This week there have been two news bulletins about cement truck rollover which, fortunately, did not cause any serious injuries. It could be a lot worse. I learned through one recent case that standard concrete industry truck driver training materials emphasize how handling characteristics of such vehicles differ from other…
NOTE TO TRUCK DRIVERS: Our law practice focuses on representation of people who are seriously injured, and families of those killed, in crashes with large commercial vehicles. While those are often truck drivers, we do not handle truckers’ employment law matters. For legal advice on issues with your employer, see…
While I make my living and support my family as a trial lawyer representing people badly in hurt in truck and bus crashes — and the surviivors of those who do not survive — the ultimate objective is to improve safety and reduce the incidence of future injuries and deaths.…
A Kansas federal court jury has awarded a $23.5 million verdict for a serious spinal cord injury arising from a 2006 wreck in New Mexico, according to a news story by Ron Sylvester of the Wichita Eagle. The judge reduced the amount to $15.3 million because the jury decided the…
This morning I monitored a telephone conference meeting of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC). They will have a two day meeting in Washington on December 9th and 10th to work on a letter report to the Administrator outlining – innovative safety initiatives and…
Driver fatigue is a major cause of catastrophic truck crashes. Michigan attorney Terry Coleman suggests that the correlation of fatigue, slow reaction time and aging should lead to imposing a mandatory retirement for truck drivers at age 65, the same age at which airline pilots are required to retire. While…
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee announced a telephone conference meeting for Monday, December 1, 2008 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST. Here is the rather opaque agenda that has been announced. 1. Call to Order Larry W. Minor, Designated Federal Official, MCSAC 2. Opening…
While my perspective is that of a trial lawyer handling truck and bus accident injury cases in Atlanta, Georgia, it is necessary to keep up with developments nationally. Therefore, I am following how trucking safety issues are on the agenda for the new administration in Washington. Last Monday, the transportation…
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC) announced on November 26th, the day before the Thanksgiving holiday, that it will hold committee meetings on Dec. 1, the day after the holiday weekend, and Dec. 10. The announcement did not include any indication of what will…
A few days ago, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published a final rule adopting the provisions of its 2007 interim final rule, increasing the maximum driving time from 10 to 11 hours per day, out of 14 hours on duty. According to a report by Jill Dunn on e-Trucker.com,…