West Palm Beach Truck Driver Involved in Fatal Accident had Multiple Tickets

The truck driver held responsible for the fiery accident that left seven people dead, including five children, received several tickets as a commercial truck driver over the years. Steve Holland, 59, of West Palm Beach was ticketed multiple times across the country while driving large commercial trucks between 2000 and 2014. He was cited in Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Virginia for various violations related to his driving, including speeding, driving an unsafe vehicle, driving an overloaded vehicle, and not carrying proof of insurance.

On January 3, Holland was driving on Interstate 75 in the northbound lanes near Gainesville when he veered into another car, lost control and went through the center divider. He struck a church van traveling southbound and another truck. The van was carrying twelve people on their way to Disney World, including five children between the ages of nine and fourteen years old that died. Holland also perished in the crash along with the other truck driver he struck in the southbound lanes. Eight additional victims suffered serious or critical injuries as a result of the accident, including more people in the church van between nine and fifty years old.

Truck Accident Liability 

When devastating and tragic auto accidents such as this happen with semi-trucks on the road, the families of victims often ask who is responsible for the accident? The truck driver is almost always liable for the accident because he was behind the wheel at the time the accident occurred. If the accident occurred because of an equipment failure on the truck, such as a blown tire, the manufacturer of the part could also be held responsible for the damages caused by the accident.

However, the trucking company that hired the driver or maintains the trucks can also be held liable for an accident. This is especially true if the company was aware that their employee’s driving record contained multiple violations while driving large trucks or allowed their trucks to be driven in an unsafe manner. In the case of Steve Holland, he was cited for violations that included his behavior behind the wheel of a semi-truck and for vehicle violations that a trucking company could be responsible for. An experienced personal injury attorney who has handled cases involving large commercial trucks will be able to review the facts of your case to determine who is ultimately at fault for the accident and provide you with the next steps for your case.

Talk to a Auto Accident Attorney Today 

If you or a loved one was hurt or killed by a large commercial truck on the road in Florida, our office is here to help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Call the office or contact us today to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney at Gary Roberts & Associates in West Palm Beach. Schedule a free and confidential review of your case now to learn more about your legal options.

Resource:

floridatoday.com/story/news/2019/01/05/truck-driver-fiery-crash-has-gotten-multiple-tickets-over-years/2494210002/

https://www.westpalmbeach-injurylawyers.com/west-palm-beach-police-officer-hits-two-pedestrians/