Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

On June 24, 2009 the committee that controls the highway and trucking issues in the U.S. House of Representatives (the House Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Highways and Transit) will be reviewing the language contained in the Surface Transportation Act of 2009.

This is a prelude to having the bill passed by Congress later this year. At this point, there is no language included in the bill that would allow increases to truck size and weight. Unfortunately, it appears that Representative Michael Michaud is trying to amend the act to add language that was also included in H.R. 1799 which allowed drastic increased truck weight.

Larger trucks are the last thing we need. They don’t stop easily and tip over more frequently. Their already deficient break systems will fail if more weight is added. The heavier trucks will inflict more damage to roadways and bridges. Heavier trucks will require more fuel consumption and create higher pollution levels.

Call your member of Congress today and urge him or her to oppose any increase in the weight of tractor trailers on our highways. They are dangerous enough as it is - as the daily tragedies on the roads attest.

Continue reading "The Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009" »

On June 2, 2009, Christine Osterholtz of Lakeland, Florida was heading eastbound on Interstate 4 when she fell asleep. She was traveling in the center lane and her vehicle drifted into the far right lane into the pathway of a tractor trailer being driven by Michael Dacunto of Spring Hill. The impact to the left side of the truck caused both vehicles to slide across the entire breadth of I-4 and land on top of the guardrail separating them from the oncoming traffic. The tractor trailer flipped sideways and landed on top of Christine’s car pinning her and her car completely under the truck. Luckily the both drivers were taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.

Continue reading "Driver Falls Asleep at the Wheel and Ends up Under a Tractor-Trailer" »

According to reports, on June 3, 2009, four construction workers were on the way to their homes in Greenville, South Carolina, when the Ford pick-up they were in veered into oncoming traffic hitting the cab of tractor trailer head on. The collision caused a third vehicle to crash into the back of the big rig which was transporting a backhoe on a lowboy trailer. The driver of the pick-up, Jesus Zamora-Barrera, and his brother Juan died at the scene. Greenville County Deputy Kent Green stated that it appeared Jesus was wearing his seatbelt, but that the point of impact appeared to be the driver’s side of the truck. The other two passengers in the pick-up were severely injured and transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital. Fortunately, the driver of the big rig and the third vehicle' driver both appear to be uninjured.

Continue reading "Tractor Trailer versus Ford Pick-Up in Greenville, South Carolina" »