Trucking and Transportation Accidents

With offices on Interstate 80, we are continuously involved in federal and state cases in which people are killed or seriously injured because of the negligence and recklessness of trucking companies and their drivers. Some of those cases have involved multi-vehicle pileups, in which big trucks have caused devastating damages and fires. In one case – a 36-vehicle pileup — our wrongful death clients had to be identified with DNA evidence. Justice has been obtained for individuals who have been catastrophically injured, and for families who have suffered the deaths of loved ones. Theories have been successfully developed to hold major trucking companies liable for the crashes caused by their subcontractors.

Common Cause of Trucking Accidents:

  • Fatigued/Distracted Drivers
  • Inexperienced Drivers
  • Improperly Loaded Cargo
  • Poorly Maintained Trucks

Fatigued/Distracted Drivers

Semi Truck on FireWith a job that requires a strict time schedule and deadlines, fatigue often sets in. Drivers work long hours with only minimal breaks for rest.  We carefully inspect log books and trip receipts to detect violations of federal hours-of-service regulations. Driver fatigue leads to highway crashes.

Distracted drivers are another concern. They pose a serious threat to other highway motorists. Whether truck drivers are cell phones or other mobile devices, or are otherwise distracted, their inattention can be fatal for other people on the road.

Inexperienced Drivers

Driving a semi-truck requires training and experience. Loaded trucks weigh 80,000 pounds, and are difficult to maneuver, stop, and keep under control. When bad weather conditions set in, inexperienced drivers often fail to adjust to the conditions and lose control of their trucks.  The result can be catastrophic.

Improperly Loaded Cargo

Semi Truck RolloverIf a truck’s cargo is improperly loaded, it can come undone and potentially fall off, obstructing traffic and causing an accident. Shifting cargo can lead to truck and car wrecks that cause serious injuries and death. Cargo shifts occur when the truck’s center of gravity suddenly changes. This can cause a truck to roll over.  When cargo falls from a truck it can fall onto other vehicles passing by, or onto the road, causing other vehicles to swerve and crash. It is the duty of the trucking company to enforce proper safety training with regard to the loading of cargo.

Poorly Maintained Trucks

It is imperative for companies to maintain and service their trucks regularly. Trucks are driven thousands of miles weekly, and poorly maintained trucks become dangerous quickly.  Failed brakes are a common cause of serious highway crashes.

SETTLEMENTS

$8,625,000.00 – Largest F.E.L.A. settlement in the United States, obtained on behalf of a young man who lost both legs in a catastrophic railroad accident.

$2,375,000.00 – Wrongful death settlement obtained for the heirs of a man who died in a railroad accident.

$1,200,000.00 — Recovery for a worker injured in crash on the oil field road.

$1,100,000.00 – Settlement obtained for a woman in a “crashworthiness” case against an auto manufacturer.

$1,000,000.00 – Multiple million dollar settlements in interstate truck cases.

AUTO AND TRUCK ACCIDENTS

Located on Interstate 80, we are continuously involved in federal and state cases in which people are killed or seriously injured because of the negligence of trucking companies and their drivers. One of those cases arose out of the tragic 36-vehicle collision and fire that occurred August 19, 2004 on Interstate 80 between Laramie and Cheyenne. A current case arose out of another multi-vehicle pileup in fog about 30 miles west of Rawlins.