Yourlawyer.com (Truck Accidents News)

Whitestone Bridge Reopened After Friday Accident

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A construction truck traveling across the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge in New York City hit an overhead sign last Friday afternoon, causing it to crash onto all five lanes of the bridge deck. Two people in the truck were injured, and the bridge was closed for several hours.

The accident resulted in the closure of the Whitestone Bridge in both directions, and traffic was rerouted to the Throgs Neck or Robert F. Kennedy Bridges. The bridge was reopened around 7:00 p.m. Friday.

According to The New York Times, the truck was operated by Alpha Painting and Construction Company, a contractor for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that had been hired to paint the bridge’s towers. The vehicle was described as a pick-up truck with "cherry-picker" type boom attached.

According to a witness interviewed by WPIX News, the truck apparently failed to lower its boom. The boom was caught on the overhead sign as it passed underneath, causing it to topple.

"I heard twisting metal and I looked in my rear-view mirror and I could see the bottom of the truck with the front wheels off the ground," the witness told WPIX News. "The boom had got caught on that sign and almost flipped that car entirely over." The truck was standing on its back wheels for a short time before it came crashing to the ground.

Two people who had been sitting in the back of the pickup fell off as a result of the impact. According to The New York Times, one had a head injury and another had a fracture leg. Both men were taken to New York Queens Hospital.

No other motorists or passengers were hurt. However, one car - a Mercedes - did sustain damage.

Activists push for truck safety rules

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Wyoming and Arkansas are the deadliest states for truck crashes, according to a safety group that called Monday for tougher federal regulation to reduce fatalities hovering above 100 a week nationwide for years.

The safest states for truck crashes were Rhode Island and Massachusetts, based on the number of fatalities per 100,000 residents during 2005, the most recent year with complete figures.

Seven years since its creation by Congress to improve the safety of trucks, the federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration "is still putting cargo over people," said Joan Claybrook, chair of Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways. "This federal agency has failed miserably."

In 1999, when the agency was created, 5,380 people died in crashes with big trucks, Claybrook told a news conference by the Truck Safety Coalition. "That figure has barely budged." It was 5,212 in 2005.

The agency's spokesman, Ian M. Grossman, was not immediately available to respond to the criticism.

Speakers at the event called on the agency to reduce the hours that truckers are allowed to drive without rest, increase safety inspections of big trucks, require on-board electronic monitors to ensure compliance with hours-of-service rules, and train drivers better.

The group said that in 2005 Wyoming had 6.09 deaths in big truck crashes per 100,000 residents, followed by Arkansas at 4.17, Oklahoma at 3.41, New Mexico at 3.27, Mississippi at 3.12, and West Virginia at 3.03.

The safest state, Rhode Island, had 0.09 fatalities per 100,000 residents, followed by Massachusetts at 0.38, Connecticut at 0.48, District of Columbia at 0.54, Hawaii at 0.71, Alaska at 0.75, New York at 0.76, New Hampshire at 0.84 and Delaware at 0.95.

The largest increases in truck fatality rates between 2004 and 2005 came in Oklahoma, South Carolina and Louisiana. The greatest drops were in Alabama, Indiana and South Dakota.

"We spend millions of dollars on food safety. Nearly 61 people die from E.coli (infections) each year, which is equivalent to the four-day death toll from truck crashes," said Jacqueline Gillan, vice president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. "Anytime there is an E.coli outbreak, the federal government uses every resource available to stop this public health threat. Yet, unsafe big rigs kill and maim tens of thousands each year because truckers are pushed to drive long hours under unsafe conditions while the federal response has been silence and indifference."

Gillan and Claybrook criticized the motor carrier administration for increasing the number of hours a driver can operate a truck by 28 percent since 2003, up to as much as 88 hours over an eight-day tour of duty.

4 dead, 4 injured in NJ Turnpike accident

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Four people were killed and four others were hospitalized Monday afternoon in a six-vehicle pileup that closed a portion of the New Jersey Turnpike and snarled traffic through the evening rush-hour.

The accident on the roadway's northbound express lanes was caused when a truck hauling bricks was unable to stop as it approached slowed traffic, state police said. The truck rammed one car and turned over onto another and pushed both cars into another tractor trailer.

Killed in the accident were Theresa Christmas, 41; Charles Christmas, 40, and Victoria Christmas, 2, all of Astoria. All three were riding in a Nissan Altima that was hit from the rear by the truck.

A fourth passenger in the Altima, 4-year-old Theresa Christmas, was taken to University Hospital in Newark and was in fair condition, according to state police spokesman Steve Jones.

Also killed was Norma Ryan, 37, of Voorhees, who was driving a Toyota 4Runner that was struck by the trailer as it began to turn over. Three passengers in that vehicle: Peter Ryan, 12; Samantha Ryan, 6 months, and Maria Rosado, 64, of the Bronx, N.Y. were in critical condition Monday night at Hackensack University Hospital with internal injuries.

Traffic was slowed or stopped when the truck carrying the bricks was unable to stop and rode along the road's shoulder, according to Jones. The truck hit the side of a Mitsubishi Eclipse, causing minor damage, before striking the Altima and driving it into the side of the tractor trailer.

Charges are pending against the driver of the truck, Dimitrios S. Tseperkas, 46, of Port Jefferson, Jones said, pending the results of an ongoing investigation. The truck is registered to DTF Logistics of Port Jefferson.

The Turnpike's express lanes remained closed through the evening rush-hour, but opened at about 8 p.m.

Charges pending for truck driver in horrific turnpike accident

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700

In the aftermath of a horrific accident on I-95, a truck driver may be facing charges. He's accused in the massive accident that killed four people. It happened in the northbound lanes near the New Jersey Turnpike extension in Teaneck. Four other people are in the hospital.

The driver, is facing very serious charges this morning. The Bergen County prosecutor's office is trying to decide how to proceed.

The accident happened near Exit 70 on the New Jersey Turnpike in Teaneck.

Police say it appears that a flatbed truck hauling bricks failed to stop as it approached slowed traffic. The truck rammed one car and turned over onto another and pushed both cars into another tractor trailer.

Those killed in the accident were 41-year-old Theresa Christmas, 40-year-old Charles Christmas and two-year-old Victoria Christmas all of Astoria. All three were riding in a Nissan Altima that was hit from the rear by the truck.

Friends react to the tragedy.

Family friend: "They're the nicest family you'll ever meet. Charles was the nicest guy, honestly a nice guy. This is devastating, this horrible that this happened."

Also killed was 37-year-old Norma Ryan of Voorhees, who was driving a Toyota 4Runner that was struck by the trailer as it began to turn over.

Three passengers in that SUV: 12-year-old Peter Ryan, six-month-old Samantha Ryan and 64-year-old Maria Rosado of the Bronx are listed in critical condition at Hackensack University Hospital with internal injuries.

Victim's Friend: "Norma was a wonderful mother."

The drivers of the two trucks and the occupants of two other cars involved were uninjured.

Emergency workers call this one of the worst accidents that they've ever seen on the turnpike.

Joe Orlando, New Jersey Turnpike spokesman: "It's really horrific. This one is a horrible circumstance involving children. Really, you can't think of a much worse scenario."

Police say charges are pending against the driver of the truck, Dimitrios S. Tseperkas of Port Jefferson, pending the results of an ongoing investigation. The truck is registered to DTF Logistics of Port Jefferson, N.Y.

While the Turnpike's express lanes were closed through the evening rush hour, they later reopened around 8 p.m.

The sole survivor in the Altima, four-year-old Theresa Christmas, was taken to University Hospital in Newark is in fair condition, according to state police spokesman. Counselors will be provided to her to help her deal with the loss of her parents and little sister.

Year-Long Study Reveals Driver Inattention Significantly Increases the Risk of Accidents

Fri, 21 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700

The data recorded by video cameras and other sensors, placed in 100 motor vehicles for more than a year, spoke for itself. Even brief portions of the video played on last night’s national and local news programs were startling and showed actual accidents and near-accidents during or immediately following periods of driver inattention.

Some 241 drivers were taped as they operated the specially equipped vehicles in all types of driving situations. The remarkable video record showed drivers doing everything from eating, drinking, talking on cell phones, and putting on makeup, to looking away, retrieving objects, adjusting audio equipment and selecting and changing CDs. One driver was actually shown driving off the road as he fell asleep at the wheel.

While many of those periods of inattention were taking place or as they concluded, accidents or near-accidents occurred. The problem was not always the inattentive driver doing something like driving off the road or losing control of his or her vehicle, however.

Often, as the driver was distracted or was refocusing on driving, dangerous situations had developed immediately in front of his or her vehicle that could not be reacted to properly.

Some of the more chilling examples included a driver dialing a cell phone as a small child on a tricycle peddled out into the street in front of the car (luckily the driver looked up in time to stop), a driver looking up just as an out-of-control car came skidding into her lane (accident could not be avoided), and a driver being confronted by a vehicle that had come to a sudden stop (the inattentive driver in that case drove off the road and into a utility pole).

According to the report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, 80% of collisions and 65% of near-collisions occur within three seconds of some type of distraction.

The study recorded some 2 million miles of driving during which 82 collisions and 761 near-collisions occurred. Inattention occasioned by reading, dialing a hand-held device, or applying makeup tripled the risk of an accident or near-accident while reaching for a moving object increased that risk by 900%. Drowsiness had been thought o be a factor in 10% of collisions or near-collisions. The study revealed the risk to be far higher, at 22% (400% increased risk). Cell phone use was the most frequent distraction observed.

The researchers expressed concern over the fact that activities like eating, drinking, and retrieving objects were more risky than previously believed as well as the fact that the presence of new technologies has further compromised driver attention.
Even the shortest period of inattention or distraction can have serious consequences. Thus, the NHTSA emphasizes the need for drivers to remain alert at all times.

Young drivers (18 to 20) were found to be 400% more likely to be involved in attention-related accidents or near accidents as drivers over 35. They were also found to be more likely to use poor judgment, drive aggressively, or engage in distracted behavior in high-risk situations.

In terms of real-world examples of how a simple distraction can be catastrophic, one of the largest personal injury settlements on record came in a New York case where a tractor-trailer driver lost control of his rig as he reached for a water bottle on the floor.

The driver lost control of the truck, which then skidded off the roadway, overturned, and blocked the entire highway in the early morning hours and just over the crest of a hill.

A vacationing family in a mini-van could not avoid the overturned tractor-trailer and there was a terrible collision that left one child profoundly brain damaged and the rest of the family with devastating physical injuries. The case was handled by the law firm of Parker & Waichman, which negotiated a then New York record structured settlement worth a projected $78 million.

I-81 Wreck Sends 3 People to Hospital

Mon, 07 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800

A major accident on Interstate 81 Sunday afternoon sent three people to the
Advertisement hospital and blocked traffic for about three hours, said state police spokesman Sgt. Bob Carpentieri.

The accident occurred about 4 p.m. near the 202.4 mile marker when a tractor-trailer approached backed-up northbound traffic and swerved into the right lane, striking a Toyota van and setting off a chain reaction involving six other vehicles, Carpentieri said.

The van's driver, was flown to the University of Virginia Medical Center. Two other people suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to Stonewall Jackson Hospital in Lexington, he said.

Family Mourns Death of Man Killed in Tragic Accident

Fri, 04 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800

The son of a man killed in an accident on US-95 spoke out Friday about the crash that killed his father, and the man behind the wheel of the semi-tractor trailer truck blamed for the accident.

The victim died when the truck he was driving was hit by a wheel that came off a broken tandem axle on the tractor-trailer.

Glenie Bicknell's son Justin said, "It is his laugh. He is the only guy who laughs at his own jokes right after he says it." Twenty-two-year-old Justin Bicknell lights up when he talk about his father Glenie. Justin just returned from serving in Iraq and enjoyed quality time with his friend and role model.

Bicknell, said, "He was an outgoing guy. His hobbies were fishing and golf. He loved golf more than anything in the world." Glenie Bicknell was a Nevada native. Justin added, "He was born in Pioche in 1954. He was the last baby born there."

Thursday started out like any other day for the Bicknell's. Justin said, "He called me at 12:30 and said he had to go to Needles that night. I said I will see you tomorrow night." That was the last time Justin would talk to his dad. He told him he loved him and headed home from work.

Justin added, "I got off at 2:00 and drove by the accident not knowing it was him." Justin had jumped in the shower to get ready for school when the doorbell rang. He said, "I opened the door and they told me my father was in an accident and was killed instantly."

Justin is trying to understand how the axle came loose and why the problem wasn't discovered earlier. He said, "It is a maintenance issue and it should have been taken care of." But for now, Justin clings to all he has left, memories of the man who will forever be his golfing partner and his best friend. He said, "Always happy. He was willing to help anybody."

Engineers continue to investigate why the problem with the axle was not discovered earlier.

Police found the man driving the tractor-trailer that caused the accident at a truck stop on Blue Diamond Road Thursday night. It was truck driver Mike Haddox who alerted police to where the tractor-trailer driver was. He also witnessed the accident earlier in the day. Maddox says he saw the tires roll away from the truck and smash into Bicknell's vehicle. Then later at the truck stop on Blue Diamond Road, he saw the truck that police were looking for after hearing the report on Channel 8 Eyewitness News.

Haddox said, "I just asked him what it was in here for. And he told me it was in here for the axles. And so I told him what was going on and I went back here to look at it and sure enough, it was the right axle, so I called 911." Haddox says he saw the tires bounce as high as 40 feet before slamming into the white pick-up truck.

Truck drivers are also speaking out about the accident, and they say it could have been prevented. Truck drivers and an engineer were closely examining the truck on Friday. Many of the truck drivers say the truck had many maintenance issues. They say the reason the tandem axle came loose was a lack of oil. They also say that the truck driver should have seen that something was wrong.

One driver who asked not to use his name said, "His brake pads were on fire. They are white here. They were on fire when he was going down the road. For the driver not to see the wheels come off is unforgivable." Dennis Smith, another truck driver said, "The wheel barrings weren't properly taken care of." Smith says he believes the accident could have been avoided.

Nevada Highway Patrol troopers say they met with the district attorney Thursday night and that no charges will be filed against the truck driver. The truck driver told them he completed the entire inspection on the semi before hitting the road.

Fla. Turnpike Ramps Blocked After Semi Crash

Thu, 03 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800

A big rig traveling on Interstate 4 in Orange County crashed and dumped its load on the road, forcing Florida Highway Patrol troopers to close several busy ramps during rush hour Thursday.

The tractor-trailer jackknifed and dumped its load of construction debris on the road Thursday afternoon.

Some of the semitrailers cargo hit a Mitsubishi traveling in the left lane of the turnpike interchange.

"Because of the accident, both ramps going to I-4, east and westbound on to the Florida Turnpike are shut down," Local 6 chopper pilot Dan McCarthy said. "So, the mess on I-4 is unbelievable."

The Florida Highway Patrol said the traffic problems should continue Thursday night.

There were no serious injuries in connection with the crash.

Truck Crunches Car

Thu, 03 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800

A Lafayette woman was flown to a Denver hospital in serious condition Wednesday morning after a semi tractor-trailer ran over the front of the woman’s vehicle at 95th Street and Colo. Highway 52, the Colorado State Patrol said.

State Patrol Cpl. Jeremy Miller said the 9 a.m. accident occurred when a semi heading west on Colo. 52 ran a red light at the intersection and its back wheels rolled over a southbound Saturn Twin Cam.

“It appeared she had the green (light),” Miller said at the scene.

The driver of the semi, was cited for careless driving resulting in injury, Miller said.

Troopers at the scene said the truck driver had no prior violations.

The impact of the collision tore off the Saturn’s front bumper, blew out the glass of the side and rear windows and deployed the driver’s side airbag.

The truck’s axle appeared bent, and a rear tire was flat and embedded with glass.

Miller said both drivers were wearing seat belts and speed did not appear to be a factor in the crash.

The Saturn, with temporary tags from Mountain View Motors in Loveland still attached, spun around and came to rest in a field just northwest of the intersection.

Miller said the SVU driver “was talking and answering questions” as Mountain View Fire Department used extrication equipment to remove her from the vehicle.

The victim was flown to Denver Health with serious to moderate injuries, Miller said. He did not have an update of her condition Wednesday evening.

Truck driver charged in S.C. hayride fatal

Mon, 31 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0800

The driver of a tractor-trailer was charged with drunken driving after slamming into a hayride and killing four people, including a toddler.

The crash happened Sunday night, when the 18-wheeler hit a flatbed trailer and the tractor pulling it. Sixteen people were injured; two remained hospitalized.

Investigators said it was unclear how fast the truck was going, and they would not disclose the truck driver's blood-alcohol level.

Jake Davis Jr., 51, tried to swerve to the left to avoid overtaking and hitting the hayride, authorities said. At the same time, tractor driver Franklin Jones Jr., 33, swerved in the same direction to avoid being hit, said Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Paul Brouthers. The flatbed trailer did not have tail lights, Brouthers said.

The trailer sat near the road Monday, still holding blankets, jackets, sneakers and a baby's pacifier. All the items were soaked in diesel fuel.

Authorities identified the dead as Jerry Wayne Jones, 31; Shiwanna Lowery, 15; Freddie Lynn Jones, 24; and 2-year-old Javon Jones.

Authorities were unsure of the relationship between the Joneses. But Gregory Carter, an uncle of Jerry and Freddie Jones, said Javon was the son of Freddie Jones.

Safety Advocates Say Rules to Get Tired Truckers Off Road Too Weak

Mon, 31 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0800

How long can you drive before you get tired?

The government says a truck driver can spend up to 11 hours a day behind the wheel before taking a break.

People whose family members have died in trucking accidents say that's too long. Some want to limit it to a maximum of eight hours.

"If our daughter had been killed in an airplane crash involving a tired pilot, the federal government would be racing to pass bills and regulations to address fatigue," said Rick Curl, of Loch Lloyd, Mo. His 15-year-old daughter, Ashley, and four others were killed in 2001 on a Kentucky highway by a truck driver who fell asleep.

The maximum used to be 10 hours, but the Bush administration changed that in 2003 to 11 hours. After safety advocates complained, the administration revised its rules this past summer to make some changes to a truckers' workday, but the 11-hour limit remained.

Trucking company and government transportation officials contend the new rules strike a proper balance between the need to keep goods moving and the need to keep people on the road safe. Truck drivers can spend more time behind the wheel, but their rest is much more regulated than before.

For example, a trucker's total workday, which could include loading and unloading time, has been shortened from 15 to 14 hours. For the first time, drivers are required to rest for at least 10 hours in a row, eight of which must be in their sleeper berth.

Beth Bandy of Somerville, N.J., thinks truckers need more rest.

Her father, Bill Badger, died Dec. 23 when a tractor-trailer rear-ended his cherry red Chevrolet Cavalier, crumpling it, as he was on his way to catch a plane to see her. The driver, nearing the end of his shift, admitted falling asleep.

"We wanted to get together for Christmas and instead, we were making funeral arrangements," the 47-year-old former receptionist said, fighting back tears.

Bandy belongs to a group, Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways, that is pressing the government to reduce truckers' driving time. They also want the government to scrap a provision allowing drivers to spend as much as 17 more hours on the road per week on top of the 60 hours they were allowed under the old rule.

"That is twice the time that most Americans work, and they have to be alert and able to drive that big truck so it doesn't destroy other people," said Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen, a non-profit consumer watchdog group that sued to toughen the 2003 rules. "The result is that drivers are pushed beyond their capacity causing horrific crashes."

Adding an 11th hour doesn't necessarily mean driving an additional hour, said Dave Osiecki, vice president for safety, security and operations for the American Trucking Association.

"There's downtime for loading. There's downtime for unloading," he said. "A driver has to stop and go to the bathroom, (and) stop for fuel safety inspections."

A study by Virginia Tech found that drivers may be getting more sleep under the new rule almost six and a half hours a day.

It's not clear how many crashes involving trucks are caused by fatigue.

The federal government says it was a factor in 5.5 percent of the roughly 4,669 fatal crashes in 2003 involving large trucks, but safety advocates claim it's much higher.

Researchers say it's difficult to pinpoint because there's no easy test to measure fatigue and police agencies don't track it.

The trucking association, citing federal research, says most deadly crashes involving large trucks happen in the first four hours of a shift, while only 4 percent occur after eight hours on the road.

Trucking companies, already grappling with driver shortages, don't dispute the pressure long-haul truckers face. Paid by the mile, they frequently drive in the middle of the night to avoid daytime highway congestion.

The number of miles logged by large trucks has risen from 160 million in 1993 to nearly 215 million in 2003. But the rate of trucking accidents per miles driven has decreased over that time, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Cutting a trucker's driving time any further would make the roads less safe because more rigs would have to be deployed to deliver the same amount of freight, trucking companies argue.

"What you would do is actually increase the likelihood of large truck crashes," said Don Osterberg, who oversees driver training and safety at Schneider National, a Green Bay, Wis., trucking firm with nearly 16,000 drivers.

Companies also are making their own devices to keep drivers alert. California-based Iteris, Inc., has outfitted about 15,000 trucks in Europe and North America with a small camera and computer that warn drivers with a sound like going over a rumble strip when they drift out of their lane without signaling.

"When it goes off and you don't expect it," said company executive Bill Patrolia, "it's an eye-opener."

Alabama Ranks Third in Truck Fatalities

Fri, 21 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Alabamians are among the most likely to die in a truck wreck, according to figures from the US Department of Transportation.

Only Wyoming and Arkansas have more truck crash deaths per capita than Alabama.

The state recorded 163 deaths from large truck crashes in 2004. The announcement was made by a coalition of road-safety advocates, seeking to derail a possible Congressional effort to loosen enforcement of a recent truck-safety rule.

Nationwide, almost 5,200 people died in large-truck crashes in 2004, about 12% of vehicular deaths that year.

In most truck-related accidents, car drivers are at fault, but some research shows that truckers lose much of that edge after long hours on the road.

Truck drivers are typically paid by the mile and often work up to 77 hours of driving a week, under current law. But trucking company representatives note that crashes where tired truckers are at fault account for a small portion of accidents.

N.C. hits top 20 of truck-related deaths

Tue, 18 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700

North Carolina ranks 19th among the states when it comes to traffic deaths involving tractor-trailer trucks, according to a national survey released.

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety brought victims of truck accidents to Washington including a Kernersville woman whose father was killed in a tractor-trailer accident 22 years ago to announce the results from a study conducted by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis.

Last year in North Carolina 198 people died in accidents involving large trucks, according to the Fair Analysis Reporting System or 2.3 deaths per 100,000 residents.

In the survey released yesterday, Wyoming ranked 1st with 8.1 deaths per 100,000 population, and Hawaii ranked 51st with just over 0.3 deaths.

"Most people are concerned with the possibility of contracting and dying from West Nile Virus," said Jacqueline S. Gillan, the vice president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. "Yet in 2003, the year of the worst outbreak of the disease, 262 deaths occurred nationwide.

This is close to the number of truck crash deaths alone 248 that occurred last year in a single state such as Georgia," she said.

The safe-driving advocates would like to see eight-hour workdays for truck drivers, and on-board monitoring devices that would track the amount of time drivers are on the road.

Exhaustion is considered a leading cause of accidents.

"Too many trucks on our highways are sweatshops on wheels," said Joan Claybrook, the president of Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization.

Jennifer Tierney, a Kernersville woman whose father was killed 22 years ago in a truck-related accident, spoke at the news conference yesterday. She is spending several days in Washington to lobby legislators for stricter rules regarding how long truck drivers can be on the road between breaks, among other issues.

"I wonder what is going to happen now with the new Dell Plant and the new FedEx hub, I worry that there are going to be even more trucks, with heavy loads and tired drivers in the area," she said yesterday.

$1.9 Million Awarded In Tractor-Trailer Crash

Wed, 03 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0700

William Sullivan, a self-employed Amherst maintenance company operator, was awarded $1.9 million by a Buffalo jury for injuries suffered when a tractor-trailer slammed into his pickup truck four years ago in the Town of Tonawanda.

After a three-week trial before State Supreme Court Justice Frederick J. Marshall, a jury deliberated for two days before ordering Werner Enterprises, based in Omaha, Neb., to pay him for the accident.

Attorneys said Sullivan, now 62, was southbound on Young Street when a Werner rig slammed into his vehicle, flipping it on its side, as the larger vehicle left a parking lot about 11:30 a.m. Feb. 3, 2001.

The Werner driver was ticketed for failing to yield the right of way.

Sullivan, owner operator of three maintenance company franchises, was working about 70 hours a week, but the knee and shoulder injuries he suffered limit him to about two hours of work daily, Schaffer said.

Truck Loaded With Bricks Crushes Small Car

Mon, 04 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0700

An Arkansas couple is lucky to be alive, following an accident on Interstate 430 Friday morning.

Northbound traffic was backed up for miles on the interstate after an 18-wheeler carrying a load of bricks lost control and toppled on top of a small Volvo.

Police say the tractor-trailer smashed the car while trying to negotiate a turn near an exit.

"I was coming down the hill and was switching lanes from the left lane to the right lane, trying to be careful and everything and the load shifted, the load of bricks shifted," commercial driver Colin Gilbert says.

Gilbert is a driver for a Kansas City trucking company. He says the additional weight of the bricks caused the truck to roll right on top of the couple's car, throwing bricks across the highway.

The concrete median stopped the vehicles from moving into oncoming traffic.

Remarkably, the couple in the Volvo walked away with hardly a scratch.

"They were moving about on their own. They were transported as a precaution and for a little clean up that's about it," State Trooper First Class Michael Felcher says.

State police cited Gilbert for driving carelessly and driving with an unsecured load.

"There's plenty of warning ahead before you get to this downgrade with the turns that tell you to slow down and there's also safe speed limits posted," Felcher explains.

Gilbert says he's just thankful no one was seriously hurt, "Thank God it didn't kill two people."

Truck Lawyer Accident Attorney Tractor Trailer 18 Wheeler Lawsuit Injury

Mon, 04 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Truck Accident Lawyers

Keywords: Truck | Lawyer | Accident | Attorney | Tractor Trailer | Lawsuit | Injury | 18 Wheeler

The lawyers and attorneys at our firm are offering free case evaluations to victims of truck accidents and their families. Every 16 minutes, someone is injured or killed in a truck accident. Large trucking companies employ scores of lawyers whose job it is to save the company money - even at the expense of innocent accident victims. Our truck accident lawyers know how to deal with trucking companies, and will work hard to make sure the victims of these tragedies receive the justice they deserve.

Fatalities from large truck crashes have increased approximately 10 percent from 1995 through 1998, moving up from 4,918 deaths in 1995 to 5,374 deaths in 1998. The 5,374 deaths in 1998 represented thirteen percent of all traffic fatalities. In truck accidents, 98 percent of fatalities occur to the individuals in the passenger vehicles. The truck accident lawyers at our firm are committed to representing the victims of these crashes with the dignity and compassion they deserve.

The fatal crash rate for large trucks is 2.6 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. This staggering statistic is more than 50 percent greater than the rate for all vehicles on the roads. Trucks are also more likely to get into multiple vehicle accidents - nearly 80 percent of all large truck accidents involve more than one vehicle.

Causes of Truck Accidents

Trucking is big business. Trucking revenues totaled $610 billion last year and revenues are forecasted to nearly double by 2015. Unfortunately, this phenomenal growth has a downside. In an effort to maximize profits, trucking companies may cut corners with safety. Trucks are not always well maintained, and drivers often ignore speed limits in order to meet unrealistically tight delivery deadlines. At the same time, some truck drivers are at the wheel far longer than is safe. To often, these conditions lead to tragic accidents.

The primary causes of truck accidents include:

Excessive speed
Poor driving
Improperly loaded cargo
Driver fatigue
Unsafe road conditions
Equipment defects (tires, brakes)
Truck design defects
Poor maintenance
Inadequate or obstructed signage
Road construction

Studies show that drivers are more likely to crash after many long hours of driving. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implemented new rules in 2003 to combat this problem, even though hundreds of trucking industry lobbyists worked to block them. Unfortunately, surveys reveal that many drivers of large trucks violated the old regulations on hours of service; it is yet to be determined whether there is widespread compliance with the new regulations. However, considering the economic pressures that truck drivers are under, it can be assumed that the new rules are also often ignored.

The revised Hours of Service regulations include allowing truck drivers to drive 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off-duty. Truck drivers may not drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on-duty, following 10 hours off-duty. Truck drivers may not drive after being on-duty for 60 hours in a seven-consecutive-day period or 70 hours in an eight-consecutive-day period. This on-duty cycle may be restarted whenever a driver takes at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty.

Issues Faced by Victims of Truck Accidents

The victims of truck accidents and their families are usually overwhelmed with the medical, financial and legal issues they must face. It is not unusual for trucking companies to have their representatives contact accident victims and their families shortly after the accident occurs. These people claim they are there to assist victims and their families, but make no mistake - their true purpose is to convince injured victims to accept smaller settlements than they deserve. Our truck accident lawyers know how to deal with these companies, and will make sure that our clients needs are taken care of.

Passengers in cars, motorcycles and even SUVs are no match for huge trucks in an accident. People in passenger vehicles suffer devastating and often fatal injuries as a result. While the lawyers at our firm are aware that no amount of money can make up for their horribly disrupted lives, a fair settlement will enable a truck accident victim to obtain the medical care and equipment they need to maintain a good quality of life.

The injured victims of truck accidents might never be able to work again, and in the case where a fatality occurs, the family of a victim is often left without an important means of financial support. The innocent victims of truck accidents should never have to worry about money while they work to heal their physical and emotional wounds. Our truck accident lawyers are committed to making sure the financial needs of these victims are met.

The financial and medical issues faced by the victims of truck accidents are bad enough, but often they must also deal with complicated legal matters. For one thing, trucking companies are interested in paying small - not fair - settlements. To achieve this, they may claim that their truck driver was not at fault. These companies have access to large arsenals of paid experts who will always take their side in court. Faced with this, the victims and families of truck accidents might be tempted to accept of small settlement offer, rather than take on these companies. Our truck accident lawyers know this is a mistake, and we will not be intimidated by trucking companies into doing anything not in the best interest of clients.

Legal Help for Victims of Truck Accidents

If you or a loved one were injured in a truck accident, you have valuable legal rights. Please fill out our online form or call 1-800 LAW INFO (1-800-529-4636) to speak with an experienced truck accident lawyer at our firm.