Due to the huge size, weight, and speed at which trucks and tractor-trailers travel on our nation’s highways, accidents involving motor vehicles, cars, trucks and trailers can be catastrophic or even fatal. Tracking down the proper entity, or just the proper insurance sources, can be frustrating. Also, there are numerous federal and state regulations that govern trucking activities and motor vehicle operation-often experts must be retained to properly discover the relevant violations. It is important to act quickly to secure and preserce evidence in a trucking related case, because the trucking companies collect evidence immediately and seize the advantage against unsophisticated consumer injury victims.
In 2003, 457,000 large trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds were involved in traffic crashes in the United States. That year, 4,669 trucks were involved in fatal traffic accidents resulting in 4,289 deaths. That statistic is similar to ten Boeing 747 jets crashing in a calendar year, killing all passengers.
Of the deaths that resulted from truck accidents involving large trucks, 78 percent were occupants in another vehicle, 8 percent were non-occupants, and only 15 percent were occupants of a large truck. Therefore, the majority of deaths as a result of fatal traffic accidents are the non-truck operators. Nonetheless, truck driver fatalities are also a significant safety concern.
The common causes of trucking wrecks are:
Driver fatique
Deficient training of the driver
Overloaded trucks
Oversized trucks
Improperly maintained brakes
Driving in poor visibility or traction conditions
Lack of driver experience
Speeding or Speed in excess of safe driving for conditions
Failure to yield the right of way
Aggressive driving behavior
Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol
Improper required safety systems, reflectors, lights, and other warning devices
Failure of truck to install have under-ride protection or an under-guard.
Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
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