Large, fast and unruly: it’s no surprise that tractor-trailer trucks are the cause of some of the deadliest accidents in Ohio. Fortunately, great advancements have been made in trucking safety technology in recent years. While these tools should be making Columbus’ roads safer, our research has shown that they come with their own safety challenges as well. What...
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A Columbus Attorney Discusses Underride Truck Accidents
Underride truck accidents occur when a smaller passenger vehicle crashes into a tractor-trailer and gets crushed underneath. They can happen at the rear of a trailer or on the side, and often result in severe or life-threatening injuries. Common factors include: Visibility issues: Heavy rain and fog can obstruct drivers’ view, increasing the risk of crashing...
Read MoreSpeeding Truck Drivers: A Serious Danger On Columbus Roads
We see them everywhere in and around Columbus: massive big rigs sharing the roadways with smaller passenger vehicles. These vehicles can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, and when drivers speed, they can cause catastrophic accidents that can leave multiple road users hurt. Truck drivers are often under pressure to deliver as much cargo as...
Read MoreCan Changes To Hours-Of-Service Law Increase Truck Accidents In Columbus?
Large commercial trucks are an important part of the economy in the greater Columbus area. On many heavily traveled roadways, passenger vehicle drivers and other road users are likely to share the road with large trucks. These massive big rigs can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. For this reason, it can take them more time...
Read MoreTruck Safety Technology Can Prevent Accidents in Ohio
Safety advocates hope advances in technology will significantly reduce the risk of trucking accidents on the nation's roads. The National Safety Council reports new collision-mitigation technology may save lives by reducing serious and fatal traffic collisions involving tractor-trailers and other large commercial vehicles. Systems under development use a combination of radar and cameras to identify...
Read MoreReducing Risks of Ohio Trucking Collisions
Determining causation after an Ohio trucking accident is a complex challenge. Preventing such accidents is also complex. It's a critical safety issue because of the increasing number of road deaths. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2016 saw a total of 3,986 deaths caused by large truck accidents. Economic expansion and a nationwide...
Read MoreFatigued Drivers a Leading Cause of Columbus Trucking Accidents
With the economy booming and a nationwide trucker shortage of more than 50,000 drivers, fatigue among commercial drivers is a critical safety issue. Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Transportation has begun phasing in a requirement for mandatory electronic tracking of Hours-of-Service compliance for most commercial truckers. For decades, truckers were permitted to keep paper logbooks...
Read MoreAttorney encourages abuse victims of former OSU doctor to come forward
Multiple students describe sexual misconduct during exams COLUMBUS, Ohio (July 18, 2018) - Attorney Scott Elliot Smith of Smith Law Office is representing victims of Dr. Richard Strauss, the physician formerly employed by Ohio State University who is alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct of male students during medical exams and procedures. "Many students...
Read MoreOhio Among Most Dangerous States for Trucking Accidents
The Midwest is the most dangerous area in the nation for traffic accidents involving commercial trucks and buses, according to information released by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. FMCSA is sponsoring Truck and Bus Traffic Enforcement Training (TBTET) as the summer travel season gets underway. The law enforcement training program is free to interested...
Read MoreOhio Tort Reform Law A Hardship For Sexual Assault Victims
Tort reform in Ohio has many advocates, but changes to the state's legal system designed to provide people with the right to seek financial compensation for the reckless or negligent behavior of someone else has had unintended consequences for victims of violent crime. Family takes legal action In 2013, a woman who was sexually assaulted...
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