Fiat Chrysler’s Recalled & Unrepaired Vehicles Remain on the Roads
When consumers purchase a vehicle from a reputable manufacturer, they expect to receive a vehicle that is safe and will not subject the driver or his or her passengers to unnecessary dangers or risks. And, if and when a defect is reported, consumers expect a thorough investigation into the problem followed by a timely solution. […]
Defective Trailer Hitches Sold at U-Haul Outlets Recalled by Manufacturer
When consumers purchase a product in a retail establishment, online, or through any other means they expect to receive a good or product that is well-made and fit to serve the particular purpose the consumer had in mind. While a consumer’s expectations can for a product can vary, the idea that a product should be […]
How and Why Trains Derail in Pennsylvania
In the aftermath of the horrific Philadelphia Amtrak crash which occurred on May 12, 2015, the same question is on everyone’s mind: why did this disaster occur? The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues to search for the answer. In order to better prevent these terrible tragedies from claiming more victims in the future, we […]
Types of Injuries Caused by the Amtrak Train 188 Derailment
By now, there are few who haven’t heard about the Amtrak Train 188 derailment that led to the deaths of eight train passengers and caused more than 200 injuries. While investigators are still looking into the exact cause of the crash and the details of the train accident, it is now known that the train was […]
Pennsylvania Train Accidents from the 1950s to Today
In the aftermath of the Amtrak Train 188 derailment, many people understandably had questions about how such a horrific and tragic accident could occur. In the hours and days after the accident, many details were still unclear. In fact, some areas of inquiry remain unsettled as investigators sift through evidence and attempt to piece together […]
A History of Pennsylvania Train Accidents – First 100 Years
The May 12, 2015, derailment of Amtrak Train 188 in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia has spurred public interest into the history of train derailments in Pennsylvania. As the former home of the now-defunct Pennsylvania Railroad, the state of Pennsylvania has a long and rich history involving travel by rail that stretches back, at […]
Tractor-Trailer Kingpin & Fifth Wheel Defects can cause Catastrophic Injuries or Death
A tractor-trailer fifth wheel along with a kingpin provides the coupling link between the truck cab and the semi-trailer it will be hauling. Despite its name, the 5th wheel is a horseshoe-shaped coupling device while the kingpin is a, roughly, 2 inch to 3.5 diameter inch steel pin that is inserted into the center of […]
As Highway Speed Limits Creep Upward, Do Tire Blowout Risks?
Between 2009 and 2013, more than 14,000 fatal crashes involving heavy trucks commercial vehicles occurred. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) statistics, these crashes killed more than 15,000 people. Of these catastrophic accidents, tires factored into 198 of those crashes and 223 deaths. While tire blowouts may not represent the most prevalent cause […]
Canadian and European Truck Underride Standards Have Outpaced U.S. Standards
In the previous parts of the series, we have already looked at the establishment and evolution of commercial trucking underride standards. We have also looked at whether current underride standards adequately protect the health and safety of Pennsylvania and American motorists when a commercial trucking accident occurs. In the last piece we concluded that in […]
A History of Federal Trucking Underride Standards
We have known about the dangers large vehicles like 18-wheelers, dump truck, Mack trucks and others present to a much smaller, everyday passenger vehicle. Regardless of whether the motorist is driving a compact car, a sedan, a pickup truck or even an SUV the commercial truck dwarfs the passenger vehicle. While the danger is most […]
