Posted on September 22, 2016 in Truck Accidents

A 79-year-old woman died, while another, 74, and a man, 80, were injured on Sunday, Sept. 18, when a tractor-trailer attempted to merge into the lane occupied by their car.

The Virginia State Police continue their investigation of the Pulaski County collision that occurred around 1 p.m. as both vehicles were northbound on I-81. They say that at about 100 feet south of Exit 94-B, the trucker moved into the path of the passenger vehicle, spinning it off the interstate to the left and into the guardrail.

That secondary impact, according to investigators, caused the truck to re-enter the northbound traffic lane before spinning off to the right against the other guardrail.

The woman who died — an Alexandria resident — was not wearing a safety belt and was ejected from the car. First responders took her to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.

The driver, a Manassas man, and the second passenger, whose residence was not noted, were both belted in. Both were seriously injured in the accident and taken to the hospital for treatment.

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 Posted on September 16, 2016 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

When passenger vehicles and large commercial semi-truck s collide on Virginia's interstates and highways, the smaller, lighter vehicles are no match for the sheer weight and size of the big rig behemoths. The results can be both gruesome and tragic for occupants of the smaller cars and light trucks.

Considering that most semi-truck s weigh well over 10,000 pounds when empty, and that a fully loaded commercial semi-truck with a trailer can max out at 80,000 lbs., it's no wonder that the highway carnage can be so great when accidents occur.

Part of the danger involves the much greater distance a big rig needs to decelerate and stop in an emergency. For instance, a car going 55 miles per hour should be able to stop within approximately 130 to 140 feet if the brakes are not defective. Alternatively, large trucks going the same speed might take as far as 400 feet to come to a stop. Trucks carrying heavy loads require the most distance to stop.

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 Posted on September 08, 2016 in Car Accidents

There's no doubt that distracted driving is a real problem in all segments of the population, but are there some demographic groups that have more problems than others.

Driving involves multitasking. Drivers have to process information that they see on the road and instantly integrate it into their driving performance. When distractions on the highway are coupled with distractions inside of the vehicle, older drivers' neural resources can become overloaded and their driving compromised.

This is particularly a problem with drivers who have age-related problems with cognition and lack of attention and focus. Distraction caused a reduced ability to control steering in groups of both middle-aged and elderly drivers in a controlled study done by researchers.

Elderly drivers drove more slowly and had decreased speed variability when distracted compared to their middle-aged counterparts. Also, they had a tendency to "freeze up" and also spent more time steadily holding the gas pedal down.

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 Posted on September 02, 2016 in Drunk Driving Accidents

While Hurricane Hermine might make the start of Labor Day weekend kind of soggy for some travelers through the state, the Virginia Trucking Association wants to make sure that motorists avoid accidents this holiday.

Below are some safety tips for drivers to employ:

— Don't set out without conducting a pre-trip inspection of fluid levels, tire pressure and making sure that routine maintenance tasks have been carried out.

— Check the weather reports for the areas where you will be traveling through as well as your final destination. If the storm in Florida tracks east and brings wet weather to Virginia, be on the alert for detours and closed roads.

— Have a plan in mind. Plot your course ahead of time and be aware of the exits. Indecision behind the wheel can lead to wrecks.

— Never ride in trucks' blind spots — when you can't see the trucker in the truck's mirrors, realize he also cannot see you.

— Ditch distracted driving. Focus on driving and the road ahead of you. Let passengers deal with cellphones and radio stations.

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 Posted on August 25, 2016 in Truck Accidents

Virginians who use the interstates to commute or simply travel for everyday purposes frequently have to contend with large trucks that can become very lethal hazards.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, in 2014, 3,903 individuals died and roughly 111,000 others were injured in collisions with large trucks in the United States. That same year, it's estimated that there were 438,000 big rigs involved in accidents that got reported to the police.

While those statistics are indeed sobering, deaths from accidents with these large commercial trucks actually declined 2 percent from 2013 to 2014, dropping from 3,981 to 3,903. That appears not to be a one-off as statistics over a decade show a 26 percent decline in the total number of fatalities from highway collisions with large trucks, from 5,240 deaths in 2005 down to 3,903 in 2014.

The breakdown of the fatalities for that year, which is the latest data available to study, showed that 73 percent of those who died were in other vehicles, 17 percent were in large trucks and 10 percent were pedestrians, motorcyclists or bicyclists.

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 Posted on August 19, 2016 in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Prince William County police officers with the Crash Investigation Unit arrived on the scene of an auto fatality at 6:30 a.m., on Aug. 5 near Sudley Road and its intersection with Coverstone Drive in Manassas.

Investigators came upon a collision that involved two vehicles, a late-model Freightliner tractor-trailer and a 2012 model Toyota RAV4. According to reports, the Toyota driver tried to turn right from Coverstone onto the southbound lane of Sudley Road. However, the 18-wheeler was heading south on Sudley as the driver approached the intersection. When the driver of the big rig ran a red light, the vehicles collided.

Five Manassas residents were riding in the Toyota, a man, 43, two women, age 41 and 33, and two young boys, age 2 and 3. The 33-year-old woman was ejected from the middle rear seat and succumbed to her injuries after being taken to a local hospital. She was not wearing a safety belt when the crash occurred.

The RAV4 driver received only minor injuries and received treatment by first responders at the accident scene. The Toyota's front seat passenger suffered minor injuries and was taken by helicopter to a nearby hospital. The two boys, who had both been secured properly, were not injured.

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 Posted on August 11, 2016 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

With another school year about to start, it's a good time to focus on school bus safety. Do you realize that every school bus route removes potentially 36 vehicles from the roads in both the mornings and afternoons? School buses cut down on the congestion involved with parent drop-offs and pick-ups, too.

Because there are fewer vehicles on the roads when buses transport kids to school, the emission levels from cars and SUVs decline.

But just how safe are school buses?

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration claims that 58 percent of children who die while traveling to school during the normal times were riding in automobiles being driven by teens. Another 23 percent died in vehicles driven by adults. But children riding to school on the bus made up less than 1 percent of collision deaths. statistics show that school buses are the safest way for children to get back and forth from school.

But why don't they come with seat belts?

School buses have enhanced structural integrity that is different from passenger vehicles. Kids are protected the way eggs are in a carton. They have padding all around them, seat backs are high, they are in compartments within the vehicle surrounded by a shell that's reinforced to protect them from impact.

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 Posted on August 04, 2016 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

You understand the risks associated with driving. You know that you could be involved in an accident at any time. Unfortunately, there is no way to prepare yourself for losing a loved one in a commercial vehicle accident. If this happens, your life is sure to change forever.

There are many types of fatal commercial accidents. For example, this could happen if an 18-wheeler hits a passenger vehicle from behind at a high speed. If this occurs, there is a good chance that the people in the smaller vehicle will be injured or even killed.

Some of the most important questions to ask after a fatal commercial accident include:

— Who was at fault?

— Was the commercial vehicle driver speeding or driving in a reckless manner?

— Was the driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol?

— Was the driver on the road for too many hours without rest?

— Was the truck improperly loaded, potentially leading to the accident?

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 Posted on July 29, 2016 in Car Accidents

A vehicle accident can be shocking and enough to send most people into fight or flight reflex. In a heightened state, it can be difficult to concentrate or know what to do next. One way to ensure you don't miss anything is to follow the four Ds if you are in a car accident: Determine, document, do research and decide.

First, determine critical factors about the accident. Start with yourself. Can you safely remove yourself from the wreckage? Are you able to move, and are you hurt? Next, move on to anyone else involved in the incident. Is anyone in need of immediate assistance to get away from danger? Is anyone hurt? Call 911 and report all of this information.

If you are able and it is safe to do so, document the accident scene. Take cellphone pictures of the damage and collect information about who was involved and who might have witnessed the accident. Exchange insurance information with all involved drivers.

After the accident is done and you've been treated for any injuries, do some research. Review your own policy and damages, the police report and any information you have about the other driver's damages. Now is the time to conduct research on a personal law attorney if you think you might want to file a claim. You might want to consult with a law professional before moving on to the fourth D.

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 Posted on July 22, 2016 in Commercial Vehicle Accidents

When someone is injured in a commercial vehicle accident that wasn't his or her fault, it is quite common for the victim to seek compensation. It can also be common to only think of the driver of the commercial vehicle as liable for the accident.

When a lawsuit is filed to recover medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and more, the defendant must be listed. However, there is often more than one defendant. For example, here are some other possible defendants in a commercial truck accident lawsuit:

— The driver's employer

— The driver's insurance company

— The truck mechanics

— Commercial vehicle part manufacturers

If you and your attorney can establish that the driver was employed by a shipping or trucking company, then the driver's negligence may fall back on them. In some cases, though, a commercial truck driver is an independent contractor, and that means you have to establish how much supervision the driver was under while performing his or her job. Establishing the level of control between the company and the driver is paramount to holding the trucking company liable.

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