Virginia Trucking Accident Attorney Blog » big rig

Responding to Tractor-Trailer Crash, Deputy Injured in Head-On Collision

rshapiro — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 08:58:18 +0000

By Kevin Duffan, Virginia Tractor-Trailer Accident Injury Attorney

A Sussex County, Virginia (VA), sheriff’s deputy and the driver of another car wound up hospitalized with serious but not life-threatening injuries on December 7, 2011, when the officer lost control of his cruiser and hit the other vehicle head-on on Virginia Route 40. According to WTVR CBS6 in Richmond, VA, the deputy was rushing to respond to a collision between two tractor-trailers on nearby I-95.
View a larger map of where a Sussex County, VA sheriff’s deputy was involved in a head-on collision

The big rigs had collided when one of the truckers swerved to avoid hitting yet another vehicle, causing injuries to one of the truck’s operators whose semi jackknifed.

I can’t help but imagine the situation playing out like a scene from a Hollywood blockbuster, all squealing brakes and quick cuts to cars and trucks slamming into each in balletic fashion. But as a Virginia personal injury lawyer whose firm regularly helps people injured in crashes involving commercial trucks and head-on collisions, I know there was nothing entertaining or amusing about either of the wrecks.

When large trucks go out of control in real life, the situation often turns deadly. Similarly, any time two cars run into each other head-on, deaths are common. Thankfully, no one lost a life in either of the accidents in Sussex County, but all the injured drivers undoubtedly face large medical treatment costs and long recoveries.

The tractor-trailer driver who caused the interstate accident has been charged with reckless driving. The cause of the crash between the deputy’s cruiser and the car remains under investigation, but if the officer is found to be at fault the other driver could have grounds for filing a civil injury lawsuit.

EJL

About the Editors: The Virginia (VA) trucking accident attorneys at Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton have experience handling truck accident cases in Virginia, North Carolina (NC), and other Southeastern states. Check out our case results, which illustrate our track record of success in truck accident personal injury cases. Trucking injury lawyers Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. They have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of outstanding attorneys receive. To learn more about Virginia truck accident injury law, take a look at this free report written by an experienced truck wreck injury attorney in Virginia.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Accidents Due to Truck Driver Fatigue Prompt New Rules

rshapiro — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 01:18:07 +0000

By John Cooper, Truck Accident Lawyer in Virginia

Driver fatigue has been a safety issue in the trucking industry for years. Unfortunately, the preference for maximizing profits rather than protecting workers has prevented any serious regulations from going into effect. Fortunately, that appears to be changing.

In a move to help prevent serious truck accidents, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has proposed reducing the allowable driving time for interstate truckers from 11 hours in each 14-hour shift to 10 hours. Truck drivers would also be required to take an hour-long break during “marathon shifts” that include loading and unloading the truckers’ cargo. This is important since many truck drivers push themselves to drive longer and longer hours. For example, a trucker was killed in an accident after being on the road for nearly 20 hours, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Last year, the FMCSA approved a rule that goes into effect in 2012 and requires commercial truckers who have violated hour limits repeatedly to install electronic devices that replace paper log books. There is also consideration of requiring recorders regardless of whether a trucker or trucking company has been caught cheating on their driving logs.

The trucking industry has complained about the new and proposed regulations, claiming the rules increase the cost of doing business. However, evidence indicates that stricter rules have contributed to a reduction in fatal truck crashes. In 2009, the number of fatal big rig accidents that occurred across the United States dropped 20 percent from 2008.

Generating profits is important, but that should not take precedence over the safety of employees. New regulations have helped reduce the number of major truck accidents, which helps not only the truckers but the rest of the drivers on the road who might have been helpless victims in the serious trucking wreck.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm whose attorneys focus on injury and accident law and have experience handling truck accident cases. Our primary office is in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA), but our lawyers also hold licenses to practice in NC, South Carolina (SC), West Virginia (WV), Kentucky (KY), Florida (FL) and Washington, DC. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2011 Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law, an honor which fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive. Our injury attorneys host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube. Further, our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard blogs as pro bono public information services. Check out our case results. Though not every case meets our criteria, we offer free initial consultations so give us a call at (800) 752-0042. If you can’t get through due to high call volume, please leave a message and we will return your call.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Roadside Tractor-Trailer, Bus Safety Inspections Save Lives

jcooper — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:29:38 +0000

By John Cooper, Truck and Bus Accident Injury Attorney

Everyday seems to bring news of another tractor-trailer or tour bus crash on East Coast interstates in which the commercial vehicle’s driver or someone in a car, pickup or SUV suffered injuries or got killed. Too often, the wreck was caused by the big rig or bus. And too many times, the at-fault driver lacked the proper training, license or health — the trucker was sick or impaired by drugs or alcohol. Sometimes, the vehicle itself was unsafe because it had bad tires, inadequate equipment, even a poor hitch between cab and trailer.

Roadside inspections can get potentially dangerous drivers, 18-wheelers and large buses off the road before accidents happen. Recognizing this, trucking and busing groups, state and local police departments, and the Federal Motor Carrier Association have teamed up for years to support random checks of commercial trucks and buses.

A state in which a cooperative random roadside safety inspection program is working particularly well is Pennsylvania (PA), There, according to the Pocono Times, the 2010 Pennsylvania Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program made it possible for “more than 93,000 random truck inspections [to be] conducted across the state, a 14 percent increase from 2009.”

In Virginia (VA), where tour bus crashes on interstates recently claimed several lives and injured dozens more, state troopers participated in Roadcheck 2011 during early June. The goal of that operation was to ensure more than 70,000 truckers, trucks, bus drivers and buses were interviewed and inspected across Canada, Mexico and the United States to increase safety.

Such programs work — up to a point. FMCSA data show that the rate of fatal crashes per 100 million miles traveled by large trucks and buses have fallen consistently from 3.82 in 2008 to 1.17 in 2010. The goal, of course, is 0 per every mile traveled.

Still, as a Virginia-based attorney who has often represented victims of trucking accidents, I’m encouraged by the trend. Unsafe vehicles and drivers have no business doing business on U.S. highways. I’d like to see programs that encourage and support roadside inspections of commercial vehicles extended.

EJL

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Injured in a Virginia Truck Accident? New Regulations May Be Needed

jcooper — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:01:04 +0000

By John Cooper, Virginia Trucking Accident Injury Attorney

An accident on Interstate-95 in Woodbridge, Virginia (VA), snarled traffic left the driver of a box truck injured. What was the cause? A tractor-trailer driver hit another big rig and a box truck that had slowed to go around an earlier crash. When are negligent commercial drivers going to stop? Where are the regulations that should be weeding out unsafe truck drivers? My colleague James Lewis discusses these questions and the accident in his new blog post to our Virginia personal injury lawyers’ website.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Truck Drivers Must Perform Pretrip Safety Inspections, a Virginia Truck Accident Attorney Explains

rshapiro — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:45:38 +0000

By Randy Appleton, Virginia Truck Accident Injury Lawyer

My colleague John Cooper recently published an article explaining the safety ramifications of conducting federally required pretrip safety inspections on commercial trucks and vehicles ranging from tractor-trailers and oil tankers to tour buses. Commercial truck drivers who do not identify and fix broken or malfunctioning parts on their vehicles put themselves and everyone else on the road at risk for injuries and death. To learn more, read “The Importance of Vehicle Preinspections by Commercial Truck Drivers.”

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Trucking Company Investigated Over Crash That Killed Three in North Carolina, NC

rshapiro — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:47:00 +0000

By Kevin Duffan, Trucking Accident Injury Attorney

A fatal pile-up on Interstate 40 near Chapel Hill, North Carolina (NC), may shed new light on some of the worst practices in the trucking industry. In the latest twist, federal regulators are investigating the trucking company whose driver is facing a number of charges over the June 30, 2011, crash that killed three people, TriCities.com reports.

Troopers say the driver was driving west on I-40 near to U.S. Highway 15/501 on June 30, 2011, when he hit the rear of four vehicles. This crash resulted in the deaths of three of the drivers.

In the wake of the crash, the Motor Carrier Safety Administration is reviewing Hawley Transport Services, the trucking company that’s based in Newport, Tennessee (TN).

The driver is charged with felony vehicular death, and drug possession following this horrific wreck.

In the past truckers with this company have been charged multiple times with offenses such as violations of driver fatigue rules as well as speeding, according to the TriCities.com report.

In the past our experienced North Carolina (NC) trucking accident injury attorneys have highlighted the poor safety records of many trucks operating in the Tar Heel State.

A recent ABC11 news investigation found North Carolina has the sixth worst record in the country when it comes to crashes involving tractor trailers.

“And in 2009, more than 50 percent of the trucks inspected in North Carolina had maintenance or safety violations. Of those, more than 12 percent were in such bad shape that they were immediately parked and put ‘out of service’,” the station reported.

As experienced personal injury attorneys with offices in North Carolina, we are saddened that we report on far too many accidents involving semis and 18-wheelers in the state. Recently, we noted how five people were killed and 10 were injured in a terrible accident in February when a tractor-trailer hit a line of eight vehicles near Fletcher, NC.

We noted how the truck driver faced multiple manslaughter charges. Apparently he also gave police a falsified or invalid medical certificate relating to his physical and mental health and his ability to operate his big rig in a safe manner.

While these kinds of issues persist in the industry it’s extremely hard for drivers to take their safety for granted on the roads of North Carolina when they are around big rigs.

Our attorneys can help in cases of accidents involving trucks and we can advise how long it takes to resolve a truck accident case.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Top Ten Safe Summer Driving Tips From Commercial Truck Drivers

rshapiro — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:50:46 +0000

By John Cooper, VA Truck Accident Injury Attorney

Like too many previous celebration of America’s independence, Fourth of July 2011 has the potential to be a deadly diving day on the roads and highways of Virginia (VA), North Carolina (NC) and every other state. Citing National Highway Transportation Safety Administration statistics, msn.com noted that the days leading up to and including July 4 regularly see more fatal car, truck, motorcycle and SUV accidents than any other holiday weekend.

“In the summer of 2008 …, 491 people died in car accidents during the three-day Fourth of July weekend. Out of that total, 43 percent died as a result of alcohol-impaired driving,” the website reported.

As a Virginia Beach, VA-based personal injury attorney who has represented injury and wrongful death victims following car and truck wrecks for nearly 25 years, I know firsthand that no crash that kills or injures is a welcome event. But accidents at otherwise happy times can be especially devastating.

In an effort to keep traffic accidents to a minimum this July 4th, and all summer long and year round, the American Trucking Associations, recently published the top 10 safe driving tips from commercial truck drivers. While the advice is specifically intended to prevent collisions between 18-wheelers, semis, tanker trucks, flatbeds and smaller vehicles, following this advice from people who have logged literally millions of miles behind the wheels of big rigs should help everyone reach their destination safely every time.

Prepare Your Vehicle: Checking your radiator, oil, and wipers and getting any necessary maintenance can help you avoid many of the problems that strand motorists on the side of the road.
Check and Inflate Your Tires to the Proper Pressure: Overinflated tires can blow out. Underinflated tires make your vehicle harder to control. And having too much or too little air in your tires lowers your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
Drive the Speed Limit: Observing posted speed limits saves money on gas and reduces wear and tear on vehicles. Resisting the urge to speed also makes any driver or motorcyclist more safe. Maintaining a constant speed can reduce fuel costs by 30 percent and give you more time to react to changing road conditions or mistakes by other motorists.
Remember That Large Trucks Have Large Blind Spots: Drivers of tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers simply cannot see you if you are beside their rigs. If you can’t see a trucker driver in his or her rearview mirror, the truck driver can’t see you.
Keep Bottled Water in Your Vehicle: A summer emergency kit containing extra water, sunsreen and nonperishable food in addition to flares and tools is as essential as a winter driving kit containing a blanket and chemical hand and foot warmers. Never allow yourself to get stranded without emergency supplies.
Park Safely Out of Traffic Before Using Your Cell Phone or Any Other Handheld Electronic Device: Taking your eyes and mind off the road and vehicles around you for even two seconds doubles your chance of causing or being involved in a crash.
Do Not Cut Off Large Trucks: The longer and heavier a truck is, the longer its driver needs to stop. Keep that in mind when changing lanes in front of big rig.
Honor Right-of-Way When Merging and Turning: You must yield to oncoming traffic whenever you enter a highway from an on-ramp, use an off-ramp or make a right- or left-hand turn from a light, intersection or parking lot. When you do merge, get up to highway speed quickly and do not slow down in front of an 18-wheeler or semi.
Respond Calmly to Emergencies: If you get in trouble, put on your emergency blinkers and slow down smoothly before coming to a stop on a shoulder or in an emergency lane. Do not stop in the flow of traffic and, at the same time, move over or slow down when approaching police, broken down vehicles or road crews beside the road.
Save Fuel: Take direct routes, make few side trips and keep your engine well-tuned. You’ll see noticeable savings on fuel and lower your chances of running out of gas when stuck in traffic.

Stay safe, and have a great Fourth.

EJL

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Tractor-Trailer Driver Awarded $23M for Brain Injuries Suffered in Rear-End Collision

rshapiro — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 09:56:19 +0000

By John Cooper, Virginia Truck Accident Injury Attorney

Ricky L. Jones, a tractor-trailer driver for SUPERVALU grocery stores until a rear-end collision with another large commercial truck in 2007, recently received a $23 million personal injury verdict from a jury in Richmond, Virginia (VA). The panel was the second to hear the case, as the initial jurors could not reach a unanimous opinion over whether Jones was negligent in driving his big rig into the back of the other vehicle.

GPS data entered into evidence showed that the truck Jones hit had recently reentered the highway from the right shoulder and was moving at just 25 mph before being struck. Virginia state laws stipulates that “no person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.”

According to a report published online by Lawyers USA, Jones spent weeks in a medically induced coma, suffered kidney and lung failure and brain and physical injuries — including “a crushed pelvis, the amputation of his right leg … and a crushed left foot” — that required 26 surgeries to repair or relieve. He has also developed mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the wreck.

The $23 million ordered to be paid by Moen Inc. covers, in part, more than $1 million for the medical treatments Jones required and nearly $2 million in past and future lost wages.

The attorneys who represented Jones, Christopher Guedri and Douglas A. Barry, deserve a lot credit for bringing a difficult personal injury case to a just and acceptable conclusion for their client. In addition to shepherding the claim through two trials over several years, the lawyers presented strong evidence from medical, psychological and traffic experts that defense attorneys were unable to refute or discredit.

It is important to note that Jones’ experience also illustrates the danger professional commercial truck drivers face from drivers of other semis, 18-wheelers and flatbeds. In one sad wrongful death case I handled for the victim’s family, a trucker who had been a passenger in the cab of a tractor-trailer that had been involved in a crash on I-81 in Shenandoah County, Virginia, lost his life when another truck ran over him after he had stepped onto the highway shoulder to assess the accident damage. Because truck drivers, by definition, spend so much time on the road in such large vehicles, they have great responsibilities to do all they can to keep themselves and others safe.

EJL

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm whose attorneys focus on injury and accident law, and have experience handling truck accident cases. Our primary office in based in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) although our lawyers hold licenses in NC, SC, WV, KY, FL and DC. 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 pro bono public information services. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Though not every case meets our criteria, we offer free initial consultations so give us a call at (800) 752-0042. If you can’t get through due to high call volume, please leave a message and we will return your call promptly.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Big Rig Hits Pickup Truck, Jackknives, Causes Injuries

rshapiro — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 22:06:53 +0000

By Rick Shapiro, Truck Accident Injury Attorney

A tractor trailer crashed with a pickup truck and jackknifed, blocking both of the westbound lanes of I-64 at the 121-mile marker. One person was transferred to the University of Virginia Hospital with injuries. Officers on the scene told NBC29 that 120 gallons of gasoline spilled on the interstate from the tractor-trailer. Find out more.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Virginia (VA) Work Zone Accident Caused by Tractor-Trailer

rshapiro — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:29:23 +0000

By Rick Shapiro, Virginia Trucking Injury Attorney

Roadside workers must wince every time a semi barrels past them and wonder whether the speeding vehicle will crash into them. Many Virginia (Va) work zone accidents are avoidable, as long as workers, motorists, and contracting companies take the necessary precautions. Motorists should pay more attention and slow down when driving close to a work zone. Studies show that driving too fast is the leading contributing factor of work zone accidents, with rubbernecking also another leading cause. Both workers and motorists are at risk of getting hurt in work zone accidents.

This seemed to be the case today just south of I-81 at Exit 50, when a tractor-trailer slowed for construction then another struck it in the rear, knocking the sleeper and cab off the chassis. The VSP said there were injuries but didn’t know how many or what type. The crash is still under investigation. I hope the injured driver recovers swiftly, it is frustrating that he was doing the right thing by slowing down and was injured because someone else’s carelessness.

However this isn’t an isolated incident, highway work zone accidents have killed roughly 4,700 people — more than two a day — and injured 200,000 in the last five years, according to the New York Times .

So what can be done to curb this distrubing trend? Well first of all, workzones have reduced speeds for a reason: there are people out there, doing their job. That VDOT worker is someone’s son. Respect human life enough to slow down, don’t drive distracted and be patient. Arriving somewhere five minutes early isn’t worth injuring or killing someone.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm that focuses on injury and accident law, and our attorneys have experience handling truck accident cases. Our primary office in based in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) although our lawyers hold licenses in NC, SC, WV, KY, FL and DC. 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 pro bono public information services. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Though not every case meets our criteria, we offer free, initial consultations so give us a call at (800) 752-0042. If you can’t get through due to high call volume, please leave a message and we will return your call promptly.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.