$6.5 Million Awarded in Deadly Tractor Trailer, Pick-Up Truck Crash

Tractor trailer driver and farm at fault for fatal accident

Two years after a 32-year-old woman was killed when a tractor trailer rear-ended the pick-up truck in which she was riding, her family has been awarded a $6.5 million award in their wrongful death lawsuit, reports the Courier-News.

On Halloween, 2008, the East Dubuque, Illinois woman, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were on the way to Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch when a tractor-trailer rear-ended their pick-up truck, killing the wife instantly.  Her husband suffered a broken spine, facial fractures, and respiratory failure and their son suffered two broken legs, head injuries and lacerations.

The lawsuit alleged the driver of the tractor-trailer was operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs, driving over the speed limit and failing to keep a proper lookout.  It was learned the owners of the tractor-trailer, […]

$65 Million Verdict In 2007 Tractor-Trailer Crash Upheld By Appeals Court

Tractor trailer company found at fault for young woman’s permanent injuries in crash

Considered to be one of the largest in Polk County, Florida, a $65 million verdict for a woman injured in a 2007 traffic crash was upheld by the 2nd District Court of Appeals, reports The Ledger of Lakeland, Florida.

In 2007, the 19-year-old was driving her Dodge Neon when she was struck by a tractor-trailer at an intersection.  An eyewitness to the accident testified the young college student had the green light.

A typical fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh close to 80,000 pounds, while an average passenger automobile weighs only 3,000 pounds. Due to this size disparity, and the basic laws of physics, any collision between a commercial truck and another vehicle is likely to result in serious, even fatal, injuries. If you, or a loved one, has been injured in a commercial trucking accident, […]

Businesses and Western Governors Press to Increase Truck Weight and Size Limit

Increase would cause drastic spike in truck accident fatalities

More than 150 companies, including Kraft, Coca Cola and MillerCoors, are lobbying Congress to increase the weight limit on trucks traveling interstate highways, The Wall Street Journal reported on August 16.

The companies would like to increase weight limits from 80,000 to 97,000 pounds, or almost 20%.

At the same time, a coalition of Western state governors is asking Congress to allow more doubles and triples – multiple tractor trailers hitched together, that can span up to 120 feet – on the federal highways in their states. Current law limits trucks on the interstate to no more than 53 feet in length.

When it comes to accidents, there is a strong correlation between the size of the truck and the severity of the accident. A study done by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute showed that a truck weighing 80,000 pounds is 50%-100% more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than a truck weighing 50,000 to 65,000 pounds. […]

$3.5 Million Awarded In Wrongful Death Logging Truck Accident

Speeding truck with faulty brakes causes fatal trucking crash

A Chilton County, Alabama jury has awarded $3.5 million to the family of a man killed when the van he was driving was crushed between two logging trucks, reports the Montgomery Advertiser.

Ken Gorum Trucking and Gary Fruge, the driver of the logging truck, were held responsible for the accident and have been ordered to pay the award. The jury found Fruge was speeding, and the truck had defective brakes, when it crashed into the victim’s van.

The victim’s car was pushed into the logs on the truck in front of him, causing the logs to come through his windshield – one went through his head and killed him. Although the driver claims he was going only 45 miles per hour, evidence suggests he was traveling between 65 and 75 mph.

Progressive Insurance Co, […]

$16 Million Settlement in Texas Tractor-Trailer Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Poorly secured equipment crushes woman’s car in tractor trailer accident

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports a $16 million settlement has been reached in the wrongful death lawsuit between the family of a 41-year-old woman and Pioneer Drilling. The woman died in September as a result heavy equipment flying off an 18-wheeler into her car. The equipment was being hauled to a gas-drilling site.

A 24,000-pound counterweight and a 4,000-pound spreader bar fell off the tractor trailer, and the spreader crushed the woman’s car.

Investigators found the equipment was secured by only two chains instead of the four that are required and the driver did not control his speed. Also, the truck driver was a truck driver’s helper and did not meet state and federal safety guidelines to drive an 18-wheeler by alone. In his testimony, the truck driver admitted that he and other Pioneer employees back-dated documents showing that he was qualified to drive a week before the crash. […]

Recommendations to Keep Sick Truckers From Behind the Wheel Still Not Completed

Frightening new information regarding the safety of highway travelers has come to light. The Associated Press recently obtained a new U.S. safety study showing that hundreds of thousands of tractor-trailer and bus drivers with commercial licenses, who travel our nation’s highways everyday, are actually eligible for full federal disability.

The threats facing highway drivers are still a continued presence despite warnings and eight recommendations made by U.S. safety regulators beginning back in 2001. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, responsible for correcting the issues, has failed to complete any of these eight recommendations.

Every year, medical rules for truckers are violated all over the nation. The most recent information collected by the Transportation Department in 2006, shows Pennsylvania as one of the states where medical rules for commercial drivers were most frequently broken. The other states include: Texas, Maryland, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, […]

The Dangers of Drowsy Driving

Good Morning America did a report this morning on a Florida police officer that was fired after her onboard cam captured her veering all over the road, nearly clipping pedestrians and even hitting parked cars. Was the officer drunk behind the wheel? Nope, just tired.

You’d think that out of anyone on the road, a police offer could simply shake off the sleepiness and maintain control of the vehicle. You’d just have to open a window, or turn on the radio, right? Wrong! In fact, a survey conducted on drivers involved in sleep-related driving incidents showed the majority of drivers opened their windows and adjusted the radio, but still fell asleep behind the wheel.

Drowsy driving is impaired driving.

Turns out drowsy driving is dangerous, and a lot more widespread than previously thought. In that ABC report, 60% of us admit doing it, and 37% admit to actually having fallen asleep at the wheel! […]

Cermak/Chinatown CTA Station Reopens After Deadly Tractor Trailer Crash

Authorities believe driver may have been under the influence of prescription drugs in tractor trailer crash

This was the scene a week ago, when a tractor-trailer plowed into the entrance of the Cermak/Chinatown Redline Station, killing 2 and injuring 21 in Chicago’s Southside.

Authorities are still trying to figure out what caused the tractor-trailer to slam into the pedestrian-laden area. Investigators believe the truck’s brakes either malfunctioned or were simply not used in the seconds before the crash.

The driver of the truck, who suffered minor injuries, refused a urine test at the scene and was found in possession of someone else’s prescription medication. He acted erratically once in police custody and refused to give a statement about the collision. He was cited for negligent driving, released from custody and is currently awaiting a court date.

Eyewitnesses on the scene reported seeing the driver exiting the freeway with his head down on the steering wheel. […]