Congress, despite a government shutdown, has a sleep apnea bill ready for the President’s signature. While the trucking industry estimates that “the impact of screening, diagnosis, and treatment for obstructive sleep apnea could exceed $1 billion annually.” The industry failed to mention that $1 billion annually is a bargain compared to the death, carnage, and
Lawyer
MAP 21 Changes Trucking
MAP-21, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (P.L. 112-141), was signed into law by President Obama on July 6, 2012. It is the first long-term highway authorization enacted since 2005. It sets highway safety as a national goal.
The changes brought about by MAP-21 are extensive and impact almost every area …
Swift Trucking Sanctioned Again for Destroying Evidence
Swift, like many trucking companies, has a history of destroying evidence that shows they were at fault for a wreck. I have posted on this previously. That is one of the reasons it is important to hire a lawyer as soon as possible when you have a trucking case.
Recently, in an Arkansas case, the trial…
Do You Know Your FMCSR Violations?
One of the the requirements of every trucking company before they put a truck on the road, and every truck driver before they get behind the wheel of a tractor trailer, is that they both must agree to follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. These are the regulations that keep us, the public, safe on…
At Least One in Five Trucks UNSAFE According to Recent RoadCheck Inspections
The June 2012 Roadcheck results are out and they showed that more than 1 in every 5 trucks inspected were placed out of service (OOS). That means the trucks were taken off the road as unsafe, even though this was a pre-announced inspection.
The trucking industry knew about Roadcheck for months, as did I, and…
Thinking of Drinking and Driving? Can You Pay 9.25 Million?
Recently a conservative Hamilton County Jury returned a record 9.25 Million dollar verdict against a drunk driver who injured one of my clients. This 4th of July think before you drink! If the police don’t scare you we should. I would rather everyone get home safely than have more clients who have been injured by DUI…
How to Report an Unsafe Trucking Company to the Department of Transportation
Truck drivers often ask me how to report motor carriers that require them to drive over hours, with unsafe equipment, and in violation of one or more of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. I had just such a call yesterday, regarding a Florida company, from a driver.
The FMCSA understands how tricky this is…
Truck Driving is a Dangerous Profession: Add Cancer from Diesel Fumes to the List of Risks
I have previously posted on how manufacturers of cabs don’t seem to care if a truck driver lives or dies. Trucking companies and truck manufacturers treat drivers like disposable objects, worrying far more about the bottom line than the driver’s safety and training. The fact is trucks don’t include many of the safety features that car drivers…
The Future of Trucking – Legislation and Regulations in 2012
I have been working on a number of cases recently that have been very time consuming and have not been able to update this blog as much as I would like. My clients come first so no apologies, but I hope you find this update to be useful. This is my best guess as to what will impact safety…
Tennessee Truck Accident Lawyer Elected to National Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Board
One of the most common injuries for survivors of a truck accident is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). These are actually traumatic brain damage cases because people don’t get well from these injuries. As a result of handling large numbers of these cases for clients I have developed a sub-specialty in the area of TBI. Recently…