Man Killed by Publix Semi Truck While Riding Adult Tricycle
On Saturday, December 31, 2022, a man riding an adult tricycle was hit by a Publix 18-wheeler in St. Petersburg, Florida. The man’s tricycle was in the crosswalk of an intersection when the 18-wheeler turned left. Sources say the driver of the Publix semi truck did not see the tricycle and hit the tricycle while trying to turn left. The driver of the tricycle died as a result of the trucking accident.
The accident took place on 66th Street North at 5th Avenue North. According to sources, the St. Petersburg Police Department received a call around 6:00 p.m. regarding the accident and later identified the decedent as 29-year-old James Christiano II.
Important Steps in a Florida Wrongful Death Truck Accident Case
Our Florida semi truck accident lawyers represent people who have been injured in semi truck, 18-wheeler, tractor trailer, and other commercial vehicle accidents. We also bring wrongful death cases on behalf of families who have lost their loved one as a result of a trucking accident. Below are some of the more crucial steps to take when litigating a Florida truck accident case:
- Send out letters of preservation, sometimes called “spoliation letters,” to prevent the destruction of important evidence, like black box data and camera footage;
- Document the scene of the accident with video and pictures as soon as possible after the trucking accident;
- Take pictures and video of the vehicles involved in the trucking accident and document the damage done;
- Collect dash cam footage from the semi truck or 18-wheeler;
- Get a copy of the police report;
- Get the contact information of any witnesses to the trucking accident;
- Determine who is liable in the accident (i.e., driver, trucking company, cargo loader, maintenance company, truck manufacturer, tire manufacturer, etc.);
- If necessary, get expert witnesses to the trucking accident scene to perform accident reconstruction or to study any data gathered from the semi truck.
The above evidence is the type of evidence that should be obtained as quickly as possible. Otherwise, crucial evidence could be lost or destroyed. In addition to the evidence above, we will want to gather all records relating to the victim’s death. That way, we can accurately document compensable costs when litigating a wrongful death trucking accident case.
