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Recent Updates
May 09, 2008
Lack of Safety Standards on US-Mexico Buses Raise Fear of More Bus Accidents
May 08, 2008
Updates on Two Orange County, California Drunk Driving Accident Cases
May 07, 2008
Tucson Border Patrol Agent's Family Files Lawsuit in Rollover Accident
May 06, 2008
Swimming Pool Accident Victim's Parents File Lawsuit Against Hotel
May 05, 2008
Dallas Woman's Family Sues Company in Truck Accident
May 02, 2008
Parents of Girl Injured in Car Accident Sue Turlock School District
May 01, 2008
Witnesses in Bakersfield Car Accident Case Testify
April 30, 2008
Woman Killed in Orange County Car Accident
April 29, 2008
Civil Lawsuits Filed in Los Angeles County Train Accident Case
April 28, 2008
Dealers Sell Salvaged Vehicles with Defective Car Parts
Truck Accidents
California Highway Patrol Truck Enforcement Reveals Many in Non-Compliance
October 23, 2007
Truck maintenance or the lack of it can be a major causal factor in truck accidents. By the very nature of their function, traversing thousands of miles daily and under all kinds of road and weather conditions, trucks are more prone to wear and tear. A small malfunction is enough to cause a devastating accident. Proper maintenance of a truck is crucial not only to the safety of the truck itself but also the well being of other drivers on the streets. All this sounds great in theory, but as California Highway Patrol officials found out recently, there are still too many trucking companies that allow their massive vehicles out on the streets in a state of neglect or disrepair. The California Highway Patrol carried out a truck enforcement effort on a stretch of highway from Moorpark's city limits to Somis and found that a majority of trucks were not in compliance. In fact out of the 30 truck inspections that took place, only 6 were found to be in compliance. As many as 8 trucks were taken out of service for being in an unsafe mechanical condition, and at least one driver was taken off the roads, the Ventura County Star reports. California Highway Patrol officials admit that if such enforcements were conducted more frequently, truckers would be more likely to comply with regulations. Over the past years both CHP officials and county officials have been making increased enforcement efforts in an attempt to enforce standard regulations. As is evident from the large number of trucks that failed compliance tests in Moorpark, these efforts needs to be conducted more frequently. Just recently, the Los Angeles Times reported that U-Haul, the country's largest rental truck and trailer company was increasing safety and maintenance checks on its fleet, after the newspaper exposed a system of irregular maintenance procedures on the company's trucks. A faulty truck on the streets is a danger not just to the driver and passenger but all other vehicles on the highway. When an accident occurs, as has been happening on an increasing basis in some Ventura county areas, there is potential for large scale devastation, personal injuries and death. If you've been involved in a truck accident, contact the experienced California truck accident attorneys at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.
UPDATE: Deadly Newhall Pass Truck Fire
October 15, 2007
According to news sources, both main lines of the Newhall Pass section of Interstate 5 have reopened following Friday's big rig truck crash and fire. The Newhall Pass truck bypass tunnel remains closed following the death of three people in the accident, which involved as many as 29 semi trucks and one passenger car. On Monday, many commuters chose to take Metrolink, the Los Angeles area commuter rail line instead of risking detours around the Newhall Pass accident scene.
Santa Clarita Big Rig Truck Crash Kills 3 on I-5
October 13, 2007
At least three people were killed and at least ten people were injured late Friday in a fiery big rig truck accident on Interstate 5 just north of the Antelope Valley Freeway in Northern Los Angeles County. The Santa Clarita crash closed the main route connecting Los Angeles to San Francisco in both directions. The truck accident occurred in a tunnel designed for semi truck traffic although cars are also allowed to use the truck route.
The truck accident occurred when two semi trucks collided, triggering a chain reaction collision of 15 big rig trucks and at least one passenger car. At least one of the trucks was carrying fuel and caught fire. The entire tunnel was eventually engulfed in flames and the resulting inferno reached 2000 degrees for several hours.
Big rig truck accidents can easily result in catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. If you have been injured in a semi truck accident or a loved-one has suffered a wrongful death due to a big rig crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses. It is critical to contact an experienced truck accident attorney to protect your rights. The Reeves Law Group has extensive experience helping injured victims recover the compensation they deserve.
Driver Error May have Caused Van Crash in San Bernardino Mountains
October 11, 2007
The California Highway Patrol has blamed driver error for the US Forest Service transport van crash in which the vehicle plunged into the San Bernardino Mountains on Monday.
The Orange County Register says Adelanto resident Stanley Taylor was driving the 8 ton van on Highway 18 when the accident occurred. Eight firefighters were in the van on their way to the scene of last month's Butler-2 fire to do clean up work on the site.
The van was traveling at a speed of 35 to 45mph in a 55mphzone. Making a right turn, Taylor sideswiped the guard rail, locked up his brakes, and veered through the guardrail, plunging 235 feet into the San Bernardino Mountains. The impact caused the van to split apart separating the crew cabin from the chassis. Both parts of the van stopped 235 feet below highway 19, the Orange County Register reported. All the passengers traveling in the van sustained multiple injuries and were treated at local hospitals.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the accident was caused by Taylor's "unsafe turning movement." Taylor himself was not available for any comments.
When an accident occurs as a result of negligence of the driver, injured parties can claim compensation for injuries sustained, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Medical bills both current and future expenses (if these future expenses are certain) can also be claimed from the at-fault parties. The personal injury lawyers at The Reeves Law Group bring decades of experience handling accident and personal injury cases to the table. Call for a free consultation on your case.
U-Haul Focuses on Truck Maintenance Issues
October 10, 2007
A series of maintenance problems that caused at least one death in recent weeks has caused U-Haul, the country's largest supplier of rental trucks and trailers to revamp its existing maintenance practices. The Los Angeles Times which earlier published a three-part series that highlighted faulty maintenance practices at the company now reports that there are indications that the management is beginning to get its act together when it comes to fleet maintenance.
U-haul employees and managers many of whom for obvious reasons preferred to remain anonymous said there has been an increase in the number of safety tests and depth of inspections performed.
The Los Angeles Times series focused on a number of problems that were rampant at the Phoenix based company. While company policy mandates regular brake and tire checks, the Times found that compliance of these rules was irregular at best. At least half of the trucks and more than 80 per cent of the trailers in U-Haul's fleet were found to be overdue for a safety check. Some trucks and trailers were found to be pending inspection for more than a year.
The tragedy that can result when such gross maintenance irregularities are seen was brought out in the recent death of a U-Haul customer who died at the company's service center after a truck began rolling down and crushed him to death. Employees now say greater attention is being paid to the maintenance of the fleet. Dealers also report that U-Haul has been making increasing calls to step up safety checks.
Given the number of miles they traverse daily, trucks are subject to increased wear and tear and require regular inspections and safety. Poor maintenance can be a major causal factor when it comes to truck accidents.
If a badly repaired truck is responsible for an accident that causes injuries to the parties involved, the truck company can also be held liable for the personal injuries or damage that results from the accident. If you have been injured in a truck accident that was caused due to faulty truck maintenance call the California truck accident lawyers at The Reeves Law Group for a consultation.
Truck Accidents on the Rise in Moorpark, California
October 05, 2007
According to the Ventura County Star, there has been a spike in big rig accidents in Moorpark, California this year. Moorpark police say there have been 13 truck related collisions on Los Angeles Avenue alone. In all of these, big rigs were at fault.
The rise in truck related accidents in the city is seen as a fallout of the increased big rig traffic activity in Moorpark, California. The city has had a spate of new development projects in the works, and these require regular truckloads of sand and gravel. There are no statistics regarding the number of trucks that actually ply Moorpark roads, but there has been an increase in accidents within the city to 280 this year from 236 during this same time last year. The California Highway Patrol also reported that there has been an increase in accidents on the stretch of highway from Moorpark city limits to Somis, California.
Highway 118, or Los Angeles Avenue, is the main highway running through town. At any given point, trucks and cars vie for space on the road. Many trucks are frequently involved in offenses like stopping by the side of the road, making an unsafe lane change, driving in an unsafe lane or speeding.
The construction boom, it appears, has already begun to make its presence felt in other not so desirable ways. New homes have poured millions of dollars into the city's property tax coffers, but residents say the increase in big rig traffic has raised questions about their safety and has already impacted their lifestyles. Some roads and avenues are a nightmare to navigate and it's not uncommon to be stopped at a light flanked by big rigs on all sides. Air pollution has increased dramatically, and the noise can be deafening at times. Some residents say they find it easier to leave their cars behind and walk through the roads than attempt to drive along streets that are packed with big rigs.
Being involved in a big rig truck accident can be a traumatic experience. By their very size, big rigs have the ability to cause major damage to the vehicle and passenger's safety. If you've been involved in a truck accident, contact the truck accident lawyers at The Reeves Law Group.
