Mobile Personal Injury Lawyer - Tractor-Trailer Accidents

Coming face to face with the economic crisis.....

Troy Schwant — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:26:07 GMT

When some people are asked how the economy is affecting them, most people talk about retirement accounts, and the lack of available jobs in their respective fields. Well this past week I came face to face with the economic crisis and how it can have a more direct impact on someone's life.

I was traveling through the state of Alabama this past week and while at a truck stop, I overheard a conversation between a truck driver and a friend of his where the truck driver was explaining how much he was working and how he was working "overtime", and that even though he had already met the maximum number of hours he could drive that week, he was pushing through to get to his destination.

I completely understand the desire of the truck driver to provide for his family, but that desire is weighed against the potential damage he can cause in his 18 wheeler as a result of him being too tired. I think it is in the best interest of all drivers to take extra precautions while traveling, because you never know how much certain truck drivers have been working when you attempt to pass them on the road.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Troy Schwant

How a poor economy can affect people not just in the pocketbook....

Troy Schwant — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:58:32 GMT

As everyone knows and has felt, the current economy is effecting how people shop, eat, and live their day to day life. Some people think it is only the middle and lower class that are cutting costs, and trying to save every penny, well those people are wrong.

Every week we hear about a new company that is closing up shop or is asking for financial assistance from the government, and the companies that are still open for business are doing everything they can to make sure the doors stay open, and sometimes that the person who gets hurt is the innocent bystander.

A great example of how the failing economy can have an indirect impact on someone was illustrated to me, just last week when I was at a local shopping center that used to have a local security guard that would patrol the parking lot. As of three weeks ago, the security guard is gone, and with it I believe you will see increased break ins, and possibly an increase of assaults or robberies in that same parking lot.

In fact in Europe, advisories are already being put forth, RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) has recently issued a press release specifically addressing the need for companies not to cut back on safety during tough economic times:

http://www.rospa.com/news/releases/2008/pr633_20_10_08_occupational.htm

In the US, the trucking industry has already started a campaign to show that they are complying with all safety regulation, because they know that it is their drivers that are the ones the most affected by the economic crunch are perfect targets to ignore the "Hours of Service", put forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

http://www.truckline.com/Newsroom/PressReleases/Pages/Anti-TruckGroupsIgnoreSafetyRecordofNewHOSRules.aspx

I believe in the coming months and unfortunately years, you will see an increase in work related accidents and motor vehicular accident involving 18-wheelers, due to companies cutting costs, and specifically cutting costs in regards to safety.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Troy Schwant

Alabama Truck Driver Pleads Guilty in Deaths of Guardsmen

Chrissie Cole — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:47:06 GMT

A Citronelle truck driver accused of killing two members of the Alaska National Guard, in a 2006 truck accident, has plead guilty to charges accusing him of driving while under the influence of drugs.

The man, 49, of Citronelle entered a guilty plea, Thursday, to four counts of driving under the influence. The trial started on Wednesday in Perry County Circuit Court.

Prosecutors said an 18-wheeler driven by Brown struck the rear of the soldiers' Humvee on U.S. 98 while they were driving between training locations near Camp Shelby in south Mississippi.

He was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the deadly crash, according to court documents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Gasoline Tanker Accident Shuts Down Alabama Interstate

Chrissie Cole — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 23:29:29 GMT

State trooper's shutdown both lanes of Northbound Interstate 85 to clean up the aftermath of a trucking accident that involved an overturned tanker truck transporting gasoline.

The tanker rolled down the side ramp at exit 22 and came to rest between the exit ramp and the interstate, according to officials on the scene.

The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management, HazMat and other state agencies were called to the scene.

The truck is estimated to have been carrying 4,400 gallons or more of gasoline. Sand was brought in to contain the spilled fuel on the highway. The interstate was reopened after a five hour closure.

The accident is currently under investigation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Trucking Accident Claims Woman's Life

Staff Writer — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:05:42 GMT

A Virgina woman was killed this week in a tractor-trailer accident when her car collided head on with an 18-wheeler freshly loaded with beer from a Coors plant. The woman died instantly when she swerved across the center line.

Police will likely not press any charges against the truck driver, Michael Jerome Givens, 59, of Gastonia, N.C., said David Fisher, a trooper with the Virginia State Police who conducted the investigation.
Amy Valdez, a spokeswoman for Coors at the brewer's Colorado headquarters, said Givens works for Horizon Lines, a trucking company contracted by Coors. The shipment of beer, which was in cans, was headed to Puerto Rico, Valdez said.
Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, nor was either driver speeding, police said. It was raining, however, at the time of the collision.

The wreck occurred around 9:30 P.M., and visibility was low due to the weather. The victim was returning home from a night out playing bingo.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer

Two trucks collide with SUV in accident

Staff Writer — Tue, 29 May 2007 09:37:46 GMT

WVUA-TV reported on a traffic accident involving two trucks and an SUV near a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Tuscaloosa on Friday afternoon to kick off the dangers of heavy traffic Memorial Day Weekend.

The accident on Skyland Boulevard resulted in four injuries, as three people were reportedly thrown from the back of one truck. The mother and her two sons in the SUV did not receive any injuries.

Heroic passersby stopped to help one man who was unconcious and most seriously injured until paramedics arrived on the scene. Fortunately, there were no fatalities from the accident, which is still under investigation.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a motor vehicle accident that has resulted in injuries or death, it may be in your best interest to contact an attorney. For a free case evaluation, click on the form to the right.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer

Alabama truck driver killed in West Virginia accident

Staff Writer — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 10:33:58 GMT

The State Journal of West Virginia reported on a Tuesday fatal trucking accident that involved a tractor-trailer, a logging truck and a car.

The story says the car hit the logging truck, which in turn slowed down and was hit by a tractor-trailer. The motor vehicle accident occurred on the West Virginia Turnpike and closed southbound traffic at Mt. Hope for two hours as the accident was cleared.

The driver of the tractor-trailer reportedly died in the crash, while the drivers of the other two vehicles sufferred only minor injuries.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a trucking or motor vehicle accident, it may be in your best interest to consult an attorney. For a free case evaluation, see the form to the right of this page.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer

Two UA students die at truck stop accident

Staff Writer — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 13:48:48 GMT

Two students from the University of Alabama died Friday night in a motor vehicle accident at Merle's Truck Stop on Highway 231, according to a report from WSFA 12.

Montgomery County Commissioner Reed Ingram says the accident was the result of poor markings at the truck stop and on the roadway, as well as too many parked trucks obstructing the view of the driver.

Commissioner Ingram believes if the Department of Transportation had clear markings on the road to show where the highway begins and ends, this wouldn't have happened. And he also wants to put more lights at the truck stop.

Many others say that this accident shows that improvements are needed at this busy truck stop intersection.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer

Fatal trucking accident in South Georgia

Staff Writer — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:29:44 GMT

South Georgia's WALB News 10 reported a deadly truck accident early yesterday morning involving a tanker rig that rolled over and caught fire in Leary, Georgia.

The accident occurred close to Highway 55 and Bray Street, and the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle he was driving for Hatcher Petroleum Transport of Albany.

The report says that there were no other vehicles involved in the truck crash. The gas spill caused by the accident was contained by Dotham, Alabama's HAZ-MAT team.

No other information was reported about the truck accident.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer

Family of dead wife/mother sues truck driver

Staff Writer — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 13:01:49 GMT

CBS 11 TV out of Dallas/Fort Worth reported this week that the family of a North Texas school teacher who was killed in a trucking accident is now suing the truck driver for her death.

The motor vehicle accident, which occurred at the intersection fo Custer Road and State Highway 121 in Plano in October 2006, involved an 18-wheeler truck that ran a red light. The driver of the truck has already been charged with vehicular manslaughter in the fatal accident.

The family's attorney offers details of the lawsuit that he hopes will send a message to the trucking industry:

Attorneys for the Carter family claim Davidson should never have been hired. "He was 20-years-old and had three prior problems on his driving record," says Rasansky. "He should not have been behind the wheel driving on the day of the accident."
The suit also claims the truck Davidson was driving had faulty brakes and the company failed to ensure it was fit for the roadway. "We have an epidemic of companies not taking responsibility for placing on the road truck drivers who are inexperienced, who have no business driving, really nothing more than, 80,000 pound missiles," Rasansky said.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer