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The Dangers Of Semi-Truck Driver Fatigue

The arrest of a truck driver who traveled from Washington State to Massachusetts without any sleep recently made national headlines, leading to increasing concerns about the dangers of semi-truck driver fatigue. Semi-truck drivers are usually paid based on miles, which is why they often attempt to travel long distances in short periods of time. Federal trucking regulations, however, limit the number of hours a driver can travel within a 24-hour period. Federal rules also mandate when, and for how long, a semi-truck driver must take breaks. But despite federal regulations, semi-truck driver fatigue continues to be one of the common causes of...

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Michigan Auto Accident Deaths Jump 19% Since 2014

michigan-auto-accident-deaths

2016 may have been the deadliest year in nine years for people traveling the nation's roadways, based on preliminary data from the National Safety Council. The early numbers also show an increase in Michigan auto accident deaths: there were 1,064 fatalities on the state's roads in 2016, compared to 893 deaths in 2014 -- an increase of 19 percent over the two-year period. The NSC reports that, in 2016, some 40,200 people across the country died in auto accidents. It's the first time in nine years that the annual death toll has exceeded 40,000. The NSC also reports that, in 2016,...

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Can Victims Of Michigan Semi-Truck Crashes Get No-Fault Benefits?

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Michigan semi-truck accidents are some of the deadliest accidents on the roadways. Every year, there are often over 10,000 heavy trucks and buses involved in collisions on Michigan highways. Nationwide, studies show that 98 percent of semi-truck crashes result in at least one fatality — and about 86 percent of these deaths are not the semi-truck driver. To help reduce fatalities, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration have proposed a “speed limiter” rule for new vehicles that weigh more than 26,000 pounds. Speed limiters would cap the speed of large vehicles at 60, 65 or 68...

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Where Are The Most Dangerous Roads In Michigan?

I-496 Near US-127 Trowbridge Road exit Lansing, Michigan

Michigan roadways present many challenges for motorists, especially during the busy summer travel season and the treacherous winter months. Do you know which roads are considered some of the most dangerous in Michigan? In an effort to educate the public about the most dangerous roads in Michigan, Sinas Dramis has launched a campaign called "Understanding Dangerous Roads." Throughout the campaign, our attorneys will identify the most dangerous roads in Michigan by collecting and analyzing car crash statistics and other data. Videos are also created that highlight the particular roadways, with a thorough explanation of the unique risks associated with each highway. The "Understanding...

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In A Michigan Car Accident? It’s Illegal For A Lawyer To Contact You Right After It Happens

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Have you ever received a phone call shortly after being in a Michigan car accident, and the person on the other end claims they're from a "no-fault benefits" or a "victims' rights" office and they’ll get you a quick settlement? If you ever get such a phone call, hang up. Do not talk to the person. Do not share any details about the accident, including any injuries you may have suffered or your personal information. In some instances, you may get a letter instead of a phone call. Just like a phone call, do not respond. Why should you keep quiet? Because this...

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Will Speed-Limiters On Michigan Semi-Trucks Reduce Crashes?

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In 2015, nearly 12,000 heavy trucks and buses, including semi-trucks, were involved in accidents on Michigan roadways. Nationwide, thousands of motorists are injured or killed each year in semi-truck crashes. Many believe that speed-limiters on Michigan semi-trucks may be the key to improving crash statistics. To help reduce the number of collisions due to speeding trucks, it was proposed in 2016 that vehicles with a gross weight of more than 26,000 pounds be equipped with a speed-limiter that forcibly caps how fast they can travel. The speed-limiter proposal was suggested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier...

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Semi-Trucks in Residential Neighborhoods – A nuisance, safety issue, or both?

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There are some streets, including those in residential neighborhoods where semi-trucks in Grand Rapids may not drive. Not everyone has received the message, though. Semi-trucks and other larger vehicles that are used to transport goods are a common sight on highways and major roads in Grand Rapids, but what about neighborhoods and residential areas? For those living on Valley Ave. near the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant on Butterworth Ave., semi-trucks traveling along their street is a way of life. Large trucks have been cutting through Valley to reach their final destinations for over five years now, and very little has been done...

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Semi-Truck Accidents on the Rise: The Cost of Doing Business?

semi-truck

As the economy improves, we're seeing more semi-trucks on the roads - unfortunately, that has also led to an alarming increase in the number of trucking accidents. Across the country, fatal semi-truck accidents are on the rise. While we rely on trucks to deliver the goods that we come to rely on daily, and the increase in the number of trucks driving on our roads to deliver the products we need (and want) may signal that our economy is continuing to improve, it cannot be denied that there is a cost many of us fail to think about: the increasing number...

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Michigan Train – Car Accidents are on the Rise

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While there is an upward trend of train-car accidents across the nation, Michigan has the 10th highest rate of these collisions. By now, we all should be aware of the dangers of distracted driving. Failing to place complete focus on driving while traveling to our destinations can have dangerous, even fatal, consequences for ourselves, our loved ones, and all others who share the roads with us. Something that is starting to gain increased attention not only in Michigan, but across the country, is the increase in the number of train-automobile accidents that has resulted because of distracted driving. Specifically, there were...

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HUNTER v SISCO: Court of Appeals Bars Auto-Accident Victim’s Right to Damages for Pain and Suffering

The Michigan Court of Appeals handed down a published decision recently in a case involving the Michigan Governmental Tort Liability Act (GTLA). The decision bars an auto-accident victim from asking a jury to award damages for pain and suffering when the crash was caused by a governmental employee’s negligent operation of a motor vehicle. In Michigan, the GTLA provides a general blanket of immunity for governmental employees and agencies when they are performing a “governmental function.” Section 1405 of the GTLA, however, provides an exception for injuries – specifically “bodily injury” and “property damage” — caused by the negligent operation of...

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