Tractor-Trailer Accidents

• Inattentive Tractor Trailer Truck Driver Kills Woman on Virginia Beltway

  Michael Phelan | April 12, 2010 10:48 AM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  The duty while driving to maintain a proper look out is an important safety requirement for all drivers, but is even more important for tractor trailer truck drivers. Tractor trailer truck crashes...

• U.S. Bans Texting While Driving Trucks and Buses

  Michael Phelan | January 26, 2010 9:22 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  In an effort to reduce the number of truck and bus crashes caused by distracted drivers, the federal government formally barred truckers and bus drivers from sending text messages while behind the...

• NTSB Recognizes Need to Better Monitor Truck Driver Fatigue

  Michael Phelan | December 04, 2009 1:00 AM | 4 CommentsRichmond, VA

  Last month, Deborah Hersman , Chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, spoke in Washington to the National Press Club and stated that every day over 100 Americans die in...

• Traps and Pitfalls in Representing Truck Accident Victims

  Michael Phelan | November 21, 2009 10:37 AM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  Truck accident insurance investigation teams and defense lawyers are some of the most competent adversaries a plaintiff lawyer will encounter. The truck company investigators are often at the scene...

• Fredericksburg Tractor Trailer Crash Yields Jail Time for Truck Driver

  Michael Phelan | October 27, 2009 10:23 AM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  On February 2, 2009, a tractor trailer truck loaded with 83,000 pounds of sand ran a red light on U.S. 17 and killed a Stafford, Va. woman. The truck driver told police he thought the light was...

• If You Thought Texting While Driving Was Dangerous...

  Michael Phelan | September 28, 2009 3:15 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  What could possibly be more dangerous than a teenager texting while driving? how about the driver of an 18 wheeler tractor trailer truck using a computer keyboard on his lap while driving. Hundreds...

• Motor Carrier Broker Liable for Negligent Hiring of Tractor Trailer Truck Driver

  Michael Phelan | June 18, 2008 11:36 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  Virginia law recognizes a claim for the negligent hiring of an employee or an independent contractor. With respect to independent contractors, the Virginia Supreme Court recognized a rule of...

• Retroreflective tape: How Visible are Heavy Trailers at Night?

  Michael Phelan | May 26, 2008 7:50 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  The term "heavy trailers" means trailers that are at least 80 inches wide and have Gross Vehicle Weight Rating over 10,000 pounds. I once handled a case in which a tractor trailer driver attempted...

• Federal Regulators Miss Chance to Lower Truck Accidents

  Michael Phelan | December 20, 2007 4:23 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  Driver fatigue is a leading cause of tractor trailer truck accidents. Consumer advocates sued recently to require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to lower the current 11-hour driving limit to 10 hours. The requested change would have resulted in one less hour behind the wheel each day. The Teamsters union supports the lower limit. Alas, the Bush Administration once again...

• Fatal Truck Crash Results in $36.3 million Verdict

  Michael Phelan | December 05, 2007 2:57 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  On a clear day in April 2004, a father of eight kids and owner of a plumbing supply company, was driving his Chevrolet Suburban and obeying the rules of the road. At the same time, a driver of a Swift Transportation tractor-trailer drove 65 mph across three sets of rumble strips designed to warn of an approaching stop sign, ran the stop sign, and crashed into the Suburban, killing the father. ...