The Injury Board Commentary - Tractor-Trailer Accidents - Most Commented

UPDATE: Semi Truck Driver Never Hit Brakes Before Crash Killing 3 Year Old Boy

Brett Emison — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:54:44 GMT

I reported yesterday about a tragic semi truck crash in Georgia that killed a three-year-old boy from Ross Township, Pennsylvania. Sean Thornton died and the remaining members of his family were severely injured when a tractor trailer hit their minivan from behind on I-95 in McIntosh County, Georgia.

ABC News affiliate, WTAE, in Pittsburgh has reported that the tractor trailer driver never even hit his brakes before plowing into the back of the minivan.

You can view the WTAE news story here.

Witnesses say the never saw the tractor trailer truck even slow down before it plowed into the family's van, perhaps going 70 miles per hour.

Other news outlets also covered this tragic eighteen wheeler crash.

You can view the KDKA news coverage here.

You can view the WPXI news coverage here.

Georgia State Patrol troopers say the semi truck was speeding at the time of the crash.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the Thornton family, who must not only suffer their own injuries, but also the loss of their little boy, Sean.

Friends and neighbors mourned Sean's loss also. Many described the Thornton family as a close-knit family who like doing many activities together. I cannot imagine their loss.

So far, the details of this tragic crash leaves many questions unanswered: Why did the semi truck driver, Willie Hill, not see that the interstate traffic was slowing down? Why did the trucker never even attempt to slow down or hit his brakes? Was he distracted? Was he tired? Had he fallen asleep? How far had he driven that day? How much did he sleep the night before?

Too many people have been killed by semi truck crashes and trucking accidents.

Nationwide, large trucks (known as tractor trailers, semi trucks, eighteen wheelers, diesel, big rigs, or commercial trucks) make up only about 3% of the vehicles on the road. However, they account for far more traffic fatalities. For example, in Missouri, semi truck crashes make up as much as 15% of traffic deaths. In Illinois, tractor trailer crashes cause more than 10% of traffic deaths.

Driving an 80,000 tractor trailer covering hundreds of thousands of miles is an awesome responsibility. Truckers and trucking corporations must be vigilant about safety.

It may be difficult to pinpoint the cause of a semi truck crash. It takes an experienced team of investigators - including accident reconstructionists, forensic pathologists, and truck driving experts - to determine the cause.

Visit our trucking accident web site to learn more about trucking accident safety or trucking accident investigation.

Learn more and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Tractor Trailer Crash Kills 3-Year-Old Boy In McIntosh County, Georgia

Brett Emison — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:43:20 GMT

NBC news affiliate, WSAV, has reported that a semi truck crash rear-ended a minivan on I-95 in McIntosh County, Georgia killing three-year-old Sean Thornton and injuring five others.

A toddler is dead, 5 other people injured after an accident along Interstate 95.

The van was apparently driving southbound near mile marker 63 in McIntosh County when it was hit from behind by a tractor trailer and run off the road.

A family of 5, Susan and Daniel Thornton and their three children, all from Pittsburgh, were inside at the time of the crash.

It took nearly two hours for Mcintosh and Liberty County firefighters to get them all out.

3 year-old Sean Thornton died in the crash

The other 4 family members were taken to the hospital with various other injuries.

The truck driver, Willie Hill, suffered a broken pelvis and leg.

The accident is still under investigation.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Thornton family, their friends and their community. No family should have to endure such a needless tragedy.

Too many people have been killed by semi truck crashes and trucking accidents.

The National Transportation Safety Board ("NTSB") lists the following as some of the most common causes of big rig accidents:

Poor Driver Training

Driver Fatigue (Tiredness)

Speeding

Overloaded Trucks

Oversized Trucks

Brake Failure

Poor Driving Conditions

Driver Inexperience

Failure To Yield The Right-Of-Way

Driving Under The Influence of Alcohol Or Drugs

Aggressive, Dangerous Or Reckless Driving

Mechanical Failure (Or Improper Maintenance)

Defective Parts (Such As Defective Steering Or Brakes)

Truckers and trucking companies must be mindful of each of these trucking accident causes.

Driving an 80,000 tractor trailer covering hundreds of thousands of miles is an awesome responsibility. Truckers and trucking corporations must be vigilant about safety.

Driver fatigue is a particularly dangerous -- and completely preventable -- cause of trucking accidents. Nearly 15 years ago, the NTSB issued a report warning of truck driver fatigue dangers.

The NTSB found that trucker fatigue was a contributing factor in 30%-40% of all diesel truck accidents. The NTSB found that proper sleep patterns are imperative for truck driver safety. Truckers must get 8 hours of continuous sleep after driving for 10 hours or after being on duty for 15 hours for proper safety.

The NTSB just recently issued a warning that truck drivers should also be screened for a medical condition called sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea denies people the rest they need, and it has been found to be a factor in incident involving every transportation mode, NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman said in letters.

Trucking companies need to quit putting profits over safety. Do they think there is a separate set of rules for them? These companies need to make sure their drivers are properly trained, properly rested and using the highest degree of safety at all times.

Visit our trucking accident web site to learn more about trucking accident safety or trucking accident investigation.

Learn more and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

9 People Confirmed Dead in NE Oklahoma Tractor-Trailer Accident

Jeremy Thurman — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:41:16 GMT

As national headlines focus on the passing of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, a tragedy of worse proportion happened in Oklahoma today. According to Newsok.com, 9 people are now confirmed dead after a tractor-trailer slammed into a line carss stopped by an earlier accident involving a tractor-trailer. The accident happened on the Will Rogers Turnpike northeast of Miami

According to the Highway Patrol and newsok.com,

Investigators don't believe the driver of the tractor-trailer tried to stop before the crash that left eight adults and one child dead, Brown said. The speed limit in the area is 75 mph. A criminal investigation was being conducted, as is routine after a fatal accident, and blood was drawn from the truck driver.

This is a tragic accident on a hot sunny day in Oklahoma. The pictures of dangled metal, fluids and crushed cars on the Oklahoma is astounding and I can simply say my prayers are with the deceased and injured. At a normal time, this might garner national headlines. However, with Michael Jackson’s passing, sadly that won’t be the case.

I hope at some point the issues associated with interstate truck driving come more to the public light. I have no idea of why this driver failed to even slow down, but in my experience in litigating these types of incidents, often times these truck drivers are pushed to drive fast and too many hours by various trucking companies. While this blog is reporting of this tragic accident, I will be discussing in the near future various issues relating to trucking companies and the secrets they don’t won’t the public to know.

UPDATE: The AP is reporting that there are two survivors of the above Oklahoma traffic wreck that killed nine people. A 12 year old young lady and 35 year old woman are listed in critical condition according to the article. As a father of three girls this is truly heart wrenching so please keep these two people in your prayers.

I also wanted to point out that the article says that the

police said they will give prosecutors the results of their investigation to decide whether to bring any charges after the chain-reaction crash on the turnpike that saw some victims pinned in the wreckage for up to nine hours.

Keep in mind that criminal charges don't equate to civil charges. Irregardless of whether criminal charges are filed their is obviously gross negligence on the part of the truck driver. As an attorney who actively works in trucking litigaton, one can only wonder about the circumstantial facts regarding the age of the trucker and the liability the trucking company may have.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeremy Thurman

Kirksville, MO Man Killed When Run Down By Tractor Trailer

Brett Emison — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:24:46 GMT

The Kirksville Daily Express reported that a Kirksville, Missouri man was killed when he was run down on his bicycle by a semi truck early this morning. According to reports, the victim was in his early 40s and was riding his bicycle when he was struck by a 2005 Freightliner eighteen wheeler driven by a Springfield, Missouri man.

From the Kirksville Daily Express:

Kirksville, Mo. -

A Kirksville resident in his early 40s was killed early Tuesday morning when his bicycle was hit by a semi truck.

According to the Kirksville Police Department, officers responded to a call at 2:09 a.m. to an accident on the 4200 block of North Baltimore.

According to Kirksville Police, a 2005 Freightliner truck . . . was northbound on Baltimore when it collided with the bicycle, which was also in the northbound lane.

The victim, identified by Adair County Coroner Brian Noe . . . was transported to Northeast Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who knew the victim.

Avoidable trucking crashes like these need to stop. Crashes like these do not have to happen and are often preventable through the use of simple precautions, such as avoiding distractions while driving and ensuring that all equipment is in proper working condition. It is up to all of us to make sure trucking companies and truck drivers put safety first

All motorists -- and especially semi truck drivers with 80,000 pound rigs -- are supposed to be alert and leave enough room in front of them to be able to avoid crashes like this one. Now, I agree that the vast majority of truckers out there are safe, but even a few bad apples give all the other tractor trailer drivers a bad name.

Too many people have been killed by semi truck crashes and trucking accidents. Trucking companies need to do more to ensure that their equipment and their truck drivers are safe. Driving an 80,000 tractor trailer covering hundreds of thousands of miles is an awesome responsibility. Truckers and trucking corporations must be vigilant about safety.

The National Transportation Safety Board ("NTSB") lists the following as some of the most common causes of big rig accidents:

Poor Driver Training

Driver Fatigue (Tiredness)

Speeding

Overloaded Trucks

Oversized Trucks

Brake Failure

Poor Driving Conditions

Driver Inexperience

Failure To Yield The Right-Of-Way

Driving Under The Influence of Alcohol Or Drugs

Aggressive, Dangerous Or Reckless Driving

Mechanical Failure (Or Improper Maintenance)

Defective Parts (Such As Defective Steering Or Brakes)

Truckers and trucking companies must be mindful of each of these trucking accident causes.

Learn more about trucking accidents and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Breaking News: At least 10 Killed In Kentucky Semi Truck Crash

Brett Emison — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:46:31 GMT

Several news outlets, including CNN, WLKY, LEX18, WAVE3, and WKYT and reported that at least 10 people were killed after a tractor trailer crossed the median on I-65 and crashed into a van near Munfordville, KY and Cave City, KY.

NBC News has reported the death toll at 11.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

From CNN:

(CNN) -- At least 10 people were killed in a wreck on Interstate 65 in Kentucky on Friday morning, a spokesman for the Kentucky State Police said.

The wreck happened between 5:30 and 6 a.m., said Lt. David Jude.

A tractor-trailer apparently crossed the median and hit a passenger van head on, he said. Most of the 10 who died were in the van, he said.

"The scene is really chaotic right now," he said.

The wreck happened at mile marker 63 on I-65 in southwestern Kentucky. The wreck site is roughly 40 miles northwest of the city of Bowling Green, near Mammoth Cave National Park.

From LEX18:

Kentucky State Police are on the scene of an accident with multiple fatalities on I-65 near Cave City.

Officials say that at least 11 people were killed, but State Police will not confirm the exact number of fatalities and say the total could grow.

Police say the accident happened about 5:17 a.m.central time in the northbound lanes at the 63 mile marker. A department of transportation official says a southbound semi-truck crossed the median and crashed head-on into an 18-passenger van. The driver of the semi was killed, along with multiple passengers in the van.

Other passengers in the van were transported to the hospital.

LEX 18 has learned the passengers in the van were Mennonites.

Coroners from other counties are on the way to the scene to assist the Hart County Coroner.

Police have set up a detour on northbound I-65. Traffic is being routed off at Exit 58 to KY218, then to northbound US31W and on to westbound KY61. Traffic will re-enter I-65 N at Exit 91.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those involved in this horrific crash. It appears from news reports that very few details about the crash are known at this time. One has to wonder what caused this eighteen wheeler to cross the median and crash into this van full of people.

Within the last several weeks, a truck driver was doing paper work while driving and crashed through several motorcycles in Phoenix killing three people, a tractor trailer caused a massive 50 car pile up on Interstate 80 in Wyoming, an eighteen wheeler crashed into the back of a Greyhound bus near Bowling Green, a truck driver slammed into a woman's parked vehicle while he was watching streaming porn on a laptop while driving. A truck driver slammed into the back of a passenger van in Indiana. A semi truck crashed into a parked vehicle in Texas. Late last year, a trucker never even hit his brakes before crashing into a minivan stopped in traffic and killed a three-year-old boy.

Why do crashes like this keep happening? The most likely answers are distracted driving and fatigue, although it appears weather may have been factor in the Wyoming pile up.

Earlier this year, the federal government enacted regulations to crack down on distracted driving by truck and bus drivers. A study by Virginia Tech's Transportation Institute found that distracted truck drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or a close call.

Driver fatigue is also a particularly dangerous -- and completely preventable -- cause of trucking accidents. Nearly 15 years ago, the NTSB issued a report warning of truck driver fatigue dangers.

The NTSB found that trucker fatigue was a contributing factor in 30%-40% of all diesel truck accidents. The NTSB found that proper sleep patterns are imperative for truck driver safety. Truckers must get 8 hours of continuous sleep after driving for 10 hours or after being on duty for 15 hours for proper safety.

The NTSB has also issued a warning that truck drivers should also be screened for a medical condition called sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea denies people the rest they need, and it has been found to be a factor in incident involving every transportation mode, NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman said in letters.

Too many people have been killed by semi truck crashes and trucking accidents.

The National Transportation Safety Board ("NTSB") lists the following as some of the most common causes of big rig accidents:

Poor Driver Training

Driver Fatigue (Tiredness)

Speeding

Overloaded Trucks

Oversized Trucks

Brake Failure

Poor Driving Conditions

Driver Inexperience

Failure To Yield The Right-Of-Way

Driving Under The Influence of Alcohol Or Drugs

Aggressive, Dangerous Or Reckless Driving

Mechanical Failure (Or Improper Maintenance)

Defective Parts (Such As Defective Steering Or Brakes)

Truckers and trucking companies must be mindful of each of these trucking accident causes.

Driving an 80,000 tractor trailer covering hundreds of thousands of miles is an awesome responsibility. Truckers and trucking corporations must be vigilant about safety.

Learn more about trucking accidents and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Big Trucks Kill! - The Dangers of 18-Wheelers

Joe Crumley — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:14:00 GMT

Sharing the road with big rig 18-wheelers is dangerous. These large and powerful trucks often weigh 25 times more than the average passenger car. So, it goes without saying, that when these multi-ton behemoths are involved in crashes, the amount of damage and resulting injuries tend to be catastrophic. Passenger-car drivers face many risks when they share the road with the big dogs.

Here are images from professional towing companies.... Some with cars and some just trucks... but look carefully, there's not much left of many of the cars: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maWm4LC5q5c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NeH3N9GoVk

Many semi-truck wrecks occur because the driver is tired, inattentive or distracted. Sometimes they are under the influence of alcohol, prescription/non-prescription drugs or are driving aggressively, too fast, or too close to other vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration undertook a three year study to analyze the causes of large truck accidents. That research found:

For all crashes in the study (single and multiple vehicle crashes), trucks were assigned the critical reason in 55 percent of the cases. Driver reasons accounted for 87 percent of the reasons, and most involved failure to correctly recognize the situation or poor driving decisions. Thirteen percent of the coded reasons involved the truck, weather conditions, or roadway problems. The most common associated factors recorded were driver factors, such as legal drug use, traveling too fast for conditions, unfamiliarity with the roadway, inadequate surveillance, fatigue, and feeling under pressure from motor carriers. The most common vehicle associated factor was brake problems. Traffic flow interruption and requirements that the driver stop before the crash were prevalent roadway factors.

For two-vehicle crashes involving a truck and a passenger vehicle, trucks were assigned the critical reason in 44 percent of the crashes and passenger vehicles in 56 percent.

Truckie D, a trucker who contributes many excellent articles here on InjuryBoard, points out most crashes are caused by cars drivers, not truckers. The 56/44 breakdown in the FMCSA study seems to support that. But semis are driven by professional drivers, usually for commercial gain. Professionals driving dangerous behemoths must be held to a higher standard than us amateurs.

It is only fair to acknowledge that these drivers are under considerable time constraints and are often trying to meet critical deadlines. New federal regulations set forth time limits for how long truck drivers can be on the road. Some truckers, perhaps most, ignore these limits, using double logs or other tricks to gain the system.

Truckie also points out that states are closing rest stops, making it tough for truckers to find a place to rest. Many places do not allow truckers to park their 18-wheeler in their parking lot; and sometimes those places that do provide trucker accommodations are full.

But a trucker is a professional driver. Just as a professional driver should plan ahead to not run out of gas, a professional driver should plan ahead to have a place to stop to maintain compliance with the law. The alternative is to risk the lives of innocent drivers and passengers on the road. As I mentioned in a comment on his article:

... I can tell you that there are two main extreme types of truckers.

One is the very professional driver who understands that he's driving a Goliath among us Lilliputians (to mix references), and acts accordingly. I suspect that most of these guys recieved excellent training by an excellent teacher at a real driving school, have never taken a drink within 12 hours of a shift, always check lights, always do a complete inspection of their truck and trailer multiple times daily, never keep double DOT logs, never drive sleepy, and have endless patience with all the goofy things auto drivers do around them.

Sadly, there are too many clowns out there who were taught by their Grandpa or their boss, who think they're the best driver in the world, and thus can do anything, who hammer the accelerator and the brakes endlessly, who leave inspections for the guys back in the garage, or whoever had the truck before or after them. They cheat on their driving time and their logbooks, cuz laws and rules are for sissies, they party all night and get up early to drive still half-drunk or half-asleep, and they drive the same speed in a night snowstorm as a dry sunny day. Often they work doing short runs around town and not over the road. And if some idiot in a minivan or a subcompact dares pass them on the right, cuts them off a little, or drives under 80 in the fast lane, these clowns think it's a good a idea to throw "a little fear o' God in them" by putting the front bumper of his 80,000 pound behemoth inches behind their rear bumper.

It's rare, but I've seen it too many times.

There are many degrees of skill between these extemes. And sadly, most of the killed and maimed who come to me have encountered someone closer to the second driver than the first.

Passenger-vehicle drivers are unable to ignore the presence of 18-wheelers on the road. Big rig 18-wheelers can and do bully the road. They dominate it, by noise, by weight, and mostly by size. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2006 one out of nine traffic fatalities resulted from a collision involving a large truck.

Horrific crash resulting in seven deaths.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw3odVTVNfA

Here's an empty squad car hit by a FedEx tandem truck while clearing another crash. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpwtsCds17U&feature=PlayList&p=FC4DBB03BF4BE17C&index=14

While it’s impossible to completely eliminate the dangers of driving with 18-wheelers, there are several ways to reduce your risk. Consider the following tips:

18-wheeler Trucks Have Their Own Limitation Big trucks cannot maneuver like passenger vehicles. Oftentimes, these trucks are carrying thousands of pounds of cargo and it is difficult for them to not only accelerate, but to stop. For this reason, it’s important to avoid cutting too closely in front of trucks and avoid sudden braking.
Keep Your Distance Big trucks are hard to see around. Make sure you keep your distance when traveling behind a large truck. Following too closely prevents you from seeing potential hazards, such as pot holes and road debris. Also, if the truck doors shift loose then cargo may spill out. In addition to watching brake lights, you must keep a proper distance between your vehicle and the truck in front you.
Avoid the Shoulder of a Road If you experience car trouble or get a flat tire, try your best to get off the road. The shoulder (where most pull off to after they encounter problems) is one of the most dangerous places. Most large trucks travel in the right lane. Parking your vehicle and/or attempting repairs in the shoulder puts you at extreme risk. Shoulders are even more dangerous when roads are wet or slippery. When your only choice is to pull off onto the shoulder, move away from your vehicle and the road; then contact a tow truck to pull your car to a safe location.

Here's a guy who doesn't pull over far enough, but is it his fault, or the trucker who's not paying any attention? Regardless of that, it will be the car driver and passengers most likely killed or maimed:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiiBmT6lYyQ

18-wheelers are very important. They carry large amounts of cargo across our country, and are part of the lifeblood of our economy. Long ago, our legislators made the choice to keep them on the same highway system as passenger cars, for better or worse.

But these mammoth vehicles can create dangerous situations and cause disastrous results. Drive cautiously and remain aware of other travelers on the road. Be considerate of others, consider each vehicles' limitations, and always watch out for the big rigs.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Joe Crumley

Did You Know... Truck Companies Sometimes Hire Bad Drivers?

Brett Emison — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:35:00 GMT

Most truckers on the road today are competent, safe and dedicated professionals. However, in the cutthroat trucking industry there is constant pressure to hold down costs in order to gain a competitive advantage. When fuel prices, maintenance costs and other expenses increase, trucking companies are often tempted to lower their standards in hiring and retaining drivers. These companies still have a duty to ensure that their drivers are qualified and properly trained to handle an 80,000 pound big rig.

Normally, a significant portion of the hiring process for a truck driver position is spent determining an applicant’s suitability for the job, including examining the applicant’s experience, previous training and driving record. When trucking companies take the time (and expense) to complete this process properly, there is a high likelihood of success in hiring safe, competent and professional truckers. However, when companies cut corners, it is possible for unsafe, unprofessional or even unlicensed drivers to get behind the wheel of these land-locomotives, which poses a potential hazard to all motorists.

Some of the questions that should be addressed as part of the hiring process include:

Does the driver have a history of trucking accidents or traffic citations?
Has the driver failed any drug or alcohol tests?
Does the driver have a history of chemical or alcohol dependency?
Does the driver have a criminal history?
Is there evidence that the driver's records or logs have been altered or falsified?
Does the driver have medical conditions that could affect his/her ability to drive a large commercial truck?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, the applicant may not be a good candidate, or at the very least deserves extra scrutiny. Trucking companies owe it to the rest of the driving public to ensure that their drivers are safe and competent.

I would like to hear from trucking professionals – what is your opinion on hiring standards? Are you aware of unprofessional drivers falling through the cracks and getting hired? How can the system be improved?

[More topics in my "Did You Know" Series]

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Did You Know... Many Semi Truck Underride Bars May Not Be Strong Enough To Protect Drivers?

Brett Emison — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:00:00 GMT

I have written before about trucking accidents, and it goes without saying that accidents involving cars and semi-trucks are often devastating for the car occupants. Furthermore, it is always a major concern to me when a piece of equipment that is supposed to prevent injuries actually causes more significant injuries. I want to make it very clear that I believe underride bars are an essential piece of safety equipment. However, it is evident that they need to be made even safer in order to maximize their effectiveness in helping to save drivers’ lives.

What Happens When An Underride Guard Fails

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is also pushing for improved underride bars and is petitioning the federal government to require stronger bars on more trucks. Some of the problems the IIHS has noted are that the bars are not required on all trucks and when they are present on exempt trucks and trailers, they don’t meet the 1996 rules for strength or energy absorption. Another problem is that “Under current certification standards, the trailer, underride guard, bolts, and welding don't have to be tested as a whole system.”

The IIHS contends that underride bar technology has not kept pace with vehicle crashworthiness. This recent study from the IIHS examines how, why and at what speed these guards fail. The report shows that truck underride bars can fail in relatively low-speed crashes leading to deadly consequences for car occupants.

"Cars' front-end structures are designed to manage a tremendous amount of crash energy in a way that minimizes injuries for their occupants," says Adrian Lund, Institute president. "Hitting the back of a large truck is a game changer. You might be riding in a vehicle that earns top marks in frontal crash tests, but if the truck's underride guard fails — or isn't there at all — your chances of walking away from even a relatively low-speed crash aren't good.

IIHC’s Lunc also noted, “"The aim [of the study] was to see if some underride guards perform better than others and to identify what crash speeds and configurations produce different types of failure… Damage to the cars in some of these tests was so devastating that it's hard to watch the footage without wincing. If these had been real-world crashes there would be no survivors."

The study featured 2010 Chevy Malibus (which received a Five-Star Safety rating from NHTSA and a “Top Safety Pick” from IIHS) being crashed into three different semi-trailers, one of which was certified only to U.S. standards and the other two to both U.S. standards and also to more stringent Canadian standards. Dummies were decapitated in three of the six crash tests. Trailers made by Wabash National Corp., based in Lafayette, Indiana, are engineered to exceed the Canadian requirements. Trailers made by Hyundai Translead Inc., designed to meet U.S. standards alone showed the most problems. A trailer made by Vanguard National Trailer Corp. in Monon, Indiana, was also tested. It performed better than the Hyundai trailer but not as well as the one from Wabash.

If trucking companies won't do the right thing and improve these critical safety components on their own, hopefully NHTSA will take this study into consideration and make the U.S. regulations on underride bars more stringent.

Update [11:30 a.m. CDT]

View the IIHS truck underride guard video.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Ohio Semi Truck Crash Kills 4; Injures 6 More

Brett Emison — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:43:21 GMT

ABC News has reported that a tractor trailer lost control on Interstate 70 during a snowstorm near Springfield, Ohio, killing at least three people and injuring six more.

In Ohio, a winter storm warning was in effect until Saturday morning. That's on top of the snow that had already coated Interstate 70, where a tractor-trailer spun out of control Thursday, crossed the median and swerved into oncoming traffic, colliding with a small bus transporting adult disabled passengers, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

Three passengers on the bus were killed, as was its driver. Six other passengers on the bus, which was carrying 11 people, were injured, as was the driver of the commercial truck, Sgt. Raymond Durant said.

Reports from Tampa Bay Online and the Associated Press put the death total from this trucking accident at four people.

Our prayers and our thoughts go out to the families of those injured and killed in this tragic collision. Too many people have been killed by semi truck crashes and trucking accidents.

Hazardous winter weather means drivers must be extra careful when driving their vehicles. This is particularly true when your vehicle is an 80,000 pound tractor trailer. It is clear that hazardous weather conditions had something to do with this terrible collision, but why was the trucker driving in the first place?

Is it safe to take an 80,000 semi truck onto an Interstate highway during a blizzard? How fast was this truck driver going that his vehicle could jackknife and slide clear across the median? Why was the truck driver going so fast? Was he pressured by the trucking company he worked for to push through the blizzard and get the load delivered? Was the semi truck properly maintained and outfitted for hazardous winter weather?

The National Transportation Safety Board ("NTSB") lists the following as some of the most common causes of big rig accidents:

Poor Driver Training

Driver Fatigue (Tiredness)

Speeding

Overloaded Trucks

Oversized Trucks

Brake Failure

Poor Driving Conditions

Driver Inexperience

Failure To Yield The Right-Of-Way

Driving Under The Influence of Alcohol Or Drugs

Aggressive, Dangerous Or Reckless Driving

Mechanical Failure (Or Improper Maintenance)

Defective Parts (Such As Defective Steering Or Brakes)

Truckers and trucking companies must be mindful of each of these trucking accident causes.

Driving an 80,000 tractor trailer covering hundreds of thousands of miles is an awesome responsibility - especially when driving through hazardous blizzard conditions. Truckers and trucking corporations must be vigilant about safety.

Visit our trucking accident web site to learn more about trucking accident safety or trucking accident investigation.

Learn more and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Two College Students Killed in Sewanee Tractor Trailer Wreck

George Fusner — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:17:47 GMT

19-year-old Kathryn "Katy" Christianson of Chattanooga and 18-year-old Kathleen Beech of Clarksville were killed in the Thursday morning crash while they are two other University of the South rowing team members were en route to practice. The accident occurred at approximately 7 AM local time. This hits close to home as I have a son in college.

According to police reports, Beech (the driver of the vehicle) went to cross U.S. 41-A at Airport Road when her vehicle was struck by an oncoming tractor-trailer, driven by John H. Tucker. Tucker was treated at a hospital and released.

It is a difficult time for all those involved to pick up the pieces. Ms. Christianson and Ms. Bleech leave behind friends, family, and teammates. They all have my condolences.

Many facts of the accident remain untold. What was the cause of the accident? Did Ms. Bleech not see the truck? It was early enough, he should have had his lights on. How fast was the truck going? These are questions that hopefully will find answers. Also, the passengers of Ms. Bleech’s vehicle (as well as Ms. Christianson’s family) can recover from the insurance policies of both Ms. Bleech and the truck driver, even if Ms. Bleech was the more negligent driver.

If you or someone you know is injured as a passenger of a vehicle, talk to an experienced car wreck or tractor trailer wreck attorney about recovering what is due. Just because the driver of your vehicle was negligent does not bar you from recovering from the other driver’s insurance policy or from their insurance policy if you are a passenger. IN some cases if there is not enough insurance your own underinusred motorist policy may allow for a recovery as well.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by George Fusner