seattle truck accident lawyer

Federal officials have banned hand-held cell phones and texting by drivers of large commercial trucks and buses. This should serve as an effective way of preventing the dangers of distracted driving. According to a Reuters news report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that the ban on handheld cell phones and texting while driving will take effect immediately for large truck and bus drivers. The new ban carries fines of up to $2,750. However, federal officials have not yet come up with an enforcement plan, which is key to making sure that the ban actually works.

Distracted driving on U.S. roadways has resulted in thousands of fatalities and many more injuries. The National Safety Council estimates that texting while driving causes approximately 200,000 car accidents each year. At least 24 states have issued handheld cell phone and texting bans and others are in the process of enforcing similar laws. It is absolutely important for commercial trucks that cross state boundaries to be mandated by federal law to follow these safety rules. Distracted driving, especially by a truck driver who has an 80,000-pound vehicle at his control, can be disastrous. Federal officials will hopefully find a way to enforce this law, which will certainly go a long way in keeping our roadways safer. Getting this law passed, however, is a good first step.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington tractor-trailer accident, please contact the experienced Washington truck accident lawyers of The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation and case evaluation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful educational information to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2010/01/26/106860.htm

The driver of a pickup truck sustained major injuries after a big rig jackknifed and struck him head-on, according to a report in the News Sentinel. A Cherokee Freight Lines big rig was heading east on a two-lane highway when the traffic suddenly slowed. The truck’s driver slammed on his brakes to avoid rear-ending the traffic, but instead the rear trailer jackknifed. The out-of-control big rig crossed into the opposing lane colliding head-on with a Nissan pickup. The smaller vehicle’s driver was trapped in the wreckage and had to be extricated by emergency personnel. The big rig’s driver sustained minor injuries. Officials believe that the big rig driver will be found at fault for driving at an unsafe speed.

When a truck is said to have “jackknifed” it means that the back end of the big rig whips around toward the truck cab and the driver loses control of the truck. Basically, the big rig becomes this huge steel projectile traveling down the road at highway speeds taking down everything in its path. Needless to say, these types of accidents have the potential to cause serious personal injuries and fatalities to other commuters. As officials have said in this case, this injury accident could have been avoided had the truck driver been driving at a safe speed. In such accidents, the truck driver and the trucking firm could be held liable for injuries caused to victims. In cases that result in fatalities, families of deceased victims can also file wrongful death claims against the trucking companies.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington truck accident, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys at The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation and case evaluation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure about big rig accident cases, which offers useful, educational information that will help you understand your legal rights and options. Please contact Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today to discuss your Seattle truck accident case.

Source:http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2009/12/11/news/1_wreck_091211.txt