When fully loaded, the typical tractor-trailer can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, compared to only 4,329 pounds for the average passenger vehicle. The sheer size and weight difference between big trucks and passenger vehicles means that in an accident, the most extensive property damage and most severe injuries are going to occur among occupants of the smaller vehicle. Getting your life back on track following a truck crash is not easy. It takes time, medical care, rest, and access to sufficient financial resources. But if you’re hurt [...]
Filing suit against fleet companies after a crash used to be complex yet easily handled by skilled attorneys. However, some states are making it increasingly harder for drivers to file lawsuits against trucking companies following crashes. Trucking industry lobbyists in states like Iowa, Montana, Louisiana, Missouri, Texas, and Florida have already been successful in passing new laws limiting truck crash victims' rights to sue trucking companies after collisions. While the lobbyists' efforts haven't altogether limited a victim’s ability to file lawsuits yet, it has resulted in caps being [...]
A recent Frontline documentary titled "America's Dangerous Trucks" highlighted some alarming statistics surrounding the tractor-trailers that we share the road with when traveling down roadways, and more specifically, the risks we all face of becoming accident victims. Below, we cover the dangers of underride crashes that the new documentary examines in an effort to call attention to these preventable accidents. (more…)
You get involved in a truck accident and get hurt, but the trucker, their employer (the fleet company), or someone else (like a big rig manufacturer) isn't wholly to blame for what happened. Instead, you believe that your actions as a passenger car driver, for example, might have played a contributory role in causing the crash. If you're suffering from serious (and costly) injuries and you're wondering if you have any recourse for recovering compensation to help you pay those expensive medical bills or to recoup any lost [...]
Trying to do anything without enough sleep is like fighting a losing battle. You’re tired, clumsy, distracted, irritable, and just not up to your usual standards of capability. A task as seemingly simple as driving a car is a lot more challenging when you’re sleep deprived. Imagine being exhausted and needing to drive—for 11 hours. And now imagine that your car is 30 times larger than its normal size—and filled with hazardous materials. That’s the situation many truck drivers face every day on the job. How many hours [...]
Underride crashes are among the most dangerous types of truck collisions. When a vehicle, cyclist, or pedestrian slides underneath the body of a truck, the chances of death are shockingly high. So why did officials reject DOT’s side guard recommendations to make large trucks safer? Unfortunately, trucking industry pressure reshaped and toned down what could have been one of the most effective safety advances in recent years. Let's examine the history and impact of failed underride guard legislation in the United States. (more…)
In this article, we examine the dangers of underride crashes and how regulators have repeatedly failed to prevent them. Please be advised that our discussion will touch on sensitive topics including truck crash fatality and injuries of a violent nature. “NHTSA has been trying, for decades, to do something about underride deaths. And yet over and over, they haven’t made the progress that we need. Why? Well, I think part of it is because industry just keeps pushing back and undermining their efforts.” These are the words of [...]
The idea of sharing the road with a negligent or reckless truck driver who has caused crashes in the past is a scary and discomforting thought. Although there are safeguards in place meant to protect motorists from unsafe truckers, these are not always effective. So what happens to the truck driver after an accident? Under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, there are a number of outcomes and consequences that a driver may face in the aftermath of a truck collision. Consequences for Truck Drivers Who Cause [...]
Most roads across the United States have posted speed limits; however, as you likely know, it doesn't mean it's always safe to drive that fast under any and all circumstances. A wide range of factors, including traffic congestion, inclement weather, and how well-maintained a vehicle is, are just some of the many factors that may determine whether it's safe to travel at a certain rate of speed. If you're wondering how the above-referenced factors affect how fast a commercial truck can safely travel on highways, read on for [...]
SEATTLE, WA, May 30, 2023 — Trucking Injury Law Group, a new personal injury group exclusively dedicated to handling commercial trucking wreck cases along the West Coast, is proud to unveil its website today as well as begin accepting new clients. This venture is the brainchild of three preeminent lawyers hailing from some of the West Coast's most reputable law firms. The founding members are: Kevin Coluccio from Coluccio Law in Seattle, WA. Matthew Sharp from Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp in Reno, NV. Lincoln Sieler from [...]
