Woman Killed in 18-Wheeler Accident

A woman was killed when her pickup struck an 18 wheeler that was parked on the side of I-65 near the Shelby County Airport exit on Friday afternoon. Police say 52-year-old Lori Killingsworth of Calera was driving by herself when the accident occurred. The truck driver was not injured in the accident. The reason for the truck being pulled over to the shoulder was not reported.

Large trucks may have to stop on the side of the road because of mechanical problems or shifted loads, or even to get some rest in order to comply with hours of service obligations for commercial drivers. However, truck drivers are required under federal law to immediately activate the truck's hazard lights and place warning devices on the traffic side of the truck at distances of 10 feet and 100 feet from the disabled commercial vehicle. Failure to follow these safety precautions may make it difficult for other motorists to see the disabled vehicle.

If you have suffered an injury in a truck accident, contact an experienced Birmingham truck accident lawyer today at 1-877-925-5373. Our Birmingham truck accident attorneys represent victims of personal injury in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. Our Birmingham truck accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don't pay a fee unless you receive compensation for your truck accident injuries.

Ambulance Involved in Crash After Leaving Scene of Truck Accident

An ambulance leaving the scene of an accident involving an 18-wheeler and a passenger vehicle was involved in a crash Thursday morning while en route to the hospital. The original accident occurred on I-20/59 in Bessemer near the Academy Drive exit when a car crossed the center median and hit a large truck. The car's driver was transported to the hospital. The truck driver was not injured in the crash.

An ambulance leaving that scene (without any injured passengers) crashed into the back of an SUV near the Alabama Adventure exit, causing the SUV to roll over several times. A 72-year-old passenger was ejected from the SUV. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the ambulance was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

If you have lost a loved one in a truck accident, a Birmingham truck accident attorney can help you seek justice for your loss. Contact an experienced Birmingham truck accident lawyer at 1-877-925-5373 to discuss your case. Our Birmingham truck accident attorneys represent victims of personal injury in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Walker Law Firm provides aggressive representation of every Birmingham truck accident case we handle. Let us fight to get you the compensation you deserve for your Birmingham truck accident injuries.

Proposed Texting Ban Targets Commercial Drivers

The federal government plans to ban texting while driving for commercial vehicle operators. The announcement came after the U.S. Department of Transportation's "Distracted Driving Summit" last week. President Obama has already signed an executive order banning texting while driving for federal employees who are on the job. The proposed commercial driver ban would apply to interstate bus drivers, school bus drivers, rail operators and truck drivers.

There is no doubt that texting while driving is dangerous. According to a study released in July by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, drivers who text behind the wheel are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or near-crash event than drivers who are not distracted. Drivers who send text messages behind the wheel take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds - that’s long enough to travel the length of an entire football field! When distracted driving is the cause of a truck accident, injured victims deserve compensation for their medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck crash, contact the experienced Birmingham truck accident attorneys at The Walker Law Firm today at 1-877-925-5373. Our Birmingham truck accident attorneys represent truck accident victims n Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. Our Birmingham truck accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don't pay a fee unless you receive compensation for your injuries.

Bankhead Tunnel Closed After Overheight Truck Gets Stuck

An 18 wheeler got stuck in the Bankhead Tunnel in Mobile at around 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, causing the road to be closed for hours while crews removed the truck and assessed the damage to the tunnel. The 13 1/2-foot high truck, which was headed from Arkansas to Florida, incurred major damage when the driver attempted to drive through the 12-foot high Bankhead Tunnel. The tunnel is equipped with height sensors that sound an alarm and flash red lights when an overheight vehicle is approaching. The driver, who apparently ignored these warnings, was cited with failure to heed a traffic signal.

Fortunately, no one was injured in this incident. However, negligence on the part of truck drivers often results in serious injury and even death to other motorists on the road. According to a study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the critical factor that causes the majority of large truck crashes is driver negligence. Victims injured in truck crashes caused by a truck driver's carelessness deserve compensation for their physical, emotional, and financial losses. The experienced Birmingham truck accident lawyers at The Walker Law Firm help truck accident victims get the compensation they deserve for their injuries.

If you have suffered an injury in a Birmingham truck accident caused by the negligence of a truck driver or trucking company, contact our experienced Birmingham truck accident attorneys today at 1-877-925-5373. Our Birmingham truck accident attorneys represent victims of personal injury in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don't pay a fee unless you receive compensation for your Birmingham truck accident injuries.

Report: Truck Accident Injuries Did Not Decline in 2008

A report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that there were 677 fatalities and 23,000 injuries in large truck accidents in 2008. Although fatalities in large truck accidents decreased by 16% in 2008, the number of injuries suffered in large truck crashes remained the same. Sadly, victims injured in large truck accidents are frequently left with permanent disabilities.

Occupants of other vehicles involved in truck accidents are more likely to suffer serious injuries than occupants of large trucks. Truck accident victims often suffer severe catastrophic injuries, such as spinal cord injury, paralysis, and traumatic brain injury, that can reduce the quality of their lives forever. When truck accidents are caused by driver negligence, accident victims are entitled to seek compensation for their injuries.

If you have suffered a serious injury in a Birmingham truck accident, you should contact an experienced Birmingham truck accident lawyer at 1-877-925-5373 to discuss your case. Our Birmingham truck accident attorneys represent victims of personal injury in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Walker Law Firm provides aggressive representation of every Birmingham truck accident case we handle. Let us fight to get you the compensation you deserve for your Birmingham truck accident injuries.

Two Dead in 18-Wheeler Collision

Two 18-wheelers crashed on Interstate 10 just East of Mobile on Wednesday, killing both drivers. The head-on collision caused the trucks and their cargo to burst into flames. Only one of the drivers has been identified by authorities as a 45-year-old man from Beaver Creek, Ohio. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Although we do not yet know the cause of this crash, truck accidents are often caused by the negligence of truck drivers or trucking companies. A trucking company may be deemed negligent in causing a Birmingham truck accident if it fails to maintain its fleet in reasonable condition or fails to ensure the qualifications of its drivers as a means of preventing a foreseeable risk to other motorists. Truck drivers have a legal responsibility to observe a minimum standard of care when loading, inspecting, and operating a commercial vehicle. Drivers who fail to exercise this care may be liable for negligence in causing a truck accident. If you have been involved in a truck crash anywhere in Alabama, a Birmingham truck accident lawyer can help you determine who is responsible for your injuries.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck crash, contact the experienced Birmingham truck accident attorneys at The Walker Law Firm today at 1-877-925-5373. Our Birmingham truck accident attorneys represent truck accident victims n Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. Our Birmingham truck accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don't pay a fee unless you receive compensation for your injuries.

Study: Driver Negligence Causes 87% of Truck Crashes

According to a study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver negligence is the critical reason for 87% of truck crashes. In a truck accident causation study involving 120,000 large truck crashes over a two-year period, 87% of the crashes were found to be caused by one of the following types of driver negligence:

• Non-Performance: The driver fell asleep, was disabled by a heart attack or seizure, or was physically impaired for another reason.
• Recognition: The driver was inattentive, was distracted by something inside or outside the vehicle, or failed to observe the situation adequately for some other reason.
• Decision: For example, the driver was driving too fast for conditions, misjudged the speed of other vehicles, or followed other vehicles too closely.
• Performance: For example, the driver panicked, overcompensated, or exercised poor directional control.

If you have suffered an injury in a Birmingham truck accident caused by the negligence of a truck driver or trucking company, contact our experienced Birmingham truck accident attorneys today at 1-877-925-5373. Our Birmingham truck accident attorneys represent victims of personal injury in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don't pay a fee unless you receive compensation for your Birmingham truck accident injuries.

Birmingham Driver Dies After Collision with 18 Wheeler

A man heading southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 65 died after he crashed into several vehicles, finally colliding with a semi truck just before 5 a.m. Friday morning. Police believe the 26-year-old driver was from the Birmingham area. No other injuries were reported in the accident.

This accident is indicative of most accidents in which cars, pickup trucks, or SUVs collide with large trucks. Because of the extreme size and weight of 18-wheelers, accidents involving large trucks often result in serious injury or death to occupants of passenger vehicles involved in the collision. If you have been injured in an auto accident with a large truck, you have most likely suffered serious injuries that will take week or months to heal and may leave you disabled for the rest of your life. If the accident was caused by negligence on the part of the truck driver or trucking company, you deserve compensation for your injuries.

If you have been involved in a Birmingham truck accident caused by a truck driver's negligent or reckless conduct, you should contact an experienced Birmingham truck accident lawyer at 1-877-925-5373 to discuss your case. Our Birmingham truck accident attorneys represent victims of personal injury in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Walker Law Firm provides aggressive representation of every Birmingham truck accident case we handle. Let us fight to get you the compensation you deserve for your Birmingham truck accident injuries.

Sleep Apnea Linked to Obesity in U.S. Truck Drivers

A recent study published in the March 2009 edition of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine links obesity to dangerous sleep apnea in U.S. truck drivers. The study shows that commercial truck drivers, who are sedentary for long periods while driving, are at a high risk of obesity. Obesity creates a high risk of obstructive sleep apnea, which can increase a truck driver's chance of falling asleep at the wheel. The study indicates that the chance of crash may be increased by up to seven times that of a driver without apnea.

It is estimated that approximately 2.4 - 3.9 million commercial drivers in the U.S. have obstructive sleep apnea. Truck drivers falling asleep behind the wheel cause scores of truck crashes each year. Trucking companies that fail to screen their drivers for obstructive sleep apnea may be held partially liable for any injuries caused in truck crashes.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck crash, contact the experienced Birmingham truck accident attorneys at The Walker Law Firm today at 1-877-925-5373. Our Birmingham truck accident attorneys represent victims of personal injury in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. Our Birmingham truck accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don't pay a fee unless you receive compensation for your injuries.

Truck Crashes into Lawrence County School Bus

A flatbed truck crashed in to the back of a school bus in Hillsboro Thursday afternoon, sending three people to the hospital, the Associated Press reported. The truck driver sustained severe injuries to his leg and had to be taken by helicopter to a Huntsville hospital for treatment. Two of the students on the bus were treated for minor injuries and released. Fortunately, no other injuries were reported.

School bus accidents are especially tragic because they inherently involve young children. In addition, school buses are not equipped with safety features, such as seatbelts and airbags, that are typical of other vehicles. That is why even the most minor accident has the potential to cause serious injuries. If your child has been injured in a school bus accident involving a large truck or any other vehicle, you should seek the advice of a Birmingham truck accident lawyer immediately.

If you or your child have suffered an injury in a Birmingham truck accident, contact the experienced Birmingham truck accident attorneys at The Walker Law Firm today at 1-877-925-5373. Our Birmingham truck accident attorneys represent victims of personal injury in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don't pay a fee unless you receive compensation for your Birmingham truck accident injuries.

Study: Most Large Truck Crashes Caused by Driver Error

In 2007, large truck crashes were responsible for 134 deaths and 1,493 injuries in Alabama. Unfortunately, most of these accidents could have been prevented. According to a study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the critical factor that causes the majority of large truck crashes is driver negligence. The most common errors truck drivers make that contribute to truck crashes include:

• Traveling too fast for conditions
• Unfamiliarity with roadway
• Prescription drug use
  
• Over-the-counter drug use
• Driving while fatigued
• Failure to stop at a stop sign or signal

If you have been involved in a Birmingham truck accident caused by a truck driver's negligent or reckless conduct, you should contact an experienced Birmingham truck accident lawyer at 1-877-925-5373 to discuss your case. Our Birmingham truck accident attorneys represent victims of personal injury in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. The Walker Law Firm provides aggressive representation of every Birmingham truck accident case we handle. Let us fight to get you the compensation you deserve for your Birmingham truck accident injuries.

Truck-SUV Collision Leaves 1 Dead, 2 Injured

One man died in a head-on collision between a large truck and an SUV in Coosa County on Sunday evening. Two others injured in the crash were both rushed to a Sylacauga hospital. One of the accident victims was later airlifted to a Birmingham hospital for treatment. The accident occurred when the driver of a passenger vehicle ran a stop sign and turned onto Highway 280 East. A semi heading in the same direction on Highway 280 struck the passenger vehicle. The impact caused the truck driver to lose control, cross the median, and slam head-on into an SUV. The driver of the SUV was killed in the crash.

Often, truck accidents are caused by the negligence of a third party, rather than the truck driver or trucking company. No matter whose negligence causes the accident, however, truck accident victims often suffer more severe injuries than victims involved in passenger vehicle accidents. Our Birmingham truck accident lawyers help injury victims seek compensation to help pay their medical bills, repair their damaged vehicles, and make up for time missed from work. Some common Birmingham truck accident injuries include:

• Neck & Back Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Scars, Burns, & Physical Disfigurement
• Broken Bones & Fractures
• Paraplegia & Quadriplegia
• Wrongful Death

If you have sustained a personal injury in a Birmingham truck accident, contact the experienced Birmingham truck accident attorneys at The Walker Law Firm today at 1-877-925-5373. Our Birmingham truck accident attorneys represent victims of personal injury in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills.

Driver of 18 Wheeler Arrested After Police Chase

The driver of a big rig was arrested in Mobile on Tuesday after leading police on a half-hour chase. During the chase, which began amidst an argument between the driver and his wife, the 47-year-old commercial vehicle operator made several improper lane changes and flew past a stopped school bus, according to news reports. Fortunately, only minor injuries resulted from the incident.

As was the case in this incident, Alabama truck accident injuries are often the result of driver negligence. Drivers of large trucks have an obligation to exercise caution when operating commercial vehicles. The operation of large trucks is inherently hazardous because of their massive size and weight in comparison with other vehicles on the road. Truck accidents often result in catastrophic injuries, such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and even death. An experienced Birmingham truck accident lawyer can help you hold the negligent driver responsible for your injuries.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a Birmingham truck accident, call the truck accident lawyers at 1-877-925-5373 for a free consultation. We provide thorough and aggressive representation of truck accident cases in Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, Trussville, and Vestavia Hills. Don’t hesitate to contact the Birmingham truck accident lawyers at The Walker Law Firm to discuss your case.