If you’re the victim of a trucking accident (or lost a family member in one), the search for answers can feel overwhelming. The evidence is technical, the regulations are complex, and the stakes could not be higher. Thankfully, our lead attorney Sam Kane brings an uncommon perspective to these cases — one shaped by years of legal advocacy as well as training as a licensed commercial pilot.

While it might be hard to see the connection at first glance, pilots are taught to see accidents not as isolated mistakes but as the product of interconnected systems. They learn to trace chain-of-event failures, to rely on disciplined checklists, and to interpret data with precision.

Sam’s aviation background is a powerful advantage. His ability to translate technical evidence from a truck accident reconstruction into clear, persuasive narratives helps uncover hidden causes, strengthen liability arguments, and ultimately deliver justice by holding negligent parties accountable.

The Pilot’s Mindset in the Courtroom

Pilots (and the aviation industry as a whole) are trained to approach every flight with precision and a deep respect for safety. In 2018, for example, the Federal Aviation Administration implemented a formal, organization-wide safety approach known as the Safety Management System (SMS) that includes a series of procedures, practices and policies designed to identify hazards and manage risk.

That same kind of safety-first mindset has formed the foundational aspects of how Sam investigates and litigates trucking accidents:

Systems Thinking

Systems thinking is an approach to viewing a situation, like a truck crash, as interconnected and interactive rather than as a series of isolated actions.

“Systems thinking also considers how a system performs within a larger system,” writes the International Civil Aviation Organization. “Examining systems through this view is necessary to make sense of the connections and interactions among their components or parts.”

This more holistic approach helps reveal the unpredictable parts of any system and the relationships among every part of the system. For example, a truck accident is rarely caused by a single mistake but instead is the result of a chain of interconnected failures, including mechanical, human, and procedural. Sam applies this systems thinking approach to every trucking crash, looking beyond the obvious to uncover how driver fatigue, maintenance lapses, and company oversight might have all combined to lead to the crash.

Safety Discipline

Case preparation requires a strict attention to detail, methodically reviewing electronic logging devices, service records, and federal compliance data. In fact, Sam’s courtroom strategy mirrors a pre-flight inspection: thorough, structured, and designed to catch what others might miss.

Data-Driven Training

Aviation emphasizes evidence-based decision-making, which means pilots learn to trust their instruments, logs, and measurable data. At Kane, Sam reflects this same training by interpreting technical evidence with the same rigor, transforming complex data into clear narratives that resonate with juries and judges.

By carrying the pilot’s mindset into the courtroom, Sam ensures that victims’ families receive advocacy along with representation.

Flight Investigations vs. Trucking Crash Analysis

When an airline accident occurs, investigators don’t stop at the obvious. They dig into every system, log, and decision to understand how a chain of events led to tragedy. Trucking crashes demand the same level of rigor:

• Flight data recorders vs. truck “black boxes” – Just as airplanes carry flight data recorders, modern trucks are equipped with electronic logging devices (ELDs) and telematics systems. These “black boxes” capture speed, braking, hours of service, and more. Sam knows how to interpret this data with the same precision pilots rely on in aviation investigations.
• Maintenance logs – Aviation safety depends on meticulous maintenance records. Trucking companies are required to keep similar logs, but they’re often overlooked in litigation, which is why Sam’s pilot training is so valuable: He knows how to spot inconsistencies and red flags in these records that can reveal negligence.
• Fatigue tracking – The FAA is strict about monitoring fatigue in pilots, through flight/duty time rules, mandated education and reporting by airlines, and even modern approaches that use biometric monitoring and artificial intelligence. The trucking industry has its own hours-of-service rules to prevent tired truck driver accidents. Sam understands how excess FMCSA hours of service contribute to accidents and uses federal standards to hold companies accountable when drivers are pushed beyond safe limits.
• Federal regulations – Just as the FAA outlines specific safety standards and processes for aircraft, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration mandates a series of regulations that outline everything from the brightness of a truck’s lights to the efficiency of brake systems and everything in between. Sam knows how to apply these regulations to a crash report to find areas of liability.

By drawing on the investigative parallels between aviation and trucking, Sam provides victims’ families and other attorneys with a deeper, more credible reconstruction of what really happened (and why accountability matters).

Kane’s Edge — Discipline and Dedication to Families

What truly distinguishes Kane Personal Injury is the way Sam Kane blends technical rigor with human compassion. His aviation background gives him a disciplined framework for investigating trucking crashes by applying checklist-style reviews, federal data standards, and a systems-thinking approach.

But Sam’s edge is not only technical; it’s deeply personal. Pilots carry a solemn duty to protect lives in the air, and Sam carries that same responsibility into the courtroom. Instead of stopping at surface-level explanations, he digs deeper, examining electronic logging devices, maintenance records, and fatigue tracking with the same rigor used in aviation investigations.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a truck accident, call Kane Personal Injury today to gain an advocate who sees the full picture, who translates technical evidence into persuasive courtroom narratives, and who fights tirelessly for justice.