18 Wheeler Tractor trailer makes a mess

 <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sULqgr62Ens" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Woman killed in semi-truck crash in Martin County, Florida

 Sadly, the people in the car weren't wearing seatbelts:

The Florida Highway Patrol said on Friday at around 11:43 a.m., a sedan was driving south down State Road 710. A semi-truck was driving north down the same road.

Troopers said the sedan attempted to make a left turn, directly into the path of the semi-truck. The truck struck the right side of the sedan. The passenger of the sedan was killed, while the 80-year-old driver sustained serious injuries.

Officials say no one in the sedan was wearing their seatbelts.

https://cbs12.com/news/local/woman-killed-in-semi-truck-crash-in-martin-county-november-18-2022

Cell phone use?

Cell Phone Dangers Episode #189,500

 

Trucking and Winter /Chains

Some good tips out there for winter driving for all truckers. Some folks might want to consider these for a private vehicle: 

Chaining video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewg4ZbOtiR4

Good information for driving in high winds: 

Trucking company to pay $7.7 million in case of wheel coming loose, striking vehicle

A Michigan jury awarded $7.7 million to a man who was seriously injured in 2018 when the wheel came loose from a box truck heading in the opposite direction, jumped the median and crashed into the front of his vehicle.

It took an eight-person jury less than two hours on Friday to find Lower Huron Chemical & Supply Co. of Wayne, Michigan, solely responsible for failing to follow the Department of Transportation’s regulations for the inspection, repair and maintenance of its commercial vehicles.

Shows why a truck vehicle inspection is so critical. From the FMCSA: 

General – § 396.3(a)

• Every motor carrier shall systematically inspect, repair, and maintain, or cause to be systematically inspected, repaired, and maintained, all motor vehicles subject to its control.
• Parts and accessories must be in safe and proper condition at all times.
• Pushout windows, emergency doors, and emergency door marking lights must be inspected at least every 90 days.

FHP: Florida- Truck driver falls asleep, hits parked semi, sparking fiery crash that closes Buckman Bridge for hours

The FMCSA teaches truck drivers that Driver fatigue may be due to a lack of adequate sleep, extended work hours, strenuous work or non-work activities, or a combination of other factors. Here is a report on a wreck involving trucker fatigue: 

The northbound side of the Buckman Bridge was shut down for hours during Friday morning’s rush hour because of a fiery crash involving two tractor-trailers and a box truck.
The box truck was carrying industrial cleaners, and because firefighters used water to douse the blaze, the city’s biohazard team was called in to make sure the hazardous material didn’t run off into the St. Johns River, according to a Jacksonville Fire and Rescue spokesperson.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a tractor-trailer was waiting on the bridge for a tow truck after a previous wreck Thursday night and it was rear-ended by the box truck when the driver fell asleep at the wheel.

More here: https://www.news4jax.com/traffic/2022/10/21/fiery-semi-crash-shuts-down-northbound-side-of-buckman-bridge/

Missing Woman Last Seen With Lyft Driver Found Dead: Police

On Friday morning, a Memphis Police Department (MPD) officer arrived at a Whitehaven home where Palmer's roommate and her mother said she hadn't been heard from since the day before.

An MPD missing person's alert read: "The victim (Palmer) advised she was going to meet a friend and has not returned home.

Some absolute rules to have when using rideshare: 

1. Don't ride with any driver who has less than 1,000 rides; 

2. Don't ride with any driver with less than one year of driving; 

3. Don't ride with any driver who has less than a 4.8

ALL THREE. Cancel if they don't meet these rules 

NYC will enforce Uber and Lyft driver pay increases by the end of the year

 Not accident related, but worth reading: 

New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) has voted to increase the minimum pay rates for Uber and Lyft drivers. Per-minute rates are going up by 7.4 percent and per-mile rates by 24 percent. In practical terms, that means a trip of 7.5 miles that takes 30 minutes will earn a driver at least $27.15 — an increase of more than $2.50 compared with current rates.

The commission also agreed to increase yellow and green cab fares (for the first time since 2012) by 23 percent. The new rates are scheduled to go into effect by the end of the year.

Read more here: 

https://www.engadget.com/nyc-uber-and-lyft-driver-pay-increase-205833433.html

Florida Uber driver shoots passenger after getting attacked over drop off location: Report

Police told WPLG that the passenger and driver argued about the drop-off location before the driver was attacked.

Uber drivers don't have much if any protection under Florida law. Not good at all. 

Changes must be forthcoming. Will workers compensation apply?

https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-uber-driver-shoots-passenger-attacked-over-drop-off-location

Uber Can’t Force Crash Victim to Arbitration

Big news, because the terms of use do require arbitration. 

Uber cannot compel a passenger seriously injured in a crash involving an Uber driver to go to arbitration over his $63 million damages claim without a trial.
Citing a 2021 state high court ruling that also went against Uber, a Massachusetts state trial court judge has ruled that the transport company’s online popup format provides inadequate notice of its extensive terms and conditions that include binding arbitration.

Here is the link to the case: https://law.justia.com/cases/massachusetts/supreme-court/2021/sjc-12883.html

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2022/11/02/692782.htm

Truck accidents and causes

Tractor-trailer crash leads to closed lanes, spilled sandwiches on I-95 in Brevard County, FHP says

 

A 22-year-old man driving a tractor-trailer was stopped on the shoulder of southbound I-95 due to mechanical issues, a crash report shows. The New York driver was off the roadway and hand cones and reflectors out after arranging for the vehicle to be repaired or removed, FHP said.

He was doing the right thing - placing cones and reflectors out along the roadway. 

At the same time, troopers said a heavy duty straight truck was traveling southbound on I-95 when the Titusville driver, 24, departed the travel lanes and smashed into the front of the other tractor-trailer.

According to the crash report, after impact, the tractor-trailer struck and overturned two sedans traveling southbound.

https://www.clickorlando.com/traffic/2022/10/20/2-injured-in-4-vehicle-crash-that-closed-part-of-i-95-in-brevard-county-fhp-says/

One killed after 60 vehicle crash in thick fog

 Our best suggestion is to avoid driving in the fog, pull over to a safe place until is is gone. 

Here is the news on this wreck: 

Officials say visibility was near zero, with thick fog compounded by smoke from nearby wildfires. 

https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/fog-deadly-oregon-crash-closes-interstate-5

Bicyclist vs car accident on Highway 231

 The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash involving a car and a bicycle Sunday evening.

FHP said a car was traveling west on Highway 231 and collided with a bicyclist.

Troopers told NewsChannel 7 Sunday night that they were investigating which direction the bike was traveling.

The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet, according to FHP. Troopers also reported the bike had no lights and the bicyclist was wearing dark clothing.

All bad. Who is responsible?

She was one in a million,' Friend mourns 25-year-old North Andover woman killed in Uber crash

 Tragic news:

The women were ridesharing in a 2007 Lexus SUV on 93 North Saturday when at approximately 10 p.m. they were hit from behind by a tow truck near exit 20. A third car hit the tow truck at an angle. The tow truck driver and the driver of the third car involved were not hurt.

Link here: https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/urushi-madani-delanie-fekert-uber-crash-death-boston-massachusetts/