Law Firm Petitions for Access to Bridge Collapse Site
MINNEAPOLIS- A law firm asked a federal court to grant its experts immediate access to the Interstate 35W bridge collapse site so they can begin their own investigation into what could lead to wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits. The petition was filed in U.S. District Court here Monday by the law firm of Schwebel,…
Minnesota Bridge Death Toll up to Eight
MINNEAPOLIS — The official death toll in the devastating collapse of a highway bridge here last week rose to eight after rescue divers found what appeared to be three bodies Thursday and another body Friday. The Hennepin County medical examiner’s office identified one victim as Peter Joseph Hausmann, 47, a computer security specialist and former…
Effects of Bridge Work Weren’t Analyzed
As federal investigators continued to pursue evidence Thursday in the Interstate 35W bridge collapse, state officials said they had no reason to analyze the potential impact of resurfacing the bridge before authorizing that work. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) said it didn’t need an analysis beforehand because the resurfacing work wouldn’t add weight to…
Possible Flaw Identified in I-35W Bridge Design
Federal officials investigating the Interstate 35W bridge disaster said Wednesday that they are looking at a possible design flaw in some of the steel plates under the bridge and issued an alert that added weight from construction work may have been a factor in its collapse. Opening a new window into last week’s fatal bridge…
Minnesota’s Worst Bridges
More than 35 state and federal highway bridges in Minnesota were ranked about the same as or worse than the Interstate 35W bridge that collapsed Wednesday. The list includes only those bridges labeled "structurally deficient" and having a "sufficiency rating" of 50 percent or less, meaning the bridges need monitoring and might need to be…
Two SG&S Named 100 Most Influential Attorneys in Minnesota History
Minneapolis (August 8, 2007) – Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben is pleased to announce that James R. Schwebel and William R. Sieben have been named by Minnesota Law & Politics as two of the ‘100 Most Influential Attorneys in Minnesota History.’ The August/September issue of Minnesota Law & Politics magazine named ‘Minnesota’s Legal Hall of Fame’,…
Prominent Trial Attorney Joins SG&S
MINNEAPOLIS (May 1, 2007) – The law firm of Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben announced today that prominent trial attorney, Richard J. Nygaard, formerly of Rider Bennett LLP, has joined the firm. Nygaard’s practice will focus primarily on plaintiff’s personal injury litigation. Richard Nygaard has been a trial lawyer for over 35 years and has tried…
Making a Product Liability Claim
If you’ve been injured by a product — anything from matches to an airplane — you may have a liability case against the product’s manufacturers and distributors. Whether your case is worth pursuing depends on how you were injured, whether you contributed to that injury and the laws in your state. The Basics There are…
Common Defenses to Product Liability Claims
As with all personal injury claims, a person who wants to bring a product liability claim must file their action within the applicable time limit, or "limitation period." The failure to do so will give rise to a statute of limitations defense by the defendant(s). In addition, some states have "statutes of repose," which bar…
Rollover- Causes and Types
Rollovers are complex crash incidents and are particularly violent in nature. Rollovers, more so than other types of crashes, reflect the interaction of the driver, road, vehicle, and environmental factors. So while vehicle type does play a significant role, other factors such as driver behavior and road and environmental conditions can also cause a vehicle…
Rollover: Types
Rollovers occur in one of two ways: Tripped Rollovers NHTSA data show that 95% of single-vehicle rollovers are tripped. This happens when a vehicle leaves the roadway and slides sideways, digging its tires into soft soil or striking an object such as a curb or guardrail. The high tripping force applied to the tires in…
Roof Crush
Auto Industry Lies and Recalcitrance Crush Car and SUV Owners in Rollover Crashes The current roof crush standard became effective in 1973, and has only been revised since that time for extension to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 6,000 pounds or less and to apply to vehicles with raised roofs. This weight…
Minnesota Intrastate Carrier Laws
221.031 Intrastate carrier; operating requirements, exemptions. Subdivision 1. Powers, duties, reports, limitations. (a) This subdivision applies to motor carriers engaged in intrastate commerce. (b) The commissioner shall prescribe rules for the operation of motor carriers, including their facilities; accounts; leasing of vehicles and drivers; service; safe operation of vehicles; equipment, parts, and accessories; hours of service of…
# 9180 – FEDERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO DRIVER QUALIFICATION FILE AND DRIVER’S LOG
The federal motor carrier safety regulations apply to all motor carriers, including private carriers such as dealers, who operate vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) over 10,000 pounds in interstate commerce. The truck does not necessarily have to leave the state to be involved in interstate commerce. Any truck which continues the interstate…
Proving Fault for Defective Product Injuries
Injuries directly caused by dangerous or defective products are sometimes easier to recover compensation than other injury cases. Why? "Product liability" or the legal rules concerning those responsible for defective or dangerous products is different from ordinary injury liability law. And, this set of rules sometimes makes it easier for an injured person to recover…
U.S. proposes road tests to measure vehicle rollover
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Regulators proposed road test standards Tuesday for measuring rollover risk in new vehicles, a cornerstone of landmark congressional requirements to improve auto safety after the Firestone tire debacle. The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration plans to put as many as 100 makes and models through two turning maneuvers at different speeds to…
The Physics of SUV Rollover Accidents
A recent PBS FrontLine program about SUV vehicle rollover accidents amazed me that no one, in the carmakers, in the legislators, or in the researchers, seemed to understand the very basic Physics involved! When I taught High School Physics, I gave problems comparable to that to the students! This presentation will describe the physics (and…
Minimize Risk and Injury
There are many ways to minimize the risk of vehicle rollover, as well as reduce the risk of serious injury should one occur. Statistics prove that wearing a safety belt has the greatest effect on reducing the chance of fatality—occupants are 75% less likely to be killed in a rollover crash if they are wearing…
Glossary of Truck Related Terms
Axle Structural component to which wheels, brakes, and suspension is attached. Drive axles are those with powered wheels. Front axle is usually called the steer axle. Pusher axles are not powered and go ahead of drive axles. Rear axles may be drive, tag, or pusher types. Tag axles are not powered and go behind drive…
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations For a complete copy of the Federal Regulations please contact the Department of Transportation Part 382 – Controlled Substances & Alcohol Use & Testing Part 383 – Commercial Driver’s License Standards; Requirements and Penalties Part 385 – Safety Fitness Procedures Part 387 – Minimum Levels of Financial Responsibility for…