Houston Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers a wealth of research on all things transportation related. One study provides the following information on the topic of braking distances for trucks of various weights. While this blog will only provide brief highlights - you may visit www.nhtsa.gov for further information.

Current Stopping Distance Requirements for Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicles
Vehicle Type:
Tractor- trailer-Stopping Distance from 60 mph was a whopping 335 feet.
These numbers are not new and have been consistent for may years. However, with the advances in technology we should expect better braking from commercial vehicles.

The purpose of the research was to validate current stopping capabilities for vehicles and using these figures as a starting point for improving expectations. The following suggestions are currently under consideration:

*Substantially shorten the required stopping distances for ALL vehicles - buses, automobiles, semi-trucks and tractor trailers from their current abilities.

*Improve heavy duty brake systems for semi-trucks and tractor trailers AND increase brake retardation force.

The research study was presented recently by two NHTSA project engineers.

Continue reading "Stopping Distance For 18-Wheelers" »

The duty to inspect, maintain and repair semi trucks in the motor carriers fleet is codified in part 396 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

396.1 provides that: "every motor carrier, its officers, drivers, agents, representatives and employees directly concerned with the inspection or maintenance of motor vehicles shall comply and be conversant with the rules". What this is saying is that the trucking company must ensure that its employees not only follow the rules but also know the rules with respect to maintaining and repairing trucks.

Further, section 396.3 provides: "every motor carrier shall systematically inspect, repair, and maintain, or cause to be systematically inspected, repaired, and maintained, all motor vehicles subject to its control".
The regulation goes on to provide that parts and accessories shall be in safe in proper operating condition at all times.

That only does part 396 specify specific actions that must be taken to make sure that big rigs are safe to be on the roadway but also and equally important document the condition of the vehicle with appropriate paperwork.

Many truck accidents in Texas involve commercial vehicles that when subjected to an impartial inspection reveals the truck was being operated in an unsafe condition at the time of the accident.

Sometimes the condition of the vehicle can be the specific cause of the accident.

If you are loved one has been involved in a serious 18 wheeler accident and would like to speak with an experienced 18 wheeler accident attorney in Houston, contact the Baumgartner law firm at 281-587-1111 or fill out the contact us form on this website.

Another semi-truck accident out of state joins the sad litany of big rig vehicle wrecks that result in multiple fatalities. This time a semi-truck slammed into the back of a minivan killing seven people at the scene and sending 3 more to area hospitals. The truck driver was also hospitalized.

There are conflicting reports concerning the moments that led up to the crash. Some witnesses claim to have seen the minivan strike a deer - which may have precipitated it to slow down as it was trying to pull off the highway. Somewhere along the line it was hit by the semi. This leads me to reiterate several safety cautions that I regularly offer my readers.

A driver who is prepared for the inevitable is therefore more capable of reacting to unexpected events - such as a deer darting in front of their vehicle. How is this possible? Drivers must remain alert at all times. Driving is not a leisurely activity. It requires focus and concentration. Scan the roadway in front and beside you and consider what possible scenarios could result in an accident and how you might react to avoid it.

Too, be sure that all passengers are safely fastened into the vehicle and there are no loose objects that could become projectiles if your car or truck is hit.

As one can discern from this accident - it only takes a moment to change the course of your life and that of others.

There is a very good reason for the safety rules that apply to truck drivers and trucking companies- that is to protect the public

Continue reading "Multiple Fatality Truck Accident" »

As a semi-truck accident lawyer - data is an integral part of my practice. What follows are some vital statistics that should be of interest to consumers.

*The average weight of a semi-truck is 80,000 pounds. That's 40,000 tons and in comparison to the average weight of a car coming in at 5 or 6 thousand pounds it is easy to see that major injuries are usually the result of semi-truck/automobile accidents.

*Statistics show that an automobile traveling at 60 mph in good weather and decent road conditions actually covers 88 feet for each second of forward motion. That translates to nearly a third of a football field each time you count to 'one'.

At that rate it takes the car nearly 300 feet or, conversely, no less than 3 seconds to come to a full stop. At the same time and in the same conditions it takes a semi-truck nearly twice as long to come to a complete stop. Even if a semi appears to be moving at a slower pace - their ability to react to a sudden change in the traffic pattern is negligible at best.

*In all, there are nearly 5200 large truck fatalities annually in the United States and almost 100,000 injuries as well. Moreover, there are an additional 140,000 truck accidents each year that do not result in fatalities.

Travel at a safe distance around semi-trucks and be cognizant of their ability to cause injury and death to unsuspecting drivers - and sometimes through no fault of their own.

Continue reading "100,000 Truck Accident Injuries Each Year" »