Family Of Semi-Truck Driver Files Wrongful Death Claim Against Florida Highway Patrol After Deadly Crash

This is a type of lawsuit we’re seeing more frequently in the news. This type of lawsuit alleges that a police officer caused an accident while chasing a motorist on the highway. Police departments generally have policies on pursuing vehicles in traffic. They are responsible for keeping the public safe. When the police officer causes an accident in an effort to apprehend a fleeing vehicle, the department can be sued for creating a dangerous situation.

That’s precisely what happened in the case we are about to discuss. The family of an innocent truck driver has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Florida Highway Patrol after he was killed in a chase. The trooper who is allegedly responsible for the accident also died in the incident.

According to the lawsuit, filed Dec. 27, 2024, the estate of the trucker is suing both the agency and the estate of the former FHP Trooper who crashed into his truck. Both the plaintiff and the defendant were killed on Feb. 2, 2024, on Interstate 95 when FHP pursued a driver who they said was driving in a “reckless manner” and had an outstanding warrant on charges of assault with a deadly weapon.

While in pursuit of the suspect, the police officer performed a U-turn on the interstate and drove into the path of a semi driven by the decedent. Both men were killed in the collision. The suspect that police were attempting to apprehend was taken into custody about five hours after the deadly wreck.

According to the lawsuit, representatives of the decedent claim that the police officer “breached his duty of care and negligently operated and/or maneuvered the FHP vehicle, causing the … crash.” The plaintiffs contend that the police officer is at fault for the accident, according to an attorney who is representing the estate of the slain truck driver. “He violated protocol. We feel bad for him and his family, but we have to take care of our own and what happened here is horrific.”

Allegations against the police officer 

According to the lawsuit, the officer negligently caused the death of the semi-truck driver. Specifically, he:

• Operated the FHP vehicle at an excessively high rate of speed
• Cut across several lanes of traffic without warning and at an excessively high rate of speed
• Failed to consider how his reckless pursuit of the suspect could endanger the lives of the motoring public
• Continued his pursuit of the fleeing vehicle even after the vehicle cut across all the southbound lanes of traffic and attempted a U-turn on the northbound highway
• Disregarded FHP policies regarding the pursuit of fleeing vehicles
• Failed to avoid crashing into the plaintiff’s truck
• Failed to keep a proper lookout for vehicles
• Failed to follow safe and reasonable procedures for operating a vehicle
• Was otherwise negligent and/or reckless for allowing his unreasonable pursuit of the fleeing vehicle to jeopardize the safety of the motoring public

Talk to a Jacksonville, FL Car Accident Lawyer Today 

Have you been involved in a car accident with a negligent driver? If so, you may be entitled to damages. Call the Jacksonville personal injury attorneys at Gillette Law today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help.

Source:

wptv.com/news/treasure-coast/region-st-lucie-county/semi-drivers-family-file-wrongful-death-lawsuit-against-florida-highway-patrol-after-deadly-crash