Truck Accidents

Published on: May 27, 2011

Survey Finds Americans Want More Traffic Safety Laws to Prevent Car Accidents

A new survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety indicates that Americans would rather have more government interference in matters of traffic safety to prevent auto accidents, truck accidents and motorcycle accidents. Of course, these accidents often result in serious personal injuries and wrongful deaths. According to the survey, 62% of Americans want more traffic safety laws to reduce poor driving behaviors and minimize accident risks.What’s more, 57% of respondents wanted their individual states to get more involved in making the roads safer.This is an indication to Atlanta car accident attorneys that there is plenty of support for recent moves in Georgia to enact mandatory seatbelt laws for all, and ban texting while driving for all motorists.

According to the survey, 70% of Americans feel that traffic safety laws should be strictly enforced.There’s a lesson here for Atlanta and throughout Georgia which has recently banned texting while driving – laws can be meaningless unless these are enforced and violators penalized sufficiently.

Additionally, the survey also indicates that there is plenty of support for tough teen driver licensing standards.86% of the respondents believe that new drivers should be required to complete a driver’s education course before they are allowed a driver’s license.American motorists also want to see automakers invest in technologies that will help prevent accidents and keep motorists safe.60% of the respondents wanted automakers to do more to make their vehicles safer.

Published on: May 24, 2011

Legislation To Increase Truck Parking Facilities To Prevent Truck Accidents which often result in wrongful deaths and serious injuries

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A piece of legislation that would substantially enhance the current network of truck stop facilities and rest areas for truck drivers, reducing the risk of fatigue-related accidents has been reintroduced in Congress. Truck accidents often result in the wrongful death of motorists or cause extremely serious injuries. The bill is widely supported by Atlanta truck accident attorneys, who believe that it would help reduce the severity of a major problem that currently faces American trucking – truck driver fatigue. Its promoters hope that Jason’s Law will be quickly approved, providing for safer rest and parking facilities for truckers nationwide.

While truck drivers are limited by the number of hours that they can spend consecutively behind the wheel, the lack of enough numbers of convenient resting and parking areas means that drivers are often forced to continue to drive even beyond their maximum work hour limits.Besides, the establishment of safe truck stops and rest areas would also keep truck drivers safe from assaults, burglaries and other crimes.

Jason’s Law is named after Jason Rivenburg, a truck driver who was killed during an assault at an abandoned gas station in South Carolina.Rivenburg was early for a delivery and parked his tractor-trailer at the gas station. After his death, his widow Hope lobbied for passage of legislation that would dramatically increase truck driver access to safe resting and parking facilities.

Published on: May 9, 2011

Feds Release New Bus Safety Rules to Prevent Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A series of fatal and serious bus accidents recently have resulted in new proposals to enhance bus safety for American passengers, and prevent serious accidents.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, this week announced a new set of proposals to minimize the risk of bus crashes. As an Atlanta injury lawyer, I only hope that the proposed regulations are enacted. The regulations then need to be monitored over time and strengthened where necessary. Bus accidents are far more serious than car accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents and many truck accidents due to the number of persons who have the potential of suffering personal injuries.

There have been several bus accidents over the past two years that have indicated the need for new safety regulations that can help deal with some of the serious bus safety issues that we currently face. The new proposals aim to do that.For instance, one of the issues that have bothered Atlanta bus accident attorneys has been the fact that bus companies find it too easy to reappear under a new name and address after one of their vehicles has been involved in a fatal accident.The new rule would create a federal standard that would help determine whether a carrier used to exist under a different name earlier.This would close current loopholes that allow carriers to resurface a few months after a serious accident, under a new name.

The new proposals also make it tougher for commercial drivers to get their licenses.Under the proposals, a driver would need to have a commercial driver’s learner’s permit before he can receive his commercial driver’s license.Besides, the federal agency wants to establish a uniform CDL testing standard across the country.

Published on: May 7, 2011

More Atlanta Truck Drivers Buckle up To Prevent Injuries in Truck Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Seatbelts save lives, and as new estimates indicate, the number of commercial truck drivers choosing to buckle up to prevent serious injuries or deaths in truck accidents, has increased.According to a study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the number of commercial truck drivers wearing seat belts has increased substantially in 2010.As an Atlanta injury lawyer, I have represented a number of truck drivers involved in accidents with other truck drivers. I have consistently found that the truck drivers who have been in their seatbelts sustained far less serious injuries than the truckers who were not wearing seatbelts.

Seatbelt usage among commercial truck drivers increased to 78% in 2010 from 74% the previous year.That is the fourth consecutive annual increase in seat belt usage in this section of the population.According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, approximately 80% of commercial truck drivers in states that have primary seat belt laws wore seatbelts.However, in states which do not have primary seat belt laws, the seat belt usage rate among commercial truck drivers dropped to only 72%.

The FMCSA is also reporting an increase in seat belt usage rates among both commercial truck and bus drivers in 2010.Those rates were 78% in 2010, compared to just 65% in 2007.

Published on: April 29, 2011

Woman Killed in Atlanta Tractor-Trailer Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A newlywed woman has been confirmed dead in a commercial truck accident on Interstate 285 in Atlanta earlier this week.According to police, the accident occurred when a tractor-trailer was trying to change lanes on the highway.The truck crashed into a Nissan vehicle, and the impact sent the car into a guardrail, and into another tractor-trailer.Truck accidents are often the most deadly type of accidents on the roadways today. They also cause permanent and disabling injuries. As an Atlanta injury lawyer, this is the reason I have regularly opposed increasing the size of trucks.

The Nissan rolled over on its side, killing the female driver.Her husband, who was a passenger in the vehicle suffered injuries, and was taken to the hospital.

The driver of the tractor-trailer has been charged with vehicular homicide in the second degree and making an improper lane change.Accordingly, a wrongful death action will likely arise due to the accident. Sadly, according to news reports, the couple was newly married.

Published on: April 19, 2011

Truck Driver Killed in Georgia Tanker Truck- 18 Wheeler Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A truck accident involving a tanker truck and an 18-wheeler in Bryan County earlier in April resulted in the death of the tanker driver.The truck accident occurred on Thursday when the gasoline tanker truck, which was heading south on Interstate 95, crashed into the rear of the 18-wheeler. Of course, 18 wheeler accidents are some of the worst that are seen on our roadways.

The tanker truck suffered serious damage in the accident, and the driver was trapped in the truck.When the driver of the 18 wheel got out, he noticed the beginning of a fire in the tanker.He was able to escape in time to avoid the massive explosion that ripped through the tanker, killing the driver instantly.The fire from the explosion lasted for more than two hours.

According to the 18-wheeler driver, he saw the tanker truck coming up from behind him, and flashed his lights.However, the tanker simply ran into his carrier.The driver of the tanker truck didn’t try to apply his brakes. Police are investigating the possibility that the tanker truck driver had dozed off at the wheel.However, investigations are bound to be impacted by the fact that the tanker truck driver died in the accident, and his vehicle has been too severely damaged to detect mechanical failures.No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Published on: April 15, 2011

Car Accidents, Truck Accidents and Motorcycle Accidents at All-Time Low

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Federal transportation safety agencies recorded a 3% drop in auto accident, truck accident, and motorcycle accident wrongful deaths in 2010.Southern states including Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida also recorded a 3% drop in accident deaths last year.Last year’s figures are the lowest accident death rates on record since 1949. As an Atlanta Injury lawyer, I welcome the latest report of the decline in these numbers.

The Georgia/South Carolina/Alabama/Tennessee/Florida region recorded 6,375 car accident deaths in 2010, a drop of 3% from 2009, when there were 6,573 accident deaths.Overall, nationwide, there were 32, 788 auto accident, truck accident and motorcycle accident deaths in 2010, a decline of 3% from 33,808 fatalities in 2009.Moreover, the decline in car accident deaths was the lowest on record since 1949.Last year accident deaths also marked a 25% drop since 2005.

The statistics also seem to put to rest the theory that the decline in car accident fatalities has had a lot to do with the recession.Last year, Americans traveled more vehicle miles, but fewer Americans died in accidents.There are other reasons that have contribute to this decline that have been evident for the past few years.Higher seat belt usage rate is typically one of those factors.More drivers in Georgia now buckle up than ever before and this has meant fewer fatalities in accidents.

Published on: March 11, 2011

IIHS Advocates Stronger Under Ride Guards for Tractor-Trailers to Prevent car accidents and injuries

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

As an Atlanta injury lawyer, I often find that the kind of damage that results from a rear end truck accident involving a tractor trailer and a car leaves little chance for survival. The Institute Insurance for Highway Safety is now calling on the federal administration to require stronger under ride guards for tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers, to prevent the serious injuries that result from auto accidents in which a car rear-ends these large commercial trucks. I strongly support the move towards improving under ride guards.

Under ride guards hang low at the back of a tractor-trailer, and are designed to protect occupants of a passenger vehicle in case of a rear end accident.When a small passenger vehicle crashes into the back of a tractor-trailer, the bumper and front of the car can slide under the trailer.The under ride guard is supposed to prevent this.However, the Institute Insurance for Highway Safety has found in a study that in low-speed rear-ender accidents involving a tractor-trailer and cars, the under ride guard failed to prevent catastrophic injuries.

The Insurance Institute relied on an analysis of 1,000 accidents between 2001 and 2003.There were 113 accidents that involved passenger vehicles crashing into the back of a tractor-trailer.Out of these, 73% resulted in the passenger vehicle sliding under the tractor-trailer.28 of these accidents were fatal, and out of these, 23 accidents involved those in which the entire front portion of the passenger vehicle slid completely under the trailer.

Published on: March 11, 2011

Heavier Atlanta Trucks Are an Accident Risk

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

If a new bill that has been introduced in Congress is approved, states like Georgia would be allowed to increase truck weight limits on our interstates to boost trucking productivity and efficiency. As an Atlanta injury lawyer, I strongly oppose this legislation. Any move like this would increase the risks of serious truck accidents and catastrophic injuries and death when passenger vehicles are involved in accidents with much heavier trucks.

The bill, called the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act has been reintroduced by Republican lawmakers from Maine and Ohio.It would allow states to adjust the weight limits on commercial trucks on interstates within their borders. The increase in weight limits could be as much as 97,000 pounds from the current 80,000 pounds.The current weight limits have stayed the same since 1982, and trucking safety groups and Atlanta truck accident attorneys oppose any increase in the weight limits on our interstates.

Most of the arguments in favor of increased weight limits on commercial trucks have to do with profits for the trucking industry.The industry believes it could save billions of dollars every year, if trucking companies were allowed to use up every inch of free space in their trailers.Trucking companies talk about reduced fuel consumption, and even bring up lower accident risks from fewer trucks needed to transport the same amount of cargo.

Published on: February 19, 2011

Infant Killed in Atlanta Truck Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A six-month-old infant, who had sustained critical injuries in a Cobb County, Georgia truck accident, has succumbed to his injuries. Cobb County police have charged the truck driver involved in the truck accident. Any injury and death in a truck accident is sad, but that is especially true when such a young life is lost.

The accident occurred over the weekend, when tractor trailer driver Henry Lipps crashed his rig into the rear of a car. In the car were a couple and their six-month-old baby, strapped into his car seat. Both parents were injured, and taken to the Atlanta Medical Center. The baby suffered critical injuries, and was taken to Scottish Rite Hospital. He succumbed to his injuries earlier this week

Investigators believe that the tractor-trailer driver failed to brake, and crashed into three separate vehicles, including the GMC Arcadia, Toyota Highlander and a Buick LeSabre at the Windy Hill Road exit. The driver of the LeSabre and his passenger also suffered visible injuries, and were rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital.