Brooklyn

Published on: May 26, 2012

Increases in fatal tractor-trailer crashes leads to a goal to increase its laws and regulations

by Stephen Bilkis

Lawyers say they and other truck driving lawyers plan to increase laws and regulations in an effort to better protect other drivers from debilitating or fatal crashes involving tractor-trailers.

In Missouri, for example, there has been a long stretch of fatal 18-wheeler accidents in the past six months. Attorneys there are advocating for stricter enforcement from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations in Missouri.

In one particular crash that was reported recently, a truck driver, who was distracted only for what he claimed was only a moment, drifted to another lane and caused a pileup of seven cars. The crash reportedly caused two deaths and several serious injuries.

Published on: May 19, 2012

Change in Rules Needed for Truck Driver Fatigue,

by Stephen Bilkis

The current laws and regulations that inhibit truck driver fatigue have proven to be ineffective, reports an authority . A recent National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) ruling on an accident that occurred in 2008, regarding a tractor-trailer driver that had failed to notice that traffic had stopped in front of him and collided with an SUV on I-44 in Oklahoma. The semi-truck then proceeded to override three additional vehicles thereby setting off a chain reaction amongst the vehicles.

The NTSB ruled last fall that driver fatigue was the deciding factor due to the driver experiencing acute sleep loss. The NTSB further went on to add that the current federal regulations fail to address the issue of driver fatigue, a TV Station was told. The NTSB has made specific recommendations to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regarding how to address truck driver fatigue. Some of their changes include:

• Creating comprehensive fatigue management plans for commercial drivers

Published on: April 26, 2012

Truck Overturns and Kills Two

by Stephen Bilkis

Two people died after a truck overturned in the town of Stellenbosch. Four other passengers are in critical condition and were taken to the nearby hospital. The extent of their injuries is currently unknown. The driver of the truck, who was also taken to the hospital, has deep cuts on his face and body. Medical personnel responded quickly after the truck accidentwas reported. It is unclear how the accident occurred and if the truck driver is at fault. Local law enforcement will have to investigate further to learn more about the cause of this tragedy.

When medical personnel, including two medical doctors, EMS helicopter and a rescue vehicle arrived, they quickly assessed that two of the passengers were dead on the scene. The other four passengers had various injuries which required immediate medical attention. Injuries included severe head trauma and leg and arm fractures. The accident happened around 3pm on Adam Tas Road. A spokesperson for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) stated that those who survived the accident are receiving medical attention.

Luckily, medical personnel were able to reach the scene of the accident quickly to transport the injured people to the local hospital. Those with head trauma will have to be monitored to determine if permanent damage has been done. Those with fractures probably need to rest until their injuries heal completely. Physical therapy may also be needed depending on the severity of their injuries. The cuts on the driver may also take time to heal. He will have to be monitored so he does not develop an infection from the wounds.

Published on: April 23, 2012

Perils at Lexington School, Reports New York Tuck Accident Lawyer

by Stephen Bilkis

Students at a Lexington South Carolina School found themselves in a dangerous situation last Tuesday.

The witness said that the trouble began around 7:00 on Tuesday morning, when a semi truckcarrying almost 9 thousand gallons of gasoline on North Lake Drive overturned in the road in the Sunset Boulevard area, spilling almost 500 gallons of its load onto the road and into the surrounding brush.

Lexington Middle School, which is located approximately 1500 feet away from the site of the spill, was immediately put on high alert by two Lexington County Police Officers who were filling up their patrol vehicle at a Hess gasoline station within site of the accident when the 18 wheeler flipped.

Published on: April 21, 2012

A 15-year veteran at the New York City Department of Sanitation filed a complaint

by Stephen Bilkis

A 15-year veteran at the New York City Department of Sanitation filed a complaint arising from an accident where he sustained personal injuries. The complaint was filed against the manufacturer of the garbage truck, the City of New York/Department of Sanitation, and a co-worker.

The action arises from an accident which occurred on September 15, 2005, at 10 A.M., in which the sanitation worker, was injured while performing his garbage collection duties on Staten Island. On that day, the sanitation worker was standing behind a garbage truck (Model 25-CU-041) and attempting to maneuver a scrap piece of wood into the hopper when the hopper appeared to self-activate, and his hand got caught on the wood thereby pulling both his arm and body into the hopper mechanism crushing his right hand and arm. At the time of the accident, he was working with a co-worker, who was seated in the driver’s compartment when the truck accident occurred.

According to sources, the vehicle in question was ordered from the manufacturer after a competitive bidding process. As a general rule, manufacturers are not consulted or otherwise involved in the drafting of the detailed specifications for the truck. The detailed specifications are provided by the City and the manufacturer is not allowed to deviate from those specifications.

Published on: April 16, 2012

Fatality in Canada; Remarks from a New York Truck Accident Lawyer

by Stephen Bilkis

Hope, Canada- A tragic truck accident involving three 18 wheeler trucks yesterday resulted in fatality, said a witness with details of the collision.

The accident, which occurred late in the evening on Highway 1 just north of the city of Hope, occurred during a heavy snowstorm that made for hazardous road conditions and low visibility. A truck which was carrying a shipment of timber across Emory Creek Bridge slid out around a bend in the road and crossed into oncoming traffic, where it immediately collided with another Commercial Truck headed in the opposite direction. The third truck, which was following the northbound truck, was unable to stop in time and collided with the other semis. The driver of the third truck sustained only mild injuries, and walked away from the scene of the accident. The drivers of the first and second trucks sustained more severe injuries and were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The third person, who was a middle-aged male from western Canada and was a passenger in the second semi truck, lost his life in the accident.

Additional information about the truck accident is unavailable at this time. The source we spoke with said that there could be multiple contributing factors for an accident of this type, especially one involving a fatality, and officials are typically cautions in making a judgment, particularly when litigation could be possible. There is also no word yet on whether any of the drivers would be deemed at fault, and if criminal charges would be filed. In the Bronx and Brooklyn charges would be filed.

Published on: March 31, 2012

Questions surround Truck Accident

by Stephen Bilkis

Green County, Indiana- Officials from the Sullivan County Police department were involved in heavy cleanup on Monday after an accident on State Road 159, reported a witness who was in Green County at the time of the truck accident, which occurred early in the afternoon somewhere south of Dugger in Sullivan County.

Sullivan County 911 logged an emergency call at around 1:30, and immediately notified police and other emergency personnel. Officers responding to the scene found a three-axle coal truck which had flipped onto its side, spilling its contents into the road. The policeman was unable to speak to the severity of the accident, or the condition of the driver. It is possible that slick road conditions may have been a factor in the accident. One other theory which has been mentioned suggests that the coal load may have shifted or settled unevenly, causing a weight imbalance which contributed to the truck accident.

The latest report on the cleanup activity came at around 3:00 on Monday afternoon. A representative of the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department reported that the Sherriff’s department was working actively with crews from the Indiana Department of Transportation to resolve the situation and bring traffic back to normal flow.

Published on: March 29, 2012

Driver falls asleep at wheel

by Stephen Bilkis

Early in the morning in Cumberland County PA, a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel. This is the second tractor trailer truck accident of the day.

According to a witness, this happened at about mile marker 46. The truck came to a stop on the edge of an embankment and blocked the southbound lane of traffic near Exit 45.

Because of this accident the road had to be closed for over two hours this morning. It was a real pain for drivers who got detoured off of this route. They had to travel on four different roads before being able to get back on the Interstate according to police. Finally the left southbound lane opened again at about 7:30 am, as reported by a policeman. The road ended up being closed just an hour and a half later due to another truck accident.

Published on: March 19, 2012

A woman is killed in a truck accident

by Stephen Bilkis

A 59 year old female driver was killed yesterday in a truck accident. A Toyota Rav 4 got pushed about 150 meters after a truck slammed into the back of it, according to a report.

Nigel Housego, a police investigator, said the crash took place on Lily dale Rd near Launceston at about 9:20 am.

Both of these vehicles were travelling in the same lane and both came to a stop in the north bond lane of Lily dale as reported by a policeman.

Published on: February 2, 2012

Trucker avoiding an accident ended up in an accident

by Stephen Bilkis

In a slightly bizarre twist of events, this trucker, who went out of his way to avoid a truck accident, ended up getting into a crash anyway, recounted a witness. He overturned and as a result of that, ended up blocking the whole southbound lane of the highway for about five hours.

Evidently, a car on the highway just ahead of the tanker, swerved in order to avoid a box that was in the middle of the road. The semi, with nowhere else to do, then veered sideways to try and avoid hitting the car. He was carrying 5,100 gallons of gas.

Unfortunately, the trucker hit the median and the rig overturned, spilling about 2,000 gallons of fuel out across the road. EMS crews were on the scene in minutes, their focus trying to contain the gas from spreading. They knew that any spark could trigger the whole river of gas and send it up in a roaring conflagration explained the police.