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

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently approved a proposed rule by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that would require the use of electronic onboard recorders by certain commercial trucking companies. This new regulation will require trucking companies whose drivers have a record of violating current safety regulations, including hours-of-service rules, to use the recorders in tractor trailers, 18-wheelers, big rigs and all other trucks in their fleet.

This new rule comes on the heels of a texting ban for all truck drivers. Those who violate the texting rule face a fine of $2,750.

Some people in the trucking industry make look at these new regulations and complain about all of the oversight and restrictions. They may even describe an electronic onboard recorder as a violation of privacy. What they fail to realize is that these new regulations are designed to help save lives by reducing the number of truck crashes attributed to preventable actions like texting and/or an overworked trucker falling asleep at the wheel.

The data is as clear as day regarding the risks of texting and drowsy/overworked truck drivers. In 2008, nearly 6,000 people were killed, and over 500,000 people were injured in accidents linked to distracted driving. When it comes to drowsy truckers, roughly 13 percent of all truck wrecks are due to tired truckers. Most of these truck drivers are drowsy and overworked because they violated the hours-of-service regulation which determines the number of hours a driver can operate a commercial truck. With the new electronic onboard recorder, instances of willful negligence should decrease.

Hopefully, when these new regulations are working in concert, we’ll see a precipitous drop in the number of truck wrecks in Virginia (especially those wrecks that can be prevented with proper oversight and responsible behavior from both trucking companies and drivers).

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.

PA

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

The deadliest truck wreck in Kentucky (KY) since 1988 occurred recently taking the lives of 11 people.

A tractor-trailer crossed the median on Interstate 65 (I-65) and slammed into a 15-seat Dodge Van. Ten people in the van were killed, with only two young children surviving the crash. The eleventh victim was the driver of the tractor trailer, according to telegram.com.

This is one of those gut-wrenching wrecks that truly breaks your heart.The victims in the van were on the road heading toward a wedding in Iowa ready to celebrate a joyous occasion. Now, loved ones are devastated and forced to grieve the loss of those closest to them. My deepest condolences go out to the family.

We don’t know what caused the tractor-trailer to cross the median and hit the van. Was the driver distracted in some way? Were they drowsy (the crash occurred early in the morning)? Was there a mechanical error? Police are still investigating the scene of the accident.

One thing we’re sure of is that the cable barriers dividing traffic were not capable of preventing this type of wreck. Christopher Hart, the vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said the cable barriers aren’t designed to withstand the force of a large truck, according to wect.com.

Mark Brown, a spokesman for the State Transportation Cabinet said the barriers are the strongest made and that no system exists to prevent a tractor trailer of such massive size from crossing them.

This tragic crash highlights the tremendous responsibility on truck drivers all across the country, including Virginia (VA). One mistake, or momentary lapse of attention, can lead to a major wreck and loss of life.

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.

PA

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

A father and son – Edward Smith, Sr. and Edward Smith, Jr. – were killed when a semi-truck slammed into their Dodge Caravan after the two stopped to help a driver stranded on interstate 81 (I-81) in Wytheville, Virginia (VA).

My deepest condolences go out to the Smith’s friends and family. This is an especially tragic accident considering the father and son stopped on the side of the road to help another driver struggling to travel in the winter weather.

The tractor trailer reportedly swerved to miss the disabled car that was on the road, jackknifed and smacked the Caravan.

Jackknifed tractor trailers, unable to handle the icy roads, caused the biggest problems in Southwest Virginia, according to the Bristol Herald Courier.

“I’d rather drive off a cliff than hit a four-wheeler, cause you know they’ve got families in them, kids inside,” said Joe Soliz, a truck driver. “But when you’ve got 80,000 pounds on your back, pushing you, it’s just hard to stop.”

This is why there are federal regulations specifically dealing with large commercial trucks on roadways during bad weather . Ideally, drivers of commercial trucks like tractor trailers and big rigs would find a place to stop and wait out the storm. Unfortunately, there seem to be many truckers who throw caution to the wind and continue their travels despite icy roads (which could potentially turn to black ice ), high winds and huge amounts of snow.

Truck drivers need to fully analyze the potential consequences of driving in a snowstorm. All of the challenges truckers routinely face (e.g. the sudden movements of other vehicles on the road, poor visibility, etc.) increase exponentially when you add bad winter weather to the mix.

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.

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