Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

A 41-year-old female driver was operating her vehicle on a state highway when a 10 lb. corner iron securing raisin crates on a tractor trailer came loose. The corner iron struck the windshield of another driver’s vehicle, hitting her in the head and causing her to suffer a traumatic brain injury and seizure disorder which prevented her from driving. According to news sources, medical expenses amounted to $178,900.00 and the victim, a teacher, was forced to retire and apply for disability benefits. The defendant was sued with the allegation that they failed to properly secure the corner iron and the jury awarded $12.23 million dollars after hearing the facts of the case.

Each year, the negligent operators of trucks seriously injure or kill thousands of pedestrians, drivers, and motorists. Unsecured truck loads continue to pose hazards for innocent drivers who are often wrongfully killed or catastrophically injured as a result of the unsecured or improperly secured cargo. I am sure that many of my readers have observed trucks and other vehicles improperly loaded with cargo traveling down highways at high rates of speed. It is reported that over 50,000 truck accidents occur every year due to unsecured cargo and often trucks are hauling hazardous materials or flammable materials which are not properly secured and result in horrific consequences if an accident or malfunction occurs.

Continue reading "Failure to Properly Secure Cargo on a Truck Results in Catastrophic Injuries and Significant Eight Figure Jury Verdict" »

Recently, a 46-year-old motorcyclist was killed when he hit a mattress and box spring that flew off a vehicle into his lane of travel. Unfortunately, many of our nation’s highways are littered with debris with frightening regularity. It never ceases to amaze me when I see trucks hauling unsecured junk and debris down the highway and it is evident that the drivers of those vehicles don’t give a damn about the safety of other motorists. If they did, they would have taken great pains to secure potentially “deadly debris” missiles so they don’t fly off of their trucks.

The latest catastrophic tragic death that we learned about involved Royce Munns who was riding south on Interstate 15 at 10:45 p.m. in the evening when he ran into a mattress and box spring causing his motorcycle to go down. The Highway Patrol was unable to identify the owner of the mattress who probably didn’t have a great enough conscience to turn themselves in or prevent such a catastrophic injury by securing the cargo. Making matters worse, even if the Trooper did find the owner of the mattress, the only charge that he would be faced with in the jurisdiction is driving with an unsecured load, a misdemeanor that carries a $500 fine. If, in fact, authorities were able to prove that the person driving the vehicle knew that the mattress fell off and left it on the roadway anyway, perhaps criminal authorities would impose a manslaughter charge.

As an experienced Philadelphia motorcycle crash attorney who has investigated and litigated many cases involving falling debris, I believe that wrongdoers must be held civilly accountable and understand that juries don’t take such a kind eye towards such offenders.

The aggressive Pennsylvania accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily understand the loss of lives and damage that can be caused by “flying missiles” of unsecured cargo and debris and know what it takes to put the injured victim and his family back on equal footing in terms of recovering medical bills, economic losses, lost wages, and compensatory damage for pain and suffering. Our legal team always offers a free, no obligation consultation toll free at (800) 421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com and our record of success speaks for itself.

For over 30 years, I have prosecuted claims on behalf of those wrongfully killed and catastrophically injured resulting from unsecured or improperly secured cargo and in fact have been a victim of such an unfortunate truck accident myself.

It consistently amazes me how often I observe trucks and other vehicles improperly loaded with improperly secured or unsecured cargo traveling down the highways at high rates of speed. Over 50,000 reported truck accidents occur every year due to unsecured cargo consisting of tires, steel coils, lumbar, heavy auto parts, construction supplies, and machinery. Additionally, many times trucks can be hauling hazardous materials or flammable materials which are not properly secured and if an accident or malfunction occurs, horrific consequences are often the result.

Owners and operators of trucks are imputed with a duty to inspect and secure a load on every truck on the highway. Specific federal regulations define the securing of freight and proper loading of cargo. The situation with regard to unsecured cargo often is ignored by governmental authorities and is now reaching what some say are epidemic proportions. Many claim they are “freak” accidents.

As an experienced trucking accident and unsecured cargo and falling debris lawyer who has prosecuted some of the most tragic claims over the last 30 years, I can honestly state that these proclaimed “freak” accidents are generally not freak accidents and often cause the most devastating and damaging injuries. Often times an unsecured cargo case involves an improperly maintained truck, truck driver fatigue, negligence, or a product failure and requires competent and careful investigation for the successful prosecution of a claim to recover costs involved with long term medical treatment, rehabilitation, lost income, pain and suffering, and other financial losses.

Continue reading "Unsecured Truck Loads Continue to Pose Hazardous Dangers For Pennsylvania Motorists" »