Tractor Trailer Truck Accidents

Tractor Trailer Truck Accidents
A young man was driving across the Highway 120 Bridge across Interstate 85. He never knew what hit him. More accurately, he never knew what he hit. A flatbed tractor-trailer truck carrying large sections of pipe had exited the southbound ramp, and attempted to turn left across the bridge. The trailer had no marker lights on its side and the young man's car struck the truck, with the passenger compartment sliding under the flatbed.
Two young high school students were on their way to school early on a January morning in the rain, traveling up Beaver Ruin Road from Highway 29. A tractor-trailer truck with a flatbed trailer was making a U-turn from the northbound side to the southbound side. The truck had no side marker lights and the automobile struck the rear wheels of the trailer.
In each case, the occupants of the automobiles sustained severe injuries as would be expected. Both underwent reconstructive surgeries and endured pain and disability on the way to their recoveries. Fortunately, both recovered from their injuries to the extent they can work, but are not completely free of pain, and probably never will be.
These injuries are tragic because they could have been so easily avoided. Neither trailer had side marker lights, which are required by law. Neither trailer was equipped with reflective strips, which have been shown to be effective in making such trailers visible to oncoming traffic.
Our office litigated both these cases. Significant settlements were obtained prior to trial in each case.
Every driver can learn a lesson from cases such as these. Oversized vehicles may attempt awkward maneuvers. When they do, any driver may find that the right of way is blocked. The truck is failing to yield the right of way, and is likely breaking other rules of the road, depending upon the situation. These situations are worse when they happen after dark.
In these cases, our office hired experts to testify what happens to driver's sense of vision in such situations. A driver's visual attention is drawn to the brightest part of the vehicle, normally the headlights or cablights. Even though a driver might have noticed a trailer blocking the road, when the driver's visual attention is diverted to the cab, the driver will not see the trailer blocking the way.
A driver who notices the cab of a trailer in an unusual position, especially at night, should immediately look behind the cab for a trailer behind it.
Tractor-trailer trucks are generally operated safely. However, because of their size and weight, these vehicles can cause great damage when operated in an unsafe manner. Federal and state laws limit the size and weight of the load a trailer can carry, and require regular inspection of lights, brakes, and other safety equipment. When lawsuits are necessary because of damage caused by improper operation of large trucks, it is necessary to be familiar with such regulations in order to properly present the case. At times, these cases end up in federal court. Anyone having such a case should seek counsel familiar with trucking companies’ laws and regulations, and with the ability to litigate in federal court if necessary.
These represent cases our firm handled with satisfactory results for the injured party. Our firm is available for any inquiries concerning tractor-trailer truck related injuries, and other serious injury cases.