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Published on: January 12, 2012

Two vehicle wreck involves milk truck

by Stephen Bilkis

This was a case with a bit of a different twist. A Ford utility van rear-ended a milk truck. While there was some spilled milk, over all, both the Ford driver and the trucker were okay after the wreck. From the truck accident reports, the police indicated that the Ford driver wasn’t paying attention to what he was doing and because he was driving while distracted, he slammed into the back end of the milk truck, explained the source.

There was some on scene clean up and a warning issued by police to drive with care in the area and avoid the frozen spilled milk. It was also suggested that others traveling the same highway use due care and attention to the road conditions and slow down accordingly. There is some speculation that the driver of the Ford utility van may be issued a speeding citation, added the police, which wouldn’t be too surprising given the road conditions at the time and the Ford driver’s inattention.

Luckily, neither driver was hurt, but this story could have very easily turned out another way. Driving while distracted cannot only cause injuries, it may kill someone, added the expert. Those behind the wheel of a vehicle owe it to themselves and others on the road, to take care while driving. It’s only common courtesy to take care out there and pay attention to your own driving, the road conditions and what others are doing around you. Your life may depend on it.

Published on: January 9, 2012

SUV swerves to avoid vehicle suddenly slowing down, hits rear end of semi

by Stephen Bilkis

But for a chain of errors, this truck accidentmay not have happened, reported an observer. This accident would almost be comical if it were not for the fact that there were children involved in the accident. What happened is that an SUV was barreling down the highway, when the female driver suddenly found herself confronted with a car in front of her that suddenly slowed down.

With no other options open to her, the woman swung the SUV out of the left hand lane and promptly hit the rear end of big rig in the right hand lane. The 18-wheeler didn’t sustain any damage, but the same could not be said for the SUV, commented the reporter. The semi driver pulled onto the shoulder and the SUV parked on the median while waiting for the police to arrive with a tow truck, as the SUV was in no condition to drive.

When medical crews also arrived, the woman refused treatment for herself and her two children, saying she would go to her own doctor to have her kids checked out. They were complaining of pain from being suddenly restrained by their seatbelts when the SUV hit the back of the truck, explained the doctor. Frankly, this family was really lucky to make it out of this accident with seemingly minor injuries. It could have been far worse for everyone, and in particular the children.

Published on: January 7, 2012

Two truckers hurt in accident involving both semis

by Stephen Bilkis

Strange things sometimes happen when you least expect them. This trucker and trucker accident case was unusual, as it did not involve moving vehicles, which should have meant a relatively benign outcome. Unfortunately, given the nature of the injuries, that may not be the case, indicated the police report.

This truck accident took place at a car manufacturing plant and happened just as the two semis were leaving the premises. One of the rigs stopped on its way out of the lot for an inspection before hitting the road. Evidently, the driver had some trouble opening the doors.

The driver of the other rig, noticing that his buddy was having problems, came over to help him out. As he got out to help the other trucker, the big rig moved forward and pinned both of them between the trucks; a pretty horrific truck accident, commented the officer.

Published on: January 4, 2012

Big Rig Bursts Into Flames After Collision

by Stephen Bilkis

In this case, an 18-wheeler and a commuter bus collided, causing the truck to burst into flames. While this sounds like it was a disastrous accident, the outcome was better than any could have possibly hoped for given the circumstances, said the police.

When the two vehicles collided, the truck and trailer caught on fire when the diesel tanks burst open, spilling fuel on the roadway. The load on board at the time of the accident was non-hazardous goods and TVs and the bus involved in the collision was empty, but for the driver. While both drivers did sustain injuries, both were able to go home to New York City and Suffolk County the same day.

Despite the fact that the bus driver seemingly sustained only minor injuries, he may still wish to speak to a rep to find out where he stands in regards to the accident. While some injuries may look minor on the surface, often they have a way of turning into something else more serious later. It is always best to have competent legal advice should what appears to be a minor injury, turns out to be third degree whiplash.

Published on: January 2, 2012

Jackknifed Semi Accident Badly Injures Four

by Stephen Bilkis

The semi in this case badly injured four when it jackknifed right at the scene of another crash on the highway, said a reporter. The bad weather conditions were the cause of the first accident and the snowfall was not letting up any when the second truck accident happened.

The highway was alive with the presence of numerous police officers, who had responded to the first accident, when a big rig driver lost control while trying to speed past another vehicle on the snowy highway. The rig hit a disabled car and two officers who were checking on the motorist, explained the police. Accidents like this one do not occur often in Manhattan or the Bronx.

One officer was trapped under the semi and rescue personnel had their work cut out for them to rescue him. The officer under the truck had rib and chest injuries, as well as a broken ankle. He was taken to the nearest hospital for medical help. The second officer hurt sustained head lacerations in the truck crash and a dislocated shoulder after being tossed into the air and landing 100 feet down the road.

Published on: December 30, 2011

One Killed in T-Bone Collision with Mack Truck

by Stephen Bilkis

No one quite knows what made a man drive his Volvo right into the path of a Mack Truck. Although he was from another country, he surely would have known that the huge truck could not stop on time to avoid hitting him.

It appears that the man was at a stop sign along a highway and was trying to turn left onto it. He was behind a Dodge truck, also turning left. The Dodge made the turn and the man tried to follow right behind him, but instead of making the turn safely, he turned right into the path of an eastbound tri-axle truck and the truck accident ensued , reported the police.

The trucker had no place else to go and could not stop in time, explained the authorities, although there were skid marks extending for at least 15 yards from where the trucker did apply the brakes in an attempt to stop before the truck accident occurred.

Published on: December 27, 2011

Semi Driver Killed When Rig Leaves Road

by Stephen Bilkis

They say that the truth is often stranger than fiction and this case certainly points that out, said a report. The trucker in this case had no idea he was going to be involved in a fatal truck accidentthis day.

Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, the truck swerved off the road just before a highway exit and hit an abandoned minivan that was parked on the shoulder. The truck continued on down a steep embankment and slammed into a sound berm about 100 feet off the road and burst into flames. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, reported the observer.

This case could have turned out a lot differently had the trucker veered into traffic. The accident could have involved other vehicles and resulted in other fatalities. There are several major questions the police want answers to, not the least of which is what made the driver veer off the road? Had he fallen asleep at the wheel? Was he talking on a cell phone? Did a tire blow? Did his load shift? Was the steering defective? One thing the police do know is that speed and alcohol were not factors in the accident.

Published on: December 25, 2011

Speeding Big Rig Kills Mother and Daughter

by Stephen Bilkis

Although the police tracked down the suspected rig driver in this fatal hit and run truck accident, he was choosing not to talk to them. Since he was not saying anything one way or another, the police had not moved to charge him, indicated the report.

The police will make it a point to send a criminal complaint to the DA’s office, asking he be charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter. The facts of the case are heart-wrenching. A 56-year old woman and her 28-year old daughter were brutally killed in an intersection while crossing the street when a hit and run rig driver sped through the intersection and kept right on going. The daughter left behind a son, a newborn and a grieving husband.

According to eyewitnesses, both the women were in the crosswalk and had the right of way. The police were planning further investigations to determine if the driver was under the influence, texting, had defective brakes, was not paying attention to what he was doing or whether he was drifting off to sleep behind the wheel causing the truck accident, said the observer.

Published on: December 22, 2011

Horrific Truck Wreck Kills Five and Injures Ten Others

by Stephen Bilkis

This particular truck accident was logged in as one of the worst anyone had even seen. What happened? A semi careened into a line of stopped traffic, killing five and injuring at least 10 others, some very severely reported the observer.

The most shocking aspect of this story is that the driver of the big rig did not even pause or give any signs of slowing down, even with a line of stopped cars in front of him. The cars were stopped at the site of a previous accident to allow EMS crews to do their work.

When the semi hit the end of the line, the whole line bunched up like an accordion, leaving death and destruction in its wake. The police report indicated that there were no skid marks involved in this truck wreck and that the truck was doing 70 mph when it hit the last car in the line, said the police. According to witnesses, the trucker was driving erratically just prior to being involved in the accident.

Published on: December 19, 2011

Tractor Trailer Rams into Numerous Vehicles, Killing Three Marine Recruits

by Stephen Bilkis

The Truck company and trucker involved in this fatal truck accident had been sued no less than five times before this latest incident, said the police. There were two other people in the same car the Marine recruits were in when this accident happened and it also involved five other vehicles and a motorcycle. In other words, it was a total mess.

The family of one of the deceased is seeking $20 million in punitive damages from the Truck company and a further $1 million in punitive damages from the trucker. They are also asking for $25,000 in compensatory damages and $17,000 in burial expenses. The lawsuit further states the Truck company had no business allowing the trucker to drive, given his string of serious traffic offenses and that they should have been aware of them, explained the observer.

The driver was convicted of drunk driving three times, as well as letting his daughter and other underage kids use drugs and/or alcohol in a motel room. He evidently lied on his application to get hired, pointed out the authorities.