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

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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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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In 2007, an 18-wheeler speeding on a California highway crashed inside a tunnel, triggering a series of accidents that, ultimately, left 3 people dead and several injured. Now, a report by the California Highway Patrol points to a big rig's excessive speed as the main factor in the crash.

The multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 5 began when an 18-wheeler was traveling through a tunnel. As the driver traveled at more than 65 mph, the truck jackknifed, crashing into a wall. Vehicles behind the truck were able to slow down and avoid hitting the 18-wheeler. Further down the tunnel, however, other big rigs, pickup trucks, and cars were not as lucky. Several vehicles crashed into one another and fuel from large trucks set off a raging fire. Motorists were forced to abandon their cars and run for safety. The tunnel instantly became an inferno, killing 3 people. One was a 6-year-old boy who managed to survive the crash, but burned to death. In all, the accident included 33 trucks, 26 of which were consumed by flames.

The California Highway Patrol provided a number of factors that contributed to that tragic October night:

• It had been raining and the roads were slick,
• the 18-wheeler had a malfunctioning brake,
• and, the most important factor in the crash, the driver, Jose Reyes, was speeding.

The trucking company, Saia Inc., which owned the 18-wheeler disagrees with the findings of the report. According to a statement released by the company, there were other factors contributing to the crash that were to blame. For instance, the statement says:

• Several of the motorists involved in the crash were speeding or violating traffic rules.
• The tunnel was design and maintained poorly.

The company, it is clear, shares liability for Reyes' speeding behavior, his reckless driving, and the malfunctioning brake that prevented the 18-wheeler from maintaining grip on the road. However, it is also a fact that Interstate 5 has been mentioned on a list of the most dangerous roads in the country. At least 10 years before the 2007 accident, there were warnings that the stretch of freeway needed urgent safety improvements. Although authorities did take minor steps to improve road traction, requests to have the road closed during poor weather were ignored.

Truck Accident Lawsuits

Very often, truck accidents can be traced to a whole range of factors, all of which may have contributed to an accident. A truck accident lawyer filing claims in such cases will undertake extensive investigations to isolate specific factors that can be mentioned in the lawsuit, ensuring that the victim gets fair compensation from all negligent parties.

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

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Earlier this month, a New York truck driver was arraigned for his involvement in a fatal truck accident. The man was driving while under the influence of marijuana and, ultimately, crashed killing three people.

Sheraz Khan was held on a $350,000 bail. In January, Khan was arrested in New York and extradited to New Jersey. Last September, Khan, who was driving an 18-wheeler, hauling heavy machinery, drove across a median and into oncoming traffic on Interstate-295 in Cherry Hill. The tractor trailer mowed down a Volkswagen and a box truck. The driver of the Volkswagen, Keller resident, Lawrence Wright, and the occupants of the box truck, Juma Rajab and Renee Lesenko, were killed in the accident. Khan suffered no injuries.

Investigators found smoking paraphernalia and at least 39 pills of methandrostenolone, a controlled substance. According to witnesses at the scene, Khan was traveling at more than 60 mph just before the crash. It seemed, he made no attempt to brake before crashing into the two vehicles. Blood tests taken eight hours after the accident confirmed the presence of marijuana, and a forensic toxicologist verified that Khan had been severely impaired at the time of the accident.

Khan has no known history of driving violations. He was arrested at his West Babylon home and charged with three counts of vehicular homicide.

Truck Accident Lawsuits

A trucker operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs poses a great danger to other motorists. Driving under the influence impacts a person's judgment and slows down their ability to make quick decisions. Trucking companies are required by law to conduct regular alcohol and drug checks on its employees. A big rig who is found to be driving under the influence during an accident can face criminal charges for reckless actions. These actions can also be factors in a truck accident claim filed against the company by your 18-wheeler accident lawyer.

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

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The driver of an 18-wheeler has been sentenced to 364 days in jail for killing 3 children when his big rig crashed into a mini-van on a California freeway in 2007.

The driver, Jorge Miguel Romero was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter in August 2008 after the horrific big rig crash that killed Kyle, Emma and Katie Coble. The accident took place on the I-5 freeway as the children rode in the back seat of the vehicle. Traffic had slowed down and the mini-van stopped in line waiting for the line vehicles to move ahead. Romero, who was approaching the stalled traffic, was unable to stop in time and his big rig crashed into the Coble's mini-van. The 3 siblings, all under the age of 5 were killed; their mother and grandmother, the front seat passengers, sustained minor injuries. 

In the days and weeks after the 18-wheeler accident, the local Ladera Ranch community and the Cobles have pushed for changes in the trucking industry. Investigations of the accident revealed inaccuracies and inconsistencies in fleet inspection records maintained at the trucking company that employed Romero. During the trial, his defense lawyers claimed his accident was the result of Romero not being able to stop in time to avoid the mini-van. The judge was willing to buy that explanation, especially because Romero had been working more than the stipulated number of hours in the days before the accident. Romero admitted that he had fabricated his company log books in order to work more than the hour allowance. However, the judge also believed that particular stretch of freeway was one Romero used often, and that he should have been aware of any problem spots ahead.  Caltrans, the California Department of Transportation, was also faulted by Romero’s lawyer for ignoring calls for an additional lane at the Oso parkway off-ramp. An extra lane could have helped unclog the freeway and prevented this accident.  The Cobles, have filed a lawsuit against the trucking company and Caltrans.

It definitely appears that there was negligence by more than one party here - the driver who was negligent by driving at an unsafe speed, considering he was driving at a known problem spot, the trucking company that turned a blind eye to manipulation of the log books, and Caltrans for failing to construct an additional lane, thereby contributing to an unsafe road design. Very often, truck accidents are the result of a number of factors, all coming together to contribute to a devastating accident. In such cases, each party can be held accountable for negligence that contributed to the accident.

Pursuing Truck Accident Claims

The truck accident lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP have expertise in litigating damages claims related to 18-wheeler accidents, and have the resources necessary to pursue claims against truck drivers, state and local agencies, trucking companies and other parties that may have been responsible for the accident.

If you have sustained injuries in a big rig accident, contact an 18-wheeler accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP to discuss possible compensation.

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Driver inattention, coupled with slippery roads created prime conditions for an 18-wheeler accident in Iberville Parish, Louisiana. One person was injured in the accident that involved two trucks, besides an 18 wheeler.

According to one report, a tree-cutting truck was on its way from Texas to Florida through Interstate 10, after clearing up Hurricane Ike damage. It had been raining for a few days, and the roads were slippery. Following the truck was an 18-wheeler truck filled with 150 gallons of diesel.   The driver later confessed after the accident that he had let his attention wander while he was at the wheel of the big rig. The 18-wheeler slammed into the truck sending it spinning and toppling it over on its side.   The impact punctured the fuel tank of one truck, spilling diesel everywhere. Another 18-wheeler on the highway clipped the truck which was lying overturned. By the time the destructive sequence of events had ended, there was diesel and lumber debris scattered all across I-10.

Neither of the two 18-wheeler drivers was injured in the accident, although the driver of the tree-cutting truck had to be taken to the hospital for treatment. The highway was closed for hours, while crews cleared the debris and set the overturned truck upright.

Driver inattention can be a result of truck driver fatigue, multi-tasking at the wheel, or just plain negligence. In any case, it's lethal for a driver of an 18-wheeler to be less than 100 percent in control and focused while he is driving.  Fatigue is one of the most common reasons why a truck driver's attention may slip while at the wheel. Federal trucking regulations specify the consecutive number of hours that a truck driver can spend at the wheel of a truck, as well as the rest periods that he must have to recover between shifts. This is why truck driver logs are maintained, so a driver can have records of the number of hours he drives.

Driver Fatigue Can be a Factor in Truck Accidents

Given the number of hours that truck drivers work, and the amount of time they spend alone on the road and away from their families, it's no surprise that truck driver error caused by inattention, fatigue, or stress is an important factor that causes truck accidents.  This is precisely why there are laws that govern a truck driver's work and rest hours – to prevent the possibility of accidents due to driver fatigue. 

In the event of an accident, an 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer will review driver logs and other records to determine the number of hours the driver had been working just before the accident, and the rest periods that were afforded him. An experienced truck accident lawyer can undertake these investigations to make sure that responsibility for the accident can be placed where it is due.

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

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