Lansing Personal Injury Lawyer - Tractor-Trailer Accidents

Tractor-Trailer Accidents are Serious Highway Safety Concerns

David Mittleman — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:57:16 GMT

Any discussion of traffic safety has to take into account Tractor-Trailer Accidents. One in eight fatalities on our nation's highways involves a large truck or "semi" truck. Half a million accidents each year involve tractor-trailers in the United States. 5,000 people die a year from these accidents. 140,000 people survive but suffer from injuries, ranging from serious brain injury to loss of limbs.

One of the major factors which can compromise tractor trailer safety is truck driver fatigue. The nature of truck transportation often requires covering long distances over long periods of time. Tractor trailer safety studies have indicated that fatigue is responsible for tractor trailer accidents thirty to forty percent of the time.

Tractor-trailer companies are required to carry a minimum level of insurance. They are also required to properly maintain all tractor trailers and equipment to sustain tractor trailer safety. Trucks are required to stop at weight stations to ensure that they are in compliance with weight limitations. Hours of Service logs are often checked at this time as well. Local and state law enforcement also plays an integral role in tractor trailer safety and will conduct random stops and inspections.

Despite tractor trailer safety measures, accidents still can and do occur and violations of tractor trailer safety laws are also made. A 1997 study found that in a random given week of inspections at least 9000 tractor trailer safety violations were committed. When tractor trailer safety is breeched, serious accidents can result.

Our firm has successfully handled cases involving injuries sustained during a tractor-trailer accident. If you have injured in such an accident, do not hesitate to contact our office, ChurchWyble, at (888) 227-4770.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Are Double-Bottomed Semis More or Less Dangerous to You?

Devon Glass — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Continuing with our series, Steve from the Lombardi Law Firm posted on the Des Moines InjuryBoard today on semi-trucks and tractor-trailers. I will continue in that vein, attempting to enlighten Michiganders on interstate safety. Specifically, the next few days will focus on what “to beware of” while driving on the interstate.

As you can probably guess, a car can never win when in a collision with a semi-truck or tractor-trailer. As my cohort states, a semi in North America has three axles, 18 wheels, and can also have a double bottom. The specs of a semi are: 102 inches wide, 13.5 high and can weigh in at a whopping 80,000 pounds. A Ford Focus weights in at 2, 588 pounds. Even a heavier car can’t hold a candle to a semi—even the F-150 that Steve drives only weighs 12,600 pounds. It isn’t difficult to figure that no car or truck can withstand a crash with a semi. Needless to say, neither can the driver.

While driving on the various interstates in Michigan (North-to-South Interstates 69 and Interstate 75 and East-to-West Interstates 94 and 96, for those of you not from the Great Lakes State), you may have noticed the high speeds that many semis travel at. Factor in that many truck drivers are probably bored and souped-up on coffee to stay awake because they’ve driven too many hours straight, and you get a pretty angry and aggressive driver. This fact has become all too familiar for many Americans. So how do you deal with aggressive semis on the road? Avoid them is our best advice. Here are some specific steps to take to keep yourself safe on the interstate:

· Don’t “hang out” on either side of trucks.

· Don’t cut in front of semis or tractor-trailers.

· Always wear your seat belt.

· Don’t drive aggressively yourself—you put yourself at risk with unsafe driving. Remember, it is difficult to maneuver a huge semi truck.

· Don’t “squeeze play”—trying to cut in front of a semi while it is turning could “squeeze” you in between the curb and the semi, causing serious injury or death.

· Never drink and drive.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Devon Glass

Fatal Truck Crashes Garner Media Attention

David Mittleman — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:22:00 GMT

A recent spate of court decisions involving fatal truck-car collisions has brought some attention to the tragic results of these accidents. Semi-truck operators spend enormous amounts of time on the road, but even a single moment of carelessness can have horrific results. Judging by the jury verdicts in some recent cases, truck drivers will be held accountable for their mistakes.

In Will County, Illinois, jurors handed down a $24 million verdict in favor of the families of two men who were killed by a semi-truck. The truck smashed into a row of cars, killing the two men and seriously injuring another.

As we noted earlier this week, A 21-year-old woman in Florida recently received $65 million for injuries she sustained in a 2007 crash. Her collision with a tractor-trailer put her into a coma and kept her hospitalized for several months. She still requires 24-hour care and supervision. A college student who once spoke six languages, she now has difficulty simply walking.

Near Calgary, Canada, a cement truck driver smashed his vehicle into a car containing five people. The car was completely decimated and all five occupants were killed. An open bottle of vodka was discovered in the truck, though the driver denies drinking from it. According to the driver, he was in a hurry to get home when he struck the victims’ car. He is currently on trial for manslaughter.

These are just a few examples of recent court cases dealing with fatal and near-fatal truck accidents. The Lansing, Michigan, area has seen its share of tractor-trailer accidents in recent months, as well. Ordinary passenger vehicles are no match for huge semi-trucks, and the consequences of these collisions are often catastrophic for those involved. Remember to drive carefully to keep you and your loved ones out of headlines like these.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Tractor-Trailer Tips Over Causing Another Accident On Michigan’s Slippery Roads

David Mittleman — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:38:59 GMT

At around 5:00 a.m. this morning, a tractor-trailer tipped over just north of Lansing, Michigan, on I-96. The truck spilled 22 gallons of diesel fuel and blocked the roadway for over two hours, causing two additional cars to collide with it. Fortunately, all persons involved in the collision were unharmed.

Bill Conklin of the Ingham County Road Commission stated that "[w]e really don’t have the budget to keep the roads clear and bone dry and free from slippery spots into the wee morning, so we cover, during the night, our busy spots, but we don’t cover every road all night long." This is causing fear in many Michigan drivers and many are bracing for a cold, icy and dangerous winter ahead.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Michigan Truck Driver Crashes into Chicago Train Station

David Mittleman — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:59:32 GMT

On Friday, April 25, 2008, Michigan truck driver Don Wells ran his semi-truck into a train station escalator in down town Chicago during rush hour. From what police are saying, Mr. Wells exited the Dan Ryan Expressway but failed to stop his truck before running into people at a bus stop and then an escalator servicing one of Chicago's "L" trains. There were two fatalities and at least twenty-one injured people at the scene, although that number may increase as the investigation continues. Although Mr. Wells was in police custody, there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of the incident. The Chicago police continue to investigate this matter in order to determine exactly what caused this truck accident.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman