Virginia Trucking Accident Attorney Blog » National Trucking Accident/Injury Topics

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

rshapiro — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:03:29 +0000

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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Health Insurance Company May Pursue Repayment for Medical Bills

rshapiro — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:28:51 +0000

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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Driver Injured in I-40 Lumber Truck Crash

rshapiro — Sun, 09 May 2010 15:27:36 +0000

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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North Carolina in Top 10 for Truck Accidents

rshapiro — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:12:46 +0000

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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“Underride” Truck Wrecks Can Cause Very Serious Injuries

rshapiro — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:11:32 +0000

Many trucks come equipped with a rear impact guard, which is essentially is a bar hanging below the truck’s cargo hold. This guard is important in helping prevent “underride” accident injuries where a car hits the back of a truck and the impact can wind up causing a serious head injury to the driver and passengers in the car. To learn more, take a moment to read an article written by my colleague John Cooper.

Click here: Passenger Injuries and Death In “Underride” Truck Accidents

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Commercial Truck Driver Duties in Bad Winter Weather

rshapiro — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:19:44 +0000

Here’s a video of my colleague Rick Shapiro talking about the legal responsibilities commercial truck drivers must adhere to (but routinely neglect) when driving in bad winter weather like a snowstorm/blizzard…

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Tractor-trailer Jackknifes into Van Filled with Disabled Passengers Killing Four

bmurray — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:17:36 +0000

by Jim Lewis

Although the roads and highways along Virginia’s I-81, I-64 or I-66 have not reported any recent bad tractor trailer accidents, there was one in Springfield, Ohio today. A tractor-trailer jackknifed on icy road conditions and slammed into a van filled with disabled passengers that were being transported. The big rig swerved into oncoming traffic colliding with the van killing four of its occupants and injuring 7 others that were inside as well.

According to Ohio Highway Patrol, the tractor trailer accident occurred near Springfield in southwest Ohio. Road conditions had become treacherous as it had been snowing most of the day in the area. However, it still is not clear what role the weather played in the crash. An official reported that the semi was heading westbound on Interstate 70 when it crossed the median and struck the 15-passenger van as well as another vehicle heading the opposite way. Sgt Durant with the Ohio State Patrol stated that all four deaths were occupants in the van, which included the driver. There were seven others injured that were also van passengers. The truck driver was reported as being unharmed.

As per Wikipedia the definition of the term jackknife is as follows:

“Jackknifing mean s the accidental folding of an articulated vehicle (such as one towing a trailer) such that it resembles the acute angle of a folding pocket knife. If a vehicle towing a trailer skids, the trailer can push it from behind until it spins round and faces backwards. This may be caused by equipment failure, improper braking, or adverse road conditions such as an icy road surface.”

A new device called the “Atlas AJSS” has recently been invented that automatically engages at a speed of 45miles per hour (72km/h) and stays engaged unless manually released. It is actuated electronically and operated pneumatically from the truck’s accumulator air supply. The device prevents the trailer and the truck from becoming over 15 out of alignment with each other. Under normal operating (highway) speeds, this 15 swing does not interfere with driving even on the most winding roads; of course, the system disengages under 45mph to allow for the hair-pin curves of winding mountain roads which are traversed at speeds under 45mph.

Although there have been many attempts to minimize this type of potentially deadly tractor trailer accident over the years with various types of equipment and safety protocols, most have been only moderately effective at preventing serious injury or death to the unlucky person, or persons that are involved in such a wreck, especially if you are in a much smaller and lighter passenger vehicle.

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