Runaway Trailer Kills Pennsylvania Woman and Injures Two Others - Philadelphia Defective Trailer Lawyer Speaks Out
A Washington County, Pennsylvania woman was killed and another woman and child were severely injured when a runaway trailer broke loose from a truck that was pulling it and struck a car on Route 19 in Washington County, Pennsylvania (video report).
Unfortunately, the force of the trailer’s impact on the driver of a Ford Tempo in oncoming traffic was devastating. According to an eyewitness, the trailer went through the windshield peeling back the car’s roof, killing the victim, Michelle Kott, on the spot. The crash also catastrophically injured Kott’s friend, Brandy Curtis, and her 5-year old daughter. The driver of the pickup truck, Ryan Bier, told North Strabane police investigators that he “felt the trailer pulling hard on the truck and heard a loud pop.” Bier also told police investigators that “the wind moved the trailer from side to side and that a large crosswind came across Route 19 and picked the trailer up off the roadway and tossed it into oncoming traffic.” The driver’s twin brother also told a of a “yank on the truck, a loud pop and a large gust of wind pulled the trailer off the roadway and crashed into the car.” Apparently, Pennsylvania State Police investigators are testing the hitch and chain of the towing hitch and the investigation continues.
The Philadelphia defective trailer and trailer hitch law firm of Reiff & Bily have extensive experience representing victims injured as a result of defective trailers and trailer hitches. Currently NHTSA has admitted that no standards exist for trailer hitches. Unfortunately, most states, including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, have very little regulation with regard to trailers that are under 3,000 lbs. We have found that many trailers are made just to be under the gross weight of 3,000 lbs. so as not to be subject to any regulations. All that most states require is that the lights be working at the time of registration and very few states check the quality of the construction of the hitch or the trailer. In many cases we find that tow trailers have obvious safety violations relating to lighting, braking, inspection and safeguards required to prevent catastrophic injuries and deaths, such as those which tragically occurred in this circumstance.
Unfortunately, many operators as well as manufacturers have cut corners on safety when it comes to towing a trailer. Surely a gust of wind should not have caused a trailer to become unhitched and detached from the vehicle, setting off the catastrophic chain of events that killed Michelle Kott and seriously injured her friend and her friend’s daughter. Our hearts and prayers go out to Ms. Kott and her family, as well as the family of Brandy Curtis and her daughter.
In the cases we have handled, we have found that many trailer owners and operators were lacking in knowledge of basic safety and proper towing procedures and few have had any real training or instruction. Many failed to properly attach their trailer safety chains. The result of such ignorance, carelessness and negligence is easily preventable in causing catastrophic injuries and deaths.
Accidents such as the Washington County, Pennsylvania trailer accident are generally caused by poor maintenance, lack of maintenance or inadequate supervision and are an unfortunate reality. This recent incident highlights the significant dangers involved when using or operating trailers in an improper fashion. It is important that the wrongdoers be held accountable for the carelessness resulting in the injuries and deaths that they have caused.
If you or a loved one has been catastrophically injured or killed as a result of a defective trailer, please contact the experienced defective trailer lawyers at the Philadelphia law firm of Reiff & Bily for a free consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.
