Guilty verdict in trial for trucker who killed 6 in highway crash
On a warm June night in 2015, a trucker cruising down down a busy highway in Tennessee didn't slow for traffic. He never hit the brakes as his tractor-trailer slammed into a Prius at 80 mph. That car was stuck to the front grill of the truck for another 453 feet, as the truck hit...
Guilty verdict in trial for trucker who killed 6 in highway crash Continue reading…Everybody’s death matters – Including the elderly
Recently, I was asked to write a short article about making wrongful death claims for elderly people for Trial Lawyer magazine. While the article is directed to my fellow trial lawyers in the Washington State Association for Justice, there are a few thoughts I'd like to share with all of you. About Wrongful Death:...
Everybody’s death matters – Including the elderly Continue reading…Why was there 62% more semi crashes in Washington last year?
Have you wondered if there have been more semi-truck crashes than usual in Washington State? In 2017, after a spate of high-profile semi crashes in Washington that resulted in serious injuries and/or closed major highways for hours, we looked into this question. The Washington State Patrol’s Collision Analysis Tool shows 1087 semi crashes met the damage threshold for reporting in 2017. That’s up...
Why was there 62% more semi crashes in Washington last year? Continue reading…Remembering Brooke, and the death that broke his heart
On Friday, I received a message from the brother of one of my clients. My former client had suddenly passed away on Christmas Day. His cause of death was not immediately known. In my mind, it was caused by a broken heart. I represented Brooke about 10 years ago, but his story stays with me....
Remembering Brooke, and the death that broke his heart Continue reading…This trucking company is incredibly dangerous, should be permanently closed
Last week, the FMCSA ordered trucking company Evenflo Logistics to "immediately cease all interstate and intrastate operation." A separate "imminent hazard" order was issued to the trucking company's driver, Shawn Roberts. Evenflo Logistics registered as an LLC in Washington State in October 2016. The sheer number of extremely dangerous practices since then is shocking. 1o...
This trucking company is incredibly dangerous, should be permanently closed Continue reading…The controversy over Electronic Logging Devices, explained
The ELD Law An Electronic Logging Device (ELD) is a computer record of the truck's mileage and time on the road. As of December 18, 2017, long-haul commercial truckers are required to use an ELD instead of a paper log. What does that mean for truckers? The new law means their time will be tracked...
The controversy over Electronic Logging Devices, explained Continue reading…Incredible video shows what happens in a semi truck rollover crash
Around 5 a.m. on Monday morning, a semi truck rollover crash blocked the northbound lanes of I-5 out of Portland. Here's an incredible view of the crash, captured by another vehicle on I-5 (or watch it on youtube here.) Truck crashes happen all the time, but it's not often that we get to see how...
Incredible video shows what happens in a semi truck rollover crash Continue reading…Seattle makes a big safety improvement to city trucks
Sharp-eyed Seattle residents may notice something different about SDOT trucks. Earlier this month, the Seattle Department of Transportation started installing side guard panels on city-owned heavy trucks. Seattle’s Department of Transportation has started installing the side guards on the city-owned fleet. (Photo: Seattle DOT) Why truck side guards matter This may not seem like a big change, but...
Seattle makes a big safety improvement to city trucks Continue reading…Add safe truck parking to prevent crashes
A lack of safe truck parking may lead to more truck crashes. Oregon State University researchers looked at truck parking as a public safety issue (PDF). They studied a 290-mile section of Highway 97, a major trucking route that runs along the eastern slope of the Cascades across the whole length of Oregon. More truck...
Add safe truck parking to prevent crashes Continue reading…No tolerance for short cuts in repair after car wreck
A jury recently awarded $42 million to a young couple who suffered major burns and crushing injuries in a car wreck. A Dallas body shop fixed their hail-damaged Honda using a cheaper, but untested, method of roof repair. Just before Christmas, the couple was headed for a family visit when a truck hydroplaned and hit...
No tolerance for short cuts in repair after car wreck Continue reading…This is how a 12-ton steel beam just fell off a semi truck
Commercial truck drivers and motor carriers have stringent rules and regulations they must follow; because of the damage that can be caused by their errors, they are subject to greater scrutiny.In the many years I have handled trucking cases, I have seen many careless acts by professional drivers and motor carriers.But mistakes like this one...
This is how a 12-ton steel beam just fell off a semi truck Continue reading…This is what a multiple-threat crash looks like
On a sunny winter afternoon in Seattle, a kid I’ll call “Marcus” was walking home from middle school. He was with his classmate and good friend. Marcus' grandmother dropped the boys off to get a soda; they would walk the familiar route home together. At a street corner, the boys waited to cross. An oncoming...
This is what a multiple-threat crash looks like Continue reading…