Recent Posts in Truck Accidents Category

This past Monday in Iowa, authorities reported that a construction worker was hit and killed by a dump truck.  The worker was in a construction area on Interstate 80 in Iowa City when the construction accident took place. 

According to reports, Iowa City Police, Iowa State Patrol, Johnson County Ambulance and Iowa DOT all responded to the accident.  However, they found that the worker was already dead when they arrived at the scene of the accident.

At this time, authorities say that the accident remains under investigation.  They have not released the name of the deceased victim.

Were you involved in a North Carolina construction accident that caused you injuries and pain?  If you answered "yes", know that by hiring a North Carolina personal injury lawyer, you may be able to recover monetary damages.  To learn more, contact the Lanier Law Group today.  We would be happy to review your case and advise you of your rights and legal choices.

Recently, ABC11 ran a significant story about the number truck accidents that occur nationwide.  According to the news station, the state of North Carolina ranks number 6 for the most tractor trailer accidents.  ABC11 says that in 2009, more than 50 percent of trucks in North Carolina received either safety or maintenance violations.  Approximately 12% of trucks were so poorly maintained that they had to be put out of service. 

When you think about it, the figures are quite startling as thousands upon thousands of trucks are driven on North Carolina streets and highways.  If 50% of the trucks that are on the road in the state are poorly maintained or even defective, major accidents are very likely and could easily lead to the injuries and deaths of innocent people.

The Lanier Law Group hopes that the state of North Carolina will crack down on trucking companies and drivers who are violating safety and maintenance laws so that innocent people are not harmed. 

Have you been involved in a truck accident in North Carolina?  If so, now is the time to speak with a North Carolina personal injury lawyer from the Lanier Law Group.  Contact us to discuss your case!

The wife, son, and daughter of a Baltimore man who was killed when he was hit by a semi truck while riding his bicycle has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the truck driver and the driver’s employer.

John R. Yates, 67, was riding his bicycle behind the truck when he became caught in the vehicle’s rear wheels and was run over as the truck turned right onto another street. Yates died at the scene.

The lawsuit filed by Yates’ family says that both truck driver, Michael Dale Chandler, and his employer, Potts & Callahan, Inc. (a demolition, excavation, and equipment rental company), were negligent and thus liable for the death of their loved one. They are seeking $5 million in compensatory damages.

After reviewing video surveillance footage that shows Chandler making a right turn without signaling, the attorney for the Yates family, Steven D. Silverman, argued that Chandler and Potts & Callahan were negligent . Silverman also alleges that Chandler failed to look right to ensure traffic was clear of cyclists or pedestrians.

But a police investigation determined that Yates was at fault for the accident for riding his bicycle in parking lanes and trying to pass the truck on the right, two actions considered illegal in the state of Maryland. A spokesman with the city police said their investigation concluded that Yates drove into the truck.

The attorney representing Potts & Callahan also maintains that neither Chandler nor Potts & Callahan caused the collision.

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg school bus was en route to Whitewater Middle School when it was rear-ended by the truck last Tuesday, February 9 ^th.

Emergency medical services quickly responded to the scene and transported those who were injured to nearby hospitals. It is believed 11 of the 12 injured people were students on the bus, but fortunately none of the injuries sustained by any of the victims were life-threatening. At this time it is still unknown whether or not the truck driver was injured in the accident.

Also unknown is what caused the truck driver to rear-end the school bus. Was he distracted by a hand-held device? Did he experience brake failure? Was he changing the radio? Was he simply not paying attention? Accident investigations are currently underway.

The following information and statistics about large trucks (those whose gross vehicle weight is more than 10,000 pounds) are based on the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• There were 380,000 large truck accidents in the United States
• 4,066 of the 380,000 large truck accidents involved fatalities
• 4,229 people died in large truck accidents in 2008
• 90,000 people were injured in large truck accidents in 2008
• In North Carolina alone there were 1,892 fatal truck accidents
• Large trucks are 3.2 times more likely than other vehicles to be rear-ended in a fatal two-vehicle crash
• One of out of nine traffic fatalities in 2008 resulted from an accident involving a large truck
• Large trucks accounted for 8% of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes
• Of those who died in large truck accidents, 74% were occupants in the other vehicle, 10% were non occupants, and 16% were  occupants of the truck
• Of those injured in large truck accidents, 71% were occupants of another vehicle, 3%  were non occupants, and 26% were occupants of the truck
• 2% of drivers of large trucks involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher
• Most fatal truck accidents occur in rural areas, during the day, and on weekdays
• Close to one-fourth of all truck drivers involved in fatal accidents had at least one speeding ticket, compared to 18% for drivers of passenger vehicles