2023 was a year of pivotal shifts within the trucking industry and road safety landscapes. The Law Firm for Truck Safety remained at the forefront of major changes, standing alongside road safety advocates, lawmakers, and those affected by traffic violence, advocating for justice and transformative change.
Our efforts in education, awareness, and hands-on work, alongside our legal work seeking justice for truck crash victims, represent critical steps toward safer roads and ultimately, 0 catastrophic truck crashes. Join us as we take a look back on the impact and accomplishments of our firm over this past year.
Nearly $60 Million in Settlement and Verdicts
In 2023, our unwavering commitment to justice enabled us to secure $57,277,544 in settlements and verdicts for families impacted by truck crashes. This remarkable nearly $60 million total includes an $18.5 million trial verdict led by Toledo truck accident attorney Michael Leizerman. This significant sum represents our firm's dedication to compensating families for their immense losses and reinforcing the message of accountability in truck safety.
170 Lives Saved by Underride Guards
In April, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)'s cost-benefit analysis to require the trucking industry to equip semi-trailers with side underride guards drew criticism for its findings. NHTSA’s report estimated that a mere 17 lives would be saved annually, costing between $973 million and $1.2 billion --making the DOT’s cost per life saved by underride guards too high to justify in the government’s eyes.
However, our firm and many in the truck safety industry strongly dispute NHTSA’s findings. To start, NHTSA’s cost-benefit report overlooked critical factors, such as underride fatalities and injuries involving bicyclists and pedestrians, multi-vehicle crashes, and crashes occurring at speeds over 40 mph.
Additionally, inconsistencies between states in categorizing and reporting underride crashes further suppressed the true devastation that underride crashes cause annually.
Independent research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) suggests the life-saving potential of underride guards is significantly underestimated; their independent research suggests that the human cost of underride crashes is ten times higher than NHTSA's report indicates.
Read the IIHS comment
Read NHTSA's Findings
Read Our Firm's Comment
More on Underride Protections
Referrals & Co-Counsel
Involved in a Crash?
No other law firm knows trucks quite like us. Our trucking law expertise and trial experience allow us to win multi-million-dollar results year after year.
Our team of truck accident attorneys works tirelessly to help your family find justice in the wake of a catastrophic truck crash.
Referrals & Co-Counsel
No other law firm knows trucks quite like us. Our trucking law expertise and trial experience allow us to win multi-million-dollar results year after year.
Involved in a Crash?
Our team of truck accident attorneys works tirelessly to help your family find justice in the wake of a catastrophic truck crash.
1 Award
Our Co-Founding Partner, Michael Leizerman, was honored in July with the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group's inaugural Ring of Honor award.
Recognized for his profound impact on truck accident law and the justice system, Michael's unwavering commitment and achievements, including leading the most truck and bus accident cases to trial in the U.S. since 2006, have set a high bar in the legal community. His dedication continues to inspire our team and reinforces our mission to seek justice for truck crash victims.
2 Published Articles
Throughout the year, The Law Firm for Truck Safety's legal team contributed their expertise to several prestigious legal magazines. Rena Leizerman provided valuable perspectives in Advocate Magazine about strategies to identify all tortfeasors in truck crash cases, while DJ Young examined the Business Immunity Rule, as it pertains to broker liability in Trial Magazine.
These articles underline our firm's role in shaping truck safety litigation and underscore our commitment to guiding others in the field toward securing justice for truck crash victims.
Read Rena’s Article in Advocate Magazine
Read DJ’s Article in Trial Magazine
3 New Leadership Roles
Throughout the year, our firm's managing partners took on prominent positions within esteemed truck crash litigation circles. Cleveland attorney, Andy Young, was elected Chair of the American Association for Justice's Trucking Litigation Group (TLG) and President-Elect of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA).
Our Nashville Managing Partner, Matthew Wright, was elected to take on the role of AAJ TLG's Vice Chair for the 2023-2024 year.
These appointments highlight our team's unparalleled expertise and unwavering dedication to advancing trucking safety and justice.
2 Primetime Media Appearances
The Law Firm for Truck Safety’s Andy Young appeared in his capacity as a truck safety expert on two prime-time television programs in 2023. He contributed his expertise on underride crashes in a ProPublica/Frontline documentary and on Inside Edition, highlighting the crucial need for underride side guard protections among other safety reforms within the trucking industry.
Managing Partner Michael Leizerman was interviewed by Volpe Center on behalf of the FMCSA about the inadequacy of current insurance minimums that exist for motor carriers.
20 Speaking Events
Members of The Law Firm for Truck Safety team were tapped to speak at numerous truck safety events and legal CLE programs on truck safety throughout this past year.
Our attorneys shared insights and strategies with fellow lawyers aiming to excel in truck crash litigation and advocate effectively for families affected by negligence.
Additionally, our expertise was recognized at various truck safety events, where we contributed to the broader dialogue on enhancing road safety and accountability. Through these initiatives, we not only lead by example but also empower others in the legal community to join us in our mission for safer roads.
700 Names
In September, our team traveled to Washington DC to participate in an underride memorial outside the DOT, honoring 700 lives that have been lost to underride truck crashes. Managing Partner Andy Young was invited to speak at this vigil, which aimed to highlight the human impact of such tragedies to policymakers.
The reading of each name took two hours and was a powerful testament to the urgent need for improved safety measures.
2 New Partners
In 2023, The Law Firm for Truck Safety proudly announced attorneys Amy Papuga and Joshua Leizerman had become partners in our firm. Amy, with her exceptional legal acumen and dedicated advocacy for truck crash victims, has been a driving force in our firm's success. Joshua, bringing a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to justice, has significantly contributed to the firm's reputation for excellence.
Their promotions to partner not only reflect their achievements as truck crash attorneys but also reinforce our firm's ongoing commitment to providing the highest level of legal representation to those affected by truck accidents.
2 Rides of Silence
Members of The Law Firm for Truck Safety’s team participated in two Ohio-based Rides of Silence in 2023. The rides, held in Cleveland and Toledo, commemorate and honor bicyclists lost to senseless traffic violence.
These solemn events unite communities in remembrance and advocacy, emphasizing the urgent need for safer roads. They serve as a powerful reminder of the lives behind the statistics and our collective responsibility to ensure such tragedies do not recur.
3 Certified Trucking Paralegals
In 2023, The Law Firm for Truck Safety established a new benchmark in truck accident litigation, with three of our paralegals obtaining ATAA’s Trucking Paralegal Certification - the highest number for any firm nationwide.
This accomplishment, alongside our NBTA board-certified truck accident attorneys, solidifies our firm's status as a leader in proficiency and dedication to truck crash litigation. Our commitment to upholding the highest standards in the field underscores our position at the forefront of truck crash law and safety advocacy.
4 Voices of Courage
This year, four of our clients shared their experiences with the truck crashes that changed their lives and how they have used those experiences to further advocate for truck safety improvements like automatic emergency braking, underride guards, and increased insurance minimums.
Their stories highlight the need for improved truck safety and serve as a call to action for lawmakers, the trucking industry, and even the general public to help put an end to these preventable truck crashes once and for all.
Watch how our clients are changing the face of and fighting for safety advocacy.
Infinite Thanks
As we look back on 2023, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone in the safety community striving to enhance road safety. Your efforts are invaluable, and we commend your dedication.
Please watch our 2023 Safety Advocacy Thank You video to see a wrap-up of the year's efforts and achievements, celebrating the collective strides we've made towards safer roads. Your commitment inspires us all.
