Semi Trucks

Trucks are involved in thousands of accidents each year, and the type of accidents involving trucks (semi-trucks, vans, dump trucks, fire trucks, and tractor trailers) can be very serious due to the size of the vehicles involved and the potential danger of what the truck may be carrying. As a result of the tremendous size and weight of these vehicles, collisions that involve trucks often cause serious injuries and fatalities to people in smaller passenger vehicles. Another significant difference between an auto accident and an accident involving a semi-truck or a tractor trailer is that the truck is usually owned by a company, either large or small.

The government has created more laws to make trucking safer and to reduce the risk of accidents, and trucking companies have increased safety procedures, training, and awareness for their trucking staff; however, due to the growing number of trucks on the road, the number of truck accidents has increased.

People involved in a truck accident could be eligible for compensation, and there are now many lawyers who are experienced in dealing with truck accident claims.

If you or a loved one is involved in an accident involving a truck, you should obtain the following information as soon as safely possible after the accident: • A copy of the police report, including the report number and the name of the investigating officer(s)

• License plate number of all vehicles involved

• Any company names or identification information on the cab and trailer

• Driver information including name, driver’s license number, and insurance information

• Insurance information for the truck and trailer owner

• Length of skid marks if visible

• The condition of the truck’s tires

• Road conditions at the time of the accident • Names and contact information of any witnesses

• Names and contact information of anyone taking pictures or questioning witnesses/participants In addition to gathering the above information: • Take photographs of all vehicles involved and of the scene of the accident (if possible)

• Seek medical attention as soon as possible

• Obtain a copy of your medical examination report

• Contact a truck accident attorney as soon as possible You should also be aware of what not to do if involved in a truck accident: • Do not make statements without first discussing the situation with an attorney. If asked to give a statement to police, only state specific facts. Do not state opinions or accept responsibility for the accident

• Do not sign anything other than the police report (after thoroughly reading it) Federal laws that govern the trucking industry are different than automobile laws, and these differences drastically change the way an accident is handled. You need someone on your side that understands the complexity of trucking law and is prepared to fight to get you the compensation you deserve.

Fire crews had to shut down parts of I-75 Wednesday morning because of a tractor-trailer rollover accident.

The accident took place at around 4:00 a.m.

Northbound I-75 was completely closed at Fort Street and Schaefer.

Southbound I-75 only had the right lane open as crews worked to clean up the scene.

The truck is severely damaged. Police told Local 4 the driver of the Semi truck experienced minor injuries.

A semi truck hit a power pole in Inver Grove Heights this afternoon, knocking out power to 3,445 Xcel Energy customers.

The truck fell into a ditch after hitting the power pole around 1:15 p.m., backing up traffic on Highway 52 and Highway 55. About 3,445 Xcel Energy customers in the area lost power for about an hour.

Minor injuries were reported, according to Lt. Mark Peterson of the Minnesota State Patrol.

It is unknown what type of load the truck was carrying. The semi under inspection and the scene of the accident should be clear for rush hour.

A 100-gallon gasoline spill in Queens afternoon caused some traffic troubles in the borough.

A fuel truck overturned at the Northern Boulevard off ramp of the southbound Whitestone Expressway, closing the off ramp.

Only a fraction of the contents of the 5,000-gallon truck spilled on to the street. The Department of Environmental Conservation says some of the fuel seeped into the top soil but there is no evidence the spill contaminated Flushing Creek.

The driver of the truck was hospitalized with minor injuries.

Local law enforcement officials are hoping a state regionalization grant will allow them to take care of their own truck safety issues without waiting for a long-term state fix.

NEWINGTON - Local law enforcement officials are hoping a state regionalization grant will allow them to take care of their own truck safety issues without waiting for a long-term state fix.
The grant would increase traffic safety in more than two dozen towns with regionalized accident investigations and enforcement.
“The state has a limited resource in truck inspectors. There are only 24 to 30, and the state police should be on the highways,” Newington Police Chief Richard Mulhall said. “They are never going to be able to service each town on a regular basis, but if we are a team working together, we can do it for ourselves.”
The question of who is enforcing truck safety on local roads regained urgency Sept. 7, when an out-of-control 18-wheeler flatbed flew through the intersection of routes 44 and 10 at Nod Road and literally sailed into a nearby furniture store.
It was the second serious truck crash at the intersection, at the base of Avon Mountain, in two years. The first killed four people, including the driver of the dump truck that caused the fiery 20-vehicle crash.

Greensboro-Chapel Hill Road in southern Alamance County was closed for about five hours Thursday after a truck overturned and scattered logs all over the road.

A log truck and a van were involved in a wreck on Bethel-South Fork Road and Greensboro-Chapel Hill Road The log truck overturned and went down an embankment, said Allen Crawford, deputy chief of Snow Camp Volunteer Fire Department.

Information about the drivers of both vehicles wasn’t immediately available. Crawford said the driver of the log truck was taken to the hospital and the driver of the van refused transportation to the hospital.

Traffic was diverted from Greensboro-Chapel Hill Road until Firefighters assisted with directing traffic, clean-up and first aid, Crawford said.

A Costa Mesa woman was killed when she was run over by her own truck in her driveway, authorities said Friday.

Valerie Lee Muniz, 45, was going inside to retrieve something before she left her home Wednesday in the 100 block of Santa Isabel Avenue when she left her 1996 Chevrolet pickup in reverse. While trying to put the vehicle into park, she was knocked down and run over by the truck.

She was taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where she died from her injuries Thursday.

Two New Lothrop women remain in critical condition today at Mclaren Regional Medical Center, after their vehicle was struck by a pickup truck about 1 p.m. Thursday at the corner of Duffield and Dodge roads.

Police said the two women were headed northbound on Duffield Road, when they ran the stop sign and were struck by a pickup truck travelling eastbound on Dodge Road.

Police said the woman driving the car is 62 but the age of the other woman was unknown.

The pickup truck driver, a Montrose Township man, 38, suffered minor injuries and was not hospitalized.

Texas DPS officials say 33 year old David Jordy Jr. and 12 year old Joseph Mallicoat were killed this morning in an accident in Zavalla. Authorities say they ran a stop sign, and entered Farm Road 147. They were struck by a logging truck traveling north on 147. DPS officials say the driver of the logging truck was not speeding, but did not have time to stop. Residents in the area say the intersection of Pine Street and Highway 147 where the accident happened is a notoriously dangerous spot.  Neither of the victims was wearing a seatbelt.

A serious late afternoon crash Monday landed the driver of a truck in the hospital after it slammed into two utility poles and ejected him from the vehicle.

Vittie Thomas, reportedly in his 70s, was behind the wheel of his maroon Chevy F-10 truck yesterday and travelling east on East Sunrise Highway in the area of Chesapeake when the accident occurred.

Reports say Thomas was first spotted by a motorist pulling up on the scene who telephone for help.

The truck was badly damaged on the left front side, one of the street poles was snapped close to the base and the cab of the truck was upside down on the side of the road.