Driver Fatigue Can Result in Serious Large Truck Accidents
The lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton have helped countless clients in the greater Provo area. We believe in the rights if injury victims and their loved ones, and we fight diligently for them every step of the way. When it comes to lawsuits for serious truck accidents, it’s important to have strong legal representation in place. One of the leading causes of these kinds of collisions is driver fatigue. Let’s consider this in greater detail right now. Defining Driver Fatigue Driver fatigue refers to cases in which a driver is pushed to a point of exhaustion and remains behind the wheel even though he or she is quite tired. This may be due to a lack of sleep or a lack of rest. When a driver is not fully rested and operates a vehicle, they pose a danger to themselves and others. For one, their mental alertness is seriously affected. The driver may dose off behind the wheel, or they simply may not be aware of coming hazards on the road or traffic signs and signals. In addition, their reaction time is adversely affected, meaning there may be a delay in braking or swerving to avoid a collision. Why Large Truck Drivers May Suffer from Driver Fatigue Commercial trucks are essential for interstate commerce, shipping items large and small. Truck drivers are often forced to work long hours in order to deliver goods on time. Keeping on schedule can be harder than one expects, which means pulling long hours and sometimes skipping sleep in order to be on time. When this happens, the safety of everyone is put at stake. The Tracy Morgan/Walmart Lawsuit One of the most high-profile cases of truck driver fatigue involved actor/comedian Tracy Morgan of Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock. In June 2014, a Walmart tractor-trailer was involved in a multi-car collision on the New Jersey Turnpike. Within one of the vehicles was Morgan as well as a few of his friends. The collision left Morgan seriously injured and claimed the life of his friends and long-time collaborator James McNair. Morgan sued Walmart for negligence as it was determined the truck driver had been awake for more than 24 hours before the crash occurred. Walmart settled the lawsuit out of court in May 2015 for an undisclosed amount. Trucking Companies and Drivers Must Be Responsible Given the dangers of driver fatigue, it’s crucial that trucking companies and truck drivers be extremely careful on the road. Drivers should not skip sleep or be on the road for a dangerous amount of time. Trucking companies, similarly, must be reasonable when it comes to the burden of their truck drivers and their schedule. By being responsible behind the wheel and behind the desk, more motorists can be spared the harm that large trucks pose. How Our Attorneys Can Help with These Cases Whenever someone is seriously harmed in a trucking accidents, the team at Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton can help in the legal process. Companies often have strong legal teams in place in case of injuries and accidents. We will not be intimidated and will fight for you every step of the way to ensure fairness and the fair recovery of damages for injuries and losses sustained as a result of the crash. Contact the Lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton For more information about your legal rights following a serious auto accident, it’s important that you contact our team of auto accident attorneys today. The legal team here at Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton are here to help you receive just compensation for injuries and losses.
Utah Laws Regarding Motorcycle Helmets And Motorcycle Safety
The legal team of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton have helped countless injury accident victims throughout the sate. While based in Provo, we will be sure to fight for people throughout the state of Utah. We believe in helping people achieve peace of mind, which is crucial given the many complexities involved in the legal process. Serious auto accidents can lead to severe and fatal injuries, which is why having skilled attorneys on your side is so important. There are some things motorists can do to protect themselves from major harm. With that in mind, let’s look at some Utah laws regarding motorcycle helmets and motorcycle safety. The Importance of Motorcycle Helmets Motorcycle helmets are an essential part of safety gear for anyone who rides or is a passenger on a motorcycle. By wearing a motorcycle, you make serious injuries to the face and skull less likely. You also greatly reduce your chances of suffering from a traumatic brain injury. Wearing a motorcycle helmet can literally mean the difference between life and death. Motorcycle Helmet Laws in Utah Like other states in America, Utah has some specific laws with regard to wearing a motorcycle helmet. According to Utah state law, anyone age 17 or younger is required to wear a helmet while on a motorcycle. People ages 18 and older are not legally required to wear a motorcycle helmet. It should also be noted that there are no laws that mandate the need to wear eye protection, nor are there laws that prohibit or restrict the use of helmet speakers. Other Important Motorcycle Laws in Utah In addition to helmet laws, some other important Utah motorcycle laws are as follows: At least one rear view mirror is required on a vehicle Motorcyclists must have insurance Lane splitting (i.e., riding along the line between lanes) is not allowed The Dangers of Head Injuries and Brain Damage Even though you may not be legally required to wear a helmet, it’s recommended that anyone riding a motorcycle wear a helmet with the vehicle is in motion. The reason for this is the dangers of head trauma injuries and brain damage. A major head or brain injury can lead to severe issues with cognition and motor skills. A concussion, for instance, can lead to mood disorders, memory loss, issues with concentration, and speech problems. Serious open head injuries or major closed head injuries can also lead to major problems, such as depression, diminished mental capacity, and loss of muscle control. Other Protective Gear for Motorcyclists While a helmet is definitely essential for protecting yourself as a motorcyclist, it’s also important to consider other kinds of gear that can prevent lacerations, contusions, disfigurement, and nerve injuries. Riding jackets Proper pants/li> Riding boots Gloves Eye protection (if no visor on helmet) Remember: it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when being sorry could cost you your life. Contact the Lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton To learn more about your legal rights following a serious motorcycle accident, it’s of the utmost importance that you contact our team of auto accident attorneys today. The lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton will work diligently with you to ensure that you legal rights and options are noted during the legal process.
The Dangers of Single-Vehicle and Multiple-Vehicle Car Accidents
The lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton have helped the people of Provo in their time of legal need. After serious auto accidents and collisions, our attorneys have always sought to provide clients with peace of mind that helps them through the litigation process. Accidents involving one vehicle and multiple vehicles can pose a number of dangers. Let’s take a moment right now to consider how single-vehicle auto accidents compare to multiple-vehicle auto accidents. Singe-Vehicle Auto Accidents Single-vehicle auto accident refer to collisions in which just one vehicle is involved. This means just a single car or motorcycle or truck that did not collide without another motor vehicle at all. Causes of Single-Vehicle Auto Accidents Some potential causes of single-vehicle auto accidents include: Drunk driving Speeding Poor road conditions Poor weather conditions Lack of road signs or signals Mechanical failure Defective tires Vehicle rollover Driver distraction Texting while driving Keep in mind that just because a single vehicle is involved in an accident doesn’t mean that a collision was the sole fault of the driver. Potential Dangers and Injuries in Single-Vehicle Auto Accidents While singe-vehicle collisions may seem less serious than multi-vehicle accidents, that is certainly not the case. Accidents with single vehicles can be just as serious as multi-vehicle collisions, especially if the vehicle strikes an object head-on at high speeds. Multiple-Vehicle Auto Accidents Multi-vehicle auto accidents refer to collisions that involved more than one vehicle. This could mean just two vehicles or even major pile-ups that clog a highway and involve many motorists. Causes of Multiple-Vehicle Accidents The causes of multiple-vehicle auto accidents are similar to the causes of single-vehicle auto accidents. The man issue to keep in mind is that with more vehicles on the road, there is more potential for something to go wrong, which means an increased risk of auto accidents. With regard to multi-vehicle collisions, other drivers need to remain attentive while on the road, which means signaling before changing lanes or turning, having brake lights and taillights that function properly, and so forth. Potential Dangers and Injuries in Multiple-Vehicle Accidents When more vehicles are involved in an accident, the risks of serious harm go up. There may be more injuries and more fatalities simply because of the increased number of parties involved. Such tragedies can be quite serious. How Our Attorneys Can Help If you or a loved one was involved in an auto accident that was the result of someone else’s negligent actions or inaction, it’s important to work with an attorney so that you can get the strong legal representation you deserve. Your attorney will fight to collect damages to cover injuries and medical bills from the accident, and to punish the negligent party for causing these hardships should it be warranted. Contact the Lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton To learn more about your legal rights following a serious auto accident or collision, it’s important that you contact our team of personal injury and wrongful death attorneys today. The lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton will fight for you and your loved ones in your time of legal need.