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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Elizabeth P. Lyman of Fairhaven, Massachusetts (MA) was driving her Plymouth Voyager on Interstate 495 (I-495) when she decided to pull off the side of the road at the Springfield interchange in Fairfax, Virginia (VA), according to wusa9.com. Tragically, she would never make it to her destination. A tractor trailer sideswiped the Voyager and hit her while she was standing near the right shoulder of the exit ramp from I-495 west to Interstate 95 (I-95) south. She died at the scene, according to the Washington Post.

Mrs. Lyman was only 68 years old. My deepest sympathies go out to Mrs. Lyman’s family. The grieving process is difficult so I hope they can make it through okay.

Reports indicate the driver of the tractor trailer, which had a full car carrier attached, swerved suddenly to the right in order to avoid hitting a car that was slowing down on the highway. This was the wrong decision since not only did the tractor trailer hit Mrs. Lyman, but also wound up colliding with an SUV.

The tractor trailer driver was charged with operating an overweight vehicle and reckless driving.

Our firm handled a case very similar to this incident. We represented a family who lost a loved one in a trucking accident. The tractor-trailer operator in this case attempted to change lanes, but miscalculated the distance between his truck and the rear of a car. The truck clipped the rear of the car causing it to flip over, which killed our client (who was survived by his wife of 38 years and his four adult children). The tragic wreck occurred on a rural highway in VA. Fortunately, we were able to successfully obtain a wrongful death settlement for the family to compensate for their pain and suffering. To learn more about this wrongful death truck accident case, please click here.  

The wreck on I-495, and the case we handled, illustrates just how important it is to properly operate a large commercial truck. When someone operates a vehicle of such size and power recklessly, the consequences can be deadly.

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 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.

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Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis, & Appleton

A tragic accident occurred on Interstate 64 (I-64) when a minivan and tanker truck slammed into each other. Gary Allen and Donald Beazley suffered serious injuries and Sue Ratliff Beazley was killed, according to wvec.com.

My deepest sympathies go out to Mr. Beazley for the loss of his wife.

Reports indicate the truck crossed the median producing a head-on collision with the minivan. The wreck was severe, a common result from a serious trucking accident. We don’t know the extent of the injuries for the two individuals, but we do know they’re being treated in a trauma center.

I hope a thorough investigation is conducted and they find out what caused the truck driver to cross the median and cause this terrible accident.The Virginian-Pilot is reporting Mr. Allen, the driver of the truck, suffered a medical-related incident but they don’t know for sure if that’s what caused the accident.

I-64 receives a high volume of traffic on a daily basis and a volatile combination of compact cars, SUVs, vans, and trucks all utilize I-64. Unfortunately, accidents occur on this highway on a regular basis but it’s always so tragic when these horrendous fatal accidents take place.

Over 120,000 truck accidents occur each year in the United States and nearly 2,000 serious injuries stemming from truck accidents occur in Virginia (VA) annually. These numbers are simply unacceptable and need to decrease.

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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Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis, & Appleton

The drivers of a tractor-trailer was seriously injured after the trailer lost its brakes and crashed into an embankment on U.S. Highway 52 between Fancy Gap and Cana, Virginia (VA), according to Mount Airy News.

The trailer flipped over and slipped across the northbound lanes finally smashing into an embankment. Rescue workers spent over an hour to free the driver from the trailer.

Brake defects were found in 56 percent of tractor-trailers involved in truck crashes, according to ESTD. A study sponsored by the Department of Transportation concluded that nearly 30 percent of all large truck crashes involved brake failure, brakes out of adjustment, or other brake related issues.

A brake failure is one of the worst experiences a driver can go through. You feel helpless and your vehicle becomes a target for destruction.

Here are some general guidelines you should adhere to in case your brakes fail, from Safety.com:

• Try not to panic. If possible, work your vehicle into the right lane and then toward the shoulder or, if possible, toward an exit. Remember to use your directional signal. When you reach the right lane turn on your emergency hazard lights.
• Let the truck slow down gradually by taking your foot off the gas pedal. Simply steer as your vehicle slows and shift the truck into a lower gear to let the engine help slow the truck.
• Get the truck off the roadway and to a safe place to avoid stopping traffic or being involved in a rear-end collision.
• When safely off the road, put out reflective triangles beside and behind your vehicle to alert other drivers; keep your emergency flashers going.
• Don’t stand behind or next to your vehicle; if possible, stay away from the vehicle and wait for help to arrive. Do not be tempted to drive your vehicle, no matter how slowly, without brakes.

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 primary office in based in Virginia Beach, but we’re ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia if you’ve been seriously hurt by someone else’s carelessness. We are ready to talk to you right now and we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042.

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If you’re driving a truck longer than 28 feet, Virginia Highway 116 could soon be unavailable for travel.

Officials in Franklin County and Roanoke County have passed a resolution restricting large trucks and tractor-trailers from traveling Va. 116, which is 12 miles in length and goes through both Roanoke and Franklin, according to Roanoke.com.

This resolution was inspired by the fact that Va. 116 has sharp, winding roads that are not conducive to large truck travel. Given the weight and sheer size of trucks such as 18-wheelers, Mack trucks, etc. the risk of an accident on a narrow, twisting road increases exponentially.

A number of bad accidents have occurred on Va. 116 as a result. For example, back in   September, a cattle truck overturned and fifty-eight cattle died. So far this year, at least 15 accidents involving trucks occurred on this stretch of highway.

Most truck accidents are pretty horrendous. The damage they can inflict on automobiles (and the passengers in them) is vast. These types of accidents are, unfortunately, rather common in Virginia (VA). Back in 2007, there were 68 fatal truck accidents and 111 fatal semi-truck accidents. In addition, there were close to 4,700 big rig wrecks resulting in nearly 2,000 serious injuries.

Credit should be given to Roanoke and Franklin County officials for making an effort to curb truck accidents in their respective counties.

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 nowwe 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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Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis, & Appleton

The American Truckers Association (ATA) has been waffling on their support for an anti-texting bill crafted by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), but recently decided to endorse the legislative initiative.

This isn’t very surprising since the bill hasn’t reached the Senate floor for a vote, so there’s plenty of time to implement exemptions the trucking industry has been angling for since the bill – officially known as the Avoiding Life-Endangering and Reckless Texting by Drivers Act – was introduced by Sen. Schumer.

What exemptions? The trucking industry relies heavily on electronic communication devices in their trucks to relay directions and commands to the drivers. They’re probably looking for ways to ensure those devices stay in the trucks without much alteration. It’s unclear how far the proposed legislation will go in terms of restricting these devices for interstate trucking work, if at all. There is already an exemption in the bill for texting “in case of an emergency.”

I hope the trucking industry focuses their efforts on moving towards voice-activated communication devices as opposed to lobbying Congress for special exemptions to devices which produce basically the same level of distracted driving as texting. The truck drivers still have to look down to type in directions and implement commands from headquarters. That takes their eyes off the road and puts them, along with all of us on the road, in danger.

I appreciate the ATA’s endorsement of the anti-texting bill, but let’s hope they are truly committed to truck safety and not merely trying to look good in front of the general public and trying to work their way around the restrictions in the back rooms of Congress.

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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Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis, & Appleton

Ronald Cook of Bedford County, Virginia (VA) was enjoying a ride in his Chevy Avalanche when, suddenly, his truck flipped over on Virginia Route 24 and ended his life. Mr. Cook was not wearing his seatbelt, according to Newsadvance.com.

My condolences go out to Mr. Cook’s friends and family.

Hopefully, this tragic accident highlights the importance of wearing your seat belt at all times when you’re driving. There are some drivers, especially people who have big trucks and SUVs, who feel they’re safe due to the sheer size of the vehicle and neglect their seat belt. Clearly, this is wrong and probably contributes to the fact that 63 percent of people killed in automobile accidents are not wearing their seat belt, according to car-accidents.com.

This needs to change. As an injury lawyer who regularly represents people seriously hurt in car and truck accidents, I’ve seen the physical damage that can be done when an individual fails to wear their seat belt. Even if you avoid death, the chances of suffering a serious injury such as a broken neck or neck, loss of limbs, facial disfiguration, burns, etc. escalate precipitously.

Seat belts save, on average, over 9,500 lives each year. I cannot overemphasize the importance of a seat belt. It could mean the difference between life and death, regardless of the vehicle you drive.

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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