The Kalfus Nachman Blog

Norfolk, Newport News, and Roanoke, Virginia

Archive for the ‘Truck Accidents’ Category

What You Need to Do After a Serious Accident
Thursday, October 11th, 2012

After an accident, you may in a dazed or even injured. You may question what to do first as many questions go through your head.

In any type of accident, you should seek medical attention first. Once you are healthy, this is the time to make more decisions regarding your injuries and seeking compensation. There are a few things you should do to help prove your case and give you the best chance to win your lawsuit.

Photographs are always a good start as you want to get pictures of the entire accident scene. Everything matters, so take photos from every angle. You should also seek the tapes from emergency response, not only your phone call but any others placed to 911 which can give more evidence and witnesses to the accident. As your attorneys, we will want to question the police again to gather even more information that might not have been in the police report. We will also want any videotape evidence including news reports that could have been made of the accident as they may show something that we don’t know. Your attorneys will also be able to produce and use the professional advice of vocational, medical, and economic experts. This team of experts help prove your case and how much money you should be compensated in your accident case. Watch the video now to learn more.

To learn more about personal injury law, I encourage you to watch the video above and to explore our educational website at http://www.kalfusnachman.com. If you have legal questions, I want you to call me at (800) 800-9797. I welcome your call.

Kalfus & Nachman
(800) 487-8546
Offices in Norfolk, Newport News and Roanoke Virginia. Also serving Northeastern North Carolina.

Posted in Auto Accident, Truck Accidents
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Truck Accidents Caused by Improper Maintenance
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

Commercial trucks are large, complex vehicles that require rigorous inspection to meet the safety standards established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). According to law, tractor-trailers must be thoroughly inspected at every stop to check for faulty components, brake failure, and other liabilities that could lead to truck accidents.

Additionally, a truck’s cargo load should be checked to ensure it is carefully balanced and secured. Loads that exceed a trailer’s weight limit or are not properly balanced can cause a truck to tip or rollover when making a turn, increasing the risk of fatal truck accidents.

Despite the FMCSA’s regulations, many commercial trucks remain on the road without regular maintenance. These trucks pose a constant threat to motorists and truck drivers alike. Even a single defective component can lead to a deadly truck accident.

If you or one of your loved ones has been injured in a truck accident in Virginia, make sure you are getting the compensation deserve. Please contact our experienced truck accident lawyers today for a free initial consultation.

Kalfus & Nachman serves clients in Roanoke, Norfolk, Newport News, Hampton, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Posted in Truck Accidents
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Driver Fatigue and Truck Accidents
Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

Fatigue is a dangerous factor for anyone operating a motor vehicle. but it is especially dangerous for tractor-trailer drivers. Virginia State Police say 14 people were killed in 11 crashed over Labor Day weekend, with double fatalities in Fairfax, Fauquier and Lancaster counties.

Truck accidents are responsible for a higher percentage of injuries and deaths than accidents involving passenger vehicles. And the leading cause of truck accidents is driver fatigue.

Although there are federal regulations designed to reduce driver fatigue by limiting the amount of hours truck drivers can continuously operate a vehicle and mandating rest periods, drivers and trucking companies often ignore or encourage breaking these rules in order to reap the financial benefits of completing more jobs in shorter timeframes.

Some truck drivers resort to drugs to combat fatigue, but many drugs can actually increase the risk for collision by affecting a driver’s ability to reason and respond to routine challenges such as adverse weather, poor road conditions, shifting cargo loads and heavy traffic. Other drivers falsify their mandatory logbooks in an attempt to conceal how many hours they’ve really spent behind the wheel on a given day.

The Virginia truck accident attorneys at Kalfus & Nachman know that, like most traffic accidents, collisions involving semi-trucks are largely avoidable. We have helped numerous truck accident victims and their families recover the financial compensation they deserve, and we understand trucking company policies and tricks. We have the experience and resources to investigate logbooks, challenge inaccuracies, work with accident reconstruction experts, and investigate trucking company practices and history.

If you’ve been harmed or a loved one suffered wrongful death in a truck accident, please contact the Virginia truck accident lawyers at Kalfus & Nachman to schedule your free consultation.

Posted in Truck Accidents
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Truck Accidents on Interstate 81
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

Virginia’s Interstate 81 is one of the top eight trucking routes in America. During the 1960s, the highway was built to allow for a 15% ratio of truck traffic. Unfortunately, commercial trucks today take up around 40% of the route’s traffic, with congestion from passenger cars growing just as quickly.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, traffic volume in most areas of the I-81 has tripled since 1975. With only two lanes available in either direction, this narrow and mountainous highway has become increasingly accident-prone over the years. Truck accidents occur with unsettling regularity, and thanks to the steep grades and dense traffic, they are notorious for their severity.

Truck drivers are often under pressure to make a quick delivery, causing them to drive while fatigued and take other unnecessary risks in order to make it to their destination as fast as possible. When stressed truck drivers enter I-81’s often dangerous stretch of road, the potential for devastating truck accidents is even greater.

If you or one of your loved ones has been injured in a truck accident on Interstate 81 in Virginia, you may be entitled to compensation. Please contact our experienced truck accident attorneys at Kalfus & Nachman today for a free case evaluation.

Posted in Truck Accidents
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