by Amy Foster | Mar 11, 2025 | Auto Accident, Brain Injury, CO Truck, Colorado, Kentucky, Personal Injury, Product Liability, Tennessee, Trucking Accident, Uncategorized
Car Wrecks with Defective Airbags: A Silent Threat on the Road
Car accidents are devastating enough, but when a vehicle’s safety features fail, the consequences can be even more catastrophic. One of the most alarming defects in modern vehicles involves faulty airbags. These devices are designed to save lives but can cause serious injuries or even fatalities when defective.
The Role of Airbags in Vehicle Safety
Airbags are a crucial part of a car’s safety system. They are designed to deploy within milliseconds of a collision to protect passengers from direct impact. Since their widespread adoption, airbags have significantly reduced the severity of injuries in car crashes. However, when they fail to deploy or deploy improperly, they can become deadly hazards instead of lifesaving devices.
Common Defects in Airbags
Defective airbags can malfunction in several ways:
- Failure to Deploy: In some cases, airbags do not deploy, leaving occupants unprotected.
- Unexpected Deployment: Airbags that deploy without a collision can startle drivers and lead to accidents.
- Overly Forceful Deployment: Some airbags deploy excessively, causing serious injuries instead of cushioning impact.
- Shrapnel Ejection: Perhaps the most infamous defect, some airbags explode upon deployment, sending metal fragments into the vehicle’s occupants. This was a significant issue with Takata airbags, leading to one of history’s largest auto recalls.
Notable Cases and Recalls
One of the most infamous airbag defects involved Takata Corporation. The company’s airbags were found to have a design flaw that could cause them to explode upon deployment. The defect was linked to multiple fatalities and severe injuries, prompting a massive global recall affecting millions of vehicles. Automakers such as Honda, Toyota, and Ford were forced to recall vehicles equipped with Takata airbags, and many consumers were left driving cars with potentially deadly safety equipment.
Legal and Financial Consequences
The aftermath of accidents involving defective airbags can be legally complex. Car manufacturers and airbag suppliers have been sued for negligence in designing and producing these faulty components. Many victims have sought compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional distress resulting from accidents caused by or worsened by defective airbags.
What to Do If You Have a Defective Airbag
If you suspect your vehicle has a defective airbag, take these steps:
- Check for Recalls: Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website and enter your vehicle’s VIN to see if it is subject to any recalls.
- Contact Your Dealer: If a recall applies, schedule a repair immediately. Automakers typically offer free replacements for recalled airbags.
- Exercise Caution: If your vehicle is under recall but awaiting repair, consider alternative transportation or discuss temporary solutions with the manufacturer.
- Seek Legal Advice: If you or a loved one has been injured due to a defective airbag, consult an attorney specializing in product liability cases to understand your rights and options.
Contact Queener Law
Airbags are meant to be the last line of defense in an accident, but when they are defective, they can turn a survivable crash into a fatal one. Staying informed about recalls and taking proactive steps to address airbag defects can help prevent unnecessary tragedies on the road. If you or someone you know has been affected by a defective airbag, seeking legal and financial recourse is crucial to ensure accountability and justice. Attorney Henry Queener has litigated several cases involving faulty airbags. Contact Queener Law about your potential airbag claim by calling us directly at 606-451-0053, or you can write to us with the details of your accident by using our free contact form.
by Amy Foster | Feb 4, 2025 | Auto Accident, Brain Injury, CO Truck, Colorado, Kentucky, Personal Injury, Tennessee, Trucking Accident
Commercial trucks are vital to our economy, delivering everything from essential goods to building materials nationwide. However, a looming threat—a nationwide shortage of qualified truck drivers—is putting the safety of our roads at risk. This shortage can lead to overworked and fatigued drivers, potentially causing a rise in truck accidents with devastating consequences.
Factors Contributing to the Driver Shortage
Several factors contribute to the nationwide driver shortage. Here are some key reasons why trucking companies are struggling to fill truck driving positions:
- Wages and Benefits: The trucking industry can be demanding, with extended hours and irregular schedules. While truck driver salaries can be attractive, concerns linger about benefits packages and the overall work-life balance for those traversing our state’s roads.
- Aging Workforce: The current generation of truck drivers is aging, and attracting younger individuals to fill the gap is proving challenging. The perception of a long and arduous career path with limited advancement opportunities deters potential recruits from considering trucking jobs.
- Training Requirements: Obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL) requires training and passing rigorous exams. While these measures ensure qualified drivers on the roads, the initial investment of time and money can be a barrier for some looking to enter the trucking industry in our state.
- Infrastructure Issues: Truck drivers spend significant time on the road, away from home. The lack of adequate truck parking facilities along significant highways in rural areas leads to driver fatigue and frustration.
How Driver Shortages Can Compromise Safety
When trucking companies face a driver shortage, they face immense pressure to deliver goods on tight deadlines. This pressure can lead to drivers pushing themselves beyond safe limits, resulting in fatigue—a major contributor to road truck accidents. Fatigued drivers experience slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and an increased risk of falling asleep at the wheel while traveling interstates and highways. In the worst-case scenario, these factors can culminate in a catastrophic accident, putting motorists at risk.
The pressure to meet deadlines can lead truck drivers to cut corners on safety procedures. Skipping rest breaks, neglecting pre-trip inspections, and exceeding speed limits are all dangerous shortcuts that can have dire consequences for people sharing the road with these massive vehicles.
The Potential Consequences of Trucking Accidents
Truck accidents are inherently more dangerous than car accidents due to the sheer size and weight of commercial vehicles. Collisions with large trucks can result in severe injuries, permanent disabilities, and even fatalities. The emotional and financial toll on victims and families can be immense.
Common commercial truck accident injuries seen by our personal injury attorneys include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Severe lacerations and burn
- Internal organ damage
Hiring Truck Accident Lawyer
A Truck Accident Lawyer often differs from a car wreck lawyer due to the specific complexities and regulations associated with commercial trucking accidents. Here are some key differences:
1. Specialization: A big truck lawyer typically specializes in cases involving commercial vehicles, which includes understanding the federal and state regulations governing the trucking industry. They are well-versed in unique issues that arise from truck accidents, such as driver fatigue, vehicle maintenance standards, and cargo loading regulations.
2. Liability Factors: Truck accidents can involve multiple parties, such as the truck driver, trucking company, vehicle manufacturers, and others. A truck lawyer is experienced in navigating these complex liability issues, while a car wreck lawyer may focus solely on personal injuries or issues directly related to passenger vehicles.
3. Injury Severity: Injuries from truck accidents are often more severe due to the size and weight of commercial trucks. A big truck lawyer is equipped to handle such serious cases, which may involve significant medical expenses, long-term care needs, and substantial compensation claims.
4. Insurance Policies: The insurance policies for commercial trucks are often different and more complex than those for personal vehicles. A big truck lawyer understands these policies and knows how to negotiate effectively to secure fair compensation for their clients.
5. Regulatory Knowledge: Trucking operates under specific federal regulations (such as those provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). A lawyer specializing in truck accidents will be more familiar with these regulations and how they apply to the case.
If you’ve been involved in an accident with a commercial truck, consulting with a lawyer who specializes in that area can be beneficial to ensure you receive the appropriate representation and understanding of your case. Attorney Henry Queener will ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive the compensation necessary to aid your recovery and future well-being.
by Jennifer O'Connell | Jul 23, 2024 | Auto Accident, Bicycle Accident, Brain Injury, Bus Accident, CO Truck, Colorado, DUI, Kentucky, Motorcycle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Personal Injury, Tennessee, Train Accident, Trucking Accident, Workers' Compensation
Después de sufrir un accidente, sabemos que lo último que desea hacer es informarlo a la aseguranza por temor a que aumenten sus tarifas. Quizás esté pensando en el estrés financiero que le espera en el futuro cercano, pero gracias al estatuto de Colorado C.R.S. §10-4-628 las tarifas de su seguro NO PUEDEN aumentar si usted no tiene la culpa.
CRS §10-4-628 estados:
(1) Ningún asegurador cancelará; no renovar; negarse a escribir; reclasificar a un asegurado bajo; reducir la cobertura, a menos que la reducción sea parte de una reducción general en la cobertura presentada ante el comisionado; o aumentar la prima, a menos que el aumento sea parte de un aumento general en las primas presentado ante el comisionado, cualquier póliza que cumpla el solicitante, asegurado, usuario permisivo o cualquier residente del hogar del solicitante o asegurado tiene:
(a) Ha tenido un accidente o accidentes que no son culpa del solicitante asegurado, miembro del hogar o usuario permisivo nombrado.
Supongamos que tuvo un accidente que no fue su culpa y que luego le dejó con más de $100,000 en billes médicos y la parte que lo golpeó tenía límites de lesiones corporales de solo $25,000. Sabemos que $25,000 no son suficientes para pagar sus billes médicos ni para tratar de compensarlo por su trauma, salarios perdidos, facturas, etc. Ahí es donde entrará en acción su cobertura UIM. La protección contra conductores con seguro insuficiente se aplicará si la otra parte no tiene cobertura suficiente para sus pérdidas, por lo que su seguro intervendrá y proporcionará límites adicionales.
¿Qué pasa si la parte que te golpeó no tiene cobertura de seguro? ¿Cómo pagará sus billes médicos? Ahí es donde interviene la cobertura UM. La protección contra conductores sin seguro ofrece cobertura si el conductor culpable no tiene la cobertura de seguro requerida. De esta manera todavía estás protegido.
En Colorado, por ley se requiere tener cobertura UIM/UM en su póliza con límites mínimos de $25,000 por persona, $50,000 por accidente. Sin embargo, si uno decide no participar en esto, puede hacerlo rechazando la cobertura por escrito. Esto es algo que NO recomendamos enfáticamente, ya que es mejor prevenir que lamentar y pagar más para tener una capa adicional de protección por si acaso. Tener cobertura adicional puede parecer una sin chiste ya que uno siempre piensa que estas cosas nunca les pueden pasar a uno, pero agradecerás tenerla si alguna vez te encuentras en la desafortunada situación en la que se tenia que ulitizar los límites de UIM/UM.
by Jennifer O'Connell | Jul 23, 2024 | Auto Accident, Bicycle Accident, Brain Injury, Bus Accident, CO Truck, Colorado, DUI, Kentucky, Motorcycle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Personal Injury, Slip and Fall, Tennessee, Train Accident, Trucking Accident, Workers' Compensation
After being in an accident, we know the last thing you want to do is report it to the insurance company fearing they will raise your rates. You may be thinking how much of a financial stress is ahead of you in the near future, but thanks to Colorado statute C.R.S. §10-4-628, your insurance rates CANNOT increase if you are not at fault.
C.R.S. 10-4-628 states:
(1) No insurer shall cancel; fail to renew; refuse to write; reclassify an insured under; reduce coverage under, unless the reduction is part of a general reduction in coverage filed with the commissioner; or increase the premium for, unless the increase is part of a general increase in premiums filed with the commissioner, any complying policy because the applicant, insured, permissive user, or any resident of the household of the applicant or insured has:
(a) Had an accident or accidents that are not the fault of such named applicant, insured, household member, or permissive user.
Suppose you were in an accident that was not your fault which then left you with over $100,000 in medical bills, and the party that hit you had bodily injury limits of only $25,000. We know that $25,000 is not enough to pay off your medical bills, nor is it enough to try and compensate you for your trauma, lost wages, bills, etc. That is where your UIM coverage will kick in. Underinsured motorist protection is triggered if the other party does not have sufficient coverage for your losses. Then your insurance will step in and provide the additional coverage.
What if the party that hit you does not have insurance coverage? How will you pay for your medical bills? That is where UM coverage steps in. Uninsured motorist protection offers coverage if the at fault driver does not have the required insurance coverage. This way you are still protected.
In Colorado, by law it is required to have UIM/UM coverage on your auto insurance policy with minimum limits of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident. However, if one chooses to opt out of this, they may do so by rejecting the coverage in writing. This is something we strongly DO NOT recommend, as it is better to be safe than sorry and pay more to have the extra layer of protection you need just in case. Having the extra coverage can seem silly as we always think these things can never happen to us, but you will be thankful for having it if you ever find yourself in the unfortunate situation where UIM/UM is necessary.
by Jennifer O'Connell | Jun 10, 2024 | Auto Accident, Bicycle Accident, Brain Injury, Bus Accident, CO Truck, Colorado, DUI, Motorcycle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Personal Injury, Train Accident, Trucking Accident
¡Esto es muy dificil! Cuando terminara esto??
Como si sufrir una lesión en un accidente automovilístico no fuera suficientemente malo, ahora lo bombardean con citas médicas y facturas, necesita tiempo libre en el trabajo, soportar dolores diarios, necesita un auto de alquiler y muchas otras tensiones. ¡Es demasiado difícil! Créame, lo entendemos. Nadie quiere pasar por una situación como esta y es por eso que hacemos lo que hacemos para ayudarte a superarla. En Queener Law nos encargamos de las comunicaciones con las compañías de seguros, haciendo malabarismos con el seguro médico y los gravámenes, y negociando el mejor monto de liquidación disponible mientras usted se concentra en lo más importante: su recuperación.
Si nunca has experimentado una situación como esta y estás abrumado y asustado, ¡está bien! Estamos aquí para ayudar. Podemos desglosar los pasos del proceso para usted a lo largo del camino.
¿Qué pasa primero? Una vez que nos contrata para representarlo, inmediatamente nos ponemos en marcha. Todas las compañías de seguros involucradas reciben cartas de representación de nuestra parte indicándoles que proporcionen a nuestra oficina la información sobre la póliza y los límites y preserven todas y cada una de las pruebas. ¿Cuál es la mejor parte de esto? También les indicamos que no se comuniquen con usted. Permítanos ocuparnos de la compañía de seguros mientras usted descansa y nos ocupamos de sus lesiones.
Y que lo que suceda a continuación depende de su plan de tratamiento. Usted nos mantiene actualizados con sus citas y, cuando haya completado el tratamiento, solicitaremos sus archivos completos a sus proveedores médicos. Una vez que todo está listo, creamos un paquete de demanda que incluye un resumen de cada cita a la que asistió, gastos de bolsillo, libro de facturas médicas, reembolso de millas y una descripción detallada del impacto que este incidente tuvo en su estilo de vida. Queremos convertirlo en un ser humano a los ojos del ajustador de seguros, no simplemente en un número de reclamo común y corriente.
Una vez que se ha presentado el paquete de demanda y el liquidador de seguros ha tenido tiempo de revisarlo, comienzan las negociaciones. Lo mantendremos actualizado con los montos de la oferta y le explicaremos qué significa ese número para el monto de su bolsillo. ¡Con su permiso, continuamos negociando hasta que tengamos la oferta máxima absoluta posible para su reclamo! Unas cuantas firmas aquí y allá y tendrás un trato.
Con frecuencia nos preguntan al comienzo de los casos: ¿Cuánto vale mi caso? ¿Cuanto tiempo tomara mi caso? Estas son preguntas muy abiertas y todas varían según el caso. Algunos factores que influyen en esto son: gravedad de las lesiones, responsabilidad, costo del tratamiento médico, permanencia y, por supuesto, los límites de la póliza de seguro. Lo mejor para usted es no comenzar las negociaciones hasta que su tratamiento haya finalizado y todos los registros médicos y las facturas estén listos. Las compañías de seguros prefieren ver los registros y las facturas del tratamiento en lugar de las recomendaciones de tratamiento. Desafortunadamente, esto a veces nos pone a merced de los proveedores médicos cuando se trata de plazos. Nuestro trabajo es hacer lo que sea mejor para usted, y eso significa no enviar su paquete de demanda hasta que todo esté listo.
Sabemos que este no es un proceso divertido para usted, pero hacemos todo lo posible para que sea lo más fácil posible. Haremos todo lo posible para acelerar este proceso tanto como sea posible, pero siempre mantendremos su mejor interés ante todo para que lo único de lo que tenga que preocuparse sea de curarse, recuperarse y volver a su vida normal.
by Jennifer O'Connell | Jun 10, 2024 | Auto Accident, Bicycle Accident, Brain Injury, Bus Accident, CO Truck, Colorado, DUI, Motorcycle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Personal Injury, Train Accident, Trucking Accident
¿Necesito un reporte policial?
La respuesta corta es SI. Desde golpes en los guardabarros hasta accidentes automovilísticos importantes, obtener un reporte policial es crucial no sólo para establecer los detalles del accidente, sino también para determinar la responsabilidad. Dependiendo de la naturaleza del accidente, un oficial puede darle la opción de enviar su propio informe en línea o permitirle que lo haga ellos mismos. La mejor opción es dejar que los oficiales hagan el informe mientras están en la escena para que no se pierda información vital. Y si por algún motivo debe presentar su propio informe (por ejemplo, no hay ningún oficial en la escena), le recomendamos que lo haga lo antes posible para que no se olviden detalles sobre el accidente que podrían afectar su caso. En Colorado, la ley establece que tiene 60 días a partir de la fecha del accidente para presentar su informe. Aunque la ley de Colorado no exige reporte policial para colisiones menores de $1,000 en danos de propiedad y que la otra parte no sufre lesiones o muerte, a largo plazo puede beneficiarle informarlo a la agencia adecuada, ya que contiene detalles que ayudarán a las compañías de seguros mientras trabajan con este reclamo.
Pero, ¿Qué tipo de información hay en el reporte policial que lo hace tan importante? Contiene dónde ocurrió el accidente, a qué hora, quiénes estuvieron involucrados, quiénes fueron los testigos, fotografías de la escena, observaciones de los oficiales, un diagrama de lo sucedido y a qué velocidad conducían las partes. Además de eso, el informe también mostrará si recibió una citación y quién, lo que facilitará mucho a las compañías de seguros determinar la responsabilidad.
Entendemos lo aterrador que puede ser verse involucrado en un accidente automovilístico y sabemos que lo primero que desea hacer es regresar a casa e intentar pasarlo por alto; sin embargo, le recomendamos encarecidamente que se tome el tiempo adicional necesario para permitir que los agentes de policía evalúe la escena y haga un reporte policial que podría marcar la diferencia en su reclamo de seguro.
