Minivan Driver Hit and Killed by FedEx Truck That Ran Red Light in Virginia Beach

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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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When a vehicle malfunction occurs, the consequences can be devastating. This was the case on Interstate (I-85) South in Brunswick, Virginia (VA) when a tractor trailer that was carrying two people had a left front axle break. This caused the truck to run off the road and hit multiple trees.

Tragically, the two people in the trailer were killed when the vehicle burst into flames, according to NBC12.com. The burns were so bad that the bodies could not be immediately identified.

There are many questions that need to be answered about this terrible truck crash. What exactly caused the axle to malfunction? Could this problem extend to the model of tractor trailer involved in the wreck? We’ll have to wait and see what the accident investigation reveals.

I want to send my deepest condolences to the families of the two people killed in this truck accident. Losing someone close to you is never easy, but having it happen in such a sudden and terrible manner is heartbreaking.

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, FL 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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If there was any doubt about the level of risk we all face while sharing the highway with big rigs and other large commercial trucks, the recent accident in Henrico County, Virginia (VA) illustrates what can happen when something goes wrong with a large commercial truck.

A big rig traveling down Interstate 64 (I-64) suddenly had a wheel base break off causing the massive truck tire to bounce across the highway eventually slamming into a minivan driven by Stephanie Bender, a resident of Colonial Heights, VA. She died at the scene on May 14, 2010 as a result, according to wtkr.com.  The truck was  owned by J.E. Liesfeld Contractor Inc. of Rockville, MD, State Police spokesman Sgt. Thomas J. Molnar said.  A company spokesman said that the wreck “very tragic” and said the cause appeared to be equipment failure — a tire seal ruptured, and friction caused the 200-pound tire set to come off the axle.  Under Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations governing commercial trucks, there are inspections required of such vehicles.  It is unclear at this time whether any failure of maintenance or inspection duties apply here.

Here is a news report about this fatal truck accident:
 
 
“The company is very upset this happened, it’s a tragic accident, and the company will do everything it can to assist the family in its time of need,” said Charles Ayers, corporate counsel to Liesfeld.  As a trucking injury attorney often working against trucking company’s, it is unclear to me what the attorney’s comment means in the context of any civil injury lawsuit that may be brought by her family members.

Stephanie Bender was survived by her husband, Terry Lee Bender, Jr, two daughters, her parents, and many brothers and sisters.  Her family has roots in the Macon/Dodge County, GA area.  Many of her co-workers at Capitol One, where she had previously worked, were stunned, and talked about her beautiful smile and the pride she took in her daughters and her family.

The disparity in size and weight between a commercial truck and compact cars, SUVs, and minivans is so great that even when the slightest error or malfunction occurs with a big rig or 18-wheeler, the damage can be catastrophic, especially for the driver and/or passenger(s) in those compact vehicles.

The VA Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspection Team is investigating what caused the tire to break off from the big rig, according to wtvr.com. They will determine if traffic/criminal charges should be filed against the truck driver since there’s a chance the big rig may have had mechanical defects which were overlooked or neglected leading to a death.  This is completely separate from any “wrongful death” civil lawsuit that may be available to the surviving family members.

It  was reported that over 200,000 trucks violate federal safety regulations, but are still operating on roads and highways all across the country. We’ll have to wait and see what the Inspection Team reports.

Regardless of the cause, I want to send my deepest sympathies to the Bender family. The pain of losing someone you love is always gut-wrenching, but it has to be even worse when the loss is so sudden. Mrs. Bender was only 36 years old.

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, FL 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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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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Lumber Truck Crash Closes I-40 In Harmon Den, NC

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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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Two men were killed in an accident involving a tractor trailer at the intersection of Ky. 1499 and U.S. 460. The accident investigation allegedly revealed the truck driver was knowingly operating the vehicle with bad brakes. As a result, the at-fault driver was charged with reckless homicide, according to the news-expressky.com.

The tractor trailer had 10 brakes, but only three were fully operational at the time of the wreck.

Trooper Shannon Jones received information that the tractor trailer driver used his CB radio to contact some local truck drivers minutes before the wreck, which proved the at-fault driver knew there was a problem with his truck.

“[The truck driver] was asking if there was any bad hills,” Jones said. “He told [the truck drivers] that his brakes were bad, that his brakes were no good.” This information is supported by other findings by accident investigators.

Hearing about these types of accidents is extremely frustrating because this tragedy could have been prevented. Two men are now dead because a truck driver wasn’t responsible enough to simply get his brakes fixed.

Our firm wrote about the high number of trucks, big rigs, 18-wheelers, tractor trailers, etc. on the road with defective or worn out brakes. In fact, the American Association of Justice discovered bad brakes were the most common safety violation on many commercial trucks.

The investigation of the fatal truck accident will continue and there may be even more revelations about this incident and the condition of the tractor trailer. The reckless homicide charge brought against the at-fault driver is a class D felony, punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

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 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.

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