Big mistake: Walmart blames victims in Tracy Morgan truck crash case
It’s a horrible—but common—story about a truck crash. A tractor-trailer transporting goods for Walmart rear-ended a limo bus on a highway. Law enforcement’s investigation shows that the truck driver had not slept for 24 hours prior to the crash, and that he failed to pay proper attention as he approached stopped traffic. One passenger was...
Big mistake: Walmart blames victims in Tracy Morgan truck crash case Continue reading…Trucking industry fights to hide truck safety records from public
It’s rare that hiding information helps to solve a problem. This is not an exception. The Safer Trucks and Buses Act, a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Barletta, would remove the trucking carrier safety rankings from public view. Anyone can check a carrier’s safety record on the Federal Motor Carrier...
Trucking industry fights to hide truck safety records from public Continue reading…Here’s what you need to know about car insurance coverage in Washington State
Do you actually understand your car insurance coverage? In my many years as a personal injury lawyer, I’ve met a lot of smart people who don’t know anything about the insurance policy they spend hundreds of dollars on every month. Here’s a quick-and-easy guide to car insurance coverage in Washington State. Liability coverage What it...
Here’s what you need to know about car insurance coverage in Washington State Continue reading…The Quiet Reality of a TBI
Jerry credits his smashed bike helmet with saving his life. He describes waking up in an ambulance, and spending a day in the ER. But it was a full nine months after his bike crash that Jerry was finally diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. Jerry, a long-time cyclist, describes how his physical injuries masked...
The Quiet Reality of a TBI Continue reading…The days that really change your life –
Most change is slow. Bit by bit, people can adjust to gradual changes. Growing up, going to school, learning a skill, developing relationships: these things all take time. Can you pick out the days had the most impact on your life? Births and deaths are the obvious, big life-changers. Even so, we usually adapt to...
The days that really change your life – Continue reading…Drivers on alert: it’s back-to-school time
It’s a dangerous time of year: during the summer, drivers fall out of the habit of slowing down in school zones, and stopping for buses. Every driver – not just parents – needs to stay alert behind the wheel. Do not text or use your cell phone while driving. Buses are back in traffic. Yes,...
Drivers on alert: it’s back-to-school time Continue reading…Not enough truck drivers, and too many accidents: what’s the solution?
Long hours on the road. Stressful situations. Days away from home. Trucking can be a tough job. It’s not for everyone. 30,000 tractor-trailer drivers are needed across the U.S. right now, the American Trucking Association (ATA) estimates. Another 100,000 will be needed every year for the next decade. Economic growth leads to more goods being shipped on highways,...
Not enough truck drivers, and too many accidents: what’s the solution? Continue reading…Easy ways to make your home safer today – Summer Safety
Spend 5 minutes in a medication sweep. 60,000 kids end up in an ER every year after getting into medicine. Take a few minutes and assess: Is all of the medicine in a cabinet or container? It’s easy to forget a bottle on the kitchen counter, or next to a sick child’s bed: do a...
Easy ways to make your home safer today – Summer Safety Continue reading…A plan to catch chameleons
Chameleon carriers are trucking companies that shut down to hide from penalties after multiple safety violations or crashes—and then re-open under a new name. For more, see Chasing the Chameleon. These carriers run some of the most dangerous trucks on the road: 18% of suspected chameleon carriers were in serious truck crashes, according to the GAO. That’s...
A plan to catch chameleons Continue reading…There’s a 10% chance your car has been recalled – the fastest way to check
Just this year, about one out of every 10 cars on the road in the U.S. has been recalled. General Motors alone has recalled more than 14 million cars in 2014. That’s more than the number of GM cars sold in 2013, and accounts for 50% of this year’s recalls. Ford and Toyota have also...
There’s a 10% chance your car has been recalled – the fastest way to check Continue reading…Chasing the chameleon
The term “chameleon” refers to one that is subject to quick or frequent change, especially in appearance. Chameleons change in order to hide. Hiding from safety In the trucking industry, The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) use a DOT number to identify every company that operates semi-trucks. Theses...
Chasing the chameleon Continue reading…How do you know when to take away the car keys?
It’s hard to tell. We know a teenager is more likely to cause an accident than a senior citizen. And you don’t want to curb your elderly parent’s independence. You also don’t want to wait until a serious accident makes the decision for you. Before you even suspect that aging parent might not be a...
How do you know when to take away the car keys? Continue reading…