In early January, Dr. Boris Todorovic, a well-liked physician at Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness, Florida, was southbound on Highway 441 in Leesburg when a semi-truck pulled into oncoming traffic. The vehicle driven by Dr. Todorovic collided with the large truck.
Only 41 years old, Dr. Todorovic impressed his patients and their families with his medical skill and empathy. He was known for sharing stories from his original home in Croatia. Dr. Todorovic died of his injuries.
In recently released overview, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported fatalities from collisions with large trucks increased in 2012. Related facts include the following:
- More than 100,000 people were injured in collisions with big rigs in 2012. Almost 4,000 people were killed in those accidents across the United States.
- In Florida in 2012, 214 fatalities involved a large truck. Deaths from large truck accidents in our state have not declined in four years.
- Almost eighty percent of large truck collisions occur during weekdays between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
- Approximately 18 percent of large-truck drivers involved in fatal accidents had at least one prior conviction for speeding.
In recent years, government agencies like NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have increased their focus on reducing fatalities from large truck accidents. NTSB regulations to reduce accidents associated with fatigue took full effect in July, 2013. Because the 2012 NHTSA figures are the latest statistics available, they do not yet reflect a hoped-for decline in deaths due to tired truck drivers.
The loss of Dr. Todorovic is tragic to his family and community. Although money from a personal injury action cannot replace a loved one, it can help a family move forward while serving as a deterrent to negligence. If a loved one suffers wrongful death due to mistakes of others, seek experienced legal advice in Florida.