How long does it take to learn to drive a semi-truck … safely?
There are no national standards for training new semi-truck drivers. Here’s why that’s a problem. Several years ago, I represented Angelah, a young girl with a mild traumatic brain injury. She had been in a terrible crash. Her mother was driving. The afternoon was rainy, and the road was wet. A truck driver failed to...
How long does it take to learn to drive a semi-truck … safely? Continue reading…A study on distracted driving enforcement in Washington
The University of Washington Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center conducted a study on distracted driving enforcement. Using focus groups of police officers from King County, Whatcom County, and Spokane County, researchers identified some common problems, including: distracted driving laws are difficult to enforce. The study participants proposed a solution. Laws should prohibit all forms...
A study on distracted driving enforcement in Washington Continue reading…Why we say “crash” instead of “accident”
We have updated the language on TruckingWatchdog.com and Coluccio-Law.com to use the word "crash" instead of "accident". Here’s why we want to use crash, not accident. There is a public health crisis on the roads. More than 35,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. last year. 35,000 is the entire population of...
Why we say “crash” instead of “accident” Continue reading…Why we say “crash” instead of “accident”
We have updated the language on TruckingWatchdog.com and Coluccio-Law.com to use the word “crash” instead of “accident”. Here’s why we want to use crash, not accident. There is a public health crisis on the roads. More than 35,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. last year. 35,000 is the entire population of Lynnwood, Washington. If everyone...
Why we say “crash” instead of “accident” Continue reading…Keeping them safe: a note on teen drivers
As I watch my teenage son and his friends learn the skills of safe driving and the rules of the road, I embrace their growth into adulthood, but, I also experience fears and concerns for their safety. The number of teenagers involved in deadly car crashes in the United States is rising for the first...
Keeping them safe: a note on teen drivers Continue reading…Why are truck, car crash deaths up for the first time in 50 years?
Fatalities in crashes involving large trucks rose 4.1% from 2014 to 2015. Specifically, 4,067 people lost their lives in large truck-related crashes. This is the highest number of truck crash deaths since 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). We also saw a sharp rise in overall traffic deaths in 2015. Our nation lost...
Why are truck, car crash deaths up for the first time in 50 years? Continue reading…Why we don’t say “car accident”
We have changed the language on Coluccio Law's websites and blogs: here's why we're using car crash, not car accident. There is a public health crisis on the roads About 36,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. in 2019. (The total number of fatalities for 2020 is expected to be even higher.) That is the entire population...
Why we don’t say “car accident” Continue reading…Here’s what happened: the story of the Skagit River Bridge collapse
It was early evening on a sunny May day in Washington. A young man was driving his Subaru to hockey practice. A couple in a pickup truck was headed out on a camping trip. A pilot car driver was talking to her husband on the phone. Then, a semi truck’s oversize load struck the Skagit...
Here’s what happened: the story of the Skagit River Bridge collapse Continue reading…Here’s what happened: the story of the Skagit River Bridge collapse
It was early evening on a sunny May day in Washington. A young man was driving his Subaru to hockey practice. A couple in a pickup truck was headed out on a camping trip. A pilot car driver was talking to her husband on the phone. Then, a semi truck’s oversize load struck the Skagit...
Here’s what happened: the story of the Skagit River Bridge collapse Continue reading…
How to read your car insurance policy after a crash
Even if you were not at fault, most people involved in a serious crash find that they need to access their own car insurance policy for cover medical bills and expenses. But if you are not familiar with what it covers, you may not get the full value of your policy. What to look for...
How to read your car insurance policy after a crash Continue reading…How to deal with car insurance after a crash
Managing a claim on your car insurance after a serious accident crash* can feel overwhelming. There are a few simple things you can do to help make the insurance claims process easier. How to organize your crash information Depending on the number of vehicles and people involved in the crash, there may be multiple insurance...
How to deal with car insurance after a crash Continue reading…Trucking company tells drivers: Don’t stop when you’re tired …
This meme was posted on the Facebook page for a Texas trucking company, Stevens Transport, last week. Is this the message that trucking companies send to tired truck drivers? Don't comply with federal laws. Don't concern yourself with anyone's safety. Due to the controversy—many truck drivers joined safety advocates in expressing concern—the company pulled the...
Trucking company tells drivers: Don’t stop when you’re tired … Continue reading…