Safer Urban Lorry Truck Safety Design in London Prompts Response from El Paso Attorney Michael Gopin
According to attorney Michael Gopin, trucking accidents are a common threat to not only motorists, but also bike riders. However, he points to a new truck design developed in the UK to promote the safe travel of cyclists in the presence of trucks.
PHILADELPHIA, PA, May 14, 2013
Throughout his extensive experience as a personal injury attorney in El Paso, Texas, Michael Gopin has found that trucking accidents can often deliver not only costly, but also fatal consequences to every individual involved with them. While on-road safety should remain a priority for every motorist and citizen, Gopin encourages higher regulation of trucking safety to ensure that negligence does not cause the injury or death of another person.Although truck accidents are known to cause massive pile-ups on highways, a recent article from Co.Exist reveals that those riding bicycles can also incur damages from these large vehicles. The article states, "Trucks are death traps for cyclists. In London, 50 percent of cyclist deaths are attributable to the hulking vehicles. Because they sit so high up, have such small side windows, and make wide turns, truck drivers often can't even see the bicyclists they're about to crush." While this trend is observed overseas in the United Kingdom, Michael Gopin states that it is also a concern that is also present within the United States.
According to the article, the London Cycling Campaign has proposed a new truck design entitled the "Safer Urban Lorry" to help prevent these cyclist accidents from occurring. Co.Exist reports, "Among the Safer Urban Lorry's features: a lower driving position to improve driver awareness of cyclists (in normal trucks, cyclists can be virtually invisible); larger windscreen and side windows that clearly show the areas where cyclists are most likely to be; a lower clearance between the bottom of the truck and the ground to lower the cab's height and seating (and also help ensure that cyclists are pushed to the side in a crash instead of going under the truck); and sideguards, which also make it more likely that cyclists won't end up under the vehicle. The redesigned truck also has early warning cameras that provide a 360-degree view."
While the Safer Urban Lorry design is still in its conceptual phase, Michael Gopin believes that the effort put forth by the LCC shows that the problem does deserve consideration. "Although it may take some time to get off the ground, I believe that this design update would not only help prevent trucking accidents among cycles, but promote greater safety and awareness among truck drivers in general. It is my hope that solutions like these can be designed and implemented in regards to the American trucking industry, as it could help lower the incidents of personal injury and death that occur from trucking accidents," Michael Gopin concludes.
ABOUT:
Michael Gopin resides in El Paso, Texas, and serves the surrounding communities by providing support and representation to clients as an attorney and founder of the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin. The impeccable legal team at his practice comprises more than 20 years of experience, supplying clients with exceptional services in the areas of personal injury law. The team successfully represents clients who are engaged in legal circumstances of dangerous drugs, workplace injuries, medical malpractice, motorcycle accidents and more.