon assist victims of squeeze play accidents with seeking justice and the compensation that they need to recover from serious injuries. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a collision with a careless driver, contact our office today to schedule a free consultation about your potential claim.

Squeeze play accidents usually occur due to a truck driver’s failure to properly consider their surroundings and notice other motorists or pedestrians on the road. Some common scenarios that may lead to a squeeze play include:

• A truck driver’s failure to adequately check the vehicle’s blind spots
• A misjudgment regarding the width of the road or how close a vehicle is to the truck’s side
• Insufficient training regarding the safe operation of a tractor-trailer

Truck accident victims involved in a squeeze play accident may suffer permanent, life-altering injuries. These injuries may include paralysis, brain injuries, broken bones, or disfigurement. Severe injuries require long-term treatment that may include surgeries, physical therapy, and rehabilitative measures, which often become costly. Making sure that the negligent driver or the company responsible for hiring them is held accountable is important in ensuring safety on the roads and protecting a victim’s financial well-being.

When a victim has been injured in a squeeze play accident, various parties may be liable for the harm caused. Often, a negligent truck driver is a major factor in these types of collisions. Negligence exists when a driver breaches their duty to other motorists on the road by acting in an unreasonable manner. That breach must be identified as a proximate cause of the victim’s injuries, and the victim must also sustain damages as a result of the accident. A truck driver who does not look out for a motorist, a pedestrian, or any other road traveler when engaging in a turn or switching lanes, causing a squeeze play, would likely be found to have acted negligently.

A trucking company may also be held accountable either vicariously through the actions of its employee driver or through its own practices if those were negligent. For instance, a trucking company that does not conduct proper background checks or fails to adequately train drivers before entrusting them with its vehicles may be held liable for its negligent behavior.

If negligence is shown, truck accident victims may be compensated for medical expenses, both those already paid as well as those for anticipated treatment, in addition to lost income, diminished earning capacity, and in some cases, pain and suffering. When a negligent driver has caused an accident leading to a fatality, family members may file a wrongful death claim under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act to seek financial assistance for burial or funeral costs and their loss of support. Florida requires wrongful death claims to be filed within two years from the date of a victim’s death, and personal injury lawsuits must be pursued within four years from the date of the accident.

If you have been injured in a squeeze play accident, the Miami attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can help you take the proper legal action. The team provide compassionate and committed legal representation for truck accident victims so that they can remain focused on their recovery efforts. Call 877.499.4878 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about your legal rights. Our motor vehicle collisions offer experienced representation to victims in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties, including in Miami, and West Palm Beach.