Watch Out for The Hidden Dangers of Big Trucks

American auto buyers love pickup trucks. Full-sized pickups are especially popular, outselling both compact and midsize trucks and accounting for 79 percent of the pickup truck market. These large vehicles make up roughly 20 percent of all new vehicles sold in the U.S.

Unfortunately, the large size of many newer full-sized and heavy-duty pickup trucks makes them extremely dangerous in collisions with smaller vehicles and pedestrians, according to Consumer Reports.

If you were injured in an accident caused by a truck driver, don’t hesitate to talk to an experienced truck accident attorney at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer. Our attorneys can review the specifics of the accident and explore your options for seeking compensation to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and more. For a free case review with a compassionate truck accident attorney, call us today at (877) 809-5352 or contact us online.

Our attorneys have the Kentucky Courage to stand up to big insurance companies and fight for what is right for you.

A Major Safety Concern – Truck Blind Spots

While American drivers traveled fewer miles overall in 2020, there was an eight percent increase in the rate of fatalities and serious injuries from the previous year. Many factors contributed to this increase. Recent research suggests that the growing proportions of modern pickup trucks in the U.S. may be a significant factor.

According to GM spokespeople, today’s buyers want larger pickup trucks because they provide greater ground clearance for off-road driving, more towing capacity, and more storage space. Spokespeople from both GM and Ford also say more powerful trucks require larger grilles to allow for superior engine cooling for towing.

However, the height and long hoods of modern pickup trucks create large blind spots, which can make it difficult for pickup drivers to see smaller vehicles or pedestrians such as small children in front of the vehicle. New full-sized trucks have front blind spots that are on average 11 feet longer than sedans and 7 feet longer than SUVs, according to an industry analysis by Consumer Reports.

The average hood height of modern pickup trucks has increased by roughly 11 percent since 2000. Some of today’s heavy-duty pickups have hoods just as tall or taller than the roofs of smaller cars. The weight of new pickup trucks also increased by an average of 24 percent between 2000 and 2018. Many newer full-sized pickups exceed 4,000 pounds.

Where Are These Blind Spots?

Drivers of today’s big pickup trucks must contend with the wider blind spots that make it difficult to see other road users:

• In the front – Big pickup trucks are tall vehicles with long hoods to accommodate large, high-capacity engines. When pickup drivers run into other road users in their front blind spots, the resulting “front over” collisions can leave victims with serious or fatal injuries. Research shows the majority of all fatal frontover collisions involve pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs. A rollover accident may occur in a driveway as the driver is maneuvering the pickup. Small children are especially at risk of frontover accidents.
• Along each side – Large pickups have large side mirrors, but mirrors alone aren’t always enough to cover blind spots. A big pickup truck has significant blind spots along each side of the truck’s cab, just behind and to the side of the cab doors.
• To the rear – If pickup drivers are towing trailers or driving with toppers or camper shells, rear visibility may be restricted. Even when a pickup truck bed is completely clear, the height of the tailgate can still obstruct a driver’s view for several feet to the rear.

Deadly Truck Dimensions

When modern pickup trucks collide with pedestrians, the tall hood and high bumper of the truck are more likely to cause serious injuries than the front of a smaller vehicle. The points of impact in a rollover pedestrian accident can result in direct trauma to a pedestrian’s head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Big pickups are also more likely to knock pedestrians to the ground and run them over.

Large vehicles such as big pickups generally do not perform well in handling or braking safety trials. When a big pickup truck collides with a smaller vehicle, the driver of the smaller vehicle is 1.59 times more likely to die than they would be in a crash that didn’t involve a pickup truck.

Another Risk Factor – Fatigued Truck Drivers

Big blind spots and massive frames are not the only risk factors in pickup truck accidents. Many modern drivers are dangerously fatigued on public roads. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowsy driving can be just as hazardous as drunk driving.

Studies suggest that just 18 hours of sleep deprivation can have the same cognitive effects as a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05%. After 24 hours of sleep deprivation, drivers can have cognitive impairments equal to those experienced by drivers who are legally intoxicated.

Fatigued truck drivers are significantly more likely to cause serious accidents. Drowsy drivers can have delayed reaction times, drift out of designated lanes, follow dangerously close behind other vehicles, or even veer off the road entirely.

Truck Accident Statistics

In 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released the following pickup accident statistics:

• In 2019, pickup truck occupants accounted for 28 percent of overall traffic fatalities, a number that was 30 percent in 2010. Pedestrians and other nonoccupants made up 20 percent of traffic fatalities in 2019, a number that was 15 percent in 2010.
• There were 19 more light-truck occupant fatalities in 2019 accidents compared to the previous year, an increase of 0.2 percent.
• There were 2,000 more pickup truck occupant injuries in 2019 accidents than there were in 2018, an 0.8 percent increase.

Contact a Truck Accident Attorney Today

At Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, our dedicated truck accident attorneys are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to address your needs. When you hire us to represent you in a personal injury accident claim, you will work with a knowledgeable attorney who can explore all of your legal options.

To discuss the details of your Lexington, Kentucky pickup truck accident case, call us now at (877) 809-5352 or contact us online for your free initial consultation.

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What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident in Lexington

As scary and frustrating as any car accident may be, being injured by a hit-and-run driver is even worse. The hit-and-run accident victim may feel as if he or she has nowhere to turn.

Car accidents in which the driver leaves the accident scene with the intent of evading responsibility happen frequently in Kentucky. According to KY State Police statistics, there were 12,682 hit-and-run collisions in Kentucky in 2018, equating to 34 crashes every day. In Lexington, WTVQ has run nearly a dozen TV reports of hit-and-run deaths, injuries, and arrests since the first of the year.

You are not alone if you have been injured by a hit-and-run driver in Lexington, Kentucky. There are steps you can take to seek compensation for your losses and possibly to find and hold the at-fault driver accountable. The Lexington car accident attorneys at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer can provide the legal guidance you need if you’ve been injured by a hit-and-run driver. Please phone us at (877) 809-5352 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Steps to Take After a Hit-and-Run Collision

After a car accident, the first thing to do is assess your injuries, and check on others if you can. If there are injuries, phone 911 and request an ambulance as well as police assistance.

If you are able, you should then try to document the hit-and-run accident:

• Take photos of your vehicle and its damage, the location of the crash, and anything else that may help illustrate what happened. Take a photo of your injuries.
• Ask any bystanders or other drivers who stopped whether they saw the accident and gather their contact information. If they are cooperative, make a video of the witnesses describing what they saw.
• Record anything you remember about the car and/or driver who hit you, especially if you caught the license plate number or can describe the car. Make a recording on your phone or write it down. Do it promptly.
• Cooperate with police when they arrive. Ask how to obtain a copy of the accident report.
• See a doctor within 24 hours for an evaluation if you do not go to the hospital in an ambulance. This will ensure that you receive care for your injuries, including potentially dangerous closed head injuries that may not exhibit symptoms right away. A doctor’s report documents your injuries and how they occurred.
• Report the accident to your auto insurance carrier. If the hit-and-run driver is not identified and apprehended, then you may need to file a claim against your uninsured motorist insurance for coverage of the accident. You should have uninsured motorist coverage unless you have specifically declined it. Your insurance company should tell you what information is needed to process your claim and what to expect during the claims process.

You should also contact a car accident lawyer. The attorneys at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, help victims of hit-and-run accidents recover compensation that the law says they deserve. We investigate to find out who is responsible for car accidents, and we hold them and their insurers accountable. Our attorneys understand how insurance companies work and have the knowledge, resources, and Kentucky Courage to fight for full compensation to our clients.

Insurance Implications After a Hit-and-Run

After most car accidents, the at-fault driver is held responsible, and the driver’s auto liability insurance compensates those who have been harmed. In Kentucky, all motor vehicle owners are required to carry auto liability insurance that provides at least:

• $25,000 for all claims for bodily injury damages sustained by any one person
• $50,000 for all bodily injury damages sustained by all persons as a result of an accident
• $25,000 for all property damage as a result of any one accident.

Kentucky also requires car and truck owners to obtain auto insurance that provides basic reparations benefits, or BRB for medical costs and loss of income. In other states, this insurance is known as personal injury protection or PIP. This is no-fault insurance, meaning it pays benefits to the policyholder, regardless of who caused a car accident.

Kentucky BRB benefits pay up to $10,000, which may be paid for specific economic losses due to injuries or death in a car accident, including:

• Medical expenses
• Work loss
• Replacement services costs, i.e., paying others for tasks the injured would have performed.

A third type of insurance, uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, must be offered to vehicle owners in Kentucky. A policyholder draws on this coverage when the at-fault driver in an accident is uninsured or has too little liability coverage, It also covers hit-and-run accidents.

If you have UM/UIM coverage, it is typically equivalent to your liability coverage.

Contact a Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer

The best way to recover a proper insurance payout after a car accident involving significant injuries is to retain the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer. This is particularly crucial if you have been seriously injured, which means your costs and losses will be expensive. Insurers are reluctant to make full payment on car accident claims. If you are badly injured it will be difficult to fight for yourself.

The attorneys at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer can handle your hit-and-run accident claim from start to finish. We’ll investigate the accident independently and stay on top of the police investigation to find the hit-and-run driver. Meanwhile, we’ll prepare a full accounting of your injuries and losses and demand full payment from all responsible insurance carriers.

Let Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer review the circumstances of the accident and your injuries at no charge before you accept anything from an insurance company. If you have already received a settlement offer, we’ll review it and tell you whether we think we can do better for you – at no charge.

We know what it takes to pick up the pieces after a devastating car accident, especially one caused by a hit-and-run driver. It takes Kentucky Courage to keep pushing for justice. At Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, we’ll provide the Kentucky Courage you need to get through this tough time.

Please contact us now to get the legal help you need. Schedule your free consultation.

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Bike Helmet Giveaway at Clay County Off-Road 1st Annual Elk Mountain Fall Festival

Clay County Off-Road, a non-profit group of all-terrain vehicle enthusiasts, has organized the 1^st Annual Elk Mountain Fall Festival to be held Oct. 22-23 at the Clay-Leslie Industrial Park. The goal of the group is to develop more off-road riding opportunities to attract more tourists to the Clay County area.

The family friendly event kicks off on Friday night with Movies on the Mountain.  The film Hocus Pocus will start at dusk, followed by the original Halloween at 10 p.m.  The Clay County middle school cheerleaders are selling popcorn and drinks as a fundraiser.  Various other school groups and teams are volunteering to help as well.

On Saturday, the festival continues with a benefit ride for Dale Lee, a cancer patient, with all proceeds going directly to him.   Registration is from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. with the ride leaving at 10 a.m.

Throughout the day, there will be pumpkin decorating, inflatables, a petting zoo, costume contests, face painting, a battery-operated car, truck, or ATV race,  a hayride, vendors, and food trucks.

Trunk or Treat will begin at 5 p.m, followed by a costume contest at 6 p.m. and the best decorated ATV award at 7.  The Haunted Forest will begin at dark and is being presented by the Clay County Baseball team.

Glenda Hubbard, a paralegal at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, is one of the founding members of the Clay County Off-Road ATV group. The group is collecting donated cash prizes and bicycles to give to children and has collected more than 25 bikes so far!

Roy Collins, the managing partner of Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, PLLC, has pledged to donate a bicycle helmet for each donated bicycle. We are proud to support worthwhile causes and give back to the communities that we serve.

Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, PLLC is an established Kentucky law firm with multiple offices throughout the Commonwealth. Our attorneys are known for their Kentucky Courage when fighting for the rights of hardworking people who are struggling to overcome serious injuries.

You may have seen our Kentucky Courage ads on television. The attorneys that you see on TV are the same ones you will work with if you contact Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer to handle your case.

It’s important to talk to an attorney as soon as possible if you’ve been injured. We offer free consultations to review your case and discuss the steps available to you. Call (877) 809-5352 to speak to have a personal injury attorney review your case and discuss your legal options. Call today.

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McKinnley Morgan Chairs University of Kentucky Workers’ Comp Institute

Attorney McKinnley Morgan has had the unique opportunity of serving as chairman of the University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law Workers Compensation Institute for a number of years including the 23rd annual Workers Compensation Institute conference held in May.

A founding partner of Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, McKinnley has focused his legal practice primarily on workers’ compensation cases and helping injured workers for 30 years. He has shared his knowledge of Kentucky’s workers’ compensation system as a speaker at numerous legal seminars and conferences focused on issues related to workplace injuries and accidents.

This year, McKinnley chaired the planning committee that organized the two-day program of continuing legal education seminars for attorneys who handle workers’ compensation cases. The program was held at the Campbell House in Lexington.

The Workers’ Compensation Institute is designed as a service for all workers’ compensation attorneys in Kentucky, regardless of their level of experience. The program offers a survey of current issues, court decisions, rule changes, ethics opinions, and other legal topics that are encountered by attorneys on a regular basis.

The annual conference is accredited by the Kentucky Bar Association and provides 12 hours of continuing legal education credits for attorneys to satisfy the requirement for ongoing education.

By volunteering his time with the University of Kentucky Workers Compensation Institute and sharing his knowledge of this area of law, he has contributed to the professional development of members of the Kentucky Bar Association.

McKinnley gave the welcoming address at the opening of the 2021 conference which offered participants the option of attending in person or watching live-streamed video online.

“We worked on developing good programs that were not only updates of the law, but also focused on making those who attended better practitioners,” McKinnley says. “We brought in doctors to discuss surgeries being performed to address workplace injuries that we see on a frequent basis.”

The program is designed to address issues of interest to both worker’s compensation plaintiffs’ attorneys and defense attorneys. The seminars at the 2021 conference covered topics such as occupational exposure cases, review of worker’s compensation case law decisions, Kentucky workers’ compensation regulatory updates, legal ethics in workers’ compensation practice, mental-physical claims, and an evidence refresher for workers’ compensation practitioners.

“You are seeing a lot of diversity in what is being presented,” McKinnley said.

The Workers Compensation Institute coincided with the Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Hall of Fame Awards Dinner. The Hall of Fame recognizes not only attorneys but doctors, court reporters, and administrative law judges who have worked in the area of workers’ compensation law in Kentucky for a number of years.

After a number of years chairing the Institute, McKinnley is handing over the duties of chairing the annual conference to Gerald Vanover, Jr., of Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer.

Gerald is also a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Law and has presented numerous seminars at Kentucky Workers’ Compensation conferences. He and a workers’ compensation defense attorney will co-chair the 2022 Workers Compensation Institute which is scheduled for April 14-15, 2022.

For more information about Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer attorneys, Contact us today at (877) 959-5309.

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