$3.25 Million Settlement in Bus Crash - Driver Fell Asleep

In 2009, a bus filled with mostly senior citizens was returning from a casino when it veered into the median, crossed the oncoming lanes of traffic and turned on its side in a ditch. The cause of the collision was that the driver fell asleep at the wheel. Later investigations revealed that the driver had been previously diagnosed with severe sleep apnea in 2001 at Mayo Clinic,  but refused treatment.

The company that owed the bus should have never allowed this driver to operate this bus with the medical condition he was in at the time of the crash. 

If they would have properly conducted routine medical evaluations, they would have determined that he was diagnosed with the severe sleep apnea at least 8 years before the collision. Companies that blatantly disregard the safety of others, must be held accountable.

Though money cannot reverse catastrophic injury or replace lost loved ones, it can  help you provide security to families who have been harmed by others and allow them to try and rebuild their lives.

If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of the wrongdoing of another, contact us a Linton & Associates for a free consultation. We have the knowledge and the resources available to hold accountable those responsible for your injuries.

My name is Christopher S. Linton, Attorney at Linton and Associates Law Firm in Birmingham, Alabama. We specialize in Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Premises and Product Liability, Auto Accidents and Infant Injury and Death.

Keywords:  Bus Crash, Settlements, Driver Fatigue, Alabama Injury Attorney

$3 Million Jury Award in Tired Trucker Accident

A  federal jury in Florida has awarded the family of a 33-year-old man who was killed in 2009 by a fatigued truck driver $3 million. The case involved a collision between two commercial tractor-trailers. The driver of the at-fault truck failed to yield the right of way and caused the victim's truck to hit the back of her truck.

The at-fault driver testified in court that she saw lights coming, but felt that they were far away. Testimony revealed that she had been on duty for about 19 hours prior to the accident, which was in violation of the 14-hour "Hour of Service" Rule of the Motor Carrier Safety Act.

Unfortunately, large companies routinely push commercial truck drivers to break the law in order to make delivery deadlines. It is a very common practice and is responsible for many injuries and deaths each year in our country. These companies have to be held accountable and forced to stop making shipping deadlines more important that human lives.

From 1986-2006, there was a 49 percent increase in registered large trucks, equaling 8.8 million trucks throughout the country and a 76 percent hike in miles traveled by large trucks. Tractor-trailers pose a much greater risk of being involved in a rollover or jack-knife accident, due to their immense size. The national 2007 facts about truck accidents are unsettling:

• There were 4,584 trucks involved in fatal accidents.
• There were 4,808 fatalities in crashes involving semi-trucks.
• There were 139,587 commercial trucks involved in non-fatal accidents.
• There were 56,487 semi-trucks involved in injury collisions.
• There were 83,908 injuries in crashes involving commercial trucks.
• There were 83,100 trucks involved in tow away accidents.
• There were 2,248 large trucks involved in Hazmat placard crashes.

Source, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS)

If you or someone you love has been injured by the wrongdoing of another, contact us today at Linton & Associates for your free consultation. We will fight for you against these large companies and ensure that they are held accountable for the injuries that they have caused you to suffer.

My name is Christopher S. Linton, Attorney at Linton and Associates Law Firm in Birmingham, Alabama. We specialize in Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Premises and Product Liability, Auto Accidents and Infant Injury and Death.

Keywords:  At-Fault Driver Accidents, Semi-Tractor Trailer Accidents, Settlements, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death

Realities of Driver Fatigue

Driving fatigue is a cause of motor vehicle crashes that many do not consider when they think of causes of crashes. However, drivers fatigue can be just as deadly as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, and driving distracted. Driving fatigue is a serious issue and the monetary costs related to fatigue driving are hundreds of millions of dollars. The loss of human lives is even greater. Take the Driver Fatigue Quiz to test your knowledge of the dangers of driving while fatigued.

It never ceases to amaze us at Linton & Associates as to the lengths that many people will push to obtain greater profits. We are currently litigating a case against a commercial motor vehicle carrier that pushed their driver to break the law and kill innocent people. We have recently developed a time line of the truck drivers' trip and learned that this driver had been driving for 44 hours with only less than 4 hours of stops. This driver only stopped for fuel and never took a break. As a result of their actions, one person is dead, one is severely injured, and a family has been changed forever. Rest assured that we are going to prosecute this case to the fullest extent so that maybe, this company will choose to follow the rules in the future.

If you or someone you know has been injured due to the negligence of another, please contact Linton & Associates for a free consultation. We have the knowledge and the resources necessary to deliver justice.

My name is Christopher S. Linton, Attorney at Linton and Associates Law Firm in Birmingham, Alabama. We specialize in Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Premises and Product Liability, Auto Accidents and Infant Injury and Death.

Keywords:  Driver Fatigue Alabama, Driver Fatigue Test, Commercial Driver Fatigue, Commercial Vehicle Accients