Trial Lawyers Elect New President: Lincoln Woodard

Westbrook – Lincoln Woodard, of West Hartford, Connecticut has been elected the new president of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association at its annual meeting which took place on June 4, 2018 at Water’s Edge Resort in Westbrook, Connecticut. Attorney Woodard is a trial attorney and principal in the West Hartford law firm of Walsh Woodard LLC.

The Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association is an organization of over 1,300 of Connecticut’s most accomplished and active trial lawyers. It is a nonprofit, professional association dedicated to creating and maintaining a more just society by preserving individual rights within the civil justice system.

Attorney Woodard was educated at Syracuse University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business and economics in 1987. He received his law degree from Western New England School of Law in 1992, where he served on the editorial board of the school’s Law Review and graduated with honors.

Attorney Woodard has been a trial lawyer throughout his career. He began as a prosecutor in Dutchess County, New York where he spent his last two years trying cases in the domestic violence and sex crimes division and serving on the Child Protection Committee Task Force. He returned to Connecticut with his family in 1997 and has practiced exclusively in civil litigation since that time. Mr. Woodard has been an active member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers having served on the Executive Committee, Board of Governors, Continuing Legal Education and Public Relations Committees among others.

He is board-certified as a civil trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 2007. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and since 2009 has been selected by his peers in the Connecticut Magazine Super Lawyers publication. He is also a member of the Hartford County Bar Association, Connecticut Bar Association, and the American Association for Justice.

For additional information, please contact Joan Maloney, CTLA Executive Director, at (860) 522-4345.

Different Types and Causes of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents are responsible for thousands of deaths and injuries each year. Statistics published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that truck accidents killed 4,317 people during 2016. Countless others suffer life-altering injuries from these accidents. Statistics on truck accidents are not surprising once you consider that a fully loaded commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds.

In Connecticut and across the US, there are common factors that may lead to various types of truck accidents. The different types of truck accidents and their causes include:

1. Drowsy driving accidents. Due to long hours on the road and other factors, commercial truck drivers can suffer drowsiness while driving. Drowsy driving accidents can occur when truck drivers violate hours of service rules. These rules dictate how long commercial truckers can work or operate their vehicles. Obstructive sleep apnea, prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications may also contribute to drowsy driving accidents.
2. Accidents caused by unsafe driving. Certain driving habits can cause truck accidents. Commercial truck drivers are more likely to crash if they are distracted or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Speeding is a major cause of commercial truck accidents. Truckers can also cause accidents if they perform unsafe lane changes.
3. Lost load accidents. Debris can fall from commercial trucks and hit other drivers. Motorists can also hit truck debris on the road. These types of accidents can happen when loads are not properly secured.
4. Rollover accidents. There are a few reasons rollover accidents can occur. Cargo loads may shift while truck drivers are making turns. This could lead to a rollover accident. In other cases, commercial trucks can jackknife during slippery road conditions. Jackknifing, which may lead to a rollover accident, is where the trailer bends into a “V” shape towards the truck cabin.
5. Underride accidents. Motor vehicles can be sheered in half if they pass underneath the back or side of a truck’s trailer. Underride incidents are an especially gruesome type of truck accident that often leads to fatalities. Truckers may cause this type of accident by suddenly hitting the brakes. Weak rear-underride guards can also lead to underride crashes.
6. Accidents caused by mechanical failure. Poorly maintained trucks are more likely to cause accidents. Tire blowouts can cause truck crashes, as can poorly maintained brakes. These are only two of many possible examples of how poor maintenance practices could contribute to an accident.

Contact Our Hartford Truck Accident Attorneys with Questions

Do you have questions about your legal rights after a truck accident? Contact our Hartford truck accident lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We can help you determine whether it would be possible to seek compensation for your injuries or loss. To schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys, call (860) 549-8440 or use our online case review form.