Boston and New York leading the way toward safer streets

New laws in Boston and New York to help prevent fatalities from truck accidents and pedestrian deaths

Steven Gursten of the Michigan Auto Law blog has a great post about truck safety. A few months ago, Boston became the first US city to require side guards on large commercial trucks. The purpose of the side-guard is to prevent other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians from becoming caught underneath trucks.

Why is this important? Well, “underride” accidents are actually a serious concern. Underrides occur when a smaller vehicle becomes caught under the back of a truck in the event of a crash. Most trucks have underride bars, which are designed to prevent this from happening. When they function correctly, they can prevent significant injury. When they fail, passengers inside the smaller vehicle can be crushed, killed, or decapitated. […]

Trucker rest rule suspension puts all drivers at risk

Last month, we covered the breaking news that the federal government moved to suspend certain laws that had been put in place just a year earlier regarding rest requirements the maximum weekly hours of operation for truck drivers. The previous law required that the 34-hour interim between work weeks include at least two periods between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. – this was intended to provide truckers with the opportunity to get more sleep before getting back at the wheel. Now, the break between work weeks need only include one 1 a.m. -5 a.m. period. Thus, truck drivers may begin a work week having gotten less sleep, and that work week may be as long as 80 hours.

Proponents of this change, including Senator Susan Collins, have claimed that the previous laws had “unforeseen” consequences requiring further study. Among these consequences is the fact that drivers who are required to be off the road during the aforementioned 1a.m.-5a.m. […]

New truck driver rest rules: a step backward?

Just last year,  new laws were put in place regarding the number of hours commercial truck drivers can spend on the road during the work week. The laws were designed to decrease the number of accidents caused by sleep-deprived drivers dozing off at the wheel, and thus promote public safety. Under the 2013 laws, drivers were allowed to drive for a maximum of 11 hours per day, and 70 hours per week. Drivers who reached the 70-hour maximum within a week could resume work only after taking a 34-hour break, including two nights of rest from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.

This week, however, a provision included in the new spending bill passed by Congress will suspend some of these safety rules, pending a study of their effectiveness. Under the new rules, truckers could conceivably work up to 82 hours per week and are no longer required to have two nights of rest before returning to work. […]

Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers warn truck crashes kill

The destruction and trauma caused by a crash with a large truck is devastating. Often, innocent people are killed, and lives are ruined. However, many of these crashes are caused by controllable factors such as lack of proper driver training, driver fatigue, driver distraction, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or driving overloaded trucks.

Last week, a tractor-trailer driver fell asleep at the wheel, causing a multi-vehicle accident on Route 222 in Berks County that killed two people and injured nine others. The Allentown Morning Call reported that the truck driver rammed into several vehicles stopped at a traffic light. Still asleep, the trucker, a 50-year old Reading man, veered into oncoming traffic and collided with more vehicles.

The Berks County DA said in a press conference that the driver was charged with nine counts of aggravated assault by vehicle, […]

Safety group files suit for tougher trucker training laws

Several groups, including the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH), and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters filed suit against the DOT and the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), seeking stiffer rules for training entry-level truck drivers.

Bloomberg reported that regulators have missed deadlines set by two laws passed by Congress since 1991. According to the article, the FMSCA issued a rule in 2004 that only requires 10 hours of classroom work on such topics as driver wellness and hours of service. The watchdog groups say that rule is inadequate, because it doesn’t require any training for entry-level drivers on how to operate commercial vehicles, according to the complaint.

In 2012, Congress passed a second law (the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act” also known as MAP-21) requiring the DOT to issue the entry-level training rule, […]

Fatal truck crashes becoming a common occurrence

There were 3,921 fatalities and 104,000 injuries from truck crashes in 2012, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That’s over ten fatal crashes and over 284 injuries a day. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported that fatal truck crashes were up over 18% between 2009 and 2012, although the annual distance trucks travel on the highway is down 2.67% and the number of trucks is down 2.86%.

A recent story by NBC News talked about the surge in truck accidents and lack of public outcry. Fatal truck accidents are all too common, averaging nearly 11 times every single day in this country, killing nearly 4,000 people each year, and injuring more than 100,000, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

The NBC report likened those numbers to a commuter jet crashing every single week of the year, […]

Trucker Falsified Logbook in Fatal I-55 Chain Reaction Crash

A tractor-trailer driver that was involved in a chain-reaction crash that left four people dead and four others injured last month is being held on $1 million bail and was charged with falsifying a logbook and willful violation of a logbook. He was also cited for speeding.

According to Illinois State Police, the driver was not following posted construction site speed limit signs when he slammed into a car causing a chain reaction crash involving three vehicles and another tractor-trailer.

The truck crashed into the vehicles that were stopped in traffic in a construction zone at 2:17 p.m. the driver stated that he started work around 6-6:30 a.m., when he actually started work at about 2:30 a.m., meaning that he had been behind the wheel of his semi for almost 12 hours when the accident occurred. It was reported that witnesses at the scene said the truck failed to slow down for the stopped vehicles. […]

Crash tests find tractor trailer underride guards often fail

Most tractor trailers are required to have underride guards, steel bars that hang from the backs of trailers to prevent a passenger car from moving underneath the truck during a crash. According to the IIHS, when a passenger vehicle ends up under a truck, the top of the occupant compartment gets crushed because the structures designed to absorb the energy of the crash are bypassed. The airbags and safety belts can’t do their jobs and people inside can experience life-threatening head and neck injuries.

Earlier research from the IIHS showed the minimum strength and dimensions required for underride guards were inadequate, prompting the Institute to petition the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2011 for tougher standards. The Institute also asked the NHTSA to consider applying the standards to other types of large trucks, such as dump trucks that aren’t required to have any underride guards. […]

Actor and Comedian Tracy Morgan critically injured in New Jersey tractor trailer crash

Deadly tractor trailer crash leaves one dead and several, including Tracy Morgan, seriously injured

Former Saturday Live Cast Member and “30 Rock” star Tracy Morgan was critically injured early this morning when the limo bus he was riding in was hit by a tractor-trailer in a fatal six-vehicle accident on the New Jersey Turnpike, about 50 miles south of New York City. The crash left one passenger in the limo bus dead and several others with serious injuries. The Los Angeles Times reported that the limo bus was overturned after being hit by a tractor-trailer.

Two tractor-trailers were involved in the crash, which occurred about 1a.m. in the northbound lane in Robinsville. Earlier in the evening, Morgan had appeared at the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, as part of his multi-city comedy tour called “Turn It Funny.”

ABC News is reporting that a dozing truck driver didn’t see traffic slowing in front of his 18-wheeler until it was too late, […]

Pennsylvania turnpike worker killed by tractor-trailer

A fatal accident had a portion of the Pennsylvania turnpike in Chester County closed yesterday morning. A 61-year-old turnpike equipment operator, who was part of a crew completing maintenance in a closed lane, was struck and killed when a tractor-trailer entered the lane. Another turnpike worker was also injured in the accident. The deadly accident occurred in West Pikeland Township, shortly after 8a.m. on the westbound lane of the PA turnpike.

According to the Unites States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Safety Administration, almost 30% of all work zone crashes involve large trucks. They report that the number of people killed in work zone crashes involving large trucks has also been increasing, with over 1,000 fatalities and 180,000 injuries occurring during the last five years.

Highway work zones are hazardous not only for both motorists who drive through the complex array of signs and lane changes, […]

Are Stricter Penalties Needed to Keep Truck Drivers Focused on the Road? A Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyer Weighs In.

An investigation by an ABC news station in New York over a three-week period found that truck drivers on some of New York’s busiest highways are texting or talking on their cell phones while driving.

The investigative reporter said that the hidden camera investigation caught “truck drivers routinely, illegally and dangerously texting and talking on phones.” One camera caught a truck driver and his co-workers, all in the front seat, with all with eyes, including the drivers, focused on a cell phone. On another highway, a truck driver was filmed using two phones simultaneously while driving.

According to Eyewitness News 7 in New York, the Department of Transportation says that last year nearly 16,000 truckers were ticketed for using their cell phone, but only 4 of those were suspended and taken out of service. Eyewitness news referred to this as an epidemic and deadly problem. […]

10 dead after semi-truck hits a bus filled with students

A fatal collision on interstate 5 in Northern California yesterday left at least 10 people dead and dozens more injured. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were a total of 3,921 fatal truck accidents and 104,000 people injured in crashes involving large trucks in the U.S. in 2012, the last year for which statistics are available. A total of 317,000 large trucks were involved in traffic crashes during 2012.

An increase in truck-related highway fatalities recorded by the NHTSA in 2012 versus 2011 is firing renewed debate regarding the industry’s safety profile. This latest deadly crash raises even more concerns.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what caused the FedEx semi-truck to cross the median into on-coming traffic and crash head-on into a charter bus filled with high school students traveling to visit a local university. The crash left the bus engulfed in flames. […]

Defending Yourself After a Trucking Accident – Advice from Dan Munley, Personal Injury Attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

While I’ve seen them often, it always pains me to see trucking and car accidents. The one that took place today on I-94  in Michigan City, Indiana is one of the worst semi-trailer accidents this lawyer has seen. According to NBC Chicago’s report of the accident, three deaths have already been confirmed.  The crash involved over 15 semi-trailers (semi-trucks) and dozens of passenger vehicles, which were pinned underneath these large semi trucks.  Many of the injured were taken to University of Indiana Health-LaPorte Hospital for treatment of injuries.

Sadly, many of these victim’s families are probably at the hospital right now, focused on their loved one’s safety, meanwhile, the law firms representing the insurance companies are likely already beginning to do everything they can to minimize compensation or reimbursement for pain and suffering. That includes making evidence disappear quickly.  I know this because I’ve seen it done before in cases I’ve represented just like this.    […]

What Kind of Training Do Truck Drivers Get in Pennsylvania? The Answer May Shock You. Personal Injury Lawyers Explain:

What makes commercial trucks among the most dangerous vehicles on the road in Pennsylvania? Personal Injury Lawyer explains:

• What does truck driver training have to do with your trucking accident case?
• What are the chances your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers will settle your case?
• Can you afford to hire Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers for assistance with your case? How much are they going to charge you?

WATCH VIDEO: PENNSYLVANIA PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS TALK ABOUT TRUCK ACCIDENTS:

Trucking accidents are on the rise. Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers explain why:

Truck drivers are supposed to be fully trained and supervised. This is mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The weird thing is, the trucking companies are pretty much in charge of policing themselves. […]

Pennsylvania Trucking Laws that COULD AFFECT YOUR TRUCK ACCIDENT CASE – Personal Injury Lawyers Explain:

Pennsylvania Trucking Regulations Could Prevent Drivers From Falling Asleep While Driving. Personal Injury lawyers Explain How:

• What are the regulations?
• How much money do personal injury lawyers in Pennsylvania charge to take on your truck accident case?
• Do Personal Injury Lawyers in Pennsylvania bill you by the hour? 

WATCH VIDEO: PENNSYLVANIA PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS TALK ABOUT BIG CAUSE OF TRUCK ACCIDENTS:

Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers: How new trucking regulations may affect your truck accident case

The trucking industry must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. All trucking companies and their drivers are responsible for knowing these safety regulations. They cannot plead ignorance of the law as an excuse if they fail to comply with these regulations and cause an accident. […]

Pennsylvania State Trooper Dies in Accident

State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan announced the tragic death of 47-year-old Trooper First Class Blake T. Coble of Troop D, Beaver Station after he was killed in an automobile wreck last Thursday. Coble was on duty Oct. 4 when he was struck by a semi at 10 a.m. at Black Hawk Road near Route 168 in South Beaver Township.

According to news reports, Coble’s patrol car was struck by the tractor-trailer when the truck driver went through a stop sign at the intersection. No charges have been filed against the driver of the truck, who has been cooperating with investigators, state police said.

In a press release announcing Coble’s death, Noonan said:

“He [Coble] died serving the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the men and women of the Pennsylvania State Police mourn his loss and extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends. […]

One in Five Violation Rate Not Acceptable, Pennsylvania Truck Accident Lawyer Says

Scranton, PA, September 08, 2012 — Truck accident attorney Marion Munley said today that national inspections of 74,072 trucks and buses that resulted in one-fifth of the vehicles being removed from the road should raise concerns for the sponsoring Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).

The CVSA said in a recent news release that its 25th Annual Roadcheck, a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety enforcement and outreach event, inspected a record number of trucks and buses.

The organization said 22.4 percent of CMVs and 3.9 percent of drivers were placed out of service, or removed from the road, after the inspections. The CVSA said those vehicle and driver OOS rates represented the second-lowest in the program’s history.

Munley, a nationally recognized Pennsylvania truck accident lawyer with the Scranton personal injury firm of Munley Law, said those numbers were still too high.

“It’s certainly a concern when one in five of the tractor-trailers and other big-rig trucks that trucking companies continue to put on the road are in such poor shape that they should be removed from the road before they cause an accident,” she said. […]

Two Dump Truck Accidents Result in Fatalities

Two dump truck accidents have claimed the lives of Pennsylvania residents.

• According to Times-Tribune.com, a 17-year-old recent high school graduate was killed when her vehicle was involved in a crash with a dump truck on Aug 13.She was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred in Windham Township when the teen, traveling east toward Mehoopany, crossed into the path of a dump truck.
• On Aug. 9, a man was hit and killed by a dump truck in Schuylkill County on Aug. 9, according to news reports. The McAdoo resident was hit along South Kennedy Street in McAdoo. He died a few hours later at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

We have recently posted about dump truck accidents and the reason they are involved in so many serious, sometimes fatal truck accidents. From that Nov. […]

Pennsylvania Receives Truck Safety Award from U.S. DOT

The Pennsylvania State Police announced this month they received the prestigious 2012 Safety Enforcement Improvement Award from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

The award, presented at the FMCSA’s annual leadership conference, is presented to the one state “that demonstrates the greatest improvement to its truck safety enforcement program in terms of cost efficiency and traffic enforcement.”

“This achievement is truly a great honor for the Pennsylvania State Police and our motor carrier enforcement partners,” said State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan when announcing receipt of the award.

More than 100,000 trucks were inspected in PA in 2011, representing a 35 percent increase over the number of inspections performed just three years ago, according to the press release.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports in 2010, the most current year of data, 164 people died in crashes involving a large truck in Pennsylvania. […]

PA Truck Accident Lawyer Applauds Move to Kill Truck Bill

Scranton, PA, February 23, 2012 — Pennsylvania tractor-trailer accident lawyer Daniel W. Munley, chairman of the American Association of Justice’s Trucking Litigation Group, today applauded a Congressional committee’s move to kill part of a bill that would have reduced trucking safety on the nation’s highways.

“Proposals in the bill under consideration would have increased allowable weight and length of transfer trucks to dangerous levels,” said Munley, a partner in the regional law firm of Munley, Munley & Cartwright, whose Pennsylvania truck accident attorneys focus on tractor-trailer litigation throughout the Northeast.

“We’re glad the House transportation bill will move forward without measures that would have threatened safety on our highways,” Munley said.

Portions of a bill before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee would have overturned the 1991 federal ban on triple tractor trailers and raised the weight limit on transfer trucks and other commercial vehicles (CMVs) to 97,000 pounds from the current limit of 80,000 pounds, […]