Latest news with #AmyWitherite
Business Wire
04-08-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Attorney Amy Witherite Calls for Urgent Postal Service Reform After Deadly Kaufman County Crash
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following a deadly crash in Kaufman County involving a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) contract truck that killed five people — including four members of one Texas family — Dallas attorney and nationally recognized traffic safety advocate Amy Witherite is demanding immediate federal reforms. 'Enough is enough. The Postal Service's pattern of negligence is costing lives,' said Amy Witherite, founding attorney of Witherite Law Group. 'We now know that from 2018 to 2022, 89 people died in 373 crashes involving USPS contractors. Not once did the Postal Service cancel a contract over those fatalities. That's unconscionable.' The Kaufman County crash, which occurred when a mail-hauling truck veered into oncoming traffic, has drawn national attention. The driver — who later admitted he had fallen asleep at the wheel — was alone on a long-haul route that, according to USPS policy, should have had two drivers. USPS has since claimed it is not responsible for verifying whether its safety protocols were followed. 'That response defies common sense and public trust,' said Witherite. 'When federal contractors ignore rules designed to protect lives, and no one is held accountable, families suffer. This wasn't a fluke. This was the predictable result of a broken system.' A February 2024 audit by the USPS Office of Inspector General found that the Postal Service does not track fatalities involving its contractors, lacks a centralized database of crash records, and has no system in place to ensure that required safety protocols are followed. 'USPS often doesn't even know who is driving its mail,' Witherite added. 'They're spending $5.2 billion on 4,600 trucking contracts — and yet they can't tell you if the people operating those trucks are following the law. It's not just bad oversight. It's deadly.' Witherite is urging Congress to act by passing the Mail Traffic Deaths Reporting Act, which has already passed the House with bipartisan support but is stalled in the Senate. She is also calling for: Mandatory third-party verification of safety practices on contract routes A public database of contractor crash histories and safety violations Permanent disqualification of repeat offenders, such as Hope Trans Accountability for brokers who profit from unsafe practices 'USPS trucks travel through our communities, past our schools, and alongside our families,' said Witherite. 'Texans shouldn't have to wait for another tragedy to demand action. The Kaufman County crash was a failure of federal responsibility — and unless we act now, it won't be the last.' Amy Witherite is the founding attorney of Witherite Law Group and a nationally recognized traffic safety advocate. She has represented hundreds of families affected by trucking collisions. Call 1 800 Truck Wreck or visit to learn more.
Business Wire
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Attorney and Safety Advocate Amy Witherite Calls for Urgent Reform After Fatal Kaufman County Truck Crash
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following a devastating truck crash in Kaufman County that claimed the lives of six people, nationally recognized trial attorney and trucking safety advocate Amy Witherite is calling for sweeping reforms in trucking regulation and enforcement. Witherite, founder of the Witherite Law Group, says the tragedy highlights dangerous gaps in the federal oversight of the trucking industry. 'This accident is not an isolated event—it's a glaring example of how weak and inconsistently enforced trucking regulations are failing to prevent needless deaths on our highways,' said Witherite, who has spent over two decades representing victims of catastrophic truck crashes. 'We can—and must—fix this broken system.' According to law enforcement, the truck driver involved in the Kaufman County crash admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel before slamming into stopped traffic. Witherite says that while the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) imposes hours-of-service rules, these regulations are often violated—and enforcement is sporadic at best. 'Truckers are supposed to rest after 11 hours of driving, but too many are pushed beyond those limits due to unrealistic delivery schedules and pay structures that reward driving more miles,' Witherite noted. 'Fatigue-detection systems exist but aren't required. Rest areas are insufficient. Enforcement is too limited to catch bad actors before lives are lost.' Witherite also pointed to the widespread problem of "chameleon carriers"— trucking companies that shut down to escape violations and reopen under new names—along with penalties that are too low to deter unsafe operations. Meanwhile, brokers and shippers often prioritize speed and price over safety, continuing to hire risky carriers despite documented violations. 'The families shattered in Kaufman County deserve more than sympathy. They deserve change,' Witherite emphasized. 'We need mandatory fatigue-monitoring technology, stronger enforcement, better infrastructure for driver rest, and an overhaul of how we compensate drivers to promote safety—not speed.' Witherite is urging policymakers and regulators to take immediate steps to close dangerous loopholes in oversight and bring the trucking industry's safety standards in line with the critical role it plays in the nation's economy. 'If trucking regulations were truly effective, tragedies like this wouldn't keep happening. We need a national commitment to protecting the motoring public,' she said. Amy Witherite is a trial attorney, safety advocate, and founder of the Witherite Law Group, a firm nationally known for its work on trucking litigation. She is a leading voice for reform and a frequent commentator on issues related to transportation safety. Call 1 800 Truck Wreck or visit to learn more.
Business Wire
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Attorney Amy Witherite: Red Flags Emerge Just as Elon Musk Plans to Put Robotaxis on Austin Streets
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A dispute between Tesla (TSLA.O) and the Reuters news organization is raising red flags just as Tesla plans to roll out Model Y robotaxis in Austin, Texas, warns attorney and safety expert Amy Witherite, founder of the Witherite Law Group. Tesla's challenging a Texas Public Records Act request by Reuters for its communications with Austin city officials. In justifying the request an attorney for Reuters wrote that Tesla's intent to deploy the unproven technology on Texas roadways makes its plans 'an issue of enormous importance to Texas and the public at large' and underscored the public's right to know. 'If there was ever a need for complete transparency it is in the largely unregulated business of autonomous cars and trucks,' said Witherite, whose law firm represents the victims of auto and truck accidents. According to the American Automobile Association's (AAA) latest survey on autonomous vehicles, only 13% of U.S. drivers would trust riding in self-driving vehicles – an increase from last year, when this number was 9%. Despite this slight increase, 6 in 10 U.S. drivers still report being afraid to ride in a self-driving vehicle. 'Currently there is no national safety performance standard for driverless vehicles,' notes Witherite. 'Regulators have generally given free rein to companies allowing them to test their technology in cities such as Austin at the expense of the public's safety. Federal regulators are also asking Tesla tough questions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently sent Tesla a letter demanding additional information "to assess the ability of Tesla's system to react appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions." The agency opened an investigation in October into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with full self-driving (FSD) technology following four reported collisions, including a fatal one in 2023. 'If Tesla, or any other company, wants to put driverless vehicles on Austin streets they have an obligation to allow the public to be fully informed, especially since there are so many unanswered questions concerning the safety of these vehicles,' said Witherite. The Texas Attorney General's office is reviewing Tesla's confidentiality claims and will determine what if any information can be released. The Witherite Law Group specializes in vehicle accident cases and offers crucial support for individuals involved in accidents with driverless vehicles. For more information visit their website:
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Attorney Amy Witherite: Red Flags Emerge Just as Elon Musk Plans to Put Robotaxis on Austin Streets
DALLAS, June 11, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A dispute between Tesla (TSLA.O) and the Reuters news organization is raising red flags just as Tesla plans to roll out Model Y robotaxis in Austin, Texas, warns attorney and safety expert Amy Witherite, founder of the Witherite Law Group. Tesla's challenging a Texas Public Records Act request by Reuters for its communications with Austin city officials. In justifying the request an attorney for Reuters wrote that Tesla's intent to deploy the unproven technology on Texas roadways makes its plans "an issue of enormous importance to Texas and the public at large" and underscored the public's right to know. "If there was ever a need for complete transparency it is in the largely unregulated business of autonomous cars and trucks," said Witherite, whose law firm represents the victims of auto and truck accidents. According to the American Automobile Association's (AAA) latest survey on autonomous vehicles, only 13% of U.S. drivers would trust riding in self-driving vehicles – an increase from last year, when this number was 9%. Despite this slight increase, 6 in 10 U.S. drivers still report being afraid to ride in a self-driving vehicle. "Currently there is no national safety performance standard for driverless vehicles," notes Witherite. "Regulators have generally given free rein to companies allowing them to test their technology in cities such as Austin at the expense of the public's safety. Federal regulators are also asking Tesla tough questions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently sent Tesla a letter demanding additional information "to assess the ability of Tesla's system to react appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions." The agency opened an investigation in October into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with full self-driving (FSD) technology following four reported collisions, including a fatal one in 2023. "If Tesla, or any other company, wants to put driverless vehicles on Austin streets they have an obligation to allow the public to be fully informed, especially since there are so many unanswered questions concerning the safety of these vehicles," said Witherite. The Texas Attorney General's office is reviewing Tesla's confidentiality claims and will determine what if any information can be released. The Witherite Law Group specializes in vehicle accident cases and offers crucial support for individuals involved in accidents with driverless vehicles. For more information visit their website: View source version on Contacts The Margulies Communications Groupmediainquiries@ 214-368-0909 Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Attorney Amy Witherite: Finally Some Common Sense About Driverless Trucks on Texas Highways
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Attorney and traffic safety expert Amy Witherite is glad to see human beings back in the cabs of autonomous trucks on Texas highways. Aurora Innovations reversed course less than three weeks after it said it would let the trucks operate at speeds up to 75 miles an hour between Dallas and Houston without anyone in the cab. 'Common sense has finally prevailed,' said Amy Witherite an attorney and truck safety expert who has been warning about the dangers posed by driverless trucks for months. 'There has been nowhere near the amount of testing required to show these trucks can operate safely in the challenging environment on Texas highways,' said Witherite. 'With billions of dollars at stake and little or no government regulations federal and state officials are letting the fox guard the henhouse by allowing for-profit companies to determine whether their technology is safe.' Even organizations formed to support the deployment of autonomous vehicles recognize the need for federal standards to be in place. According to the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, 'only the federal government can uniformly regulate the design, construction and performance of the vehicle.' Currently, autonomous vehicles must only follow National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, which were written before automated systems were developed. This creates a regulatory gap between traditional vehicles and newer vehicles equipped with emerging technology. According to the Washington Post, the 'NHTSA, a small, specialized team focused on autonomous vehicles has lost most of its staff, according to two former agency employees. NHTSA has recently lost many of its employees to Trump administration budget cut.' 'The amount of damage that can be caused by an 80,000-pound tractor trailer far exceeds the severity of accidents involving cars and SUVs,' noted Witherite. 'Texas highways are often crowded and full of complex and unpredictable situations from sudden changes in the weather and ongoing construction to accidents and dangerous drivers.' 'At this point, it took another company PACCAR, Inc. which manufactures the trucks to demand humans remain in the cab of these vehicles,' said Witherite. 'We can only hope that regulators and the public will demand that this commonsense approach continues as this new technology is developed in the future.' The Witherite Law Group specializes in vehicle accident cases and offers crucial support for individuals involved in accidents with driverless vehicles. For more information visit their website.
