When we hear in the news that a fire fighter has been killed, we expect it to be while in the line of duty, not in a car accident.  So I was surprised and saddened to learn of the death of a Clifton Forge Firefighter, Mr. Ashley Weikle.

Ashley was killed in a fatal crash on Interstate 64 (I-64) in Roanoke, Virginia (VA) on Dec. 3, 2010.  He was involved in a head on accident with another tractor trailer.  According to state police, the at-fault driver ran off the left side of the interstate, crossed the median and hit Ashley, sending the cab of his truck plunging into the river.

Our deepest condolences go out to his family.  It is terrible to lose someone in a preventable accident, even more so during this time of year. 

The driver of the other big rig was not hurt but was charged with reckless driving.

There is no word yet why the at-fault drive lost control, but the power, size and weight of a commercial tractor-trailer make the impact of a truck collision much worse and the chance of serious injury and death much higher. The death rate for truck crashes is 50 percent higher than for car accidents, and many injuries may cause life-long disability and permanent or chronic health problems.
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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. Though not every case meets our criteria, we offer free, initial consultations so give us a call at 1-800-752-0042. If you can’t get through due to high call volume, please leave a message and we will return your call promptly. 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 a pro bono public information service.

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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. Though not every case meets our criteria, we offer free, initial consultations so give us a call at 1-800-752-0042. If you can’t get through due to high call volume, please leave a message and we will return your call promptly. 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 a pro bono public information service.

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Just recently there was a very serious tractor trailer crash that occurred near Gainesville, Virginia (Va.) out along the westbound lanes of Interstate 66. The crash was significant enough to shut down traffic for well over an hour as highway patrol and emergency crews worked quickly to secure the immediate area.

As reported by authorities familiar to the tractor trailer crash, there was at least one person trapped in the wreckage. Additionally, the Virginia Department of Transportation stated that a medivac helicopter was called to the tractor trailer accident scene to assist in rapid transport of the critically injured. The 18-wheeler crash happened around 4pm at the 45.5 mile marker near the exit ramp to Va. 234 south.

Did you know that a tractor trailer truck cruising at 70mph will have double the energy on impact as a truck going only 50mph? Also, did you know that most cars like the ones you and I drive are designed under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to encounter similar sized vehicles, not an 80,000 lb behemoth called an 18-wheeler? Add to this hazardous mix the fact that semi-trucks do not have any rear or side bumpers and that they have such high front bumpers that they usually punch right into a car’s passenger compartment. Together these factors account for the high percentage of serious injuries and deaths in tractor trailer crashes.

If you or a loved one has been hurt from a commercial trucking accident, you need the experience of an attorney that knows how to protect your rights. You should know that big trucking companies have their own team of investigators and lawyers fighting for them, you need someone on your side. We can fight for your best interests to get you the justice that you deserve.

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 and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

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With the recent onslaught of snow and ice that has falling in our area it is sure to increase the likelihood of crashes and injuries out on our highways and roads.  In fact, just such an event occurred near Charlotte, North Carolina involving two tractor trailers. Although no one appears to be hurt the accident could have been much worse. Driving a tractor trailer requires extra training and demands a skillful touch especially when it comes to inclement weather.  Very simply, truckers must exercise the utmost care in icy or snowy weather-and must pull over rather than drive in known dangerous weather.

I-77 near Charlotte, North Carolina (N.C.) was closed to clear the trucks but then re-opened in both directions on the Iredell-Mecklenburg county line after an immense wreck left one tractor trailer hanging off a bridge within feet of going into Lake Norman. The incident happened in very icy lanes of I-77 Southbound when a U.S. Mail truck skidded and apparently lost control.

Witnesses say the tractor trailer driver came close to plunging straight into Lake Norman, but was able to make it out from the cab soon after the accident.  We’re told his injuries weren’t life threatening. The tractor trailer wreck happened at Mile Marker 30 along I-77.

While the wreckage was in place, an additional mail truck – another tractor trailer – was involved in a wreck behind the initial one. News channel WBTV stated that it had to swerve in order to avoid the 1st tractor trailer and wound up in the ditch.  The truck driver told the news station that if he hadn’t swerved, he would have knocked the first truck into Lake Norman. It appeared that both trucks were leaking fuel into Lake Norman according to the report by WBTV.

Eyewitnesses at the crash site could see gas spilling into Lake Norman as well as smell it on the accident. Despite the fact that much of I-77 moved well by later that afternoon, the southbound lanes around the bridge along at the county line had frozen over.  When the accident happened, employees working with the nearby North Harbor Club in Davidson, North Carolina rushed over in an attempt to assist the trucker. Fortunately the man was okay, additionally, the truck didn’t plunge into the lake.

Did you know that snow and ice can accumulate on the rooftop of tractor trailers and also can cause serious harm to you and damage to your car?  Each year, there are many incidents in which a driver suffers a serious personal injury or is involved in a car crash after losing control of the car when a sheet of solid ice smashes through the windshield after breaking lose from on top of the truck.

I am sure you are familiar with other incidents where small pebbles/stones or debris strikes your car from huge tractor trailer tires as they tend to be good at throwing up small rubble.  Also, dump trucks often that lose small bits of what they’re hauling as they strike bumps in the road. Usually this only leads to small scratches in passenger vehicles or cracked windshields. However, during wintertime the tops of tractor trailers can easily gather huge chunks of ice that can to break free at almost any time. The substantial flat surface of a trailer top draws plenty of snow and water that can easily shift as the truck moves. The Chicago Daily Herald has reported about several of these tractor trailer rooftop ice sheet accidents in which thousands of dollars in damage and a number of personal injuries occurred caused by falling sheets of ice. New York is looking at modifying its laws regarding cleaning ice from trucks after a woman there had been killed when a piece of ice smashed through a windshield after slipping off a tractor trailer.  So, yes, truckers should be familiar with this danger.  Sadly, there are no reliable statistics on the danger of ice chunks striking cars and causing accidents.   Bottom line: try to avoid hanging out in interstate lanes behind ice covered tractor trailers, and also stay a very safe distance away from tractor trailers that are operating in snowy or icy conditions as well.

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 truck accident case results, our free consumer guide on what to do in case you get into a wreck with a commercial truck, and take a moment to review our web site devoted exclusively to trucking issues. We serve all areas of North Carolina including the Outer Banks, Nags Head, and all counties. We provide FREE injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included among the “Best Lawyers in America” 2010 Edition and selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum (2009). In addition, our firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

Our lawyers proudly edit the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard, as a public information service. We also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube.

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A truck driver of a semi trailer tractor is a trained professional who has spent a good deal of money and time going through training and testing so that they can obtain their commercial driver’s license (CDL). The requirements are quite rigorous as compared to earning a typical driver’s license. However, consideration has to be given when comparing the size of tractor trailers and how much harder they are to handle and control once something goes wrong while on the highway. This is exactly why you should take great care and precaution when you find yourself driving next to one of these big rigs while in your car and be prepared for any potential problem.

Few people know that you can greatly reduce your percentages of being involved in another fatal 18 wheeler crash by becoming just a little more aware of a big rig’s dynamics and having a healthy understanding of a tractor trailer’s limitations on what exactly could go wrong. Trustworthiness aside, there is no amount of expert truck training or for that matter, right of way law, that will prevent tractor trailer equipment failure. The only laws an equipment failure wreck might follow are the laws of physics.

Brakes, tires, axles and even the truck trailer hitch are just a few parts that can fail on a tractor trailer that would result in a serious, if not fatal accident if you happen to be driving beside the truck at the moment of equipment failure. The sad fact of the matter is that not all trucking companies stay compliant with strict laws requiring that their semi tractor trailers undergo routine inspections that are suppose to ensure a truck’s parts and equipment are in excellent working order.

Consideration needs to be taken with a tractor trailer’s tendency to jack-knife, which is when the big rig folds up as the trailer tries to pass the cab.  A jackknife can be caused by sudden braking, slippery roads, a sudden impact to the truck, or malfunctioning brakes. If it is the brakes that have malfunctioned, then it’s usually a result of the front brakes locking up as the rear ones are failing that typically cause the cab to stop while the trailer stays in motion.

Lastly, another common problem to be cautious of while passing a tractor trailer is making sure you stay out of its blind spot.  If you have ever followed too closely to the back end of an 18 wheeler, then you probably have seen the warning indicating that “if you can’t see my mirrors then I can’t see you.”  If you find you are in this space behind a truck slow down or pass as quickly as you can in a safe manner.  Although you might even see the mirrors do not count on the truck driver seeing you behind him as he could be distracted or you could be going in and out of his blind spot, so to be safe, just stay clear of the truck’s blind spot.

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 and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

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A report by the American Association for Justice revealed that more than 28,000 motor carrier companies and more than 211,000 trucks violated federal safety regulations and were still operating on our roads.

A majority of these trucks received a “conditional” grade which means they are operating with one or more safety violations. Many truck companies are based in Texas, but there are plenty in Virginia (VA) and the companies based in the Commonwealth also violate federal safety standards.

The most common violation was defective brakes. Obviously, having functional brakes is essential for safety, but trucking companies simply ignore this requirement and send their employees out on the road with malfunctioning brake systems.

Other violations include:

• Balding tires, retreaded tires
• Truck loads exceeding weight limits
• Inexperienced and untrained drivers
• Drivers working excessive hours
• Drivers with drug or alcohol dependencies
• Falsified trucking logs and other records

In 2007, more than 86,000 people in the United States were seriously hurt after being involved in a trucking accident and over 4800 people died as a result. These statistics are unacceptable and something needs to be done. All of the violations listed above can be corrected with simple responsibility and ethical business practices. It’s shocking that truck companies remain in business even after it’s been discovered they falsify trucking logs and send their employees out untrained or poorly trained to handle such dangerous equipment.

As an injury lawyer who works for a firm that regularly represents people whose lives were changed forever after bring involved in a truck accident, I’ve seen firsthand the devastation these vehicles can inflict. There needs to be a full-scale investigation into the trucking industry and harsh punishments need to be levied in order to send a clear message that safety comes first, not last.

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 and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

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The big rig crashed around 11:30 a.m. that morning and an entire section of I-85 was closed for several hours while first responders and firefighters cleaned up what was left of the car. Eyewitnesses on the scene reported that the car caught fire on impact. Authorities said that the person in the car that was struck by the semi truck was killed instantly. Officials had not revealed the identity or gender of the victim.

Did you know that every 16 minutes, a person is killed or sustains injuries in accidents involving 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers or semi-trucks? In fact, just in the year 2001 alone, some 429,000 large trucks were involved in traffic crashes (both fatal and minor) in the United States. Of those truck wrecks:

• 4,793 were involved in fatal crashes
• 5,082 people died
• 131,000 were injured

The trucking injury attorneys with Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm are based in Virginia (VA), with an office also in Elizabeth City, in Northeast North Carolina (NC), practicing primarily in the southeastern U.S. and handles only injury law, including car, truck, railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. Our Virginia injury law website is www.HSInjurylaw.com and our Carolina injury law website is: http://carolina.hsinjurylaw.com, the firm edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, as well as the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard and also hosts a YouTube injury law video library with over 50 videos covering many FAQ’s on personal injury subjects. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY.

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