Houston Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

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" »

Many people have a good feel for how long it takes to stop their car or truck. It is a was a good idea to keep a safe distance from the car or truck in front of you in case they stop quickly. Everyone knows the faster you go the more safe distance you should maintain that you should maintain ahead of you.

A good rule of thumb is you should stay 2 seconds behind the vehicle had of you. Another general rule is that it takes a driver about a second and a half to react to an emergency situation and apply the brakes.

If you are going 20 miles an hour assuming decent brakes the takes approximately 63 feet to stop or 44 feet to react and 19 feet to stop. Going 40 mph it takes about 109 feet to skid to a stop including reaction time.

If you're going 60 is now up to 303 feet to stop including reaction time and this is assuming you have good brakes and tires and the road is dry and level pavement. In other words optimum conditions.

If you are in less than optimum conditions you should allow more stopping time and more safe distance between you and the vehicles ahead of you. If it is raining or if conditions are wet your vehicle is harder to control and it will take your car or pickup longer to stop. If the traffic is heavy you should also allow as much safe distances you can.

Hopefully these general stopping distances will be a refresher course and reminder to allow plenty of room between you and the vehicles ahead of you should waste a sudden stopping necessary. Drive safe-be safe.

Continue reading "Approximate Stopping Distances" »

Since the airbag debuted as a safety device in vehicles the federal government has been collecting information about their ability to save lives. Consider the following statistics they've compiled.

*The NHTSA estimates that thousands of lives are saved annually thanks to airbags - perhaps as many as ten thousand each year.

*The combination of seatbelts and airbags can reduce serious head injuries by up to 85%.

*Approximately 350 million vehicles are now equipped with airbags. This includes cars and trucks and driver and passenger airbags as well as side airbags. In addition, experts claim that up to a million new cars and trucks are sold each month that are automatically equipped with airbags.

*Airbags are much more effective when used in combination with the seatbelt. Drivers should not rely solely on the airbag to protect them in the event of an accident. Estimates place the likelihood of surviving a crash with airbags at over 25% greater than without an airbag AND over 33% greater if the seatbelt and airbag are there to over double protection.

Finally, the latest car theft craze is the airbag. The number of vehicles being broken into and airbags taken is becoming epidemic. If you experience this type of theft be sure to replace those airbags as soon as possible. It's simply too dangerous to dismiss.

Continue reading "How Air Bags Save Lives" »

The simplest, most passive safety device ever invented for travel is the seat belt. Claims of hundreds of thousands of lives saved with their use do not seem to be out of the realm of possibility - so vital are they to preventing an individual from becoming a human projectile in a crash.

Yet, this morning's news includes that of the death of two individuals (not even having reached the age of 'consent') who were thrown from the back of a car when the driver lost control after speeding down the highway (middle of the night scenario).

Now even while government figures state that seat belt use is nearly universal across the country - they fail to mention that nearly 65% of traffic fatalities happen to people who are NOT wearing their seat belt.

In other words, even though it's a law that all vehicle occupants must wear their seat belt - a fair number of Americans simply ignore this requirement. One has to question why. Is there a death wish? Or, as is so often true with younger people, do they really think they are immune to death?

According to some statistics, the cost of medical care for persons who are injured in automobile accidents who were not wearing seatbelts is twice as high as those who otherwise suffer physical trauma of some sort. Their injuries are more severe as well and their recovery time is twice as long.

I can only remind people to make safe choices when you get in your vehicle - and train your children from a young age to do the same. It doesn't always mean they'll make the right choice when left to their own devices...but it may help.

And, for heaven's sake, buckle up.

Continue reading "Seat Belts Save Lives" »

There are dozens of jobs that require a person to apply for a CDL or Commercial Driver's License in Texas, and the obvious reason is for operating an 18 Wheeler tractor and trailer combination for local or long haul trips.

You must first already posses a Class A drivers license, and this what is issued most of the time in order to operate regular size cars, pickup trucks, and SUV's. Where the rules change is when large amounts of weight are involved in operating trucks or tractors, and there is a process that every person must undertake to be approved for such a license.

A Texas commercial driver's license is necessary for any vehicle having a gross weight from the maker of more than twenty-six thousand pounds, also for a vehicle towing a trailer that weighs in at more than ten thousand pounds. In addition, when passengers on say a bus total more than sixteen people, or when hazardous materials are being moved from one point to another. The regulations were set by the federal government back in 1986 for all fifty states to adhere to in the interest of public safety.

You must be 21 when obtaining a commercial vehicle license, although there is an exception to the rule as a person over eighteen can be granted a CDL, as long as they do not travel outside of the state of Texas. Otherwise, being granted a commercial license allows the operator to drive in all fifty states of the USA.

Just like when trying to acquire a pilot's license, commercial drivers are required to undergo a physical examination by a physician before they can be awarded the privilege of a commercial endorsement.

There are several certified driving schools in each major city, that can help an individual in learning all the material required to take the written exam. The school or academy will also have training areas, that a student driver can take instruction from a teacher, and practice tasks, like hooking up to a trailer, backing up long distances to loading docks, and other needed skills.

Besides the medical exam, there will an additional vision test, several applications depending on what type of endorsements will be needed to complete the upcoming job a person is trying to land. After passing the written exam, an appointment for the physical skills test will have to be set, so a certified DOT officer can make sure the driver's skill level is meeting the minimum requirements.

Continue reading " What You Need When Obtaining A Commercial Vehicle License" »

Two recent accidents on Houston roadways involving trucks are reminders of just how dangerous trucks can be - and how an ordinary day can turn extraordinary (and not in a good way) at a moment's notice.

The likely cause of the first truck accident was an inattentive - and perhaps - harried driver who may have been distracted. According to reports, it was traveling recklessly and when it made a lane change without warning his vehicle was headed right into the path of a worker.

While the worker tried to dive out of the way there simply was not enough time and he was struck by the truck. He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries - and while no charges have been filed as of yet.

A second accident occurred at a railroad crossing. From what can be pieced together it seems the driver may have had a diabetic seizure while sitting at the tracks waiting for the train to pass. The railroad crossing arm was down.

The man's foot may have slipped from the brake and the truck rolled into the crossing arm - which was forced into the path of the train. The train then hit the same crossing arm and it smashed back into the truck. The man was taken to the hospital and railroad officials are repairing the crossing arm.

With a personal injury law firm practice, we see the results of accidents every day and have learned it only takes a second and the future can be different for you and your family.

Drive with care!

The worst kind of accidents are probably head on collisions. The reason for this is that the mass and momentum of two vehicles hurtling at each other - usually at top speed and often without the time to apply the brakes - does not leave room for much else than instant death.

If individuals do survive head on collisions they are usually left with catastrophic injuries that include everything from paralysis to traumatic brain injuries to crippling burns. Rarely do people who survive head on collisions ever enjoy the same quality of life they experienced before the accident.

There are a number of factors that could lead to a head on collision. Perhaps the driver is drowsy - falls asleep at the wheel and the vehicle crosses the center line or median into the path of an oncoming car or truck.

Maybe a person gets confused and enters the highway going in the wrong direction and is unable to get off the road before hitting another car. Of course there's always the drunk driver who loses control of the car - smashing into an innocent victim (or victims) coming the other way.

Finally, mechanical failure in a vehicle - which could include anything from a tire blow out to brakes giving out - could cause a vehicle to veer into the path of an oncoming car.
Always wear your seat belt and make sure your airbags are in good working order.

When traveling on 2 lane each way highways, travel in the right hand lane as studies have shown it is a safer lane to avoid head on collisions.

Continue reading "Head On Wrecks" »

How safe is the average semi truck on the road? Who's keeping tabs on the condition of semi trucks? The average citizen is probably unaware that the United States government has an organization within it to address all issues and problems related to the trucking and semi truck industry. It is a branch of the United States Department of Transportation called the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or the FMCSA.

One look at their homepage and the reader will see that the organization keeps itself busy by overseeing safety and other topics related to the motor carrier industry as a whole. Just a few of their most recent concerns should help to put the average American at ease concerning how safe those big trucks are with whom we share the road.

For instance, the FMCSA has undertaken the challenging task of initiating a Comprehensive Safety Analysis program that includes inspection of all motor coaches (such as Greyhound buses), driver prescreening and a federal ban on texting while driving. (As a reminder - texting includes the use of a cell phone to send or receive messages and/or the use of the cell phone internet).

In addition, the website is an excellent source for drivers and citizens alike to learn more about the consequences of failing to meet state and federal guidelines with regard to any safety topic including vehicle inspections and maintenance as well as driver expectations. They have an extensive area to learn more about the rules and regulations of motor carrier safety - for those who are interested the website is listed below.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

Continue reading "Regulation of the Trucking Industry" »

For the police the day started with the impactful head-on collision between 18-wheeler truck and a luxury car. It was reported that the car driver was suspected to be under the influence of drugs and driving at a very high speed.

It was further reported that the reason for high speed driving was the ongoing car race amongst friends. Two other cars followed the driver, that both miraculously escaped an accident. All of them were returning from the birthday party and one of the three drivers was underage and did not hold a valid license.

The investigation team said that they thought the driver lost the control on the sharp turn and in order to avoid the collision with the lamppost, he applied sudden brakes, which resulted in the vehicle skid and finally collision. The car driver did not fasten his seat belt and was riding alone in the car. His friends reportedly admitted him in the hospital. The truck driver has suffered a fracture in his leg.

The rate of these car-racing accidents is getting high as the craze for speediness among youngsters is escalating. These car racing thrills and stunts are responsible for putting the life of innocent people at risk.

Movies and games have made car racing a glamorous sport for many teens. The fast racecar driver being the star of the movie Mr. popular and getting the cute girl!

Every state including Texas is trying its best to make strict rules to curb the menace of drunken drivers and teen reckless driving. Racing is viewed with a zero tolerance but the first level of prevention from car racing accidents rests with the parents.

Many new technological advances make it easy to monitor safe driving whether employees or children. That will be the subject of another article.

Continue reading "Car Racing Incident Leaves Injury" »

As a Houston semi truck accident lawyer it is my business to understand the ins and outs of driving and accidents. I'd like to think I've become somewhat of an expert on those things accident related and can speak knowledgeably on the topic.

Time and again I've cautioned readers on some of the more obvious causes of accidents - everything from drinking and driving to distracted driving.

But as of yet we have not discussed smoking and driving - and this issue comes with its own set of concerns. Smoking and driving is a form of distracted driving. First the driver has to locate his or her cigarettes and lighter.

This might call for a quick glimpse around the car and taking one's eyes off the road. Then the cigarette has to be lit and again the driver must look away from the road to do this. Now, does the driver use an ashtray in the car or open the window - a crack or fully? How many times must the driver look away to see if he or she needs to tap the ashes off the end of the cigarette? And when the driver is finally done with the cigarette does he or she put it out in an ashtray in the car or let it go out the window?

Have you ever been with a driver that is smoking? I've seen driver's who have dropped a lit cigarette on their laps or somewhere else in the car.

Talk about distracted driving - what could be worse than an anxious driver trying to prevent his car from starting on fire while driving. Too, it's not uncommon for cigarettes to find their way back into the car when they're tossed out the window - and smolder somewhere in the back seat before actually starting a fire.

Yep. Smoking and driving is distracted driving - and therefore unsafe. Do not smoke and if you do, try to avoid it while driving for your own sake and the sake of those with whom you share the road.

A much under reported driving hazard is "driving while under the influence of illicit substances".

Regular readers of this blog are aware of my penchant for statistics to support premises and it will be no different as we delve further into the topic of "drugged driving".

According to the National Highway and Safety Administration's (NHTSA) 2007 National Roadside Survey, "more than 16 percent of weekend, nighttime drivers tested positive for illegal, prescription, or over-the-counter medication.

More than 11% tested positive for illicit drugs--a sign that continued substance abuse education, prevention, and law enforcement efforts are critical to public health and safety."

Further a recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed an estimated 10 million people age 12 and older reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs during the year prior to being surveyed.

This corresponds to 4 percent of the population age 12 and older, similar to the rate in 2007 (4.2 percent), but lower than the rate in 2002 (4.7 percent). In 2008, the rate was highest among young adults age 18 to 25 (12.3 percent).

Couple these numbers with statistics of the number of drivers who are intoxicated on a weekend night and it becomes apparent that over a quarter of drivers on the road place you and your family at risk for an auto accident with injuries or worse.

The number of arrests for DWI on any given weekend in Houston, Conroe and The Woodlands are alarming and on a holiday weekend arrests for drunken or impaired driving are off the charts.

Drugs act on the body in much the same way as alcohol. They alter perception, cognition, balance, coordination and reaction times. As with alcohol - the more consumed the greater its impact on the body.

A wealth of studies performed by reputable universities and other organizations confirms that drugged driving places us all at danger in the same way as a drunk driver.

Fortunately, many companies are advancing methods to test for illegal drugs in the system that can be performed quickly and on site. As the methods for detecting impaired drivers become reliable and more accepted, expect to see our police officers with portable kits for checking for impaired drivers.

Continue reading "Driving While Drugged" »

A garbage truck struck and killed a Texas woman this week and the truck driver refuses to discuss the accident. Reports from news media indicate that the woman was crossing the street in North East El Paso when the garbage truck backed over her causing her death.

Police are investigating the truck accident and have not released and official report yet. It remains to be seen if any charges will be filed against the truck driver.

As previous posts have indicated trucks are especially susceptible to running over pedestrians or vehicles when backing up due to limited visibility.

Several safety items have been tested which make commercial vehicles safer when backing up.

The most effective safety devise for backing up in a large truck is the video monitor which shows the driver exactly what is behind the truck. Such monitors are available as an after market devise for around a 100 dollars. A small price to pay for saving a life.

Continue reading "El Paso woman killed by dump truck" »

Today's automobiles incorporate many new safety features but the seat belt and airbag will remain the most beneficial in preventing deaths as a result of a car accident.

Airbags are designed to deploy in front-end or near front-end collisions. The United States requires deployment in a crash deceleration of as little as 14mph into a barrier.

The concept of the airbag is that it is a soft pillow to land on in the event of a crash. Since 1998 all new cars must have front airbags for the driver and passenger but many auto manufacturers have gone beyond this minimal requirement and include up to eight airbags placed strategically throughout the vehicle.

To understand the basics of how airbags work we must turn to simple physics and the laws of motion. Moving objects have momentum (the product of an object's mass and velocity). The object will continue to move in its original direction at a predetermined speed unless it meets up with an outside force. To stop an object in motion requires force acting over a period of time.

In the case of auto accident the car's momentum stops instantly when it comes into contact with another vehicle or object but the persons inside will continue moving until a force is imposed to cause it to stop.

The goal of the airbag is to help stop the passenger while doing as little damage to him or her as possible. This must happen within the fraction of a second. The airbag actually slows the person without abruptly stopping them. In this way there is less possibility of serious injuries.

Continue reading "Air bags-important auto accident safety feature" »

Although we have 'talked' about safe driving in other blogs it is a topic so important that we should return to it on a regular basis. We have already waxed long on the importance of giving your driving your full attention and keeping your speeds down.

Too, we have pointed out the folly of driving while intoxicated or otherwise impaired.

Now let's add to this list of safety tips with some never-before-discussed ideas.
First, you should map out your route before you leave the house when going on a trip or to a location that is foreign to you.

This will prevent you from taking your eyes on the road to look for street names and building numbers. It will also keep you from slowing down in busy traffic and causing other motorists to have to drive around you or guess what you are doing.

Too, if you are going on a long driving trip bring your car to an acceptable speed and then engage the cruise control. This will ensure you are driving at an even, measured pace which is the safest way to motor on the highways.

A third important tip seems obvious. If you are taking a long road trip get plenty of rest the night before and stop often to stretch and relax. When you stop get out and walk around so that you can keep the blood flowing and remain alert.

Driving is more than a pastime. It's serious business - one could even say a matter of life and death.

Continue reading "Planning your trip- can help you arrive safely" »

According to reports, a pickup truck was involved in a truck accident with a school bus this week and the pickup truck driver died. Five children and the school bus driver were taken to the hospital with injuries and reports thankfully have all in fair condition.

The disparity in size and weight between buses or other commercial vehicles and pickups in passenger cars can be most dangerous for the smaller vehicle. However, with school buses particularly in those without seatbelts, children can easily get hurt.

Texas has recently passed and unfunded initiative, which requires that each school bus purchased by a school district after September 1, 2010 have seatbelts. But the initiative only kicks in if the legislature provides sufficient funding. To date
It is my understanding that the funding has not been secured for all such purchases.

Texas is to be commended for enacting such initiative and for the funding that has already been arranged. While safety advocates have been seeking seatbelts in school buses for years I am delighted to see Texas as one of the leaders in the country on the issue.

Continue reading "School bus accident leaves one dead end injures five children" »