7,000 Pound Metal Pipe Crushes Van’s Roof

Last weekend, as 33-year-old male from Kissimmee, Florida was driving a Mack truck loaded with scrap metal was negotiating a curve on Interstate 4 near the State Road 528 exit, he somehow lost control of his truck. The truck swerved, hit the guardrail and overturned. The impact caused a nearly 7,000 pound metal pipe that the truck was carrying to fly off and tumble off the overpass, where some landed directly on the roof of a Pontiac van being driven by a 36 year old Orlando native.

The 36 year old had just exited the interstate when the pipe came crashing down onto his car, crushing the driver side of the van’s roof. Remarkably, the driver – who is a father of three – walked away from the accident with only minor accidents. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, if he or anybody else would have been sitting in any other seat except the driver’s seat, they would have been killed.

Police say the driver was released from the hospital, but has no memory of the crash. Although the driver of the truck did receive a ticket for careless driving, it is likely that he will soon be facing a personal injury lawsuit. According to Florida law, if one is injured as the result of the negligent act of another, then they have the legal right to seek compensation for their injuries. In the case at hand, the truck driver’s careless driving – and perhaps his insufficient securing of the pipe to the truck – constitute negligent acts. This negligent act or acts caused the pipe to leave the truck bed and crash onto the van below. Although the van driver only suffered minor injuries, he was injured and taken to a hospital, which will cost money. There’s also the damage done to his van. Furthermore, often times motor vehicle accident injuries won’t manifest for weeks after the actual accident, so in the case at hand the driver’s minor injuries could easily increase in severity.

What this all means is that the driver of the van has solid ground to seek compensation from the truck driver by filing an Orlando personal injury claim. To learn more about Florida’s injury laws, contact James O. Cunningham today at 386-243-4994.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.