Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

During the spring and summer holiday seasons, the last thing you think about when driving down the highways is being struck by a boat on a trailer that has become detached from the vehicle that is towing it.

Believe it or not, 15 states of our great country have no regulation for utility trailers, and each week, a number of people in our country will be catastrophically injured or killed when a trailer detaches from the vehicle towing it, which is generally caused by an amalgam of early preventable errors.

Consumer safety advocate Ron Melancon publishes a website known as www.dangeroustrailers.org and recently published a story noting that a Connecticut man traveling on Route 24 was driving down the highway when he saw a boat heading in a different direction. Unfortunately, a truck pulling a 19 ft. boat had lost its trailer as it became unattached from the truck whereupon the trailer lost control, crossed lanes of travel, and went through the guardrail before it came to a stop 30 feet before striking a tree. Unfortunately, accidents such as this are not as uncommon as one would think.

As I am writing this blog, I just learned of another accident in Vermont when a 1980 International truck driven on the highway lost its trailer after it became unhitched. This caused the trailer to cross into oncoming traffic and strike another vehicle, causing major damage.

For over three decades, the defective trailer accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been representing the interests of those catastrophically injured or killed in trailer accidents. Unfortunately, most states, including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, have very little regulations addressed with regard to trailers that are under 3,000 lbs. Many manufacturers allow the gross weight of the trailer to be just under the threshold so as not to be subject to any regulations. Trailer accidents are caused by mechanical failure, design defect limitations, metallurgical or component failure, hitch failure, and improper training of operator, lack of or improper maintenance procedures, loose cables, loose chains, and defective hitches. If you are going to tow a trailer, I recommend visiting the following websites: www.nhtsa.gov/cars/problems/equipment/towing, and www.trailersafety.com.

For more information on the dangers of improperly constructed, maintained, and unregulated trailers make sure to visit Ron Melancon’s website: www.dangeroustrailers.org.

Over a year ago, a detached utility trailer caused a crash on Interstate 95 in Anderson, South Carolina that killed the parents of two young children. The trailer was not licensed and the driver kept going and has yet to step forward taking responsibility for causing a multi-vehicle accident car accident as well as multiple wrongful deaths.

Defective trailer accident and consumer advocate Ron Melacon of Virginia has devoted his lifetime to lobbying lawmakers to improve trailer safety and demands accountability from legislators. In South Carolina, as well as many other states, most utility trailers weighing less than 2,500 lbs. do not need to be licensed or registered according to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. In the trailer accident mentioned, a small homemade utility trailer was being towed by a truck when it broke free, came to stop in the middle of the highways whereupon a gray Honda Odyssey struck the trailer and then swerved into the path of an 18 wheeler traveling in the right lane and the force of the collision caused the crumpled minivan to hit a parked SUV that had pulled over to the side of road to make a 911 call about the unattended trailer. The Odyssey’s front seat occupants ages 34 and 35 died at the scene, while their two daughters ages 3 and 6 remained in the rear seat.

Our experienced trailer accident attorneys salute the work of Ron Melacon and understand that tens of thousands of people will continue to die across the United States unless stricter legislation is enacted involving passenger vehicles towing trailers. Every day individuals in the United States will continue to lose their life as the result of an accident with a detached trailer.

The defective trailer accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been investigating and litigating truck accidents, car accidents, and trailer accidents for over three decades and have recently joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm. Together our attorneys have been awarded billions of dollars since 1957 representing the interests of catastrophically injured victims and their families and those who have sustained wrongful deaths. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

A 1991 Ford F-150 was towing a 1998 Midway trailer when the connection between the pickup and trailer was broken causing the unit to cross over the center line and strike an oncoming vehicle driven by a 47-year old woman. Run away trailers are an all too common occurrence and can often lead to catastrophic consequences for victims and their families. The majority of run away trailer accidents involve light and medium sized trailers used by individuals and small businesses such as gardeners.

The experienced run away trailer lawyers of the Beasley Reiff Law Group have been awarded over $2 billion dollars since 1958 representing the interests of injured victims including but limited to bicyclists and pedestrians and vehicle occupants who have been seriously injured and killed by run away trailers.

Failure to properly secure the trailer to its guiding source, usually a ball and hitch, or design defect, or product failure appears to be the cause of run away accidents. Additionally, many people will connect a trailer without any safety chains or basic construction. Unfortunately, there is very little regulation of non-commercial trailers and there is no rule in any of our 50 states requiring a small to medium trailer to have any instruction or permit. Manufacturers and rental companies have a very strong lobby and have fought against reasonable safety proposals and guidelines.

Our experienced car accident and truck accident lawyers have over 50 years experience investigating run away trailer accidents. For a free, no obligation consultation, please contact us online at www.beasleyreifflawgroup.com or toll free at 1-800-588-0130.

On February 13, 2011 Aaron Peru, Melanie Nichols, and her son Justin were involved in a horrific car accident when a trailer broke loose of its hitch and hit their vehicle head on. Tragically, Aaron’s wounds were fatal and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Melanie and Justin were helivaced to a medical center where Melanie suffers from severe head trauma, a broken leg, and numerous other fractures throughout her body, and Justin suffered major and minor lacerations but remains in stable condition. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

As an experienced Pennsylvania defective trailer accident lawyer since 1979, this tragic accident highlights a situation that our detached and defective trailer lawyers have been aggressively fighting for decades. Mainly, the fact that detached trailer accidents happen with much too much frequency due to limited minimal controls and regulations. NHTSA has admitted that no standards exist for trailer hitches. Unfortunately in most states, including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, there is very little regulation addressed to trailers under 3,000 lbs. Many of these trailers are purposefully made to be under the gross weight of 3,000 lbs. so as not to be subject to regulations. Many state laws, including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, are silent as to any design or construction specifications of these vehicles or trailers, as well as towing chains or hitches. In the many cases that we have investigated, we have found that the tow trailers have obvious safety violations relating to lighting, braking, security, and inspection requirements.

Several factors cause a trailer detachment:

1. They do not need to be inspected.

2. You can build one on your own and use it or sell it.

3. If they are under 3,000 lbs., they fall below federal guidelines and if trailers are
over 3,000 lbs. reflectors only need be placed at the extreme rear of the trailer.

Continue reading "Unhitched Trailer Accident Takes Dad’s Life and Catastrophically Injures Mom and Son" »

A 22-year old man was killed after his 1996 Toyota collided head on with a trailer that was being towed and broke loose from a 1995 Toyota. The trailer crossed the center line after detachment killing the 22-year old victim. News sources have described this event as a freak accident. Unfortunately, as an experienced trailer accident lawyer for more than 30 years, I feel comfortable stating that this situation is not so unique and happens on a regular basis, causing catastrophic injury and killing many unknowing and innocent victims. For more information, I direct you to a wonderful website maintained by consumer advocate Ron Melancon entitled dangeroustrailers.org. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of this victim. The family of the victim would be well served to seek the services of an experienced defective trailer and car accident lawyer to fully investigate this claim and to hold the responsible parties accountable for compensatory and possible punitive damages. The experienced defective trailer firm of Reiff & Bily has a successful track record with car accident and trailer accident cases since 1979.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, trailer accident, or truck accident as the result of a defective trailer, please contact one of our experienced Pennsylvania trailer accident lawyers for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

In the course of my legal practice as a Pennsylvania catastrophic injury and defective trailer law since 1979, I have met many unsung heroes whose lifetime work has had a significant impact on saving the lives of others. Ron Melancon is one of those individuals. In May of 2003, Ron was driving his minivan and noticed a pickup truck pulling a trailer in front of him. When the truck pulling a trailer stopped, Ron attempted to stop but unfortunately hit the trailer. Unfortunately the trailer was made of a transparent large steel mesh and for a driver behind the trailer, there was nothing to indicate its length or depth. Its brake lights were hard to visualize to the driver behind. Thank goodness no one was hurt and the damage to Ron’s car was minimal. But over and over in his mind, Ron Melancon tried to figure out how he missed seeing the trailer and how he could improve the safety of trailers that accidents such as this and more catastrophic accidents involving trailer did not occur. Ron Melancon then began a crusade to inform the public about the safety factors of trailers. Against the advice of all friends and on his own nickel, Ron decided not to get his van fixed and use the money that he saved by not repairing his van to start a campaign and call the public’s attention to trailer safety. During his initial hours of research Ron Melancon discovered a few details concerning trailers:

1. They do not need to be inspected.

2. You can build one on your own and use it or sell it.

3. If they are under 3,000 lbs., they fall below federal guidelines and if trailers are over 3,000 lbs. reflectors only need be placed at the extreme rear of the trailer.

In the beginning, no one wanted to hear Ron’s story. He was repeatedly told “You hit him in the rear, pay your fine and move on”. Ron took an online safe driving course to avoid a conviction for causing a car accident by following too closely, but he did not stop there. He then spoke to General Assembly delegate John S. Reid, who gave him the opportunity to vent and agreed to sponsor a Bill that would make trailers used to haul landscape equipment more visible. The law passed with 100% of the House of Delegates and the Senate and you would think that would be enough, but a company called Carry On Trailers decided to fight the law. Jackie Robinson once stated that “a life isn’t significant except for its impact on other’s lives.” Somewhere out there there is a unique place for all of us to help others and a unique role for us to fill that only we can fill if we are dedicated. Ron Melancon created a website entitled www.dangeroustrailers.org which I urge all of you to visit and support. Ron works 7 days a week, seemingly 24 hours a day, to make sure that the public is aware of the dangers of trailers and their defects. He has taken his efforts to legislators around the country, trailer manufacturers, as well as the consumers. It is important to add that Ron performs all of his duty and efforts at a significant financial loss to himself without any public or private support. When people such as Ron serve the public, life is no longer meaningless, and while some dubious readers may question Ron’s dedication, I salute Ron Melancon and believe that in helping others, we shall help ourselves. For whatever good we give out will complete the circle of life and come back to us, and that such given of the whole heart and freeful mind is the most beautiful thing that a person can do.

Trailer detachments are becoming more regular occurrences in Pennsylvania and nationwide. This experienced Philadelphia car accident and defective trailer accident lawyer calls for more Pennsylvania Commonwealth and national regulation with teeth. In the latest event which occurred on March 14, 2010, state police in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania reported that a trailer came loose from a passing pickup truck, striking an artist who was carving a wooden sculpture. The 46-year old Pennsylvania artist was using a chainsaw and wearing heavy ear protection when the trailer broke free from the passing truck striking him. Pennsylvania police state that the truck hit a divot in the road and the trailer detached hitting the artist. The force of the detached trailer striking the Pennsylvania artist was so great that he was pinned against a building and died of massive injuries later at the hospital. The investigators are attempting to determine if the trailer was properly attached to the truck.

The family of 46-year old John Metzler, the victim, would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced defective trailer and Pennsylvania car accident lawyer to fully investigate the facts of this case to determine who may be liable for his injuries.

Several factors are known to cause trailer accidents - operator behavior, mechanical failure, design defects or limitations, uninspected damages, improper repairs, metallurgical component failures, improper operation, improper training, improper maintenance procedure, lack of safety harnesses and/or chains, failure of safety lock, failure of hitch, improper height or weight restrictions, corrosion of parts, improper assembly, overloading the trailer, abrupt start and stopping, and violation of applicable state codes.

There is no federal law or national agency administrating trailer defect accidents. There are no known general or uniform reporting requirements and the trailer industry is highly unregulated. There are important questions that must be answered and explored demanding a team of experienced defective trailer investigators and experts to determine how and why the accident occurred. It is important to bring wrongdoers to justice and to make sure victims are fully compensated for resulting injuries.

For more information regarding dangerous trailers, please visit consumer advocate Ron Melancon's website www.dangeroustrailers.org.

As an experienced defective trailer and car accident lawyer, I am seeing more and more cases of defective or unhitched trailers resulting in catastrophic injuries and death to innocent victims.

Recently a story came over the wires on March 10, 2010 whereupon a Michigan man’s trailer became unhooked and killed an oncoming driver. The man pleaded no contest to negligent homicide. According to the news story, Thomas Dells was driving a van when his trailer came loose, flew over a westbound vehicle and hit the next car’s windshield. The crash killed 46-year-old Tony Lynn Hall, as well as causing substantial and catastrophic injuries to her passenger. The police investigation revealed that the steel pin that held the ball mount to the van’s hitch somehow became loose, allowing the trailer to break free. The trailer was hauling salvage metal. The documents reviewed indicate that Dells did not use safety chains on his trailer.

Our thoughts, hearts, and prayers go out to the unfortunate victims of this tragic accident and they would be well served to seek the services of a lawyer experienced in defective trailer and trailer defect claims to ensure that their legal rights are protected to the maximum extent available by law.

I recently reviewed a story relating to two of the nation’s and Philadelphia’s most epidemic problems, namely hit and run accidents and defective trailers. According to news sources, an individual who was operating a Toyota Forerunner northbound on a highway when a triple axle utility trailer he was towing broke free crossing the median, glancing off another vehicle, and then striking another vehicle head on pinning two women inside who had to be cut from the vehicle by the Jaws of Life. The victims were age 63 and 88 and sustained catastrophic injuries including multiple broken bones and permanent scarring.

The driver of the vehicle towing the triple axle utility trailer which broke free “ran” from the scene in his vehicle. When he was apprehended by the police, the hit and run driver stated “it was a true accident” and he had been working two jobs in order to survive. This situation highlights something I have been writing about for months if not years, namely that as the economy continues to worsen more and more people are going without car insurance or are minimally insured and flee the scene of accidents in fear rather than stay to render assistance and exchange information required by law.

Additionally since the trailer industry and towing of trailers is so unregulated, stricter government or state regulations are necessary due to the frequency or epidemic nature of these incidents resulting in catastrophic injuries or fatalities.

The experienced Philadelphia hit and run car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily are well versed in both of these areas and are committed to promoting motorist safety and once again call for stricter regulation on both of these fronts.

If you or a loved one was injured by a hit and run car accident or a defective trailer accident, please feel free to contact one of our experienced Philadelphia hit and run and defective trailer accident lawyers for a free no obligation consultation.