Fire Truck Accident Apparently Caused by SUV Kills Two Firefighters in Rocky Mount, VA

By Randy Appleton, Truck Accident Lawyer in Virginia

An emergency response turned deadly for two members of the Rocky Mount, Virginia (VA), Fire Department on Monday, July 26, when, according to witnesses, their fire truck flipped and landed on a Ford Mustang after being clipped from behind by an SUV and striking a curb. The Ford Escape sports utility vehicle appears to have entered an intersection through which the fire truck was passing before the truck had cleared the area. No charges were filed in the immediate aftermath of the accident.

Only the firefighters lost their lives, but the SUV driver suffered injuries requiring hospital treatment.

The fire truck was loaded with at least 1,000 gallons of water, and that may have contributed to the roll over. Regardless, with all reports indicating that the fire truck had its siren and lights on while proceeding down Route 40, about 20 miles south of Roanoke, the other drivers on the road had to yield to the firefighters.

Firefighters — and police, EMTs and other emergency responders — put their lives on the line every day at accident scenes, fires and disaster sites. They accept that risk on our behalf. Arriving where their services are most needed should be the least of their worries. Unfortunately, as the tragedy in Rocky Mount shows, fire trucks, police cruisers and ambulances face the same hazards as all other cars and trucks. Sometimes those hazards are unsafe road conditions; other times, those hazards are other drivers.

My thoughts go out to the Rocky Mount firefighters, their families and their friends. I hope that all drivers who see the news of this tragedy take it as a lesson to share the road safely with emergency vehicles.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and our attorneys have experience handling truck accident cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Our primary office in based in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) although our lawyers hold licenses in NC, SC, WV, KY and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now—we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube . Furthermore, our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard Eastern Shore Virginia Injury Attorneys Blog and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as pro bono services.

EJL

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July 28, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Virginia (VA) Trucking Injury/Accidents Topics  No Comments

The Steps We Take to Build Your Personal Injury or Wrongful Death Case

Our firm has been asked to look into what initially appeared to be a mysterious death or loss of life in a commercial truck accident. Sometimes, family members have only suspicion but not much hard evidence. They ask us to uncover the truth about what caused the accidental or unexpected death of their loved one.

Our firm takes initial steps to help build your case, whether the claim stems from a car/truck wreck, railroad accident, or medical malpractice wrongful death. Learn what these steps are by reading this article:

Building Your Case: How Experienced Injury Lawyers Investigate Catastrophic Injury and Wrongful Death Accident Claims

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June 28, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: National Trucking Accident/Injury Topics  No Comments

Truck Wrecks Sometimes Cause Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Incidents

By Rick Shapiro, Truck Accident Lawyer in Virginia

A truck crash can cause headaches, figuratively and literally, especially when hazardous materials, such as diesel fuel, are involved. Take, for example, the tractor trailer accident in Suffolk, Virginia (VA) where diesel fuel leaked out and shut down County Street at Madison Avenue, according to the Virginian-Pilot.

When hazardous materials are involved in a truck accident, the situation is usually termed a “HAZMAT incident” by law enforcement and other personnel who are the first responders. A HAZMAT incident can often result in road closures and evacuations, as well as the potential for serious personal injury, even to those who were not directly involved in a crash or property damage in surrounding areas.

When a HAZMAT incident occurs, it is imperative that you take steps to protect yourself and loved ones. The following guidelines will help you know what to do if you find yourself in such a situation:

  • Do EVERYTHING law enforcement and HAZMAT personnel tell you to do. This may include “sheltering in place,” which can involve closing doors and windows and turning off air conditioning units for a short amount of time.
  • If you see or learn of a HAZMAT incident in your area and feel you are in danger, you do not have to wait for official evacuation orders. Leave your home immediately. Take important papers such as driver’s licenses, birth certificates, and Social Security cards for each member of the family, as well as any medications you or a loved one must have (insulin, blood pressure medication, etc.) but leave everything else.
  • If official evacuation orders are given, immediately gather the information listed above (it is a good idea to go ahead and make copies of all these documents BEFORE a HAZMAT or other situation happens, and keep them in a safe, but quickly accessible place), and any medications, then leave as quickly as possible. You will be directed to a temporary shelter, or, if it is in a safe location, may be able to choose to go to a relative or friend’s home.
  • If you or a loved one suffers any ill effects from the HAZMAT incident, notify emergency personnel at once. The quicker medical and decontamination treatment can be started, the better the chances there will be no long-term effects.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and our attorneys have experience handling truck accident cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Our primary office in based in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) although our lawyers hold licenses in NC, SC, WV, KY, FL and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now—we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube . Furthermore, our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

JM

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June 28, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Virginia (VA) Trucking Injury/Accidents Topics  No Comments

Many Tractor-Trailer Wrecks Caused by Driver Fatigue

By Rick Shapiro, Truck Accident Lawyer in Virginia

On June 15, a truck accident occurred on I-64 in Virginia (VA). The only vehicle involved was a tractor-trailer rig. Officers were able to determine, however, that the driver fell asleep at the wheel and this is what caused the truck wreck.

Driver fatigue is often a cause of wrecks involving tractor-trailer rigs. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), more than 750 people are killed and 20,000 more people are seriously injured each year in the U.S. due directly to tired and drowsy commercial truck drivers, according to saferoads.org.

In addressing this issue, there are federal and state mandates that limit the number of hours a driver can remain on the road before he or she must (or is supposed to) stop for a number of hours to rest. Unfortunately, these mandates are routinely ignored.

Load delivery deadlines and a need or desire by the driver to make more money (especially if he is paid by the load) are just some of the reasons why some tractor-trailer drivers do not make scheduled stops as they are supposed to. Others may stop, but not for as long as they should.

Drivers routinely deny falling asleep at the wheel and their travel logs may not give correct information. When this occurs, police officers sometimes have to rely on physical evidence such as skid marks or they may have to ask those who were involved or who witnessed the truck wreck if they believed driver fatigue may have been the reason for the accident. Sometimes, the tractor-trailer driver will admit that he was feeling drowsy, but this is rare.

You can learn about the different methods used to determine truck driver fatigue and what you should do in case you’re involved in an accident with a commercial truck by reading our free consumer report. If you still have questions, you can follow the link to frequently asked questions about truck accidents.

 

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and our attorneys have experience handling truck accident cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Our primary office in based in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) although our lawyers hold licenses in NC, SC, WV, KY, FL and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now—we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube . Furthermore, our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

PA

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June 22, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Virginia (VA) Trucking Injury/Accidents Topics  One Comment

Insurance Company Accuses Customer of Stealing and Burning Their Own Pickup Truck

A Virginia Beach man had his truck stolen outside of a restaurant. He did what any other person would do who has insurance – file a claim. What he did not expect is a letter from State Farm (his insurance company) accusing him of intentionally stealing and burining his truck. To learn more, check out this article:

Insurance Company Accuses Own Customer of Stealing and Burning Their Truck

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June 11, 2010   Posted in: Virginia (VA) Trucking Injury/Accidents Topics  No Comments

Axle Malfunction Leads to Tractor-Trailer Wreck in Brunswick, 2 People Killed

By Jim Lewis, Truck Accident Attorney

When a vehicle malfunction occurs, the consequences can be devastating. This was the case on Interstate (I-85) South in Brunswick, Virginia (VA) when a tractor trailer that was carrying two people had a left front axle break. This caused the truck to run off the road and hit multiple trees.

Tragically, the two people in the trailer were killed when the vehicle burst into flames, according to NBC12.com. The burns were so bad that the bodies could not be immediately identified.

There are many questions that need to be answered about this terrible truck crash. What exactly caused the axle to malfunction? Could this problem extend to the model of tractor trailer involved in the wreck? We’ll have to wait and see what the accident investigation reveals.

I want to send my deepest condolences to the families of the two people killed in this truck accident. Losing someone close to you is never easy, but having it happen in such a sudden and terrible manner is heartbreaking.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and our attorneys have experience handling truck accident cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Our primary office in based in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) although our lawyers hold licenses in NC, SC, WV, KY, FL and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now—we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube . Furthermore, our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

PA

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June 2, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Virginia (VA) Trucking Injury/Accidents Topics  No Comments

Truck Tire Smashes into Minivan Killing Driver in Henrico County

By Rick Shapiro, Virginia Truck Wreck Lawyer

If there was any doubt about the level of risk we all face while sharing the highway with big rigs and other large commercial trucks, the recent accident in Henrico County, Virginia (VA) illustrates what can happen when something goes wrong with a large commercial truck.

A big rig traveling down Interstate 64 (I-64) suddenly had a wheel base break off causing the massive truck tire to bounce across the highway eventually slamming into a minivan driven by Stephanie Bender, a resident of Colonial Heights, VA. She died at the scene on May 14, 2010 as a result, according to wtkr.com.  The truck was  owned by J.E. Liesfeld Contractor Inc. of Rockville, MD, State Police spokesman Sgt. Thomas J. Molnar said.  A company spokesman said that the wreck “very tragic” and said the cause appeared to be equipment failure — a tire seal ruptured, and friction caused the 200-pound tire set to come off the axle.  Under Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations governing commercial trucks, there are inspections required of such vehicles.  It is unclear at this time whether any failure of maintenance or inspection duties apply here.

Here is a news report about this fatal truck accident:
 
 
“The company is very upset this happened, it’s a tragic accident, and the company will do everything it can to assist the family in its time of need,” said Charles Ayers, corporate counsel to Liesfeld.  As a trucking injury attorney often working against trucking company’s, it is unclear to me what the attorney’s comment means in the context of any civil injury lawsuit that may be brought by her family members.

Stephanie Bender was survived by her husband, Terry Lee Bender, Jr, two daughters, her parents, and many brothers and sisters.  Her family has roots in the Macon/Dodge County, GA area.  Many of her co-workers at Capitol One, where she had previously worked, were stunned, and talked about her beautiful smile and the pride she took in her daughters and her family.

The disparity in size and weight between a commercial truck and compact cars, SUVs, and minivans is so great that even when the slightest error or malfunction occurs with a big rig or 18-wheeler, the damage can be catastrophic, especially for the driver and/or passenger(s) in those compact vehicles.

The VA Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspection Team is investigating what caused the tire to break off from the big rig, according to wtvr.com. They will determine if traffic/criminal charges should be filed against the truck driver since there’s a chance the big rig may have had mechanical defects which were overlooked or neglected leading to a death.  This is completely separate from any “wrongful death” civil lawsuit that may be available to the surviving family members.

It  was reported that over 200,000 trucks violate federal safety regulations, but are still operating on roads and highways all across the country. We’ll have to wait and see what the Inspection Team reports.

Regardless of the cause, I want to send my deepest sympathies to the Bender family. The pain of losing someone you love is always gut-wrenching, but it has to be even worse when the loss is so sudden. Mrs. Bender was only 36 years old.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and our attorneys have experience handling truck accident cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Our primary office in based in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) although our lawyers hold licenses in NC, SC, WV, KY, FL and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now—we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube . Furthermore, our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

PA

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May 24, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Virginia (VA) Trucking Injury/Accidents Topics  One Comment

Health Insurance Company May Pursue Repayment for Medical Bills

There is a provision in some health insurance plans that enables the insurance company to pursue reimbursement for the medical expenses they covered while you were recuperating from the injuries sustained in a truck wreck. They  can do this through the “right of subrogation.”  This doesn’t apply to all health insurance plans, but it’s important to know if your plan has this provision in the fine print.

To learn more, check out this article written my truck wreck injury lawyer Rick Shapiro:

Health Insurance Reimbursement/Repayment Virginia Truck Accident and Injury Cases

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May 17, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: National Trucking Accident/Injury Topics  No Comments

Driver Injured in I-40 Lumber Truck Crash

A large commercial truck, which was carrying lumber, fell onto its side and spilled logs across all westbound lanes of Interstate 40 (I-40) in Harmon Den. North Carolina (NC). This accident wreaked havoc on the highway causing a massive traffic jam. According to report, one driver suffered injuries. The exact cause of the truck accident is unknown at this time. To learn more, check out this article on our firm’s North Carolina site:

Lumber Truck Crash Closes I-40 In Harmon Den, NC

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May 9, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: National Trucking Accident/Injury Topics  No Comments

North Carolina in Top 10 for Truck Accidents

North Carolina is ranked sixth in the country for highest number of truck wrecks. Some people believe this high number of accidents could be attributed to the fact that NC weigh stations are open only 16 hours a day, five days a week as opposed to 24 hours  a day like other states, including Virginia (VA). To learn more, check out the article written by my colleague Randy Appleton.

North Carolina Is One of the Top States for Truck Wrecks

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May 5, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , ,   Posted in: National Trucking Accident/Injury Topics  No Comments


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