Florida Power & Light is the largest electric utility in the United States, serving roughly 12 million people across the state. With that kind of footprint comes a massive fleet of service vehicles, from bucket trucks and heavy line equipment to standard work vans. FPL trucks are a familiar sight on Florida’s roads, particularly during storm season when repair crews fan out across entire regions to restore power.
Given how frequently these vehicles are in operation, it should come as no surprise that Florida truck accidents involving FPL do happen. If you have been injured in an accident with an FPL vehicle, you may be entitled to significant compensation under Florida personal injury law.
Common Causes of FPL Truck Accidents
FPL trucks operate under conditions that create a heightened risk for accidents. Some of the most frequent causes of these collisions include:
- Drivers failing to see an FPL truck stopped in a travel lane
- FPL operators are making sudden turns and lane changes while responding to service calls
- Debris falling from a truck during transport
- Crew members failing to set up proper warning signs around a work zone
- Fatigued driving during extended storm restoration shifts
- Poor vehicle maintenance leading to things like tire blowouts
Many of these accidents are preventable and come down to someone’s negligence (carelessness) at the end of the day.
Can I File a Lawsuit Against Florida Power & Light?
Potentially, yes. Since Florida Power & Light is a private company, not a government agency, you are able to file a standard personal injury lawsuit against them if their employee’s negligence caused your accident. Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, an employer like FPL can be held financially responsible for the careless actions of its workers as long as the employee was acting within the scope of their job at the time of the crash.
It is also important to determine how Florida’s no-fault insurance system may factor into your case. Florida requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection coverage, commonly known as PIP, which covers up to $10,000 in medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who caused the accident. PIP will typically be the first source of coverage for your injuries.
However, if your injuries meet what the law considers the “serious injury threshold” or if another exception applies to your case, you can step outside the no-fault system and file a claim directly against FPL for full economic and non-economic damages, including pain and suffering.
Contact a Florida Personal Injury Attorney for Help With Your FPL Accident Case
Accidents involving utility company vehicles can be more complex than they first appear. FPL has substantial legal and insurance resources at its disposal, and the company will work hard to protect its interests and profits from the moment the crash occurs.
Contact Elliott Law Firm at (800) 300-0303 today to schedule a free consultation. We have decades of experience practicing personal injury law and work on contingency, so you only pay us attorney’s fees if we win your case.