Log Truck Crash: News, Safety Tips, and Prevention
With more than 4700 fatalities every year, collisions that involve large vehicles like log trucks can leave dozens of devastated victims in their wake. As a fellow driver, it’s important to understand how log truck accidents occur and what to do in order to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Have you or a loved...
Log Truck Crash: News, Safety Tips, and Prevention Continue reading…Life after a huge tractor-trailer collision in a highway “black out”
Being ready to respond to a road hazard is a basic duty of every driver on a public road or highway. Professional drivers have an even higher standard. A truck driver who fails to take necessary and appropriate action can cause a lot of pain and damage. That is what happened to Constance. Driving through...
Life after a huge tractor-trailer collision in a highway “black out” Continue reading…Truck crash tragedy caused by training failures
A squall is a sudden, sharp increase in wind speed and usually associated with heavy rain showers. Squalls usually last only a few minutes. In the Pacific Northwest, squalls are not an unusual occurrence. It was late May, near the Washington – Oregon border and a commercial driver trainee was behind the wheel of a...
Truck crash tragedy caused by training failures Continue reading…Family of man crushed in street sweeper accident settles wrongful death case
The family of a pedestrian who was run over by in a street sweeper accident have settled their wrongful death lawsuit against the companies that owned and operated the heavy equipment. In February 2018, the victim, Mr. Alexandru Culai, was struck and killed by a street sweeper on 120th Avenue NE in Bellevue, Washington. With...
Family of man crushed in street sweeper accident settles wrongful death case Continue reading…Everyone is tired, but it’s truck driver fatigue you should worry about
The number of road incidents involving driver drowsiness is close to eight times higher than the federal estimate, based on a recent study by AAA. Analyzing data from more than 700 dashcams and 3593 drivers, researchers looked at the 3 minutes prior to a crash. By tracking eyelid closures, they found that 9.5% of all...
Everyone is tired, but it’s truck driver fatigue you should worry about 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…Why trucking companies should check their own drivers for sleep apnea
Sleep apnea, a disorder causing repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, affects at least one in 10 people. In serious cases, obstructive sleep apnea can cause someone to fall asleep with little to no warning. In 2016, after a spate of high-profile train crashes and fatal truck crashes caused by sleeping drivers, the Obama administration...
Why trucking companies should check their own drivers for sleep apnea Continue reading…What happens when sleep is a safety issue?
Recently, I reviewed a Police Report where the truck driver admitted he only had 3 hours of sleep the night before he caused a serious crash.* For many of us, losing a couple of hours of sleep at night just means we’re a little less productive the next day. When your job is driving—especially if...
What happens when sleep is a safety issue? Continue reading…Why these 4 blind spots in trucks are still a huge safety problem
A "blind spot" is an area around the vehicle that the driver can't see in the mirrors. All vehicles have them, but semi-trucks have 4 big blind spots. Here a truck’s blind spots, or "no-zones": Left side, under the cab mirror; Right side, under the cab mirror and extending out; In front of the truck...
Why these 4 blind spots in trucks are still a huge safety problem 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…Family spurs government to action after tragic truck accident
The truck accident crash that’s changing safety laws In May 2013, Marianne Karth and the three youngest of her nine children were driving from their home in North Carolina to Texas to visit family. The Karth’s Crown Victoria came upon a traffic back-up on the interstate, the result of an accident two miles ahead. Behind...
Family spurs government to action after tragic truck accident Continue reading…Celebrity injured in truck crash shows why we need trucker sleep laws
Many truck drivers operate on our highways after long hours behind the wheel without proper rest and sleep. This fact came to the forefront when the popular comedian, Tracy Morgan, was seriously injured in a crash with an 18-wheel tractor-trailer. Walmart employed the driver of the tractor-trailer. It was reported that he had been awake...
Celebrity injured in truck crash shows why we need trucker sleep laws Continue reading…