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.

Stltoday.com reports that two Indiana big rig drivers were killed in a fiery four-truck accident in Madison County, Indiana. The chain reaction wreck began early Monday, August 9, on westbound I-70, when a semi plowed into a line of vehicles that had stopped for an earlier accident. It pushed a second semi into a pickup, and the pickup then rear-ended a third tractor-trailer. The first truck caught fire, and the driver and another man were trapped inside and perished. The pickup driver and another of the tractor-trailer drivers were taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

WTKR.com reports that a pickup driver died just after 4am on Monday. August 9, after he slammed into a tanker truck that was backing up and blocking the roadway. The truck accident occurred in heavy fog outside of Suffolk, Virginia, on South Quay Road near Wyanoke Trail, just before the Blackwater Bridge.

Freep.com reports two people were hospitalized with serious injuries on Monday, August 9, when a cement truck rolled onto a passenger car on the Van Dyke Expressway, aka 22 Mile Road, west of M-53 near Shelby Township, Michigan. Police were not clear on what caused the afternoon truck accident.

Foxnews.com reports that a man was partially buried in 300-degree molten asphalt following a three-vehicle truck wreck Tuesday, August 10, in Dean Township, Pennsylvania. The dump truck tipped over onto the pickup, crushing its cab and trapping the hurt driver inside. Then the asphalt started pouring into the cab. The man was up to his waist in blacktop when the construction crew shoveled him out. He is now in a Pittsburgh hospital.

Newarkpostonline.com reports that three people were injured the morning of Thursday, August 12, in Bear, Delaware, when their car struck a dump truck trying to turn left from northbound Route 72 onto Porter Road. The car driver and his two passengers were all hospitalized but stable after the truck accident; the truck driver was unharmed. Police are still investigating the cause of the collision

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that three people were injured when a construction truck slid off an overpass and hit a passenger car north of Lehi, Utah, on Thursday night, August 12. The southbound truck was pulling a message board on the northbound side of a closed section of I-15. The driver seems to have thought he was in a traffic lane but was in fact was on the shoulder — until the truck slid down a steep embankment and landed on State Road 92, where it hit a passenger car. Both drivers and passenger in the truck were injured; all three were taken to a hospital.

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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.

LSJ.com reports that a semitrailer crashed into a passenger vehicle on Homer Street and Sellers Avenue in Lansing Township, Michigan, crushing the driver’s side of the vehicle and leaving its two passengers injured. Emergency crews extracted the passengers and they were taken to a local hospital for treatment. The extent of their injuries is not currently known. This truck crash is still under investigation.

Tricityherald.com reports that a semi-truck caused a three-vehicle crash on Highway 395 in Kennewick, Washington when it slammed into the back of a pickup truck that had stopped in a construction zone. There were minor injuries in the truck accident and Washington State Patrol officers stated that the driver of the semi-truck could be cited for following too close and that the accident was caused by driver inattention.

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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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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.

The Ionia Sentinel Standard reports that a semi truck failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Jordan Lake and Portland roads near Berlin Township, Michigan, then collided with a second semi, causing it to crash into a van, killing the van’s driver. Investigators do not believe that drugs or alcohol were factors in the truck crash.

AppealDemocrat.com reports that a big rig traveling on Highway 99 at Hutchinson Road south of Yuba City, California swerved out of control, crossed the centerline and slammed head-on into a passenger vehicle, killing the vehicle’s driver and injuring two passengers, one seriously. The California Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation into the crash.

6ABC.com reports that one person was killed and two others were injured when a tractor trailer crossed the median on Route 33 in East Windsor, New Jersey and crashed into a van. The driver of the van was pronounced dead at the scene and the van’s two other occupants – a 42-year-old woman and a 3-year-old girl – were taken to a local hospital.

East Valley Tribune.com reports that a semi trailer truck struck a mini van on Ray Road in Chandler, Arizona, leaving two occupants of the van in critical condition and the semi driver in serious condition. The van was making a left-hand turn when the semi struck it, driving it into oncoming traffic. The semi left the roadway and struck an electrical utility box, causing one of its fuel tanks to explode. Police continue to investigate this truck crash and have not indicated whether or not excessive speed may have played a role.

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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.

Freep.com reports that an empty car hauler truck failed to stop for a traffic backup and crashed into as many as 10 other vehicles on I-96 in Detroit, Michigan sending 4 people to the hospital. Michigan State Police are continuing their investigation aided by the Michigan Department of Transportation. No information was released about the driver of the semi.

CleburneTimes-Review.com reports that a tractor-trailer traveling northbound on U.S. 67 in Cleburne, Texas crossed the centerline and clipped another big rig, sending it into a head-on collision with yet another truck. The driver of the tractor-trailer that crossed the centerline was ejected from his vehicle and killed. Debris from the truck crash was scattered for a quarter of a mile down the highway and caused secondary accidents. No injuries were reported in those accidents.

Gainesville.com reports that a semi truck ran a stop sign and slammed into another semi critically injuring one person and seriously injuring a second. The truck crash happened at the intersection of Hamilton County Roads 141 and 152 in Hamilton County, Florida. Florida Highway Patrol officials report that charges in the case are pending further investigation.

KFOR.com reports that a semi-truck struck a guardrail, lost control, crossed a median and crashed into oncoming traffic on I-35 near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, killing one person and sending two others to the hospital. The semi rolled over a Ford Ranger pickup truck and the struck another vehicle. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation. It is not known whether excessive speed played a role in this truck crash.

WNEP.com reports that a tractor trailer struck a pickup truck on Route 61 in North Manheim Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, killing the 81-year-old driver of the pickup. Pennsylvania State police responding to the scene state that the victim died at the scene.

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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.

MonroeNews.com reports that a 2006 International box truck rear-ended a passenger van on I-75 near Sterns Road in Erie Township, Michigan, leaving four people in the van injured including three children. Michigan State Police report that the driver of the box truck may have fallen asleep while driving. He was cited for careless driving. A third vehicle struck the box truck following the initial crash and burst into flames, which spread to the box truck and required the efforts of two local fire departments to extinguish.

Mlive.com reports that a semi-truck lost control and slammed into a passenger vehicle on Wilson Avenue SW in Walker, Michigan, killing the driver of the passenger vehicle. Three other vehicles were involved in the truck wreck, which started when the semi-truck rear-ended a pickup, sending it into oncoming traffic. The driver of the pickup was treated for injuries at a local hospital and released. Local and Michigan State law enforcement officials are continuing to investigate this big rig crash.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that a semi rear-ended a passenger vehicle on the southbound Dan Ryan Expressway near 63rd Street in Chicago, resulting in a multi-vehicle crash involving a second semi. The second semi caught fire after smashing into the first two vehicles involved in the crash. According to Illinois State Police officials, 4 people were hurt in the truck accident.

Appalachian New-Express reports that a gravel truck was going too fast for road conditions when it crashed into a school bus full of middle school children on U.S. 460 Near Millard, Kentucky. More than 30 children and the driver of the bus were taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries from the truck crash. Kentucky State Police officials indicate that in addition to traveling at excessive speed, the gravel truck may also have had brake issues that contributed to the crash.

WHNT.com reports that an 18-wheeler smashed into a state vehicle that was repairing potholes on Alabama State Highway 565 near Huntsville. The semi flipped onto its side after crashing into the state vehicle, unloading 40,000 pounds of paper onto the roadway. Police at the scene tested the truck driver’s alcohol level and arrested him when it was found to be above the legal limit. He was charged with DUI and Reckless Endangerment. Minor injuries were sustained in the truck accident.

The Denver Post reports that a semi jackknifed on I-80 near Wamsutter, Wyoming, setting off a chain of other accidents involving at least 20 vehicles and leaving one person dead and at least six others hospitalized. As many as 100 vehicles were wrecked or stranded on 1-80, unable to move past the accident site. Stormy conditions left roadways in the area slick and fogbound, and Wyoming Highway Patrol officials are investigating whether the driver of the truck was traveling too fast for those conditions.

The Baltimore Sun reports that a tractor-trailer drove into the path of a light rail train, causing the train to crash into the truck. The truck accident happened at the 10900 block of Gilroy Road in Cockeysville, Maryland. The driver of the train was being treated at the Maryland Shock and Trauma Center and was reported in serious but stable condition. The driver of a passenger vehicle which was traveling behind the tractor-trailer and was damaged in the crash was treated at the scene. Baltimore County police report that while their investigation of the wreck is ongoing, initial indications are that the tractor-trailer driver is at fault for the truck crash.

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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.

WHMI.com reports that a tractor-trailer lost control on Michigan’s I-96, jackknifed, struck a wall, and sent large chunks of concrete flying into oncoming traffic. Michigan State Police report that only minor injuries to the driver of the big rig and a second driver resulted from the crash at the Oakland County Line.

RocNow reports that a tractor-trailer lost control and rear-ended a vehicle on Route 332 in Farmington, New York, causing a third vehicle to be struck as well. The truck’s driver reportedly was trying to stop at a traffic light, but failed resulting in minor injuries to one crash victim.

EvansvilleWatch reports that an eyewitness saw a semi-truck run a red light on Highway 41 and crash into the back of an SUV. The truck accident occurred at the intersection of Boonville/New Harmony Road and Highway 41 near Scott Township, Indiana. Victims in the SUV required extrication and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.

PeninsulaDailyNews.com reports that a parked logging truck rolled and crashed into a home on E. Ninth Street in Port Angeles, Washington on Friday. Port Angeles Police are investigating the truck wreck that sent one resident of the home to the hospital with injuries to his neck.

HoumaToday.com reports that a Galliano, Louisiana man was killed Saturday on the Bourg-Larose Highway when the driver of an 18-wheeler fell asleep and his vehicle drove straight into oncoming traffic. The big rig crashed head-on with a pick-up truck, killing its 53-year-old driver. Louisiana State Police troopers at the scene noted that proper rest could have prevented this accident.

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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.

Mlive.com reports that the driver of a tractor-semitrailer lost control of his vehicle while traveling on U.S. 131 near Zerbe Road in Constantine Township, Michigan, crossed the middle line, drove into opposing traffic and struck an oncoming pickup truck. Police reports indicate that the driver of the pickup was taken to Three Rivers Hospital where he was treated for his injuries from the truck crash.

WBIR.com reports that an 80-year-old Knoxville, Tennessee man died in an accident on Western Avenue in Knoxville when his vehicle slid under the bed of a tractor trailer carrying a full load of pipes. The jaws of life were used to extract the victim from the wreckage. The Knoxville Police Department is investigating the crash.

Highlands Today reports that a 74-year-old Avon Park, Florida man died when a semitrailer turned into his path on County Road 640, causing the man’s VW Bug to run under the truck’s trailer. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating whether alcohol was a factor in the truck crash.

OregonLive.com reports that the driver of a semi-trailer was cited for careless driving after he was traveling too fast to negotiate a turn on U.S. 101 near Gold Beach, Oregon, causing his rig to tip over and crash into a passenger car. Oregon State Police report that the driver was hauling a container full of garbage at the time of the crash. The injured motorist was treated at a local hospital for what appear to have been minor injuries.

BurlingtonFreePress.com reports that two people lost their lives in an accident on I-89 near Montpelier, Vermont when the driver of a milk tanker lost control of his vehicle, which then jackknifed and was struck by a passenger car and a second milk tanker. The victims were the driver of the second milk tanker and a passenger in the car. According to Vermont State Police, the truck driver who initiated the accident escaped with minor injuries.

Newstimes.com of Middlebury, Connecticut reports that the driver of a loaded propane tanker was cited for traveling too fast for conditions and driving with defective equipment after he crashed into a small truck on I-84 near Middlebury. Police report that the propane tanker, which was carrying 1,500 gallons of propane, had a damaged right rear wheel. One victim was treated for back injuries following the accident.

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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.

Michigan’s Mlive.com reports that a tractor-trailer lost control on I-94 in Parma Township, Jackson County, Michigan and jack-knifed across several lanes where it was struck by three other vehicles. Three people were injured in the crash according to Michigan State Police.

KCTV 5 in Kansas City, Missouri reports that two people were injured last Monday on I-435 when a tractor-trailer carrying Pepsi products crashed into two passenger vehicles. Emergency crews responding to the scene reported that it took 40 minutes to extricate the injured truck driver from the cab of his tractor-trailer. Officials continue to investigate the crash.

Oregon’s Fox 12 reports that a 51-year-old Silverton, Oregon man was killed December 8 when the truck he was driving was struck by a semitrailer that had run a stop sign. The blow from the crash sent both vehicles careening down the road, over a tree and into a house owned by a local Lutheran Church. Marion County Oregon deputies report that the truck accident is still under investigation.

A report in Star News Online details the collision of an 18-wheeler and an ATV that left a Wilmington, North Carolina man in critical condition. The crash occurred at the intersection of Shipyard Boulevard and Carolina Beach Road on Wednesday when the 18-wheeler struck the ATV. Details of the crash are still being investigated by Wilmington police.

Chronicle.com of Lewis County, Washington reports that one teen was killed and another was critically injured when a Peterbilt logging truck struck the pickup truck they were traveling in. The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 12 at Williams Road and is still under investigation.

The State reports that the driver of a log truck was killed when his Freightliner struck a station wagon on St. Pauls Church Road in Sumter County, South Carolina on Thursday. Two people in the station wagon were hospitalized. South Carolina Highway Patrol officials are continuing to investigate the crash.

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Trucking litigation is very document intensive and governed by hundreds of regulations. Given this, the need for qualified truck accident attorneys to understand all facets of litigation is important. I have handled numerous truck accidents throughout the United States, many of them similar to those noted below. Please feel free to contact me at michael@leizerman.com or call me at 1-800-628-4500.

Cincinnati.com reports that two school children and one adult were injured December 1st when the school van they were traveling in was involved in a 3-vehicle crash caused by an International 2000 semi-truck. The truck’s driver was cited for causing the crash at the intersection of 6th Street and Riley Boulevard in Franklin Township, Ohio.

Cadillacnews.com of Cadillac, Michigan reports that a 15-year-old boy was killed and his mom was critically injured when a semi-truck lost control and jack-knifed into the path of their vehicle. The accident happened east of Lake City, Michigan last Monday.

A December 1 report on KGET.com states that a 49-year-old woman was killed and two passengers were injured when the SUV they were traveling in was struck by a semi truck on Panama Road near Cottonwood Road in South Bakersfield, California. According to the California Highway Patrol, the semi’s driver lost control of his vehicle, veered into oncoming traffic and struck the victim’s vehicle.

NewsTrib.com is reporting that a semi-trailer driver was cited for making an illegal left turn at the Route 40 entrance ramp to Interstate 80 in Bureau County, Illinois after the driver of an American Red Cross van struck the semi-truck as it blocked both lanes of Route 40 during the illegal maneuver. The van’s driver was killed when his vehicle struck the semi-truck’s trailer and became wedged beneath it.

Action 3 News reports that a teenage girl and her 29-year-old companion were killed last weekend when the go-cart they were riding was struck by a semi-truck. The Iowa State Patrol says that the two were riding the go-cart in a residential area in Clarinda, Iowa when the Freightliner truck crested a hill going too fast to stop in time to avoid hitting the pair.

In a press release dated November 30, the Arizona Department of Public Safety reports that one of their officers is in critical, but stable condition after being struck by an out-of-control semi-tractor trailer on Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff. The officer was responding to a rollover accident and was standing on the shoulder of the roadway when the semi-tractor trailer lost control, crossed the center median and struck him.

In a report on Alamosanews.com, The Colorado State Patrol states that a 51-year-old Alamosa, Colorado woman lost her life when her vehicle was crushed by a semi-tractor trailer carrying a load of potatoes. Patrolmen report that the driver of the semi-truck ran a stop sign and entered Highway 285 north of Monte Vista, Colorado, and then struck the woman’s car. Investigators report that the semi-truck may also have had mechanical defects which contributed to the accident.

According to WAVY.com, a 72-year-old woman lost her life and her husband was injured when the van they were traveling in was struck by a tanker truck carrying carbon dioxide. The truck crossed the median and struck the van on Interstate 64 near Chesapeake, Virginia.

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