Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer - Tractor-Trailer Accidents

Collision Illustrates Dangers of Bikes & Big Rigs

David Rosenthal — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:01:09 GMT

Safety considerations come in all shapes and sizes, especially when using public highways. Take for instance two vehicles that frequent the roadways, bikes and big rigs. The consequences of a meeting of the two were tragic Thursday when an elderly Yuba City man riding a mountain bike on Highway 99 in Sutter County was killed in a collision with a big rig.

The conflicts that often occur on roadways between motorists and bicycle riders are well documented. Under California Vehicle Code §21200, bicyclists have all the same rights and are subject to the same rules of the road as any other vehicle. However, the drivers of cars and trucks often complain that bike riders don't follow the rules. For their part, bicyclists feel that motorists don't give them adequate respect. One thing for certain is that the bike rider is usually the biggest loser in a collision due to their exposure.

Big rigs and motorists have also had their run ins. Obviously, trucks pose special problems because of their size, needing more time to stop and more room to turn. Truckers rightfully complain that many car drivers are in too much of a hurry to be considerate of their need for space, while many a car driver has had a bad experience with a tractor trailer operated by a bully or a road weary trucker. When it comes to an auto versus big rig collision, the auto is usually the loser because of its size and weight disadvantage.

Safety on our highways is everyone's responsibility. That includes accounting for the unique characterstics of bikes and big rigs.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Rosenthal

Truck Safety Films - Teaching Through Lens of the Motion Picture Camera

Edward Smith — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 04:40:54 GMT

Why truck safety films? Every year, thousands of accidents take place on the road with trucks. Hence, imparting safety training to the truck drivers is the need of the hour. And just a few lectures on road safety won't do. They require a heavy dose of road safety rules so that they are more cautious on the road.

Films Have More Impact

Truck safety films are the best way to educate truck drivers on road rules. Several truck safety films have been released under the truck safety awareness program. These films show how reckless driving can be dangerous. And, as it is said that visualization has more impact on the brain, such truck safety films have better potential to spread the message to the targeted audience.

A Look At Some Of The Famous Classic Films

The American Trucking Industry has played a significant role in the transportation of consumer goods in America since 1930, when the US highways systems came into being. Therefore, the concept of truck safety films is not new. You can find a collection of classic films based on truck safety.

One of them is "Singing Wheels". This film was made in the 1940s. It shows interesting old trucks, automobiles, and 18 wheelers. This film is loaded with facts about the trucking industry, besides depicting the importance of this industry in the distribution of consumer goods and its impact on the economy of America. It also has an intriguing part on the high taxes on truckers as compared to the other automobiles. The most fascinating feature of this film is the song on trucking that goes like..."go on trucker...keep rolling on...."!

Yet another film, "Knights On The Highway", is a classic 23-minute film on truck safety made in 1938. This film revolves around six fundamental safety driving techniques, emphasizing on the sixth technique that says "don't drive when sleepy."

Then there is this 9-minute film that would invoke a gender issue in today's times. It is "Transportation: Bus, Truck, & Taxi" released in 1946. It suggests that you have to be a man to get a job in transportation. Hope the ladies are reading this!!

Last but not the least, there is a 10-minute film "You're Driving 90 Horses" released in the 1940s. This film shows scary results of rash driving such as horrible deaths on the road. It emphasizes safe driving and highlights the three C's important for the truck drivers. They are "Concentration, Control, and Courtesy."

A recent film by Millbank Films Ltd is "In Safe Hands". Truck safety films are a strong hope to make the truck drivers realize that there's no manliness in reckless driving.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Edward Smith

Truck Safety: How To Make Your Highway Star Stay Accident Free

Edward Smith — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 04:13:51 GMT

Truck driving is dangerous. In the United States, every year, about 600 truck drivers die in highway accidents. Truckers get involved in two types of accidents. One is rollovers, when the truck rolls over owing to the impact of a collision or the burden of carrying more load than they are allowed to carry..

The other type of common truck accident is a fuel oil fire, when gallons and gallons of fuel get caught up in fire that burns up everything in the vicinity, including the truck.

There are many truck safety rules that, if followed, can bring down fatalities from truck accidents to a minimum. If you are a trucker, maintain these guidelines and you will be in for a safe voyage.

Guidelines to Driving Safely

Ensure proper maintenance of the truck. Inspect the truck for tire pressure and condition, brake and all other fluids, lights and turn signals, and ensure the cleanliness of windshields and mirrors. Be aware when there are "blind spots" in mirrors, especially when turning and changing lanes. Make sure that the electrical connections of the truck are in good condition and wired and grounded properly.

Make yourself thoroughly familiar with the truck operation and driving characteristics before operating it. A truck driver driving a truck for the first time has to gauge how much room is needed to make a turn or how high the bed of the truck will be raised. The truck driver should carry a valid driver's license and be trained before hauling loads. It is also necessary to have an in-depth understanding of all the rules for driving a truck.

Be alert while driving a truck. A loaded truck takes longer to stop and get up to highway speed than other vehicles. When cars pull out in front of your truck, slow down, do the same when there are children or old people around. Take frequent safety breaks such as stretching and breathing deeply, and getting out and walking around the vehicle. Don't drive if you are feeling drowsy, stop and have some coffee or soup instead. Give yourself a

Keep proper following distance from other vehicles on the road. I

Make sure that approaches and bridges are adequate to carry the weight of a loaded truck. Some bridges are not equipped to handle the daily trudge of an overloaded truck bursting at the seams with load, and may collapse from the weight or from old age, so avoid a bridge if it is too old or rickety.

Watch truck safety films to visualize how it is possible to put yourself and others in danger owing to reckless behavior with a truck. Learn all about road safety from films which teach about the perils of unsafe driving and advice on how to stay super safe, like "Singing Wheels", "Knights on the Highway," and "In safe Hands." If you follow the aforementioned rules for truck safety, you can avoid truck accidents .

An experienced trucking accident attorney can help if you are injured because a truck driver did not folow the common sense procedures outlined above.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Edward Smith

How about a cup of coffee with that Twinkie?

Laura Mackie — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 23:57:51 GMT

A Twinkie alert was issued at 2:47 a.m. on December 20, 2006 when 50,000 pounds of Hostess bakery products were dumped on Hwy. 99 just south of Eight Mile Road in Stockton California. The unfortunate "spill" was just one aspect of a traffic accident in which a tractor-trailer overturned after the driver lost control of the big rig and crashed through the highway divider. Debris from the accident caused damage to at least one other vehicle. The incident caused closure of two southbound lanes of the highway until 6 a.m. on the 20th. The accident is still under investigation and no charges have been filed.

All obvious jokes aside, road hazards caused by tractor-trailer accidents are just one of the many obstacles encountered by unwary commuters on California's highways. And despite the strong protestations of many truck drivers, driver fatigue and unsafe speed for conditions are often cited as the primary causes for these types of accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Laura Mackie

Lack of Sleep....a factor in Trucking Accidents

Laura Mackie — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 21:22:00 GMT

According to an article published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine about 5,600 people are killed each year in the U.S. in crashes involving commercial trucks. Many of the crashes happen when the driver falls asleep at the wheel. The article is titled, "Impaired Performance in Commercial Drivers: Role of Sleep Apnea and Short Sleep Duration."

According to a major new study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, truck drivers who routinely get too little sleep or suffer from sleep apnea show signs of fatigue and impaired performance that can make them a hazard on the road.

Researchers are now suggesting specific steps for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to take to improve safety:
* Develop strategies to identify impaired drivers through objective testing.
* Implement programs to identify and test drivers with severe sleep apnea and monitor that they stick to their treatment.
* And introduce programs to assess and promote longer durations of sleep among commercial drivers.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Laura Mackie

Man dies in Highway 12 Crash in Fairfield

Ed Smith — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 22:45:50 GMT

A 74 year old man, Kenneth Graybeal, was killed Wednesday afternoon when a trailer truck travelling EB on Highway 12 approached the intersection of Beck avenue and struck a Dodge minivan stopping for a red light. Graybeal was a passenger in the minivan and died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Many truck accidents result from fatigue. Police are investigiating further the cause of this accident.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ed Smith

Black Box Data critical in Disputed Liability Accidents

Ed Smith — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 14:45:03 GMT

An unappreciated piece of evidence in a trucking accident is often the black box data which can be obtained. The primary purpose of a "black box" is to determine by various inputs if air bag deployment is needed. These black boxes or electronic data recorders do not chart data over long periods of time, but they DO normally record data from various sensors for up to 5 seconds before an accident.

An accident reconstruction can be aided using such data and often measured deceleration from the crash and the pre-crash speed data can be obtained.

Many GMC model cars and trucks from 1994 onwards have a black box installed. Ford cars and trucks from 2001 onward may have these devices installed.

An expert witness familiar with such data must be retained early in the case so that the case can be prosecuted effectively.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ed Smith

Big Rig-Bus crash closes Power Inn Road

Ed Smith — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 18:15:07 GMT

A big rig crashed into the back of an R.T. bus Friday morning, October 20th, sending 3 people in the bus to the hospital.
The big rig allegedly slammed into the bus when going thru a yellow light, overturning the bus. The trucker apparently escaped injury. The attached article is an excllent summary of the causes of trucking accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ed Smith

No excuse not to trim trees around intersection

Ed Smith — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 17:48:57 GMT

Government immunity may protect a government entity in its decisions and judgments about putting up signs at an intersection. However, there is no protection if the government entity allows trees or buhes to obstruct those signs so they cannot be readily seen by motorists.

In a recent Texas case, Plaintiff was allowed to pursue its claim against the state of Texas where there was a trucking accident at an intersection where vision was diminished because of trees and bushes. (Texas Department of Transportation v. Pate, Cause no. 06-04-00070-CV, Texarkana Court of Appeals, submitted August 16, 2005).

In any serious injury case, its critical for the injured party's attorney to visit and photograph the scene as soon as possible to preserve evidence of the view.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ed Smith

Truck races train---loses badly (Video)

Ed Smith — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 02:56:51 GMT

Here's another video on how not to enter a train crossing. A trucker decides her can beat this oncoming train, but doesn't realize a line of cars is blocking his path on the other side of the tracks.

Many accidents at train crossings are due to the motorists error, however many train crossing accidents are due to negligence on the part of the railroad.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ed Smith