The times are rapidly changing; the dollar is steadily falling, the presidential candidates are racing for a shot at the oval office, and Britney is finally getting her act together. With the changes in our lives and economy, attorneys Earle Long and Dean Waite thought it was time to update their personal injury law firm’s name. Formerly The Injury Lawyers, P.C., Long & Waite, Attorneys at Law are ready to tackle the legal challenges of the changing times.

The website, http://www.tilpc.com, has experienced a bit of a make over, but not a complete overhaul. Their practice areas and information are still intact, so you can easily learn about motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death, or defective products. You can learn about both attorneys, Earle W. Long, IV and P. Dean Waite, Jr through their website. Their legal blog has current information about changing laws and successful cases. Their FAQ page has answers to all of your questions, and their contact page allows you to easily get a hold of these attorneys should you still be curious or if you are ready for a consultation.

Earle W. Long, IV is a native of Mobile, Alabama. He graduated magna *** laude with his bachelor’s degree from Spring Hill College, and received his doctorates from Vanderbilt University School of Law. He is a member of the Mobile County and American Bar Association, as well as the Alabama Association for Justice. P. Dean Waite, Jr. attended the University of Georgia, where he earned both his undergraduate and law degrees. He is a member of the State bar of Georgia, the Alabama State Bar and the South Alabama Trial Lawyers Association. Both attorneys are experienced and dedicated to providing victims the justice they deserve.

Even with a limited number of things to move, your car can be too small and it will take many trips to get all things to another place. Launching American Truck Buyer has been somewhat of an adventure, and although we have not covered even one percent of our grounds yet, things are moving rapidly. We have established ourselves on the Internet and are quickly becoming known in the business. Working advertising for trucks and trailers in the entire 50 states as our main source of revenue our company is doing well. Our entire sales team is excited and everyone is fighting for the top position as salesmen of the month. As we get out there more and more the name American Truck Buyer will grow synonymously with the word trucking.

There are a few common problems that many Truckers come across with the motorists.

1. Peek-a-boo! – Now you see them, now you don’t. This peek-a-boo game is very troublesome to truckers. Large trucks have several blind spots which make it hard for the drivers to see other motorists who like to hang out there. The best thing that you can do is either pass the truck or stay a comfortable distance behind them. When in doubt, check for the trucker’s side view mirrors. If you can see them, then chances are that they might be able to see you too.

2. Brake this habit – Many of us at one point or another gets stuck behind a large truck. So the most logical step would be to change the lanes to pass the truck away. No problems with that … the problem lies in a vehicle cutting back into the truck’s lane right in front of them, then braking for a turn or just slowing down, period. What most motorists don’t take into account is that truckers need a lot of space in order to slow down, at least two to three times the amount of passenger vehicles.

3. Teaching a lesson – Some drivers of passenger vehicles like to try and “teach” truckers a good lesson. Several times drivers think that the big Trucks and Trailers are either going too rapidly or slow. So they’ll speed up to pass the trucker and then get back in the trucker’s lane and slow down. Many parents tell their kids, “Worry about yourself,” and it would be smart for other motorists to heed that advice. Leave it to the troopers and policemen to enforce the laws of the road.

4. Back up and try again – In this day and age of technology, people are more accustomed to instant results and **** waiting for anything. Unfortunately, when big trucks have to back into a space, it may take a few tries to succeed. Motorists should appreciate the fact that these trucks are bigger than they are and let the truckers do their job. Patience can be a virtue!

By exercising a little of that common sense, many accidents involving Heavy Duty Trucks and Passenger vehicles could be avoided. That old adage, “It is better to be Safe than Sorry,” certainly applies here!

American Truck Buyer offers Buying and Selling of new and used Trucks & Trailers like Dump Trucks, International Trucks, 18 wheeler Big Rigs on the website for FREE.

David Morse & Associates is committed to combating insurance fraud, which ultimately helps consumers by keeping insurance premiums in check. “The premise of insurance is pooled risk, but when the bad guys bilk insurance companies, honest people suffer through higher premiums,” says Tom Reitze, President of David Morse & Associates (www.davidmorse.com), providers of third-party administrator services, field adjusting services, specialty claims services, and fraud investigations. “That’s why our fraud investigation unit prides itself in catching fraudsters in the act.”

Indeed, in San Jose, Calif., 25 people in an auto fraud ring were recently indicted for allegedly staging and reporting two dozen fake car accidents during a five-year period, bilking insurance companies out of an estimated $400,000. David Morse & Associates and other companies provided critical information that led to the arrests and indictments. In Bridgeport, Conn., a woman was recently convicted of torching her home in order to collect from her homeowner’s insurance policy. And, in Sutton, Mass., a man pleaded guilty to worker’s compensation fraud for collecting $70,000 in disability benefits while secretly working in a physically demanding job. “Most consumers don’t realize that 25 percent of their insurance premiums are ultimately used to pay fraudulent claims,” says Reitze.

Reitze readily recalls any number of claims where David Morse & Associates fraud investigators and adjustors employed dogged legwork, quick thinking, and expertise to keep their clients from being defrauded and help honest consumers in the process.

In one instance, a David Morse & Associates investigator was assigned to a person alleging total disability who happened to live in a rural farming community. The investigator was inventive in locating the residence of the man, but when he was not at home, the investigator had to turn to townspeople for help. The investigator was told that the “disabled” claimant was building a house in a nearby town. Reitze points out with pride, “Although the investigator was required to videotape the man, he found himself in the midst of fields, with no place to hide his vehicle. Using his imagination, he staged a vehicle breakdown on the side of the highway, and managed to capture video of the man bouncing around over rough ground on a tractor and manhandling bales of hay. Thanks to the inventiveness of the investigator, the videotape was enough to end the disability claim of the farmer.”

In another situation, a David Morse & Associates truck adjustor found himself at odds with the California Highway Patrol. After a tractor-trailer collided with a van and overturned on a Los Angeles freeway, the CHP made a determination that the rig had been speeding. Although the adjustor knew that the truck had an engine governor that prevented it from speeding, the CHP wouldn’t budge, exposing the trucking company to a million-dollar liability suit. The relentless adjustor duplicated the conditions with a replica truck and load, and had a CHP expert ride along, which convinced the CHP that the truck wasn’t speeding. Following his suspicion the van was actually backing up on the freeway when it was hit, the adjustor consulted with David Morse & Associates’ reconstruction engineer. His theory was confirmed when the lab discovered the telltale signs of stretched filaments in the van’s taillights, indicating that the van had been in reverse and the backup lights were on at the time of impact. Because of the adjustor’s diligence, the million-dollar claim was arbitrated for a relatively small amount.

Notes Reitze, “The adjustors at David Morse & Associates know that doing the right thing also means stepping in and helping people who are legitimately injured.” When they do so, it often helps both the injured person and David Morse & Associates’ insurance client.

As an example, a truck driver was making a turn and didn’t see a pedestrian in the crosswalk. The truck screeched to a halt, but the man was knocked backwards and struck his head on the pavement. The David Morse & Associates adjustor arrived on the scene quickly, only to find passersby surrounding the man trying to get him an attorney. Although the man refused ambulance services, the adjustor could see that he was shaken and concerned. The adjustor quickly came up with a solution and drove the pedestrian to the Emergency Room himself. Moreover, the adjustor arranged for the client’s Safety Director to pay for the $2,000 medical bill. The pedestrian was given a clean bill of health and was pleased with the outcome and attention he received.

The corporate culture at David Morse & Associates can be summed up by the maxim, “doing well by doing good.” With 42 branches in 16 states, the company values the expeditious and personalized service they provide to their clients. “In the process, we do our part to help fight insurance fraud, which benefits both insurance companies and consumers,” concludes Reitze.

and prevent an accident.

Faulty or poorly maintained trucks are one of the most common causes of trucking accidents. When any part of a truck fails, even the most experienced and alert truck driver may not be able to control the truck and prevent an accident. Total failure of a part is not necessary to cause an accident. The size and momentum of semi tractor-trailers means that even a slight or partial malfunction can cause an irreversible chain of events ending in catastrophe.

For instance, it is obvious that when brakes fail an accident will more than likely result. However, brakes do not have to go out completely to cause a collision. Brakes which simply operate sub-par can unexpectedly increase stopping time and distance causing a crash. Similarly, we know that a tire blowout can easily cause a rollover, but did you know that unevenly worn tires can also lead to rollover in large commercial trucks?

Trucking companies and truck drivers share in the responsibility for truck maintenance. The truck driver is not responsible for performing the work on the truck, but is responsible for basic daily inspections. Truck drivers have a vested interest in properly performing this duty – it can keep them from being in an accident and getting injured. However, various factors, such as fatigue and unrealistic schedules, sometimes mean that drivers are less than attentive in their inspections.

Ultimately, trucking companies are responsible for the condition of their vehicles. They have a legal duty to keep unsafe trucks off the road. They cannot require or allow a driver to operate an unsafe truck. Unfortunately, some trucking companies cut corners on repairs and maintenance sending poorly maintained trucks out on the road and even falsifying and asking divers to falsify documents.

When a poorly maintained truck is the underlying cause of an accident, it takes an experienced truck accident attorney to track down the evidence. Trucking companies are required to keep extensive records regarding truck maintenance, and your attorney has to know which records to obtain. Obtaining the right records is just the beginning. Your attorney must also know how to read and evaluate these documents, tracking down hidden discrepancies which will reveal the maintenance problem.

Driver Responsibilities

Truck drivers are required to inspect their trucks at the beginning and end of each day. They must report any need for repairs that they discover to the trucking company.

Before making a run, drivers must review the post-trip inspection report made by the previous driver of the truck and verify that any needed repairs were made. Truck drivers must not operate a truck which is in need of repairs.

Trucking Company Responsibilities

When a trucking company receives a report of an unsafe truck, it must have the truck repaired before requiring or allowing a driver to operate the vehicle. The trucking company must provide certification to the net driver that the truck has indeed been repaired.

Reports of defects may come from drivers, qualified inspectors, or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) agents. When an FMCSA agent deems a truck unsafe, it is declared “out of service.”

Trucking companies must require inspection reports from their drivers and they must have a more in-depth inspection performed by a qualified inspector on each truck annually. Trucking companies are also responsible for basic maintenance, such as proper lubrication.

More trucks on our nation’s roadways results in more serious truck accidents. Passenger vehicles and motorcyclists are usually damaged the most due to the sheer size and weight of these massive vehicles.

The American Trucking Association has reported that the trucking industry needs 110,000 more drivers by the year 2014. Will this truck driver shortage further compound the causes of truck accidents on our highways? Driver fatigue, inadequate training and poor truck maintenance already plague the commercial trucking industry.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents can be caused by a variety of factors. Some common causes responsible for 18 wheeler, big rig or commercial truck accidents include:

Driver fatigue Speeding to meet deadlines Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs Unsafe or unbalanced cargo Defective equipment or defective tires Aggressive driving behaviors

Catastrophic Injuries Involved in 18 Wheeler Truck Accidents

Large, commercial truck accidents often result in serious personal injuries for the occupants of the other motor vehicles involved. The resulting injuries may include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, loss of limbs, severe burns, paralysis and even death. Someone injured or killed in an accident with an 18 wheeler or other commercial truck must be fully financially compensated for any medical expenses incurred as a result of the accident, for pain and suffering, loss of income, rehabilitation costs and in the event of a death, the survivors are entitled to compensation also.

Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help

It is never too early to seek the advice of an experienced truck accident attorney. The commercial trucking firm will have their own investigators at the scene of the accident before the injured are brought to the emergency room. Evidence that could be obtained to reveal the trucking company’s responsibility for the accident may not be preserved. You need an experienced legal representative protecting your legal rights and the rights of your loved ones as soon as possible.

Oklahoma City personal injury attorneys Carr & Carr are proud to announce the new website for its Oklahoma personal injury practice.

Personal injury is a much-needed area of law, and for that, reason it is important that people who fall victim to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing have somewhere to turn when they have been harmed. If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury, you may need to enlist the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, with experience and extensive knowledge of the law, to help you get the compensation and justice you deserve.

The website, http://www.carrcarr.com, features the many practice areas their attorneys will represent clients in including medical malpractice, vehicle accidents, nursing home negligence, defective products, and Workers’ Compensation (just to name a few). You can read our attorneys’ bios by clicking on the “Our Teamlink, and we also feature what’s new with our firm and our involvement in the community on our News page.

The attorneys at Carr & Carr, have, for over three decades, represented folks just like you who have been harmed by someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing. They have taken on companies and government entities both large and small; there is no fight too small or too large for these attorneys. When they began back in 1973, the firm was a simple father and son firm; now, there are twelve attorneys and a support team of well over thirty. And they’re still growing.

A jack-knife truck accident is when a truck has accidentally folded so that it resembles the acute angle of a folding pocketknife. It occurs when a vehicle skids while towing a trailer, which causes the trailer to push it from behind until it spins around and faces backwards. Some common causes for this occurrence are failure of equipment, braking improperly, or dangerous road conditions such as a wet road surface. It is not that common amongst tractor-trailer accidents, and will usually only happen to an empty vehicle. Most truck drivers are skilled enough to come out of a skid before it turns into a jackknife.

Jackknifed truck accidents can be a complete mess when they do occur. These types of accidents will usually cause traffic to be at a standstill, sometimes for several hours depending on the severity of the accident itself. A jackknifed truck will sometimes take up several lanes of a highway due to the positioning of the truck after the accident. This could force police to completely close the lanes of which the truck is occupying. An accident could be even more catastrophic if the trailer was carrying hazardous materials that are now spilled all over the road. The cleaning process could last for hours and may sometimes take a crew all night to clean up the mess.

In jackknife truck accidents, it is usually the smaller vehicles that were traveling next to the truck that suffers the most. Drivers and passengers that are involved with these types of accidents first hand, usually incur serious injuries and sometimes result in fatalities. If you have had the misfortune of getting injured due to a jackknifed truck accident, you should talk to a truck accident lawyer. They have experience in handling cases like this. A truck accident lawyer represents the legal rights and financial needs of its clients.

Retaining an experienced truck accident lawyer will help you to recover the actual expenses associated with property damages and medical costs. Litigation involving truck accidents can be extremely complicated. In order to protect evidence, and preserve your lawsuit, it is critical that you talk to a truck accident attorney right away. It is important to document the important information in your case soon after your accident. You should not delay in contacting a truck accident lawyer; they can begin investigating your case immediately.

After an accident, you should never try to negotiate with a trucking company without speaking with a truck accident attorney first. If you have been injured in an accident that involved a tractor-trailer, you should talk to a truck accident lawyer right away. A truck accident attorney can begin investigating your case immediately.

Some see the proposed Trans Texas Corridor as a dream, but for others it is a nightmare. The TTC, or Texas Superhighway, is a privately financed system of highways, railways and utility rights of way. It is now in several stages from planning to actual construction. Expected to be completed in about 25 years, it will run parallel to some existing highways while creating a water, gas and electricity pipeline, high-speed rail for freight and passengers and toll roads for 18 wheelers, trucks and passenger vehicles.

Location

The exact location of this super highway has not been determined as of yet. There are two corridors under consideration for the TTC. One plan parallels Interstate 35 (I-35), from Gainesville to Laredo, passing the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Austin and San Antonio. The second is a corridor generally following US 59, from Texarkana past Houston to either Laredo or the Rio Grande Valley. Both of these corridors have seen a notable increase in freight traffic over the past 20 years as a direct result with increased trade with Mexico.

18-Wheeler Lanes

The 18-wheeler trucks from Mexico bringing goods into the United States will be a major source of traffic along the corridor. At first all vehicles, including 18-wheelers, will use the same lanes as regular traffic during the early phases of the TTC construction. Ultimately, the plan calls for 18-wheelers to have separate lanes from passenger cars. Private investors will initially fund the development of the TTC, at a cost estimated today to be $184 Billion. They will then charge tolls to use the system.

Highway Safety Concerns Arise.

A major concern regarding the TTC is that its roads will have limited access and critics worry that 18-wheeler crashes will cause major interference in the traffic flow. With as much as 10 miles separating points of entry to the system, it will be difficult for emergency vehicles to respond quickly to 18-wheeler crashes, spills, fires, train derailments, pipeline ruptures or other emergencies.

The citizens group Corridor Watch cites the “certainty of significant transportation disruptions that will result from simple accidents within a corridor that has no alternate route capacity as a function of its limited access points and geographic alignment that’s distant from the existing highway infrastructure.”

Due to the system’s limitations, it is feared a slow emergency response time will be the rule, not the exception. This of course would be a concern to major 18-wheeler crashes on the TTC. Also, traffic on the TTC is expected to move faster, which can result in increased accidents. Innocent drivers who initially share these roads with large 18-wheeler trucks are at the greatest risk.

1. This time your dog is driving the truck.

2. The truck is even bigger this time.

3. You’re stuck in your car for hours this time.

4. The truck driver is coming back to finish the job.

5. You’re driving the truck this time.

6. The police think you were driving the truck.

7. The police arrest you.

8. You can’t seem to tell the police what really happened.

9. Your mother is driving the truck.

10. Your father is the police officer.

Here are ten useful tips of advice from a truck accident to follow if you have been in an accident. You can also learn more about how to handle a truck accident in Chula Vista, or any city, by calling the Law Offices of R. Sebastian Gibson at any of the numbers which can be found on our website at http://www.SebastianGibsonLaw.com  and learning how we can assist you.

Obviously, if you have had an accident, and you are reading all of this advice, it may have been a few hours since the accident. However, if you ever have another accident, or if it’s only been a few hours since you were hurt, here’s what you should do from the start.

First, take a look around and determine if you or anyone, are hurt. If so, taking steps like trying to prevent further injury or loss of blood are the most important thing you can do. Even if some other driver caused you to be injured, it’s just good manners to help the other driver if they are hurt. They may even be so thankful that they admit their fault to you. The worst thing you can do is get angry or start a fight.

Second, make sure everyone is safe from being injured further. If you are in the middle of traffic, and you are dizzy, sit down away from traffic. If your vehicle is a traffic hazard and you have accident warning devices like flares or triangles, put them out on the road to warn other drivers and get away from the car. Let the police an other emergency personnel investigate the scene with the vehicles in place and move them more safely at a later point.

Third, call the police. Accident reports are extremely helpful if the police will do such a report. Let the police know you are injured immediately. Answer the police questions honestly. But if you are dazed or confused, let them know you need medical treatment and answer only what you feel sure about. Remember, your statements can and will be used against you if you admit fault, and it will be too late and too fishy to later say you didn’t know what you were saying at the scene. Police know that your best recollection is immediately after an accident.

Fourth, get the other driver’s information including their names, addresses, driver’s license numbers, make and model of their vehicles, license plate numbers, and their insurance company name and policy number. If there are witnesses, get their names, addresses and telephone numbers as well. If the other driver makes any admissions of fault, write those down as well.

Fifth, if you have a camera on your cell phone or in the car and you aren’t too injured, take some photos of the vehicles and the scene. If you can’t do it right away, do it after you are released from the hospital.

Sixth, if you are hurt, obtain medical treatment. Don’t decline the ambulance or hospital examination to save your insurance company money or to be stoic. Take your valuables out of your car if you can and get checked out at the hospital. If you are not hurt, don’t get treatment you don’t need. However, remember, after an accident, you may feel a rush of adrenaline that causes you to only start feeling symptoms of pain a few hours later. If you have a health plan that requires you to obtain permission first, call them and find out where you are allowed to seek treatment.

Seventh, call a good truck accident as soon as you have had your initial treatment, so the attorney can gather other important evidence and prevent the insurance company from taking advantage of you and obtaining such things as recorded statements that you feel fine, when many of your symptoms have yet to manifest themselves. A good truck accident can save you from making a great deal of mistakes and can shoulder much of the hassle of knowing what to do about car repairs, car rentals, medical treatment, witness statements and the like. If you think you will save money by not having an attorney, think again. A good truck accident can almost always obtain much higher settlements, obtain reductions of medical bills and insurance liens and prevent you from making costly mistakes. Also, most truck accident attorneys advance costs of obtaining police reports, medical records and the like and are paid and reimbursed for these costs only out of any settlement.

Eight, you will need to report the accident to your insurance company, but since they will want to take a recorded statement from you, just like any other driver’s insurance company, it’s good advice to retain an attorney first. And if the other driver did not have insurance, remember that it is your own insurance company that will be your adversary. You will also need to report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles and your can give you the form for this.

Ninth, do not agree to settle your claim privately with the person at fault for the accident. This almost never works out to your advantage. Don’t agree not to call the police. Police reports that determine the fault for an accident are golden. Your agreement to not involve the police only affords an opportunity for the other driver to change his story and blame you when the police will no longer investigate the accident.

Tenth, don’t pay a traffic ticket without a fight if you weren’t at fault or agree to accept a small payment for your vehicle repairs without knowing that the amount will in fact cover the cost of all the repairs.

If you’ve had a truck accident in Chula Vista, San Diego, Carlsbad, Oceanside, La Jolla, Del Mar, Escondido, El Cajon, Vista, San Marcos, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Pacific Beach, or anywhere in Southern California, we have the knowledge and resources to be your San Diego Truck Accident Lawyer and your Chula Vista Truck Accident Attorney. Be sure to hire a California law firm with auto, motorcycle, truck, bicycle, pedestrian, car, bus, train, boat and airplane accident experience, wrongful death experience and insurance law expertise who can ensure you are properly represented and get the compensation you deserve.

If you have a personal injury legal matter, a dog bite or if you’ve lost a loved one in a wrongful death accident, call the Law Offices of R. Sebastian Gibson, or visit our website at http://www.SebastianGibsonLaw.com  and learn how we can assist you.

Spinal cord injury is one of the most severe injuries a person may suffer as a result of a major accident. In California alone, thousands fall victims of spinal cord injury caused by accidents involving vehicles, various activities like sports or work, and from defective or weak structures in a property.

A spinal cord injury range is generally determined by which vertebrae of the spinal cord have been injured. The term paraplegia is used to describe when a person has lost feeling and is not able to move the lower parts of the body. “Tetraplegia”, previously called quadriplegia, pertains to loss of movement and sensory detection in both the upper and lower parts of the body.

The National Spinal Cord Injury Association compiled the data, which show the breakdown of causes of spinal cord injuries. Here is the list:

• 44% – motor vehicle accidents

• 24% – violent acts

• 22% – falls

• 8% – sports

• 2% – other causes

Spinal injury attorneys represent victims who suffer spinal cord injuries from the following incidents:

• motor vehicle accidents involving automobiles, motorcycles, SUVs or pickup trucks

• truck accidents involving semi trailer tractor combinations, delivery vans, or rental trucks

• sports injuries suffered while diving, swimming, skiing, boating or playing team sports such as football, rugby or hockey

• recreational vehicle accidents ATVs, snow mobiles, jet skis, or other personal watercraft

• dangerous property conditions, including fall from heights

• other accidents caused by negligence

How Attorneys Help Spinal Cord Injury Victims

Spinal cord injury (SCI) attorneys are familiar with the complex issues associated with spinal cord, disc injuries and nerve damage. They understand the pain and suffering that spinal cord injury victims have to undergo.

To complement the rehabilitation efforts of medical and health providers, some spinal cord injury attorneys in California offer advice on special care and treatment, long-term care and other economic needs, as well as compassionate counsel and support to victims.

Aside from medical and legal issues, spinal cord injury legal advocates also deal with matters such as the necessity or appropriateness of certain treatment, which will pay for the care, and the consequences and needs of the injured person and his family.

A spinal cord injury attorney helps doctors identify and document the injury in its early stage to determine the need for treatment and to know the economic consequences of the injury. They also attend to the needs of the victims’ families.

Evaluation and collection of evidence can be best managed by these legal professionals. Their skills and experiences in assessing the cause of accident will help determine whether the injured person and the family are eligible for disability benefits, Medicare benefits, etc.

At the most, California spinal cord injury attorneys help victims and their families cope with the grief and trauma of the accident. They help soften the impact of the accident on the victim and their families.

To improve your chances in obtaining recovery from spinal cord injuries, seeking the assistance of a personal injury attorney who specializes in spinal cord injuries is essential. This legal determination should be done immediately after incurring the injury in order to lessen the possibility of various legal impediments that may occur in the process of filing a claim.

Our personal injury defenders offer prompt and dependable legal services for victims of spinal cord injuries. For other inquiries regarding this legal matter, do visit our website.