Michael Leizerman’s Blog

It takes a little fire in the belly to fight with truck companies and insurance companies day in and day out. I get personally offended when, for example, an insurance company offers a pittance when one of their insured’s vehicles crosses a centerline and kills somebody’s mother. But being passionate alone is not enough. The best way to beat the truck companies is old-fashioned hard work. Please feel free to contact me at michael@leizerman.com or call me at 1-800-628-4500.

DallasNews.com reports that a tractor-trailer rear-ended a passenger vehicle on the LBJ Freeway in Balch Springs, Texas, killing the 57-year-old female driver of that vehicle. The Dallas resident was pulling her Ford Thunderbird back onto the freeway after she had stopped on the shoulder and changed a flat. While police do not expect to charge the driver of the tractor-trailer, the truck accident is still under investigation.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal.com reports that a tractor-trailer rear-ended a SUV on I-95 at the State Road 44 interchange near New Smyrna Beach, Florida, causing the SUV to flip onto its roof, and killing the 60-year-old driver. A passenger in the SUV was taken to a local hospital in serious condition. Investigators report that skid marks from hard braking were visible on the roadway leading up to the area of the truck crash and that charges against the driver of the tractor-trailer are pending.

StarTribune.com reports that a pair of semi-trailer trucks and two passenger vehicles collided on I-35 near Lakeville, Minnesota, killing one driver instantly and causing the death of a second after that victim had been airlifted to a local hospital. Rescue crews responding to the truck crash struggled through swarms of bees to get to victims. The bees were being carted by one of the semi-trailer trucks involved in the wreck and were released upon impact. Fire crews were using pressurized water to control the approximately 17 million bees carried on the truck. Though early investigative work has been hindered by the difficulty of working while under attack from the bees, investigators believe that one of the semi-trailer trucks crushed into the two passenger vehicles from behind while they were stopped for road construction and pushed them into the tractor-trailer truck carrying the bees. Minnesota State Patrolmen stated that the trailing tractor-trailer truck was probably travelling at a “pretty high” speed. The driver of that tractor-trailer truck has had several driving violations, including one involving drunken driving, according to state court records.

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State trucking laws vary, and the need for qualified truck accident attorneys to understand all facets of a particular litigation is imperative. I have handled numerous truck accidents throughout the United States, many of them similar to those noted below. Please feel free to contact me michael@leizerman.com or call me at 1-800-628-4500.

The Chicago Tribune reports that a tractor-trailer rear-ended a school bus at a railroad crossing on Illinois Route 3 near East Alton, Illinois, injuring six students aboard the bus. The injured, many of them special-needs students, were taken to a nearby hospital for examination and treatment following the big rig wreck.

Deseret News reports that a semitrailer truck tipped over onto a car on I-15 near the I-80 interchange in South Salt Lake, Utah, injuring passengers in the car. A second car was pinned between two semitrailers following the initial truck crash. Officials with the Utah Department of Transportation are investigating the cause of the crash.

Deseret News reports that a FedEx semitrailer crossed the median on I-80 near Lambs Canyon, Utah, and slammed into a passenger vehicle, killing the vehicle’s driver instantly. A passenger in the vehicle received minor injuries. Officials with the Utah Highway Patrol are investigating the crash.

The Journal Times.com reports that a semitrailer overturned on I-94 near Raymond, Wisconsin, causing it to slam into a retainer wall and push a section of that wall into oncoming traffic. A box truck then struck the section of wall and a passing car as well. Racine County Sheriff’s Department officials report that two people injured in the truck crash were taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Quad-City Times reports that a semi-tractor trailer turned in front of an approaching vehicle on I-80 near Davenport, Iowa, causing the vehicle to crash into and become wedged under the Volvo semi. A 24-year-old passenger in the vehicle died of her injuries. She was traveling with her fiancé, a 30-year-old man who was treated for injuries and released from the hospital. The driver of the semi has been charged with making an unsafe turn at a cross-over-section, clearly marked “No U-turn.” The couple were to be married July 17 in Davenport.

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It takes a little fire in the belly to fight with truck companies and insurance companies day in and day out. I get personally offended when, for example, an insurance company offers a pittance when one of their insured’s vehicles crosses a centerline and kills somebody’s mother. But being passionate alone is not enough. The best way to beat the truck companies is old-fashioned hard work. Please feel free to contact me at michael@leizerman.com or call me at 1-800-628-4500.

Freep.com reports that a semi-truck stopped at a rail crossing in southwest Detroit, Michigan and was struck by a Norfolk Southern train, injuring the train’s conductor and assistant as well as the driver of the semi. With 48 crashes and 12 deaths last year, Michigan ranks 13th in the nation for the number of train crossing wrecks despite the efforts of Norfolk Southern’s “Operation Lifesaver,” a program that raises public awareness of rail crossing hazards. Detroit police investigators are working to determine the cause of this truck/train accident.

Dailyme.com reports that a semi-tractor trailer traveling south on I-75 near Gibraltar Road in Brownstown Township, Michigan, struck and killed a 56-year-old Flat Rock, Michigan resident who was standing beside his car on the right shoulder of the interstate. Police investigators have ruled out alcohol as a factor in the truck accident.

Star-Telegram.com reports that an 18-wheeler hauling produce lost control on Interstate 30 in Arlington, Texas, struck a concrete barrier, then jackknifed causing its trailer to tip over onto an SUV, killing one occupant of the SUV. The victim, a 17-year-old local resident died while receiving treatment at Arlington Memorial Hospital. The driver of the SUV, a 16-year-old who is now in police custody charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle for allegedly stealing the SUV and failure to stop and render aid for attempting to flee the accident scene, received non-life-threatening injuries in the crash. Texas Department of Transportation officials are continuing to investigate the cause of this truck accident and state that at this point, “it is unclear what caused [it.]”

The Columbian reports that a semi-truck failed to stop at a construction zone on Interstate 5 at milepost 88 near Centralia, Washington and struck two passenger vehicles, injuring three people in those cars. Among the injured was the driver of a four-door Cadillac that was totaled in the crash. The state patrol states that the truck accident occurred just before 4 a.m. and they are investigating whether speed played a role in the crash.

Chicago Tribune.com reports that a semi trailer carrying a backhoe became disabled and stopped at a rail crossing in Mebane, North Carolina where it was struck by an Amtrak passenger train going 70 mph, injuring a least a dozen people. Witnesses reported hearing a “big boom” and then seeing debris fly through the air. The train, which connects Raleigh and Charlotte, was carrying 36 passengers at the time of the truck crash. Two passengers were seriously injured and were taken to Duke University Hospital. Those passengers with minor injuries were taken to Alamance Regional where they were treated for cuts and bruises. Gates and lights at the rail crossing were in perfect working order according to a Department of Transportation spokeswoman. Mebane police are investigating.

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State trucking laws vary, and the need for qualified truck accident attorneys to understand all facets of a particular litigation is imperative. I have handled numerous truck accidents throughout the United States, many of them similar to those noted below. Please feel free to contact me michael@leizerman.com or call me at 1-800-628-4500.

WFTV.com reports that a semi truck traveling northbound on I-95 near mile mark 210 in Titus, Florida blew a tire causing it to cross the median into oncoming traffic where it struck a pickup truck head on and triggered a multi-vehicle crash that injured six people including a small child. Six ambulances responded to the truck crash and at least one victim was airlifted to a hospital in Orlando. Police investigators are continuing to piece together details of this crash.

The Abilene Reflector-Chronicle reports that a 1995 International semi truck pulling a trailer struck a passenger vehicle broadside at the intersection of 1000 Avenue and Trail Road about 4 miles south of Woodbine, Kansas. Both drivers were taken to area hospitals in serious condition according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

West Hawaii Today reports that a semi-truck carrying a load of gravel slammed into the rear of a passenger van carrying five Japanese tourists on Queen Kaahumanu Highway in Kona, Hawaii, injuring two of the tourists. The semi-truck burst into flames and was burned beyond recognition according to firefighters. The two injured tourists as well as the driver of the semi-truck were taken to Kona Community Hospital for treatment. Officials with the Kealakehe Police Station report that alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in the truck crash.

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Consider this: A truck accident in, for example, Ohio may be complicated if the victim is from Florida, the truck driver is from Kansas, the truck is owned by a California company, the trailer owned by a Missouri company and the driver was hauling a load from California to New York. I have handled numerous complicated truck accidents throughout the United States and I am knowledgeable in the specifics of trucking law. Please feel free to contact me at michael@leizerman.com or call me at 1-800-628-4500.

Jacksonville.com reports that a commercial truck slammed into the driver’s side of a passenger vehicle at North Pearl and West Union Streets in downtown Jacksonville, Florida, killing the car’s driver and leaving a passenger in the vehicle hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. The force of the crash was so great that the passenger vehicle was nearly completely flattened and was pushed off the road and into a nearby church building. A police spokesperson said they were investigating whether speed played a role in the crash.

The Grand Island Independent reports that a semitrailer made a right hand turn from the center lane of Second Street in Grand Island, Nebraska and struck a passenger vehicle in the right lane. Two passengers in the vehicle were taken to a nearby hospital where they were treated for their injuries. Grand Island Police are investigating the truck crash.

The News Star.com reports that a semi-tractor struck a John Deere tractor on Jackson Street in Monroe, Louisiana when the semi attempted to pass the tractor in a no-passing zone. The driver of the John Deere was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries. Monroe Police cited the driver of the semi-tractor truck for improper passing.

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