How Professional Truckers Are Required to Brake Safely
It is very important for truckers to use proper braking techniques while operating a big rig – particularly on a steep, downhill grade. If they fail to do so, it could cause the truck’s brakes to fail, resulting in a deadly crash. In a collision with an 80,000 pound fully loaded 18-wheeler, passenger vehicle occupants are likely to suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries.
Do Big-Rig Trucks Really Have “Black Boxes”?
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about big-rig trucks and their so-called “black boxes.” A black box is a device that records data about the performance of a vehicle so that if that vehicle is involved in an accident, valuable information about what caused the accident will be able to be recovered from the wreckage.
How a Truck’s “Black Box” Can Help Your Personal Injury Claim
Truck drivers are often responsible for carrying millions of dollars worth of goods. Along with this, truck accidents account for a large number of road injuries and fatalities—the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that 3,903 people were killed and 111,000 were injured in truck accidents in 2014.
What Causes Runaway Truck Accidents in New York?
Truck accidents often wreak far more damage to victims simply because of the size of them. Depending on where you’re driving on the road, trucks can weigh anywhere from 26,000-33,000 pounds, making them a dangerous weapon on the road. There are about 4,000 people killed and 130,000 injured in truck accidents in the United States every year, and the trucking industry is only continuing to grow.
New York State Works to Improve Bridge Safety
Across the state of New York, over 130 bridges see millions of travelers every year. While our state’s infrastructure needs continuous repairs and renovations to deal with high volumes of traffic, education is also extremely important to keeping our roads safe.
So, let’s talk about bridge strikes, which occur when truck drivers ignore height requirements and recklessly collide with bridges, putting everyone on the road in danger.
Distracted Driving Named 2nd Leading Cause of Fatal Truck Accidents
Independent research from multiple organizations has shed light on the dangers of distracted driving – specifically, due to cell phones. Based on this research and the growing issue of distracted driving accidents among truckers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has outright banned commercial truck drivers from holding a cell phone in their hands at any time while driving. In addition, several states, including New York, have their own strict laws on cell phone use. Despite these regulations and the ever-present danger of distracted driving, truck drivers can still skirt the rules and put everyone on the road at risk.
Pedestrians vs Garbage Trucks: How to File a Government Tort Claim
Speedy, efficient, and thorough garbage pickup is absolutely necessary in a city as packed and busy as New York, but only if done safely. Garbage trucks are heavy, powerful vehicles that can cause serious damage in an auto accident, and they are even more dangerous if a pedestrian is involved. Given how many New Yorkers walk to and from work or jog for exercise, drivers should be keenly aware of everyone around them at all times. Otherwise, the everyday jogger could be severely injured in an accident.
Watch Out for Trucks This Holiday Season!
New York streets aren’t known for being clear and easily navigable at the best of times, and when holiday traffic is added, it can become a real nightmare.
Over the past few years, rideshare drivers have flooded our city streets. While that means affordable rides are always at the ready, it also means more traffic. One real concern for a lot of drivers and pedestrians in NYC is the large trucks making deliveries this holiday season. But the biggest risk many experts are seeing is the increase in crowdsourced deliveries that do not come from professional companies, but from delivery-share drivers.
How Does Speed Affect Rollover Truck Accidents?
Driving at high speeds causes a very high number of rollover accidents, which can be particularly dangerous in light trucks that may not have the roof strength to protect occupants. According to one study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 45% of the rollover accidents they examined were caused by speed in one way or another. In New York, where road conditions can be affected by adverse weather, it is even more important to understand how to maintain safe control of a vehicle and avoid rollover accidents.
How Should I React to a Jackknifing Accident?
A jackknifing accident occurs when a large truck hauling a trailer attempts to brake suddenly or on a slippery surface and the trailer continues forward, pushing the cab of the truck to the side and back along the trailer. This type of accident is rarely fatal for the driver or other parties involved, but it can be frightening and result in personal injury or property damage. If you are a driver and see a jackknife occurring, there are a few things you can do to help yourself avoid a collision and respond to the situation safely.