Orlando police officers closed two lanes of Interstate 4 recently after a semi truck jack-knifed, causing an accident that sent one person to an area hospital with injuries. Police say that the recent accident occurred in the eastbound lanes of I-4 south of Universal Boulevard. They report that the driver lost control of his rig and that it jack-knifed, causing it to strike a tree in the median and stall traffic past Sand Lake Road. The collision caused a fuel tank on the truck to rupture, and emergency crews had to spray fire retardant around the accident scene.
Many drivers who witnessed the accident had no idea what caused the truck to jack-knife.
"It looked very bad coming around. I wasn’t sure what had happened, but I knew that I didn’t want to get involved in that traffic," said Julio Mojica, who was one of the few drivers able to take the last exit before traffic slowed to a crawl.
"It looked like a horrible situation to be in," he said. "Not very often to see something that bad, especially during the holiday time, it’s a tragic thing to happen. You’ve got to be extra careful. Make sure that you don’t make the wrong turn, cut in front of a big truck or just not using your turn signals can probably cause something that bad."
Orlando police are still conducting their investigation and have not filed charges or released information about why the truck driver lost control of his rig.
Given the size and weight of a tractor-trailer, it is very fortunate that only one person was injured in this trucking accident. When fully loaded, a semi can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and when something causes a driver to lose control of that much weight traveling at highway speeds, truly tragic things are likely to happen. Drivers and passengers in smaller vehicles who happen to be in the path of a jack-knifed truck often suffer fatal or catastrophic injuries, as their vehicles offer little protection against that kind of impact.
If you or someone in your immediate family has been injured in a trucking accident, it is a very good idea to speak with an experienced Orlando trucking accident lawyer such as James O. Cunningham. Mr. Cunningham has nearly four decades of experience as an Orlando personal injury attorney and has won many high-profile truck accident cases with millions of dollars awarded to his clients. While you and your family focus on healing and recovering from this ordeal, he will protect your rights, advise you of your legal options and work hard to help you receive the maximum possible compensation for your case. Call him today at 386-243-4994 for effective, aggressive and experienced legal representation.
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.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a vehicle accident, call at (386) 243-4994.
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$775,000.00 Recovery - Truck Collides with Cow:
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