Truck Accident Lawyer Blog : Houston Truck Accident Lawyer & Attorney : Arnold & Itkin Law Firm : 18-wheeler injuries, semi accidents : Texas, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso

The Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act of 2009 would preserve highways and prevent 18-wheeler accidents by extending current size and weight restrictions for trucks on all highways. Not too surprisingly, industry lobbying groups, including those representing trucking companies and produce-shippers, are opposing any such legislation.

The bill would keep triple trailers exceeding 80,000 pounds and 53 ft off both, interstate highways and national highways. The goal is to prevent serious accidents involving these large trucks, and reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities that result from those accidents. Restricting the movements of such large vehicles would also reduce the need for frequent highway repairs.

The trucking industry, which would greatly benefit from having larger and bulkier trucks on the road, is opposing any such bill. They are supporting another piece of legislation which would go the other way and actually increase weight limits on trucks to 97,000 pounds. The Safe and Efficient Transportation Act of 2009 was introduced on March 30th by Representatives Michel Michaud (D-Maine)  and Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio). The bill is being touted by the American Trucking Association who claims the bill will lead to “safer highways, cleaner air” and - the, seemingly, most important factor – cheaper costs of freight transportation. Larger, bulkier trucks would allow trucking companies to ship larger loads on fewer trips, thus saving money. The trucking industry is also pointing to the need for allowing heavier trucks in order to improve efficiency, increase productivity, and, in turn, boost the economy.

Backing the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act is the produce industry. The Coalition for Transportation Productivity includes potato industry representatives from Washington, Idaho, and Oregon; three states which allow large commercial trucks above 80,000 pounds on their highways. The organization has been vocal in its support for the bill.  Both industries are lobbying furiously to have the bill passed. 

Truck Accident Attorneys

Truck accident lawyers firmly believe that we do not need heavier or larger 18-wheelers on the road, only safer trucks and more stringent procedures by trucking companies. We see far too many incidents involving ill maintained trucks, stressed, overworked, and fatigued drivers. These are the issues we should be focusing on.

As for concerns of loss of economic productivity during a recession, fewer 18-wheeler accidents and injuries mean reduced strain on our healthcare system, and consequently, our economy.

If you or a loved one has been injured by the negligence of a trucker or a trucking company, a truck accident attorney can help you recover physically, emotionally, and financially. If you have questions regarding your case, contact a truck accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP for help.

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Truck accident lawyers are very familiar with reckless 18-wheeler drivers who cause serious accidents and injuries as a result of careless driving, but according to the FBI, reckless driving may not be the only way truck drivers are claiming victims.

The FBI calls it an emerging trend: highway serial killers who double as truck drivers. The agency has been aware of the connection between long haul truck drivers and crimes, like murder and rape committed near highways, for years now. FBI agents stumbled on the connection about five years ago during a case involving a series of murders on highways in several states. Those murders were ultimately traced to an 18-wheeler driver. Soon after, the agency established the "Highway Serial Killing Initiative’’ to monitor suspected truck drivers. The FBI currently has a database of dozens of truckers who have been either charged with or suspected of murder or rape. More than 500 victims, mostly female prostitutes, have been murdered near highways.

There is no information on whether truck driving is a preferred occupation of known serial killers, but the nature of the job and the kind of cover it offers could make trucking the perfect front for a killer. Investigators say there are several reasons a serial killer would choose trucking as his occupation:

• Truckers are highly mobile and a serial killer could benefit from the anonymity that mobility offers
• They work without any supervision while on the road
• They constantly come in contact with potential victims, usually women with a high-risk background

The agency has collected enough evidence linking truckers to serial killings to make this frightening announcement. Bodies of victims have been found dumped by the roadside, along highways, and behind truck stops. The Highway Serial Killing Initiative has come in especially useful for cases involving murders outside local jurisdiction. Several murders, thought to have been committed by truckers, involved bodies being dumped in a location other than where the murder took place.

Truck Driver Screening

You have to wonder how it is so easy for a serial killer to gain employment in a trucking company. None of this, however, is to say that all truckers are suspect, but if there was any incentive for trucking companies to begin screening their drivers more stringently, this would be it. Trucking companies could help save innocent victims by screening potential employees and monitoring current employees more closely.

If you have been injured in an 18-wheeler accident, contact an 18-wheeler accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free evaluation of your case.

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A new bill aims to protect highway travelers from the risk of an 18-wheeler accident by extending existing size and weight restrictions on large trucks to the entire national highway system.

The bill, called the Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act of 2009, was introduced by Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA-3). It would prevent both interstate highways and national highways from being used by triple trailers, although exemptions would be made for firefighting units and the like.

Currently, size and weight limitations are enforced on interstate highways and states themselves are at liberty to set limits on state governed roads. Truck size and weight restrictions, for most state roads, are a maximum length of 53 ft and a maximum weight of 80,000 pounds. These limits also apply to Interstate Highway Systems which run across 44,000 miles.  If the bill is passed, the ban on trucks that exceed the size and weight limitation would extend to 160,000 miles of highway.

The bill aims to keep heavier 18-wheelers off the road, thereby making roads safer. There are many challenges involved in navigating an 18-wheeler through traffic"

• 18-wheelers suffer from poor maneuverability and stability, and are harder to navigate than smaller vehicles.
• These large trucks require a longer distance to come to a complete stop.
• They have bigger blind spots that impact the driver’s view of vehicles behind him.

In addition to preventing injuries associated with 18-wheeler accidents, the bill would also contribute to better highway maintenance by reducing the number of heavy trucks using the roads. Union workers and 18-wheeler accident lawyers have voiced their support for the bill as it makes traveling safer for all involved.

18-wheeler Safety

It is difficult to maintain and repair existing roadways due to a shortage of funds, a tremendous strain would be added to our transportation infrastructure if larger 18-wheelers were allowed on our roads. If trucking companies had their way, they would introduce larger vehicles that could carry larger loads; never mind the risks of jack knifing and 18-wheeler rollovers. These large trucks are responsible for close to 2.4 deaths for every 100 million vehicle miles. That is a 50% higher rate than smaller vehicle fatalities. The less 18-wheelers we allow on our highways, the lesser the chance of accidents and safer the general motorist population.

If you've been injured in an 18-wheeler accident, contact an 18-wheeler accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP to discuss your options for compensation.

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18-wheeler safety experts and truck accident lawyers in Connecticut are full of ideas about how to check rogue truck drivers and prevent accidents involving big rigs. Unfortunately, these ideas will remain just that until the two agencies that supply truck weigh station personnel resolve their issues.

In Connecticut, weigh station operation activities are shared by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and state troopers. There exists an old and strong rivalry between the two agencies, and this, experts say, has come in the way of adopting better technology at weigh stations to screen truck drivers more efficiently and accurately. 

The Connecticut Department of Scientists and Engineering, a group based in Hartford, conducted a study that recommended technological innovations to streamline weigh station operations, cut down time, and trap more rogue truck drivers. Under the existing system, truck drivers are easily able avoid weigh station inspections. Under the proposed system, however, weigh stations would be located at random points to catch more unsuspecting truck drivers. Technological aids would help troopers conduct an inspection more quickly and would help troopers quickly identify an 18-wheeler in need of a more thorough inspection. The group's report also called for a different approach to 18-wheeler safety – focusing more on ensuring truck safety than inspection duty.

Whether these proposals will be acted upon is a moot point, however. Governor Jodi Rell has proposed pulling state troopers off weigh stations and putting them on highway patrol service. The proposal has been axed for now, but the Governor plans to bring the matter up with Democrats soon. According to state officials, the pull back from weigh stations is part of an overall plan to put more troopers on highway patrol service. The DMV criticizes any such move because it infringes on its jurisdiction. This squabbling could mean that truck accident prevention proposals find themselves on the back burner.

18-wheeler Safety

State agencies responsible for highway maintenance need to focus on keeping unsafe trucks and unfit drivers off the highway. Ensuring the safety of motorists on the road should not become victim to inter-department agency rivalries.

If you've been injured in a Connecticut 18-wheeler accident, contact an 18-wheeler accident attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP to discuss your options for compensation.

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An investigation conducted by a television station has revealed what 18-wheeler accident lawyers have suspected for years - "tens of thousands" of 18-wheeler drivers continue to drive, despite suffering from serious medical conditions that could impair their driving ability and cause serious accidents.

These medical issues include health conditions you do not want the person at the helm of an 80,000 pound vehicle to have, including:

• sleep disorders
• neurological conditions
• cardiac diseases

The investigation, conducted by Scripps television station, found that the problem is not only serious, but rampant. 

Last year, federal investigators reported that more than 560,000 commercial truck operators were receiving full medical and disability benefits.

Also, last year, another investigation found that medical certificates carried by 18-wheeler drivers are notoriously hard to verify. Drivers are required by law to have a copy of their medical certificate to present as proof they have passed a medical exam. However, in nearly one of every three cases, the doctor whose signature is on the certificate is mysteriously non-existent or, when contacted, the doctor often denies having ever examined the driver.

It is very difficult for overworked inspection officers to verify a certificate, which means that possibly thousands of drivers are able to slip through the cracks with phony medical certificates. Fake certificates are ridiculously easy to obtain. All a driver has to do is download a blank certificate from the internet, fill it out, and sign it himself, and voila! He has a medical certificate that confirms he is fit to drive. This kind of falsification is a serious problem, and one that places drivers of smaller vehicles at risk of injury.  

Several 18-wheeler accidents in recent months have been linked to medically impaired drivers. In Ohio, one 18-wheeler driver had almost 27 prescription drugs stashed in his cab during an accident. In 2007, federal officials estimated that approximately 4,000 18-wheeler accidents between 2001 and 2003 were caused by drivers suffering from heart attacks behind the wheel. The number of drivers who dozed off at the wheel during the same period was 5,000. Sleep apnea; a condition traced to frequent waking up during sleep, resulting in fatigue and sleepiness the next day; is a major factor in 18-wheeler drivers falling asleep at the wheel.

Federal Trucking Regulations

Federal authorities have been taking steps to deal with the problem of phony certificates. A national database, that will record copies of truck drivers' medical certificates, is expected to be in operation by 2012. Unfortunately, that is still 3 years away and, until then, highway safety inspectors have few means of verifying whether the truck driver in front of them is medically fit to be driving or not. That means millions of people will continue to be at risk of accidents and injuries as they share the road with big rigs possibly driven by people suffering from serious heath conditions.

If you or a loved one has suffered from injuries sustained in an 18-wheeler accident, contact an 18-wheeler accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free evaluation.

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An 18-wheeler driver in Gray, Georgia recently became the 88th employee in his company's 25-year-old history to complete two million miles of driving without a single accident.

Ken Truman works for Con-Way Freight Company, which currently employs 1,200 drivers. According to management, completing two million miles without being involved in a single accident is a key milestone in the industry. Truman's two million miles is equivalent to traveling to the moon and back 9 times.

Truman, who has been driving since 1998, mentioned several factors that contributed to his impeccable record. As remarkable as his achievement is, it is simply the result of following safe driving practices that 18-wheeler accident lawyers and safety advocates have recommended for years. Truman follows a strict routine before he gets behind the wheel of his big rig to begin work for the day.

• He checks the weather report of his destination.
• He inspects his truck thoroughly. This includes checking the tires, lights, wheels, steering wheel mechanism, and brakes.
• He makes sure that all parts of the 18-wheeler are functioning well and are in perfect condition.
• Once he sets off for the day, Truman drives carefully, regularly checking the movement of other vehicles around him in his mirrors.
• He pays close attention to the speed and actions of vehicles around him. Getting an 18-wheeler to stop or brake takes longer than a passenger vehicle, and so, he is alert to any changes in vehicles nearby.
• He always drives at a speed suitable for traffic and weather conditions.
• He makes it a point to drive a few miles slower than the speed limit because he knows the danger of being in a hurry. Driving under the limit does not slow him down that much, he says, and the end result is a safer road for him and other vehicles sharing the road.
• Truman knows and believes in the value of taking frequent rest and meal breaks to avoid driver fatigue. As he admits, staying alert and awake behind the wheel after driving long hours is the biggest challenge facing a truck driver. He takes a break for meals and rest once he reaches his destination and before be begins the long journey back home.

Trucking Safety

18-wheeler drivers face numerous challenges as they navigate, often, busy traffic on a daily basis. Big rigs are large, bulky and cumbersome, and a driver's job involves seemingly endless hours of driving alone. Even so, as Truman proves, driving in an 18-wheeler can be a safe and smooth experience if drivers make the effort to drive slowly, steadily, and with caution. Ken Truman deserves kudos and we hope more 18-wheeler drivers follow his example. 

If you've been injured in an 18-wheeler accident, contact an 18-wheeler accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free consultation.

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On January 19th, a new federal trucking rule went into effect and has stirred up a longstanding debate on consecutive trucking hours and how they impact the 18-wheeler accident rate.

The Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued its final decision on trucking hours, extending truck driver work hours from the previous 10 hours to 11 consecutive hours within a 14 hour window from the beginning of the work day. Before the start of the work day the driver must have at least 10 hours of rest. The rule was issued in 2004, but legal challenges delayed its enforcement until now. The trucking industry has vigorously championed the new rules, claiming studies show that driving more than 10 hours consecutively does not pose a higher risk for accidents. These studies also include statistics that say the number of big rig accidents has fallen consecutively in the past three years; 2005 saw 5240 deaths from 18-wheeler crashes compared to 4808 in 2007.

Not surprisingly, the industry is against reverting trucker hours to the older, 10-consecutive-hour rule. However, truck safety proponents and truck accident lawyers will continue to protest the new rules, which place motorists at undue risk. Truck safety proponents have discounted the studies cited by the trucking industry and suggested that more litigation will be in the works if the Obama administration does not re-evaluate the new rule. Safety groups face strong lobbying from the trucking industry that stands to lose more than $2 billion a year if the work hours are reduced.

Profits for the trucking industry should not come in the way of endangering motorists. The trucking industry cites studies it has conducted itself, in controlled conditions; these are, simply, insufficient. The new rule does not take into consideration the fact that, often, truck drivers manipulate log books in order to work longer hours. More studies should be conducted and the rule should be evaluated by the new administration to ensure that profit motives of the industry do not compromise the safety of motorists. 

18-wheeler Accident Claims

Driver fatigue is one of the biggest causes of truck accidents and is often due to drivers' manipulation of log books, so he can work more than the stipulated hours. It takes solid expertise and years of experience litigating truck accidents to pursue a claim against a trucking company or other parties responsible for an 18-wheeler accident.

If you have been injured in a truck accident, contact an 18-wheeler accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free consultation.

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Icy conditions across the country are leading to an increase in auto crashes and 18-wheeler truck accidents. Some of the worst have been reported in places that have seen snow storms and blizzards in recent days, including Texas, New Jersey, Louisiana and Tennessee. Roads slick with ice have caused 18-wheelers to crash into other vehicles, including other tractor trailers, or overturn after skidding across the ice.  Fortunately, few of the accidents that have resulted from the poor weather have ended in fatalities, although several injuries have been reported.

Avoiding Truck Accidents

Driving in winter weather is hard enough, but driving in close proximity to a massive truck in slippery conditions is a whole different ball game. The normal rules of the road simply don’t apply when you're around one of these gigantic machines.  For one thing, when you’re driving either directly in front of or behind an 18-wheeler, it's important to keep as much distance as possible between your car and the tractor trailer, because of the longer time it takes for these trucks to stop when braking. Tailgating is inadvisable in any situation, but when the vehicle in front of you or especially behind you is a tractor trailer, it's doubly dangerous.

Always stay alert for signals from the 18-wheeler driver. For instance, because of its bulk, a tractor trailer will often move to the left first before it makes a right turn because of the wider turning radius it requires. It's important to keep your wits about you at all times, and play close attention to every sign the truck driver makes. Never attempt to overtake a tractor trailer at high speed. Slippery winter roads can increase the risk that you might skid right into the path of the 80,000 pound machine. Also watch out for bursting truck tires, a frequent occurrence with these heavy trucks. If a tire bursts when you are close by, large slabs of sheared rubber can shoot out like rocks, and smash though your windshield or that of any passenger cars nearby.

If you're driving in bad weather, it's best to slow down and keep as far away from 18-wheeler trucks as possible.

Causes of 18-Wheeler Accidents

Bad weather can magnify the effect of the usual causes of 18-wheeler accidents, like driver fatigue, defective truck parts, speeding, and alcohol or drug abuse by truck drivers, resulting in catastrophic injuries for themselves and other motorists. Even when poor visibility and slick road conditions contribute, there may yet be other factors at work like driver negligence, inattentiveness or speeding that can be root causes of accidents. In any case, drivers of 18-wheelers must be extra cautious in adverse weather conditions to avoid an accident that could be hazardous not only to them, but also to other motorists nearby.

Investigating the causes of an 18-wheeler accident involves considerable expertise and substantial technical and financial resources. A truck accident lawyer who specializes in litigating 18-wheeler truck accident cases can bring these resources to bear on your behalf.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an 18 wheeler truck accident, contact an 18-wheeler accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free initial consultation. Our attorneys handle most cases on a contingency basis, meaning there is no fee unless we prevail on your behalf.

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