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.

Technology to prevent or reduce truck accidents has come a long way in the last 10 years. One such technological advancement is the antilock braking system.

In anti-lock braking system is a computerized system that keeps eight trucks wheels from completely locking up during heartbreak application.

The ABS is an additional breaking element in other words it is in addition to a proximal break. The ABS does not decrease or increase normal braking capacity it only activates when the wheels are about to lock up.

ASB systems contain sensors that detect when a truck's wheel may lock up; the system then activates and prevents the wheels from locking up.

ABS systems are particularly helpful on wet roadways and have been shown to reduce jackknife and skid accidents.

Even if an ABS is only on the tractor or only on the trailer it's still provides the truck driver with more control over the vehicle during hard braking applications.

Continue reading "Antilock braking systems on 18-wheelers" »