Loia o Fa’alavelave Ta’avale 18-Uili i Amerika Samoa: Puipuia o Lou Lumana’i pe a mae’a se Feto’aiga Mata’utia

O le a’afiaga o se feto’aiga ma se loli 18-uili e le tutusa ma so’o se isi lava mea e tupu i luga o auala o Amerika Samoa. Pe a feto’ai le 80,000 pauna o u’amea ma uta ma se ta’avale la’upasese e 4,000 pauna, o tulafono o le fisiki e leai se fa’amagalo. I luga o vaega tifato, vaapiapi, ma fefeliua’i o le Alatele 1 (Route 1) po’o latalata i fe’oa’iga mamafa o pisinisi i le uafu i Pago Pago, o se mea sese e tasi a se avane fa’apisinisi e mafai ona suia ai lou olaga i se taimi vave. E te le o feagai na’o se “fa’alavelave tele i le ta’avale.” O lo’o e feagai ma se fa’alavelave fa’aletulafono e aofia ai tulafono feterale faigata, le tele o vaega o inisua a kamupani, ma se kamupani loli e foliga mai o lo’o i ai a latou lava tagata su’esu’e mo tali vave i le nofoaga o le fa’alavelave ae e te le’i tu’ua le falema’i.

I le Attorney911, matou te iloa le mea o lo’o e feagai ai ona sa matou i ai i luma o fa’amasinoga o loli mo le silia i le 25 tausaga. O la matou pa’aga pule, o Ralph Manginello, ua silia ma le lua sefulu tausaga o fa’amauina le tali atu a kamupani tetele, mai kamupani va’alele fa’avaomalo tetele i kamupani Fortune 500 o lo’o aofia i fa’amasinoga o le fale gaosi oloa a le BP Texas City. Matou te le na’o le “tagofia” o fa’alavelave tau loli; matou te talepeina le talosaga a le puipuiga e ala i le fa’aogaina o a latou lava metotia e fa’asaga ia i latou. O la matou ‘au e aofia ai le loia lagolago o Lupe Peña, o lē sa galue muamua mo kamupani inisua ia o lo’o matou tauina nei. Na te iloa lelei le auala latou te taumafai ai e fa’aitiitia lou mafatia, ma na te iloa le auala e taofi ai i latou.

Afai o oe po’o se tasi e pele ia te oe ua manu’a i se feto’aiga o se ta’avale fa’apisinisi i Amerika Samoa, e leai sou taimi e te fa’atali ai. O fa’amaoniga o lo’o fa’aleagaina pe tapeina nei lava. Vala’au mai i matou i le 1-888-ATTY-911 mo se fofogaina fua ma le fa’alaua’itele. Matou te galulue i luga o se fa’avae totogi pe a manumalo (contingency basis), o lona uiga e te le totogiina mai i matou se’i vagana ua matou maua se taui mo oe.

Aiseā e taua ai le poto masani i Tulafono o Loli Feterale i Amerika Samoa

O fe’oa’iga a loli fa’apisinisi e le na’o tulafono a le teritori e pulea ai; o se pisinisi o lo’o i lalo o tulaga mautu a le Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Pe o felauaina e se loli ni tuna mo le gaosiga latalata i le uafu po’o le felauaina o mea faufale i luga o Tutuila, e tatau ona tausisia le 49 CFR Parts 390-399. O le tele o kamupani loia mo manu’aga patino i Amerika Samoa e le’i tatalaina lava le Code of Federal Regulations. Latou te manatu i se fa’alavelave o se loli 18-uili e pei o se feto’aiga la’ititi masani. O se mea sese lena e mafai ona e leiloa ai le faitau miliona o tala.

Matou te su’esu’e loloto mo solitulafono ia e misia e isi loia. Pe na solia e le avane tulafono o Itula o Galuega (HOS) i lalo o le 49 CFR § 395.3? Pe na le atoatoa le faila o agava’a o le avane (DQF) a le kamupani loli, ma solia ai le 49 CFR § 391.51? Ina ua silia ma le 25 tausaga, ua iloa ai e Ralph Manginello le auala o nei solitulafono o fa’amaoniga sili ia i mataupu tau loli. E ala i le fa’amaonia o se kamupani na filifilia le polofiti nai lo lou saogalemu, e masani lava ona mafai ona matou sailia e le gata o mea ua fa’aleagaina, ae fa’apea fo’i ma sala fa’asalaga (punitive damages) ua fuafuaina e fa’asala ai le kamupani ona o lo latou fa’atamala.

O la matou pa’aga pule ua fa’atagaina i le Fa’amasinoga Fa’aitumalo a le Iunaite Setete mo le Itumalo i Saute o Texas ma o lo’o i ai lona poto masani tele i fa’amasinoga feterale. E taua tele lenei mea ona o le tele o mataupu tau loli i Amerika Samoa e i’u i le fa’amasinoga feterale ona o le natura fa’avaomalo po’o le va o setete o kamupani o lo’o aofia ai. E te mana’omia se ‘au e lagona le mafanafana i se potu fa’amasino feterale e pei o lo latou i ai i le Fa’amasinoga Maualuga a Amerika Samoa.

Le Fa’amalama o Fa’amaoniga e 48-Itula: O lo’o i se Tulaga lamatia lau Mataupu

I Amerika Samoa, e amata le taimi i le taimi lava e tupu ai le feto’aiga. O kamupani loli e lauiloa i le “leiloa” o fa’amaoniga pe a le puipuia vave. O loli tetele fou uma e fa’aauupegaina i le Engine Control Module (ECM), e masani ona ta’ua o le pusa uliuli (black box). O lenei masini e fa’amauina le saoasaoa, taofi, le tulaga o le kalasini (throttle), ma le RPM o le afi i nai sekone a’o le’i tupu le fa’alavelave.

Ae ui i lea, o fa’amaumauga a le ECM e mafai ona tapeina i se taimi e itiiti ifo i le 30 aso—pe sili atu foi le vave pe a toe fa’afo’i le loli i le galuega. I le Attorney911, matou te le fa’atali mo le kamupani inisua e fai le mea sa’o. Matou te auina atu tusi aloa’ia mo le fa’asaoina o fa’amaoniga (spoliation letters) i totonu o le 24 i le 48 itula talu ona tofia i matou. O lenei fa’aaliga fa’aletulafono e mana’omia ai le kamupani ina ia fa’asaoina fa’amaumauga a le ECM, fa’amaumauga a le Electronic Logging Device (ELD), ata o le dashcam, ma le ta’avale lava ia. Afai latou te fa’aleagaina lenei fa’amaoniga pe a mae’a ona maua la matou tusi, e masani lava ona mafai ona matou maua se “fa’atonuga o le fa’aleagaina” (spoliation instruction) mai le fa’amasino, lea e ta’u atu ai i le au jure e tatau ona latou manatu o le fa’amaoniga na fa’aleagaina e leaga mo le kamupani loli.

Afai ua feto’ai oe ma se loli 18-uili i Amerika Samoa, ‘aua ne’i fa’atagaina fa’amaoniga e mou atu. Vala’au mai i matou i le (888) 288-9911 i le asō. O lo’o fauina nei e le kamupani loli la latou puipuiga; sei matou amata fauina lau mataupu.

Ituaiga Masani o Fa’alavelave Ta’avale 18-Uili i Amerika Samoa

O le tulaga tulagaese o le eleele o Amerika Samoa e fafauina ai ni tulaga lamatia patino mo ta’avale tetele fa’apisinisi. O vaega tifato o le motu ma auala vaapiapi i tafatafa o le sami o lona uiga o nisi ituaiga o fa’alavelave e sili atu ona taatele iinei nai lo auala mafolafola i le atunu’u tele.

Fa’aletonu o Taofi (Brakes) i luga o Savili Tifato

O le eleele o Tutuila e ta’uta’ua i le gaoā. Pe a alu ifo se loli o lo’o tumu i uta—atonu e mamafa i le 80,000 pauna—i luga o mauga tifato agai atu i Pago Pago po’o Leone, o faiga o taofi o lo’o i lalo o se mamafa tele. I lalo o le 49 CFR § 396.3, e tatau i kamupani ona su’esu’e ma tausia lelei a latou ta’avale. Afai e le manuia taofi o se loli ona ua pala pe le’i fetu’una’i lelei, o le i’uga e masani lava ona i’u i le oti. Matou te va’ai i tusi o le tausiga e va’ai pe na tolopoina e le kamupani le toe fa’aleleia ina ia fa’aauau ai le fealuai o le loli i luga o le auala.

Feto’aiga i Nofoaga e le Iloa Atu (“No-Zone”)

O le tele o auala i Amerika Samoa e vaapiapi ma e la’ititi le avanoa. O loli 18-uili e i ai nofoaga tetele e le iloa atu (blind spots) i itu uma e fa. O le 49 CFR § 393.80 e mana’omia ai loli ia i ai ni fa’ata e maua ai se va’aiga manino i tua, ae tusa lava pe i ai fa’ata sa’o, o se avane o lo’o fa’alavelaveina pe le’i lelei le a’oa’oina e mafai ona faigofie ona tu’imomomoina se ta’avale la’ititi i le taimi o le suiina o le auala po’o se liliu. Ua matou va’aia ni feto’aiga mata’utia i autafa lea na fai mai ai le avane o le loli latou te “le’i va’aia” le ta’avale i o latou tafatafa.

Maligi o Uta i Uafu ma Fe’oa’iga

Latalata i uafu o Amerika Samoa, o loli “drayage” e masani ona felauaina koneteina. O le lelei o le puipuiga o uta o se solitulafono lea o le 49 CFR § 393.100. Afai e le loka lelei se koneteina i le au’ivi (chassis), po’o le maligi o mea o le gaosiga o i’a i luga o le auala ma mase’ese’e ai, o le kamupani na fa’atumuina le loli ma le kamupani felauaiga e tatau ona tali atu mo fa’alavelave e mulimuli mai.

Fuli o Loli i luga o Pupunoga i Tafatafa o le Sami

O le tulaga maualuga o le kalasini e mafai ai ona faigofie ona fuli loli tetele, aemaise lava pe a uia pupunoga ma’ai o auala i tafatafa o le sami o Amerika Samoa. Afai e vave tele le alu a se avane i se pupunoga po’o le sui o uta i totonu ona o le le lelei o le fa’atumuina (se solitulafono o le 49 CFR § 393.102), o le i’uga e matua fa’ataumaoia. Matou te galulue ma tagata poto i le toe fafauina o fa’alavelave e fa’amaonia ai le vave tele o le saoasaoa o le loli mo tulaga o le teritori.

Le Avanoa o le Puipuiga a le Inisua: Matou te Iloa a Latou Metotia

Pe a e fa’afaigaluegaina le Attorney911, e te le na’o le mauaina o se loia fautua; o lo’o e mauaina se tagata o lo’o iloa mea mai totonu. O Lupe Peña, o se loia lagolago i la matou kamupani, sa galue mo le tele o tausaga o se loia mo se kamupani puipuiga o inisua a le atunu’u. Sa nofo o ia i potu fono lea na filifili ai e nei kamupani le itiiti o le tupe e totogi atu i e na a’afia pei o oe. Na te iloa le polokalame latou te fa’aogaina—pei o le Colossus—e tu’uina atu ai se “tau” i lou tiga. Na te iloa metotia latou te fa’aogaina e fa’atuai ai lau mataupu, ma le fa’amoemoe o le a e fa’anaunau ma talia se ofo maualalo.

I Amerika Samoa, o tagata fetu’una’i inisua (insurance adjusters) e masani lava ona foliga mai e fa’auo ma fesoasoani. ‘Aua ne’i fa’aseseina oe. O la latou galuega e tasi o le puipuia o le polofiti a le kamupani inisua. Latou te ono talosagaina se “fa’amatalaga pu’eina” e “fesoasoani i le fa’agasoloina o lau tagi.” O la matou fautuaga e tutusa lava i taimi uma: ‘Aua ne’i tu’uina atu se fa’amatalaga pu’eina pe a aunoa ma lau loia. O nei fa’amatalaga ua fuafuaina e maileia ai oe e ta’utino le sese po’o le fa’atauva’aina o ou manu’aga.

Talu ai sa i ai Lupe Peña i le isi itu, e mafai ona matou iloa mamao a latou gaioiga. Matou te iloa le taimi latou te pepelo ai ma le taimi latou te sauni ai e totogi le taui. O lenei malamalamaaga mai totonu o le mafua’aga lea na mafai ai ona matou maua mai ni i’uga o le faitau miliona o tala mo a matou tagata fa’atau. Pei ona fai mai le tagata fa’atau o Angel Walle, “Na latou fo’ia i totonu o ni nai masina mea e le’i faia e isi i totonu o le lua tausaga.”

Fa’ailoaina o Itu Uma o lo’o Nofosala: Aiseā e le Lava ai se Tagata Tali e To’atasi

O le tele o loia i Amerika Samoa e tu’u pe a mae’a ona tagi le avane o le loli. I le Attorney911, matou te o atu e sili atu ona loloto. Ina ia fa’ateleina lou taui, matou te va’ai i vaega uma i le “filifili o pisinisi” na saofagā i le feto’aiga. E taua tele lenei mea ona o le to’atele o tagata o lo’o nofosala, o lona uiga o le tele o inisua e mafai ona maua mai ai tupe.

1. Le Kamupani Loli (Motor Carrier)

I lalo o le mataupu fa’aletulafono o le respondeat superior, o le kamupani e nafa ma gaioiga a ana avane. Matou te va’ai fo’i mo le fa’atamala tu’usa’o: Pe na latou fa’afaigaluegaina se avane o lo’o i ai se tala’aga o le ave ta’avale ‘onā po’o le saoasaoa tele? (49 CFR § 391.23). Pe na latou le fa’ia se su’ega o fuala’au fa’asaina i le avane? (49 CFR Part 382).

2. Lē e Ona Uta ma Tagata Fa’atumu Oloa

Afai o le fa’alavelave na mafua mai i le suia o uta, o le kamupani na fa’atumuina le loli atonu e nofosala. I le si’osi’omaga o felauaiga i Amerika Samoa, e masani ona aofia ai kamupani fesoasoani o lo’o feagai ma oloa fa’avaomalo.

3. Tagata Gaosi Meafaigaluega ma Vaega o Ta’avale

O nisi taimi e fai sa’o mea uma e le avane, ae pa le pa’u po’o le motu o le fa’atonu o le uili (steering linkage). Afai o se vaega fa’aletonu na mafua ai lau feto’aiga, e mafai ona matou sailia se tagi o le nofosala i oloa fa’asaga i le kamupani gaosi mea. Ona o le maualuga o le masima ma le susu i le ea o Amerika Samoa, o le tausiga o masini e sili atu ona taua, ma o le toilalo iinei e masani lava ona fa’asino i le le amana’ia o le faiga o tausiga.

4. Tagata Fautuaga o uta (Freight Brokers)

O tagata fautuaga o lo’o fa’atulagaina se felauaiga o oloa o lo’o i ai se tiute e fa’afaigaluega ni kamupani saogalemu. Afai latou te fa’afaigaluegaina se kamupani lalo ifo o lo’o i ai ni togi maualalo o le saogalemu ina ia sefe ai ni nai tala, matou te fa’amauina le tagata fautuaga e nafa ma la latou filifiliga fa’atamala.

Afai ua e manu’a, ‘aua ne’i e fa’amalie i se loia e na’o luga lava e va’ai i ai. E te mana’omia se ‘au e su’esu’e le upega tafa’ilagi atoa a le kamupani. Matou te tautala i le gagana Sipaniolo. Vala’au le 1-888-ATTY-911.

Manu’aga Mata’utia ma lau Tausiga i le Olaga Atoa

O se fa’alavelave o se loli 18-uili i Amerika Samoa e le na’o ni “patupatu ma ni manua laiti.” E mafua ai mafatiaga o le olaga e suia mau fa’asolo. Ua matou maua mai miliona o tala i taui mo ē na a’afia o lo’o feagai ma aso sili ona faigata o o latou olaga.

• Manu’aga Mata’utia o le Fai’ai (TBI): $1.5M i le $9.8M+ le tau. O le TBI e mafai ona tupu tusa lava pe leai se lavea sa’o i le ulu, ae na’o le luluina malosi o se a’afiaga mai le loli. E a’afia ai lou uiga, lou mafai e galue ai, ma lou manatuaina o mea.
• Manu’aga o le Ivitu: $4.7M i le $25.8M+ le tau. O le pararisa o se i’uga masani lea pe a tu’imomomoina e se loli mamafa se ta’avale. O nei mataupu e mana’omia ai tagata fuafua mo le tausiga o le olaga e fa’atatauina le tau o meafaigaluega fa’afoma’i, fesuiaiga o fale, ma le tausiga i le 24/7 mo le tele o tausaga o le a o’o mai.
• Motusia o Limu (Amputations): $1.9M i le $8.6M le tau. O malosiaga tu’imomomo o se fa’alavelave fuli po’o se fa’alavelave underride e masani ona ta’ita’ia atu ai i le leiloa o lima po’o vae.
• Oti ona o le Sese o se Tasi (Wrongful Death): $1.9M i le $9.5M+ le tau. Pe a leiloa e se aiga se tagata sa sailia le seleni po’o se tamaititi i se fa’alavelave tau loli i Amerika Samoa, o le leiloa e le mafai ona fuaina. E ui e le mafai e tupe ona sui lau pele, ae mafai ona fa’amautu ai le tulaga tau tupe a lou aiga ma fa’amalosia ai le kamupani loli e sui a latou faiga mata’utia.

Matou te tausia a matou paaga e pei o se aiga. E pei ona fai mai Chad Harris, “E LE NA’O se kalani oe… o oe o se AIGA ia i latou.” Matou te manatu mamafa i lena nafa, aemaise lava pe a fa’alagolago lou lumana’i i lo matou manuia.

Su’esu’eina o lau Fa’alavelave Ta’avale i Amerika Samoa

Pe a e vala’au mai ia i matou, e amata loa la matou su’esu’ega. O la matou metotia e fa’atekinisi, mae’ae’a, ma malosi.

1. Su’esu’ega o le ELD: Talu mai le poloa’iga o le 2017, toetoe lava o loli uma e tatau ona fa’aoga le Electronic Logging Devices. Matou te auina atu le samani mo nei fa’amaumauga e fa’atusatusa i fa’amaumauga o pili o auala, lisiti o suau’u, ma fa’amaumauga o le GPS e fa’amaonia ai pe na fa’afoliga e se avane a latou tusi o taimi malolo ina ia fa’aauau ai ona ave le ta’avale i se auala e le tusa ai ma le tulafono.
2. Su’ega o Fuala’au Fa’asaina ma le ‘Ava Malosi: I lalo o le 49 CFR § 382.303, e TATAU ona fa’ia se su’ega i se avane mo fuala’au fa’asaina ma le ‘ava malosi i le taimi lava e mae’a ai se fa’alavelave matuia. Matou te mautinoa e fa’asaoina nei i’uga ae latou te le’i “leiloa.”
3. Tala’aga o le Tausiga: Matou te va’ai mo le mamanu o le “sefe o tupe.” Pe na le amana’ia e le kamupani ia pa’u ua pala? O le 49 CFR § 393.75 e mana’omia ai ni loloto fa’apitoa o pa’u. I le vevela o Amerika Samoa, o pa’u tula o se i’uga o le oti i luga o auala susu.
4. Toe Fafauina o Fa’alavelave: Matou te fa’afaigaluegaina inisinia sili ona lelei e fa’afanua le nofoaga, au’ili’ili fa’ailoga o pa’u i luga o le auala, ma fa’aoga fa’amaumauga o le “pusa uliuli” e fatu ai se ata 3D o le feto’aiga. O le mea lea e fa’amaonia ai i se au jure le auala tonu na tupu ai le fa’alavelave, e tusa lava po’o le a le tala a le avane.

Po’o e sauni ma e naunau e tau ma se kamupani inisua e faitau piliona tala le tau? O lo’o matou sauni. Vala’au le Attorney911 i le 1-888-ATTY-911 mo lau su’esu’ega fua o le mataupu.

Fesili e Masani ona Fesiligia e uiga i Fa’alavelave Ta’avale i Amerika Samoa

O le a le umi e tatau ai ona ou failaina se tagi i Amerika Samoa?

E ui o le tulafono o taimi (statute of limitations) e masani lava e 2 tausaga mo manu’aga patino, e le mafai ona e fa’atali. O le taimi mo le fa’asaoina o fa’amaoniga e sili atu ona pu’upu’u. Afai e te fa’atali mo se masina, atonu ua toe fa’aleleia ma fa’atau atu e le kamupani loli le loli na feto’ai ma oe, ma o fa’amaumauga o le pusa uliuli e mafai ona mou atu e fa’avavau.

Ae a pe afai o a’u fo’i sa sese?

O lo’o mulimuli Amerika Samoa i le tulafono o le fa’atamala fa’atusatusa (comparative negligence). Tusa lava pe sa i ai sau vaega i le sese, e mafai lava ona e maua se taui pe a le sili atu lou sese i le 50%. O lau taui fa’ai’u o le a fa’aitiitia i le pasene o lou sese. ‘Aua ne’i fa’atagaina le tagata fetu’una’i inisua o le kamupani loli e fa’atalitonuina oe e leai sau mataupu—e le o i latou o le fa’amasino po’o le au jure.

Aisea e le fa’aaogaina ai na’o la’u loia fa’alavelave ta’avale masani?

O mataupu tau loli e mana’omia ai se isi tulaga o le tomai. O se loia masani mo fa’alavelave ta’avale atonu na te le malamalama i MCS-90 endorsements, drayage liability, po’o le fisiki o le “crack-the-whip” o loli e lua ni kalavane (double-trailers). Ua ta’ua i matou o le “Kamupani Loia e Mata’u ai Inisua” mo se mafua’aga. Matou te iloa le pisinisi mai totonu i fafo.

O le a le tele o le inisua o lo’o tauaveina e le loli?

I lalo o le 49 CFR § 387.9, e tatau i kamupani loli ona tauaveina se inisua e sili atu ona maualuga nai lo ta’avale la’upasese. O le tele o loli e le o aveina ni mea lamatia (non-hazmat) e aveina le $750,000 i le $1,000,000 i le mea sili ona maualalo. O loli o lo’o aveina mea lamatia—e masani ona maua latalata i uafu i Amerika Samoa—e tatau ona tauaveina le $5,000,000. Matou te iloa le auala e maua ai vaega uma o le inisua.

Aiseā e Filifili ai le Attorney911?

O matou o se kamupani loia la’ititi ae tautua i i’uga o kamupani tetele. Ua maua e Ralph Manginello le silia ma le $50 miliona mo ana tagata fa’atau, ae o lo’o ia fa’aalu pea le taimi e feso’ota’i patino ai ma i latou matou te suiina. “Na tago Ralph i lana mataupu taufa’amata’u ma fa’ate’aina i totonu o se VAIASO!” o le tala lea a le tagata fa’atau o Beth Bonds. E ui e eseese a tatou i’uga i mataupu ta’itasi, ae o la tatou tautinoga e le suia.

O lo’o i ai o tatou ofisa i Houston, Austin, ma Beaumont, ae o la tatou tautua mo loli e leai ni tuaoi. Matou te tautuaina tagata fa’atau i Amerika Samoa atoa ma le Iunaite Setete atoa. O lo’o i ai ia i matou punaoa a se malo malosi ma le fatu o se pisinisi a le aiga.

• 25+ Tausaga o le Poto Masani i Fa’amasinoga
• Metotia Mai Totonu o le Puipuiga a le Inisua muamua
• Fa’ailoga o le faitau Miliona o Tala i Manu’aga Mata’utia
• Avanoa 24/7 mo Fa’alavelave Fa’aletulafono
• Leai ni Totogi i Luma – Afai e le Manumalo, e Leai se Totogi

A’oa’o atili i a matou vitio ta’iala, e pei o le “The Definitive Guide To Commercial Truck Accidents” i luga o la matou YouTube, lea o lo’o i ai le silia ma le 290 vitio a’oa’oga e fesoasoani ia te oe e malamalama ai i au aiā tatau.

Gaoioi i le Asō

Ua amata nei lava e le kamupani loli la latou su’esu’ega. Ua latou fa’afaigaluegaina loia o lo latou fa’amoemoe tasi ia mautinoa e maua le sili ona itiiti e mafai ai. E te mana’omia se loia e sili atu le vave, sili atu lona malosi, ma sili atu ona sauni.

‘Aua ne’i fa’atagaina se vaega a le kamupani e filifili le tau o lou lumana’i. Tu’u mai matou te tutu i le vā o oe ma le kamupani inisua. Matou te tau mo kene uma e tatau ona e mauaina, pei lava ona matou faia mo Glenda Walker, o lē na fa’apea mai, “Na latou tau mo a’u ina ia maua kene uma e tatau ona ou mauaina.”

O lou aiga, lou toe malosi, ma lou lumana’i e fa’alagolago i fa’ai’uga e te faia i le 48 itula o lumana’i. Vala’au le 1-888-ATTY-911 po’o le (888) 288-9911 i le taimi nei. O lo’o matou avanoa i le 24/7 e ave lau vala’au ma amata le tau mo le fa’amasinoga i Amerika Samoa.

Iloiloina au’ili’ili o le FMCSA Part 395: Itula o Galuega

O se tasi o mafua’aga masani o fa’alavelave o loli 18-uili i Amerika Samoa o le vaivai o le avane. Talu ai o le teritori e tu’ufua, o le to’atele o avane o lo’o galulue mo le tufatufaina o oloa i le lotoifale po’o kamupani faufale atonu latou te lagona e mafai ona latou le amana’ia tulafono a le feterale o le HOS. E sese i latou. I lalo o le 49 CFR § 395.3, o avane o lo’o felauaina oloa:

• E mafai ona ave le ta’avale mo se maualuga o le 11 itula pe a mae’a le 10 itula fa’asolosolo o lo’o malolo ai.
• E le mafai ona ave le ta’avale pe a mae’a le lona 14 o itula fa’asolosolo talu ona amata le galuega.
• E tatau ona fai se malologa mo le 30-minute pe a mae’a le 8 itula fa’asolosolo o le taimi e ave ai le ta’avale.
• E le mafai ona ave le ta’avale pe a mae’a le 60/70 itula o le galuega i totonu o le 7/8 aso soso’o.

Pe a sili atu le avane i nei tapula’a, o le taimi o la latou tali atu e pei lava o se tagata o lo’o onā i le ‘ava malosi. I le Attorney911, matou te samania fa’amaumauga mai le ELD e fa’amaonia ai nei solitulafono. E le pei o tusi fa’amaumau i pepa, lea e masani ona ta’ua e avane loli o “tusi mamanu” ona e faigofie tele ona pepelo ai, o fa’amaumauga a le ELD o lo’o fa’afeso’ota’i ma le afi o le loli. Afai o lo’o fealuai le loli, o lo’o fa’amauina e le ELD. O lo’o ia i matou le tomai fa’atekinisi e maua ai suiga ma tapega o lo’o taumafai kamupani loli e nana.

Maulu Loloto Fa’atekinisi: Faiga Taofi ma le 49 CFR Part 393

O le fa’aletonu o le taofi e le o se “fa’alavelave”—o se Filifiliga i le tele o taimi. O se filifiliga a le kamupani loli e sefe ai tupe i le tolopoina o le tausiga tatau. I lalo o le 49 CFR § 393.40, o ta’avale fa’apisinisi uma e tatau ona i ai se faiga o taofi e aofia ai se taofi i le taimi o le malaga, se taofi mo le paka, ma se taofi mo fa’alavelave fa’afuase’i.

I vaega maugā o Amerika Samoa, o le “brake fade” e tupu pe a matua vevela le drums ma pads mai le fe’ia’iga ma le mafai ai loa ona gaosia le malosi e mana’omia e taofi ai le loli. O se tulaga lamatia lenei ua a’oa’oina avane e puipuia e ala i le filifilia o le kia tatau ma metotia o le taofi. Afai e fa’avevela e se avane ana taofi ma feto’ai ma lou aiga i luga o se mauga, sa latou fa’atamala. Afai na le manuia le kamupani i le fetu’una’i o taofi ea i le taimi o le su’esu’ega fa’alemasina mulimuli na mana’omia e le 49 CFR § 396.3, sa latou fa’atamala. Matou te galulue ma inisinia fa’apitoa e talepe vaega o taofi pe a mae’a se feto’aiga e fa’amaonia ai le mea tonu na sese.

Le Tautinoga a le Attorney911: Matou te tau ma le Malosi

Matou te iloa pe a mae’a se fa’alavelave loli, ua lofituina oe. O lo’o fa’aputuina pili fa’afoma’i, e le mafai ona e alu i le galuega, ma o lo’o e i ai i le tiga i taimi uma. E pei ona fai mai le tagata fa’atau o Chavodrian Miles, “Na maua e Leonor sa’u taimi ma le foma’i i le aso lava lea… e na’o le 6 masina na alu ai, e ofoofogia.” O la matou aufaigaluega, e aofia ai ma Melanie ma Leonor, o lo’o tu’uina atu o latou taimi e fesoasoani ai ia te oe e fa’atautaia lou olaga a’o matou tagofia le taua fa’aletulafono.

Matou te totogiina muamua tau uma mo lau fa’amasinoga. Tagata poto i loli, tagata toe fafauina o fa’alavelave, tagata fa’apitoa fa’afoma’i—o nei tagata e taugata, ma o la latou molimau e taua tele i le manumalo i se mataupu i Amerika Samoa. Ole tele o ē na a’afia e le mafai ona totogi le $10,000 mo se lipoti a se tagata poto mai a latou lava tupe. Matou te tauaveina lena avega mo oe. E fa’ato’ā toe totogi mai i matou pe a matou manumalo. Afai matou te le manumalo, e te le aitalafu mai ia i matou mo lo matou taimi po’o tau na matou fa’aaluina i le fauina o lau mataupu. O lenei mautinoa “e leai se tulaga lamatia” e mafai ai ona e tau ma kamupani loli tetele e aunoa ma le fefe.

Pa’aga ma le Atunu’u o Amerika Samoa

O la matou kamupani o lo’o tautino atu e tautuaina le faitau aofa’i eseese o Amerika Samoa. Matou te malamalama o le tele o fa’alavelave e aofia ai avane ma ē na a’afia e tautala i gagana eseese. O la matou loia lagolago o Lupe Peña e lelei tele i le tautala i le gagana Sipaniolo, ma o lo’o i ai a matou aufaigaluega eseese e tautala i gagana e lua e maua ina ia mautinoa o feso’ota’iga e le o se pa puipui i le fa’amasinoga. O lou tulaga tau femuiga’i po’o lou tala’aga e le suia ai le mea moni sa fai se mea sese ia te oe, ma e le suia ai lau aiā tatau i se taui i lalo o le tulafono.

Afai ua e sauni e tu’u se tagata tau ua fa’amaonia e tagofia lau mataupu, ua matou sauni e tutu fa’atasi ma oe. Mai matafaga o le uafu i nu’u i luga o le motu, o le Attorney911 o le tagata muamua lea e tali atu i lou mana’oga fa’aletulafono.

‘Aua ne’i fa’atagaina i latou e faia oe pei o se mea fa’atauva’a. ‘Aua ne’i fa’atagaina i latou e ta’u atu ia te oe le tau o lou olaga. Sei matou fa’amaonia atu ia i latou. Vala’au le (888) 288-9911 i le asō.

Attorney911: Malosi, Fa’amaonia, ma fa’amuamua Aiga o Amerika Samoa.

Mafaufauga Fa’ai’u: Le Fisiki o lau Feto’aiga

Ina ia malamalama i le mafua’aga e telē ai le tau o lau mataupu, e tatau ona e malamalama i le saienisi. O se ta’avale o lo’o faimalaga i le 60 mph o lo’o i ai se aofa’iga o le malosi kinetic ($KE = ½mv²$). Talu ai o se loli e 80,000 pauna e 20 taimi le mamafa ($m$) o lau ta’avale, o lo’o i ai se malosi fa’ataumaoi tele tusa lava pe maualalo le saoasaoa. Pe a fa’aliliuina lena malosi i lau ta’avale, o lau ta’avale ua fuafuaina ina ia punupunu, ae o le tino o le tagata o lo’o i totonu e gata ai le malosi e mafai ona ia taliaina.

O se feto’aiga masani o se loli e maua ai se malosi e mafaia ona motusi fa’amau o lo’o uuina le afi o lau ta’avale. Mafaufau i le mea e fai e lena malosi i lou ivitu po’o vaega ma’ale’ale o lou fai’ai. Matou te fa’aogaina nei faiga fa’asaienisi e fa’amatala ai i au jure le mafua’aga o le matuia o ou manu’aga, po’o le a lava le tala a se “tagata va’ai” a le inisua. Matou te tautala i le gagana a le fisiki, matou te tautala i le gagana a le tulafono, ma matou te tautala i le manuia o le fa’amasinoga.

Vala’au le 1-888-ATTY-911 ma tu’u mai i matou e galulue mo oe i le asō. Manatua, o se telefoni e tasi o le eseesega lea i le va o le avea ma se tagata na a’afia ma le avea ma se tagata manumalo.

Attorney911 | The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC
Tautuaina Amerika Samoa 24/7.
1-888-ATTY-911
ralph@atty911.com
www.attorney911.com

ENGLISH

American Samoa 18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys: Protecting Your Future After a Catastrophic Collision

The impact of an 18-wheeler crash is unlike any other event on the roads of American Samoa. When 80,000 pounds of steel and cargo collide with a 4,000-pound passenger vehicle, the laws of physics are unforgiving. On the steep, narrow, and often winding stretches of Route 1 or near the heavy industrial traffic of the Pago Pago harbor, a single mistake by a commercial driver can change your life in a heartbeat. You aren’t just dealing with a “big car accident.” You’re dealing with a legal emergency that involves complex federal regulations, multiple layers of corporate insurance, and a trucking company that likely has its own rapid-response investigators on the scene before you’ve even left the hospital.

At Attorney911, we know what you’re up against because we’ve been on the front lines of trucking litigation for over 25 years. Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has spent more than two decades holding massive corporations accountable, from major international carriers to Fortune 500 companies involved in the BP Texas City refinery litigation. We don’t just “handle” truck accidents; we dismantle the defense’s case by using their own playbooks against them. Our team includes associate attorney Lupe Peña, who used to work for the insurance companies we now fight. He knows exactly how they try to minimize your suffering, and he knows how to stop them.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a commercial vehicle crash in American Samoa, you don’t have time to wait. Evidence is being destroyed or overwritten right now. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation. We work on a contingency basis, meaning you pay us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Why Experience in Federal Trucking Law Matters in American Samoa

Commercial trucking isn’t just governed by local territorial rules; it’s a highly regulated industry subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) standards. Whether a truck is hauling tuna for processing near the harbor or transporting construction materials across Tutuila, it must comply with 49 CFR Parts 390-399. Most personal injury firms in American Samoa have never even opened the Code of Federal Regulations. They treat an 18-wheeler crash like a common fender bender. That is a mistake that could cost you millions.

We deep-scan for violations that other lawyers miss. Did the driver violate Hours of Service (HOS) rules under 49 CFR § 395.3? Was the trucking company’s Driver Qualification File (DQF) incomplete, violating 49 CFR § 391.51? In 25+ years, Ralph Manginello has seen how these violations are the true “smoking guns” in trucking cases. By proving that a carrier chose profit over your safety, we can often pursue not just compensatory damages, but punitive damages designed to punish the company for its recklessness.

Our managing partner is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and has extensive experience in federal litigation. This is critical because many trucking cases in American Samoa end up in federal court due to the interstate or international nature of the carriers involved. You need a team that feels just as comfortable in a federal courtroom as they do in the local High Court of American Samoa.

The 48-Hour Evidence Window: Your Case Is at Risk

In American Samoa, the clock starts ticking the moment the collision happens. Trucking companies are notorious for “losing” evidence if it isn’t secured immediately. Every modern semi-truck is equipped with an Engine Control Module (ECM), often called the black box. This device records speed, braking, throttle position, and engine RPMs in the seconds before impact.

However, ECM data can be overwritten in as little as 30 days—or even sooner if the truck is put back into service. At Attorney911, we don’t wait for the insurance company to do the right thing. We send formal spoliation letters within 24 to 48 hours of being retained. This legal notice demands that the carrier preserve the ECM data, the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) records, dashcam footage, and the physical vehicle itself. If they destroy this evidence after receiving our letter, we can often obtain a “spoliation instruction” from the judge, which tells the jury they should assume the destroyed evidence was bad for the trucking company.

If you’ve been hit by an 18-wheeler in American Samoa, don’t let the evidence disappear. Call us at (888) 288-9911 today. The trucking company is already building their defense; let us start building your case.

Common Types of 18-Wheeler Accidents in American Samoa

The unique geography of American Samoa creates specific hazards for large commercial vehicles. The island’s steep grades and narrow coastal roads mean that certain types of accidents are more prevalent here than on flat mainland highways.

Brake Failure on Steep Grades

Tutuila’s terrain is famously rugged. When a fully loaded truck—potentially weighing up to 80,000 pounds—descends steep hills toward Pago Pago or Leone, the braking systems are under immense stress. Under 49 CFR § 396.3, carriers must systematically inspect and maintain their vehicles. If a truck’s brakes fail because they were worn or improperly adjusted, the results are almost always fatal. We look at maintenance logs to see if the company deferred repairs to keep the truck on the road.

Blind Spot “No-Zone” Crashes

Many roads in American Samoa are narrow with tight clearances. 18-wheelers have massive blind spots on all four sides. 49 CFR § 393.80 requires trucks to have mirrors that provide a clear view to the rear, but even with proper mirrors, a distracted or poorly trained driver can easily crush a smaller vehicle during a lane change or turn. We’ve seen catastrophic side-impact collisions where the truck driver claimed they “never saw” the car next to them.

Port and Drayage Cargo Spills

Near the American Samoa ports, “drayage” trucks move containers constantly. Improperly secured cargo is a violation of 49 CFR § 393.100. If a container isn’t locked down properly to the chassis, or if fish-processing materials leak onto the road making it slick, the company that loaded the truck and the carrier are both liable for the following accidents.

Rollovers on Coastal Curves

A high center of gravity makes semi-trucks prone to rollovers, especially when navigating the sharp curves of American Samoa’s coastal roads. If a driver takes a curve too fast or the cargo shifts internally due to improper loading (a violation of 49 CFR § 393.102), the results are devastating. We work with accident reconstruction experts to prove the truck’s speed was excessive for the territory’s conditions.

The Insurance Defense Advantage: We Know Their Playbook

When you hire Attorney911, you aren’t just getting a legal advocate; you’re getting an insider. Lupe Peña, an associate attorney at our firm, spent years as an attorney for a national insurance defense firm. He sat in the boardrooms where these companies decided how little to pay victims like you. He knows the software they use—like Colossus—to assign a “value” to your pain. He knows the tactics they use to delay your case, hoping you’ll get desperate and accept a lowball offer.

In American Samoa, insurance adjusters often come across as friendly and helpful. Do not be fooled. Their only job is to protect the insurance company’s bottom line. They might ask for a “recorded statement” to “help process your claim.” Our advice is always the same: Never give a recorded statement without your attorney present. These statements are designed to trap you into admitting fault or downplaying your injuries.

Because Lupe Peña has been on the other side, we can anticipate their moves. We know when they’re bluffing and when they’re ready to settle. This insider knowledge is why we’ve been able to recover multi-million dollar results for our clients. As client Angel Walle said, “They solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.”

Identifying All Liable Parties: Why One Defendant Isn’t Enough

Most lawyers in American Samoa stop after suing the truck driver. At Attorney911, we go much deeper. To maximize your recovery, we look at every entity in the “chain of commerce” that contributed to the crash. This is vital because more defendants mean more insurance policies to tap into.

1. The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier)

Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, the company is responsible for the actions of its drivers. We also look for direct negligence: Did they hire a driver with a history of DUIs or speed violations? (49 CFR § 391.23). Did they fail to drug test the driver? (49 CFR Part 382).

2. The Cargo Owner and Loaders

If the accident was caused by shifting cargo, the company that loaded the truck may be liable. In the shipping-heavy environment of American Samoa, this often involves third-party logistics firms or the companies processing international freight.

3. Manufacturers and Parts Makers

Sometimes the driver does everything right, but a tire blows out or the steering linkage snaps. If a defective part caused your crash, we can pursue a product liability claim against the manufacturer. Given the high salt content and humidity in American Samoa’s air, mechanical maintenance is even more critical, and failures here often point to systemic neglect.

4. Freight Brokers

Brokers who arrange for a carrier to transport goods have a duty to hire safe companies. If they hired a “bottom-tier” carrier with terrible safety scores to save a few dollars, we hold the broker accountable for their negligent selection.

If you’ve been injured, don’t settle for a lawyer who only looks at the surface. You need a team that investigates the whole corporate web. Hablamos Español. Llame al 1-888-ATTY-911.

Catastrophic Injuries and Your Lifetime Care

An 18-wheeler accident in American Samoa doesn’t just cause “bumps and bruises.” It causes life-altering, permanent trauma. We have recovered multi-million dollar settlements for victims facing the hardest days of their lives.

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): $1.5M to $9.8M+ range. A TBI can occur even without a direct blow to the head, simply from the violent shaking of a truck impact. It affects your personality, your ability to work, and your memory.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: $4.7M to $25.8M+ range. Paralysis is a frequent outcome when a heavy truck crushes a car. These cases require life-care planners to calculate the cost of medical equipment, home modifications, and 24/7 care for decades to come.
• Amputations: $1.9M to $8.6M range. The crushing forces of a rollover or underride accident often lead to the loss of limbs.
• Wrongful Death: $1.9M to $9.5M+ range. When a family loses a breadwinner or a child in a American Samoa trucking accident, the loss is immeasurable. While money can never replace your loved one, it can ensure your family’s financial stability and force the trucking company to change its dangerous practices.

We treat our clients like family. As Chad Harris said, “You are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” We take that responsibility seriously, especially when your future depends on our success.

Investigating Your American Samoa Truck Accident

When you call us, our investigation begins immediately. Our approach is technical, thorough, and aggressive.

1. ELD Forensics: Since the 2017 mandate, almost all trucks must use Electronic Logging Devices. We subpoena this raw data to cross-reference it with toll records, fuel receipts, and GPS coordinates to prove if a driver was faking their rest logs to stay on the road illegally.
2. Drug and Alcohol Testing: Under 49 CFR § 382.303, a driver MUST be tested for drugs and alcohol immediately following a serious accident. We ensure these results are preserved before they are “lost.”
3. Maintenance History: We look for the “cheap-out” pattern. Did the company ignore worn tires? 49 CFR § 393.75 requires specific tread depths. In the heat of American Samoa, bald tires are a death sentence on wet roads.
4. Accident Reconstruction: We hire top-tier engineers to map the scene, analyze skid marks, and use the “black box” data to create a 3D animation of the crash. This proves to a jury exactly how the accident happened, regardless of what the truck driver says.

Are you ready and willing to take on a billion-dollar insurance company? We are. Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for your free case evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions About American Samoa Truck Accidents

How long do I have to file a claim in American Samoa?

While the statute of limitations is often 2 years for personal injury, you cannot afford to wait. The evidence preservation window is much shorter. If you wait even a month, the trucking company may have repaired and sold the truck that hit you, and the black box data could be gone forever.

What if I was partially at fault?

American Samoa follows a comparative negligence rule. Even if you were partially responsible, you can still recover damages as long as your fault doesn’t exceed 50%. Your final settlement is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. Don’t let the trucking company’s insurance adjuster convince you that you have no case—they aren’t the judge or jury.

Why not just use my local car accident lawyer?

Trucking cases require a different level of expertise. A regular car accident lawyer likely doesn’t understand MCS-90 endorsements, drayage liability, or the “crack-the-whip” physics of double-trailers. We have been called “The Firm Insurers Fear” for a reason. We know the industry from the inside out.

How much insurance does the truck carry?

Under 49 CFR § 387.9, carriers must carry significantly more than passenger cars. Most non-hazmat trucks carry $750,000 to $1,000,000 at a minimum. Trucks carrying hazardous materials—common near the fuel terminals in American Samoa—must carry $5,000,000. We know how to find all layers of coverage, including umbrella and excess policies.

Why Choose Attorney911?

We are a boutique firm that delivers mega-firm results. Ralph Manginello has secured over $50 million for his clients, but he still takes the time to reach out personally to those we represent. “Ralph took his bogus case and had it dismissed within a WEEK!” said client Beth Bonds. While our results vary by case, our commitment is constant.

We have offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, but our trucking practice knows no borders. We serve clients throughout American Samoa and across the United States. We have the resources of a national powerhouse and the heart of a family-run business.

• 25+ Years of Proven Trial Experience
• Former Insurance Defense Insider Strategy
• Multi-Million Dollar Catastrophic Injury Benchmarks
• 24/7 Availability for Legal Emergencies
• No Upfront Costs – No Win, No Fee

Learn more in our video guides, such as “The Definitive Guide To Commercial Truck Accidents” on our YouTube channel, which features over 290 educational videos to help you understand your rights.

Take Action Today

The trucking company has already started their investigation. They have hired lawyers whose sole purpose is to make sure you get as little as possible. You need an advocate who is faster, tougher, and more prepared.

Don’t let a corporate rapid-response team decide the value of your future. Let us stand between you and the insurance company. We will fight for every dime you deserve, just like we did for Glenda Walker, who said, “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.”

Your family, your recovery, and your future depend on the decisions you make in the next 48 hours. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 or (888) 288-9911 right now. We are available 24/7 to take your call and start the fight for justice in American Samoa.

Detailed Analysis of FMCSA Part 395: Hours of Service

One of the most common causes of 18-wheeler accidents in American Samoa is driver fatigue. Because the territory is isolated, many drivers working for local distribution or construction firms may feel they can ignore federal HOS rules. They are wrong. Under 49 CFR § 395.3, property-carrying drivers:

• May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• May not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty.
• Must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving time.
• May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days.

When a driver exceeds these limits, their reaction time becomes as sluggish as someone who is legally intoxicated. At Attorney911, we subpoena the raw data from the ELD to prove these violations. Unlike paper logs, which truckers used to call “comic books” because they were so easy to falsify, ELD data is synchronized with the truck’s engine. If the truck was moving, the ELD was recording. We possess the technical expertise to find the edits and deletions that trucking companies try to hide.

Technical Deep Dive: Brake Systems and 49 CFR Part 393

Brake failure isn’t always an “accident”—it’s often a Choice. A choice by the trucking company to save money by delaying essential maintenance. Under 49 CFR § 393.40, every commercial vehicle must have a braking system that consists of a service brake, a parking brake, and an emergency brake.

In the mountainous regions of American Samoa, “brake fade” occurs when the drums and pads get so hot from friction that they can no longer generate the force needed to stop the truck. This is a known risk that drivers are trained to avoid through proper gear selection and braking techniques. If a driver smokes their brakes and crashes into your family on a hill, they were negligent. If the carrier failed to adjust the air brakes during the last monthly inspection required by 49 CFR § 396.3, they were negligent. We work with specialized mechanics to tear down the brake pods after a crash to prove exactly what went wrong.

The Attorney911 Commitment: We Fight Tooth and Nail

We know that after a truck accident, you are overwhelmed. You have medical bills piling up, you can’t go to work, and you are in constant pain. As client Chavodrian Miles said, “Leonor got me into the doctor the same day… it only took 6 months, amazing.” Our staff, including case workers like Leonor and Melanie, are dedicated to helping you navigate the “new normal” of your life while we handle the legal war.

We advance all the costs of your litigation. Trucking experts, accident reconstructionists, medical specialists—these people are expensive, and their testimony is vital to winning a case in American Samoa. Most victims can’t afford to pay $10,000 for an expert report out of pocket. We take that burden on for you. We only get reimbursed when we win. If we don’t win, you don’t owe us for our time or the costs we spent building your case. This “no-risk” guarantee allows you to take on even the largest trucking corporations without fear.

Partnering with the American Samoa Community

Our firm is committed to serving the diverse population of American Samoa. We understand that many accidents involve drivers and victims who speak different languages. Our associate attorney Lupe Peña is fluent in Spanish, and we have various bilingual staff available to ensure that communication is never a barrier to justice. Hublamos Español. Your immigration status or background does not change the fact that you were wronged, and it does not change your right to compensation under the law.

If you are ready to let a proven fighter handle your case, we are ready to stand with you. From the shores of the harbor to the villages across the islands, Attorney911 is the first responder to your legal emergency.

Don’t let them push you around. Don’t let them tell you what your life is worth. Let us prove it to them. Call (888) 288-9911 today.

Attorney911: Powerful, Proven, and Putting American Samoa Families First.

Final Considerations: The Physics of Your Crash

To understand why your case is worth so much, you have to understand the science. A car traveling at 60 mph has a certain amount of kinetic energy ($KE = ½mv²$). Because an 80,000-pound truck has 20 times the mass ($m$) of your car, it possesses massive amounts of destructive energy even at low speeds. When that energy is transferred into your vehicle, your car is designed to crumple, but the human body inside can only absorb so much G-force.

A typical truck collision generates enough force to sheer the bolts that hold your car’s engine in place. Imagine what that force does to your spine or the delicate tissues of your brain. We use these scientific principles to explain to juries why your injuries are so severe, despite what an insurance “observer” might claim. We speak the language of physics, we speak the language of law, and we speak the interest of justice.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 and let us get to work for you today. Remember, one phone call is the difference between being a victim and being a victor.

Attorney911 | The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC
Serving American Samoa 24/7.
1-888-ATTY-911
ralph@atty911.com
www.attorney911.com