Louisville Personal Injury Lawyer - Trucking Accidents

What are Trucks Hauling?

Jennifer Moore — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:00:19 GMT

Do you know what tractor-trailers are hauling on our roadways? Truckers haul tons of munitions on our nation's highways everyday. How is a driver to know that a truck could be carrying dangerous materials? Most of the time your only clue is an orange placard on the trailer stating "explosives." That is why it is so important that all of us give truckers the room they need on the road. For example, when a driver changes lane, he or she should give a trucker plenty of room. Drivers should also avoid abrupt stops in the path of a trucker.

Over a five-month period from October 2006 to February 2007, about 30 collisions involved trucks hauling munitions. These wrecks are very dangerous given the probability of fire. For example, in 2005:

a truck operated by R&R Trucking carrying 38,000 pounds of mining explosives overturned near Provo, Utah, because the driver was going too fast on a mountain road. The truck caught fire and burned for 17 minutes before detonating, creating a crater 70 feet wide and 30 feet deep in the two-lane road. The blast damaged a nearby railroad line, started numerous wildfires and injured about 20 people, none seriously.

Drivers must be aware of trucks on the highway.

Every week, tractor-trailer trucks loaded with tons of bullets, bombs, rockets and plastic explosives rumble down Hampton Roads' busiest thoroughfares alongside a largely unsuspecting public.
Each shipment is different. Some days the trucks carry explosives powerful enough to level a building, while other times the loads are portable missiles such as the Javelin, an anti-tank weapon lethal enough to take down an aircraft.
...
Since 2003 when the Iraq war began, private trucking companies have delivered more than 30,800 tons of conventional munitions to military bases in Hampton Roads, according to the U.S. Army's Joint Munitions Command. The command oversees the production, storage and shipment of arms, ammunition and explosives to all service branches nationwide, from 500-pound bombs to rifle rounds.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Tractor-trailer accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jennifer Moore

Objects Fall From Truck

Jennifer Moore — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:54:31 GMT

Two portable toilets fell from a truck on Monday morning in Louisville, Kentucky. The portable toilets struck several vehicles traveling behind the truck causing multiple crashes.

Objects falling from trucks can occur due to truckers failure to properly secure the items. Whenever you are traveling behind a semi tractor trailer be cognizant of the exposed cargo. Falling objects can cause serious injury.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Tractor-trailer accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jennifer Moore

Rear-end Accident on I-64

Jennifer Moore — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 01:41:02 GMT

A three-car pile up last week killed a man on Interstate 64 in Louisville, Kentucky. Police reported that a Honda had stopped on the Interstate near the Grinstead Drive exit. A vehicle rear-ended the Honda. Unfortunately, a pick-up truck then rear-ended the middle vehicle knocking it into the median and killing the driver.

Sometimes it is difficult to avoid a vehicle stopped on the Interstate. However, if possible, try to leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the car in front of you if traffic is stopped or moving slowly. This could prevent you from being pushed into the car in front of you if rear-ended.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jennifer Moore

Fatal Truck Accident

Jennifer Moore — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 01:27:17 GMT

A pickup truck crossed the median on the Gene Snyder Freeway (I-265) in Louisville and crashed into a ditch resulting in the driver's death. This was the third fatality due to a motor vehicle accident in Louisville on last Monday, September 10. Fatalities in Louisville continue to climb this year due to automobile and truck wrecks. WLKY in Louisville reported on the story and highlighted that three fatalities occurred on the same day.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Tractor-Trailer Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jennifer Moore

Overweight Trucks on Highways

Jennifer Moore — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:55:38 GMT

Too many overweight trucks are being allowed on our highways and roads. The government restricts weight to 40 tons on most interstate highways. However, thousands of overweight trucks travel the road causing damage to the road infrastructure. A study showed that one 40 ton truck does as much damage to the road as 9600 cars. Some suspect that overweight trucks caused the damage to the bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis.

Fines alone are not enough to combat the problem. More action needs to be taken to prevent overweight trucks from being on the road. This is a safety issue for individuals in other vehicles as well as preventing damage to the roads and bridges.

In the vast majority of cases, a single truck can safely pass over a sound bridge, even if the rig is way over the posted weight limit. But the cumulative effect of stress on the steel and concrete can eventually prove deadly.
In 2000, Milwaukee's Hoan Bridge collapsed when steel girders cracked. Several factors were blamed for the collapse, including a significant number of heavy trucks, some over the normal weight limit, that routinely traveled over the bridge.
Many states charge fees ranging from $12 to $1,000 for overweight-load permits, depending on the weight of the load. Those fees are supposed to offset the damage done to the highways.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jennifer Moore

Out-of-control truck crashes into building

Jennifer Moore — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 01:04:31 GMT

A cement truck driver lost control of his truck on I-65 in Louisville, Kentucky last week and crashed into a Kentucky Air National Guard building. It appears that the brakes on his truck may have gone out. The truck crossed four lanes of interstate traffic, drove through a fence into the building. Negligent maintenance of trucks is a leading cause of truck accidents on our roadways. Companies must be held accountable for proper maintenance and inspection of their semi tractor-trailers. Regular checks on the brakes, lights, and tires must be conducted to make sure large trucks are safe for the roadway.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Tractor-trailer accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jennifer Moore

Bus and Truck Collide on I-65

Jennifer Moore — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:10:45 GMT

A chartered church bus collided with a tractor trailer and a car on I-65 near Bowling Green, Kentucky. The wreck shut down I-65 for a period of time in order to clear the debris and scene. It appears the bus rear-ended a semi-truck that pulled out in front of it. Thankfully, no injuries were initally reported. This is the second wreck in less than a month on I-65 involving a bus. The earlier bus wreck resulted in the deaths of two people and injuries to 65 people.

Mullins said the driver of the bus, whom he declined to identify, rear-ended a tractor-trailer "only after the (tractor-trailer) pulled out in front of him."
The bus crash is the second in less than a month in south-central Kentucky. A tour bus crashed on June 25 when the driver apparently fell asleep and ran off the road.
Two people were killed and 64 injured when that bus struck an overpass on I-65 north of Bowling Green.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Tractor-Trailer Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jennifer Moore

Truck Accident? What should you do?

Jennifer Moore — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

We all know driving can be dangerous and that automobile accidents and truck accidents will happen. With the Fourth of July holiday upon us, most of us will be on the roads and interstates over the next several days. Hopefully, we will have a safe journey, but what should you do if you are injured by a semi tractor-trailer or another automobile? Here are a few tips to consider if you are involved in a truck wreck or car wreck:

1. Call 911 immediately if you are in a truck or car collision.
2. Do not move your vehicle until the police arrive.
3. If you are injured, remain in your vehicle (if it is still safe) until medical assistance arrives.
4. If able, obtain the name, address, and phone number of the person who hit you and the name, address, and phone number of the insurance company for the at-fault driver.
5. If able, photograph the accident scene prior to the vehicles being moved and photograph the damage to your vehicle.
6. Ask for the name of the responding police officer.
7. Obtain the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any witnesses.
8. Seek medical attention if you are injured.
9. Within a week following the collision, obtain a copy of the police report from the police department who responded to the scene.
10. Notify your own insurance company regardless of whether you were at fault.
11. Do not sign any insurance papers without seeking the assistance of an attorney.

This list is not exhaustive, but hopefully will provide some guidance if a semi-truck or car collides with your vehicle.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jennifer Moore

Tour Bus In Accident in Tuscumbia

Shannon Weidemann — Mon, 07 May 2007 16:25:00 GMT

A man who drove tour buses for Anchor Tours, based out of Nashville was killed in a late nght trucking accident on May 4th. Police are not sure why but he rear ended a flatbed 18-wheeler with his tour bus. He was thrown from the tour bus and it caught on fire.

The crash also sparked a fire that ultimately charred the entire front end of the bus. At one point, flames were visible throughout the front of the bus. Muscle Shoals firefighters were able to control the fire quickly once they arrived.
The steering wheel of the bus was noticeably bent forward, and the front windshield was in the bed of the truck, having been knocked off during the crash.
Both vehicles were traveling west on Alabama 20.

The 18-wheeler had a two people onboard, but neither was injured. The police are still investigating the accident.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Man Killed in Trucking Accident on I-65

Shannon Weidemann — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 12:52:16 GMT

A semi-truck stopped on I-65 due to an accident was hit from behind by a pickup truck. The pickup truck was then struck by a car. The 45-year-old driver of the pickup truck was killed.

The victim

died of multiple blunt force injuries from the accident, said Rita Taylor, a deputy Jefferson County coroner.
The accident happened about 6 a.m. when a semi truck, a pickup truck and a car all headed northbound on I-65 crashed into one another, said Officer Dwight Mitchell, spokesman for Louisville Metro Police.

The semi-truck driver was not injured in the crash. The driver of the car was taken to a local hospital to be treated for injuries sustained in the accident.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann