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.