Blog
Unexpected snowstorm causes several West Virginia truck accidents this week
When winter weather strikes, it can be catastrophic on congested West Virginia roads shared by both cars and large trucks. Adding to the risk, the Mountain State's frequent curves and steep hills can cause drivers to lose control — especially those who operate big rigs. The most common cause of winter crashes is driving too fast...
How to stay safe around erratic truck drivers
Whether you're traveling interstates 64 and 77, or other major roadways throughout the Charleston area, you likely share the road with large commercial trucks. Typically, big rigs don't pose any serious risk to drivers of smaller passenger cars. That's because many truck drivers have gone through extensive training. They've gained the experience needed to operate...
Which West Virginia Highways Are The Deadliest?
If you search for West Virginia's interstates under Google news, you'll likely see results riddled with stories about serious and fatal crashes. According to state data from 2006-2010: 290 deaths occurred on interstates and expressways 843 deaths occurred on arterial roads (high-capacity urban roads) 490 deaths occurred on collector roads (connecting traffic from local streets with...
Congress might require automatic emergency brakes on big trucks and buses
Two years ago, nearly 5,000 big-rig trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes, a 10 percent increase over the previous year, prompting the U.S. Congress to seek a solution through technology. The Safe Roads Act of 2019 would require that automatic emergency brakes be standard in all new commercial motor vehicles, according to Safety+Health magazine....
West Virginia attorneys warn of an emerging risk of Candida auris infection in nursing homes
Ever hear of Candida auris (C. auris)? If not, you might want to start paying attention, especially if you have a loved one living in a nursing home or who is undergoing long-term hospital care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines C. auris as a "highly contagious drug-resistant fungus" that poses a serious...
Federal Hour-of-Service Regs for Truckers May Soon Be Relaxed. Here's What You Need to Know.
Let's face it. Commercial truck drivers are at a great risk of getting drowsy behind the wheel. They spend more time traveling West Virginia roads than most other drivers. When one of these massive vehicles careens out of control, lives are put at stake. Those who survive truck crashes often sustain serious injuries, some of which...
Are deadly truck accidents on the rise?
Many drivers might see a big rig on a West Virginia highway without thinking much about the consequences of a collision. What would happen if the trucker was texting or otherwise distracted? What would happen if the truck company hired a driver who had a history of accidents or traffic violations? Any of these factors...
The Dangers of Driving a Truck While ‘Attentionally Blind’
A big rig driver who is not paying attention to the road can mean disaster for him and his fellow drivers. Focusing too much on the road ahead can also be detrimental. An 80,000-pound truck hitting a 5,000-pound car can make a deadly impact, which is why the attorneys at Mani Ellis & Layne want...
West Virginia Attorney on How Rideshare Passengers Can Stay Safe
Tragedy struck a South Carolina college town in May after a 21-year-old female student was murdered by an imposter Uber driver. Surveillance video showed the student getting into a vehicle in the early morning hours. After she failed to return home, she was reported missing. Her body was found hours later. Police arrested a suspect,...
Truck safety groups want feds to require limiter devices on rigs
Truck safety groups pushing for speed limiters want the federal government to require the devices on big rigs to stop them from exceeding 65 mph, to reduce deaths and injuries from crashes. “Studies examining the relationship between travel speed and crash severity have confirmed the common-sense conclusion that the severity of a crash increases with...