Amherst, Virginia (VA) resident Phillip Sparrow, 55, died on impact when a logging truck T-boned his car, according to police who spoke with WSET-Channel 13. Tragic events like this happen all too often with trucks, and I can’t help but wonder what should have been done to prevent such devastating results. Most residents of the area where Sparrow was killed knew that the intersection of Riverville Road and Piedmont Road was a “perfect mix to cause a fatality,” WSET reported.

That perfect mix is a dangerous intersection that makes it hard to see oncoming traffic and that requires drivers to, according to one resident, “pull almost completely out in [the] road … to see if a truck is coming.”  What’s worse, is that sometimes the logging trucks coming down the road are going too fast.  Some locals estimate the speeds at around 75 mph, when the posted limit is only 45 mph for trucks.

The combination of an obscured vantage point and speeding logging trucks make some residents “scared every time [they] come out” of the roadway, and, expressing hopes that this tragedy will not be in vain, they hope it will convince Virginia Department of Transportation to finally make this perfect mix intersection into a 4-way stop.

Trucking accidents such as this can cause life-altering injuries, or worse, can take someone’s life.  Less than a year ago, my colleague, Randy Appleton and I helped the survivors of a 25-year-old man killed in a trucking accident recover $3.5 million dollars in a settlement.  His car was hit by a truck whose driver admitted he did not see the car until seconds before impacting the car and killing the man.  This is why I say this type of accident happens all-too-often, and why this type of accident makes me angry and concerned as a motorist who shares the road with truckers.

As a wrongful death attorney, I not only express my condolences to the Sparrow family, but strongly suggest that they seek the advice of a Virginia law firm who will represent their interests and who will fight to make it known that tragedies like this ought to have been prevented.

Our firm has published a free consumer guide to trucking accidents and has information available for those interested in holding trucking companies responsible for the wrongful death of their loved ones.

AY

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.

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New federal rules limiting nearly all interstate commercial truck drivers to 10 hours behind the wheel each day and daily work shifts, including loading and unloading periods, of 14 hours are set to take effect on July 26, 2011. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration decided to cut drive times and total work hours in light of increasing evidence that fatigued drivers operating semis, 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, tanker trucks and flatbeds are as, and sometimes more, dangerous than drunk or drugged drivers.

FMCSA has consistently tightened the hours of service (HOS) regulations over the past decade, and requiring more rest for truckers has worked to decrease the number of accidents caused by drowsy truckers and commercial truck drivers who fell asleep at the wheel. Nationwide statistics cited by the Wall Street Journal indicate that deaths in highway crashes involving large trucks dropped by more than 2,000 from 2007 to 2009. “Over the same period, the number of truck accidents that caused injuries dropped to 51,000 from 72,000,” the newspaper reported.

Despite this evidence for the beneficial effects of shorter HOS, the American Trucking Association, which represents the interests of companies that employ truck drivers, has vigorously protested the latest FMCSA action. The trucking trade group  has tried to debunk peer-reviewed research showing that tired drivers are dangerous drivers and argued against reducing allowable hours of service mostly on the grounds that the companies ATA represents would have to hire more drivers.

In essence, any debate over HOS comes down an argument between rulemakers want to protect drivers and corporate executives who want to maximize profits. Faced with those options, I’m going to choose lives over money. If nothing else, ATA fails to acknowledge that many of the injury-causing and fatal accidents prevented by ensuring truck drivers get more rest will be crashes between two or more semis or tractor-trailers that do not occur.

My Virginia Beach, VA-based personal injury colleagues and I know that driver fatigue plays a role in a significant number of serious wrecks involving commercial trucks. Drowsy driving is something we always consider when a potential injury or wrongful death client approaches us concerning a nighttime or early-morning accident. Even if lowering hours of service for truckers does increase trucking companies’ cost of doing business — and subsequently raise some prices for consumers — that money will be an excellent investment in all Americans’ health and safety.

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 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.

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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

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.

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The widow of an Illinois (IL) attorney killed in a crash caused by a semi driver who failed to stop at an intersection of two state highways has received a $5 million wrongful death settlement from the health care company that owned the big rig and employed the driver. Fellow trucking accident victim’s lawyer, Robert J. Bingle of Chicago, told the News Tribune on February 25, 2011, that the victim “was a loving husband and a great father. He was a tenacious and passionate advocate for his clients and a very active man in his community. He is missed by many people.”

The fatal collision occurred on December 16, 2009, when the OSF St. Francis Healthcare Systems truck rolled through a stop sign and hit the car driven by Richard J. Berry. The truck driver was cited by police for disobeying a signal at a four-way intersection with stop signs at each corner. He may also have been speeding before the crash. Berry died at the scene of the accident.

Semis, tractor-trailers and other large commercial trucks take a long time to come to a complete stop. And, of course, the faster a truck is going, the greater the distance needed to drop its speed to zero. Truck drivers are trained to take these indisputable laws of physics into account when sharing roads and highways with cars and, especially, when approaching red lights, stop signs, turns or unmarked intersections. As the deadly crash in Illinois shows, however, even a single mistake or temporary lack of attention can lead to irreversible tragedy.

As a partner in a law firm whose lawyers have represented hundreds of victims of crashes caused by trucks, I have seen firsthand the devastation big rigs can cause when operated unsafely. My condolences go out to the woman who lost her husband in Illinois. At the same time, I’m glad that the civil suit she filed for the wrongful death ended with some measure of compensation and justice for her irretrievable loss.

EJL

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.

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In McDowell County, near Linville, North Carolina (NC), a semi truck lost control, catapulted down a steep hill and wrecked, killing a passenger and shutting down the highway, the N.C. Highway Patrol said Monday. Find out why this fatal tractor-trailer accident happened.

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.

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As a personal injury attorney, I, unfortunately, understand how fragile life can be.  More and more I am seeing cases of head-on collisions where one vehicle will lose control and cross the median, crashing head-on into an unsuspecting motorist.  Just last month, two tractor-trailers collided killing both drivers.

It’s even worse when the vehicle that loses control is a 40-ton semi. The force behind such a large vehicle is bound to cause fatalities plus the force of the impact is doubled when the two vehicles strike from opposite directions, making trauma and injury much more likely.

Recently, a northbound tractor-trailer crossed the median and struck a southbound truck head-on near Smith Mountain, Virginia (VA), according to the Virginia State Police.   Tragically, passenger compartments of both trucks caught fire with the drivers still trapped inside the cabs and they both perished in the crash on U.S. 220 South, about 3 miles south of Route 619.

As with any serious accident I think first of the loved ones left behind.  My thoughts and prayers go out with them and I hope that they find peace with the loss of their family member.  The second thing I think of is how could this accident been prevented?   The cause of why the tractor-trailer became a wrong-way driver is still under investigation.

We do not know why this fiery crash occurred but I’m sure the family wants to know what exactly caused the truck driver to come careening across the median.  Statistics show that:

Driver distractions, such as eating while driving, using the car stereo, reaching for something within the car, talking on the cell phone while driving, or texting while driving.

· Speeding, which leads to drifting out of your lane while rounding curves or losing control of your vehicle altogether.

· Driver inattention, which could cause you to drift into the other lane.

· Driver fatigue, which could cause you to fall asleep at the wheel and leave your lane.

· Drinking and driving, which can seriously impair your driving abilities and your reaction times.

· Overcorrecting your driving, which could jerk your vehicle out of the way of an obstacle to your right, but into the path of an oncoming vehicle on your left.

CA

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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By Rick Shapiro, Personal Injury Attorney

Over the weekend a tragic accident occurred when a coal-hauling truck overturned at a Massey Energy Co. mine site in West Virginia (WV), killing Charles Qualls.  My thoughts go out to his family and I am sorry for their pain.  It is always a terrible loss when a family member unexpectedly passes, especially when it seems the accident could have been prevented and at a place we often think of as safe: work.

Qualls won’t just be missed by his family but the entire community.  He was a member of the Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department and is the second member to die this year, reports West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The crash happened on a haul road owned by the coal company and we are unsure if it was caused by faulty brakes and icy roads.  Two inspectors were sent to investigate the wreck.  In either case the mine company needs to take the safety and health of their employees more seriously.

If the road was icy, steps need to be taken to ensure safe driving conditions.  Even worse if the brakes on the truck were defective the family of the victim would have good reason to pursue a wrongful death case.  Sending someone to work in dangerous conditions with faulty equipment is a recipe for disaster and could violate both state and federal trucking regulations.

 Massey says it will investigate the crash and work to ensure its haul roads are safe.

CA.

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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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.
CA.

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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These days, road rage seems to be an every day occurrence.  Tractor-trailer drivers often bear the brunt of it from impatient or angry motorists.  This time the road rage was more than angry words.  An angry driver rammed a pickup truck with his vehicle on Interstate 70 in January, pushing it into the path of a tractor trailer which killed the three young people and left another with serious injuries.  Find out more.

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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Many times when we hear of a big rig accident we often assume the truck driver is at fault.  Sometimes truck drivers can also be victims of other’s negligence.  In this case a hard working truck driver was in a crash that involved another tractor-trailer.  However, the at-fault driver fled the scene and was never found. 

 This should have been an open and shut case because the other trucking company admitted liability.  However, the Plaintiff’s medical bills totaled $45,950.63 and he also incurred lost wages.  The highest offer the victim received from the company was $100,000, but he needed more.  The jury in Norfolk, Virginia (VA), deliberated for 45 minutes and awarded him $185,000, much more than the at-fault trucking company and their commercial insurance company was willing to pay.

Congratulations to  attorney Mark Paullin for winning this client’s case.

 The focus for a victim should be on recuperating, not on haggling with truck company claims adjusters. That’s what we are here for – to fight for your best interests as the truck company adjusters and defense lawyers try to reduce or deny your claim. We have handled numerous lawsuits where the injured person was a professional driver hurt or killed by the bad driving of another trucker. A VA truck wreck lawyer who knows the rules and regulations applicable to CDL drivers can make a real difference.

CA.

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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