On behalf of Weisman, Kennedy & Berris Co., L.P.A. posted in Truck accidents on Friday, December 21, 2012.

Safety precautions in the trucking industry are designed to prevent fatalities in a number of ways. Properly secured loads rarely become detached from their trailers; well-rested drivers are more likely to retain control of their vehicles in hazardous traffic or difficult weather conditions. Occasionally, however, sudden and unexpected equipment failure occurs. When a truck accident does happen, it can spark a dramatic and tragic chain of events.

The case of an Ohio trucker who lost his life on Dec. 10 brought this issue into sharp focus. The incident, which involved multiple vehicles, took place at approximately 3:30 a.m. on an eastbound section of Interstate 80 located in Pocono Township. The weather conditions in the area at the time were reportedly foggy.

The accident started when two concrete pieces fell off a trailer several vehicles ahead of the man’s rig. Another tractor-trailer collided with one of the concrete blocks, suffered a flat tire and lost control. According to reports, the deceased man could not stop his rig in time and drove into the back of the disabled tractor-trailer.

The force of the impact propelled a number of the aluminum framing components on the man’s trailer through the rear of the tractor cab, trapping the trucker inside. He was declared dead at the scene.

The accident also affected one additional tractor-trailer, as well as a car. No other fatalities were reported. Emergency personnel spent more than 12 hours clearing the road of wreckage, diesel fuel and other debris, while a team of accident reconstruction experts recorded the disaster.

While relatively uncommon, multi-vehicle accidents like the one above are a very real danger for truckers as well as for other drivers on the road. When safety measures are followed and trucking logs are completed, risks diminish. Nevertheless, adverse weather conditions are not always accurately forecast and human errors continue to occur. For victims of trucking accidents, seeking information about available legal resources and potential compensation can be advantageous in the fight for recovery.

Source: Pocono Record, “Ohio truck driver killed in chain of crashes on I-80 in Poconos,” David Kidwell, Dec.11, 2012