Posted on August 03, 2018 in Truck Accidents

Trucks are important to the Texas economy and the American economy as a whole, but there are strict regulations regarding how long a person can be behind the wheel of one of these vehicles. When a truck driver experiences fatigue, he or she is more likely to cause an accident.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has put regulations in place that limit how many subsequent hours a trucker can drive. Despite regulations, many truckers and trucking companies ignore these standards and continue to drive past the allotted number of hours. This comes from pressure to deliver loads faster and secure payment upon delivery.

Regulations regarding hours of service

Truck drivers may feel the temptation to drive for too long for many reasons. Hours of service regulations are in place to reduce the frequency of fatigue-related accidents. When a trucker is tired, he or she is more likely to drive recklessly, make mistakes and experience delayed reactions. The rules regarding the permissible number of hours a truck can be on the road are as follows:

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 Posted on June 08, 2018 in Uncategorized

Texas readers know that drunk driving is a significant problem in the state, and it poses a serious threat to the safety and well-being of every person on the road. There is no excuse for intoxicated driving, and even a small amount of alcohol can have an effect on a driver's ability to safely operate a vehicle.

If you are the victim of an accident caused by a drunk driver, you have the right to take action and defend your interests. It is possible to hold these drivers accountable for their actions and irresponsible choices, and through a civil claim, you may be able to seek appropriate compensation for your losses, as well as your pain and suffering.

The effect of alcohol on a driver

Alcohol affects each person in different ways. You know that each driver is responsible for knowing when he or she has had too much alcohol and is not able to drive. Even one or two drinks can affect physical reaction and cognition. Consider the following facts about blood alcohol concentration and its impact on a driver:

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 Posted on May 08, 2018 in Truck Accidents

If you suffered injuries from a Texas truck accident, you know how difficult it can be to put your life back together after this type of traumatic incident. Truck accidents can lead to serious damage and grave injuries, and often, these types of accidents are completely preventable.

Trucking companies and their insurance providers do not have your best interests in mind. You may receive an offer for a financial settlement after a truck accident, but this may not reflect the true value of your case and the amount to which you have a rightful claim. You would be wise to carefully consider the terms of any agreement offered to you before you accept or sign anything

Fighting for what you deserve

If the truck accident that left you injured was the result of the negligent or reckless actions of the truck driver, you would have a rightful claim to financial compensation. In some cases, it might be necessary to seek compensation through a civil claim, but often a trucking company may prefer to reach a settlement in order to avoid complex litigation.

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 Posted on April 13, 2018 in Uncategorized

Every year, the Texas Department of Transportation records statistics on a number of subjects — one of them being fatal automobile accidents. The state has not yet released the 2017 numbers, but the 2016 numbers show that serious or fatal car accidents happen all too often in Texas.

What do the numbers say? What is causing these accidents? What can victims or — in the event of fatality — their surviving family members do after the fact? Can they seek relief for their losses?

Numbers, numbers, numbers…

As far as injuries go, there were roughly 265,000 people hurt in auto accidents in Texas in 2016. It appears that a little over 17,500 of them suffered serious injuries. As far as fatalities go, 3,773 individuals lost their lives on Texas roads that same year. By the numbers, this means that there was an auto-related fatality just about every two hours, an injury every two minutes and a car accident every minute.

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 Posted on March 09, 2018 in Uncategorized

The issue of distracted driving isn't new. Since cars took to the road, drivers' attention has wandered away from the road and caused accidents. Since people began talking to passengers, eating, shaving or even reading a newspaper, the danger existed.

However, technological advances in recent years increased instances of distracted driving, with serious and deadly consequences. The technology that should make life easier also involves complicated maneuvers to use, which creates significant distractions. In 2017, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released research regarding technology and distracted driving.

What the AAA Foundation discovered

The foundation evaluated 30 vehicles that rolled off the assembly line in 2017. Each of them included "infotainment" systems that require a driver's mental, visual and sometimes tactile involvement in order to use. During the evaluation, drivers had to perform the following actions while in motion:

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 Posted on January 09, 2018 in Uncategorized

Sadly, as you may be aware, Texas regularly leads the nation in DWI fatalities. Of course, you already know the dangers of driving while intoxicated and the increased risk it means for both you and any passengers, not to mention everyone else on the road, pedestrians included. You know how important it is to arrange alternate transportation ahead of time if you're going to be drinking. If nothing else, you can call an Uber.

What you may be less certain of, however, is how to spot when another driver on the road has been drinking. Perhaps even more important is knowing what to do about it. Figuring out the signs of impaired driving can help you take preventative measures, if necessary, to keep you and your passengers safe, and reporting a drunk driver to the appropriate authorities can potentially save the lives of any number of others.

How to report a drunk driver

Reporting someone driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances removes that danger from the roads, keeping not only you safe but possibly countless others as well. Before doing anything, though, you'll want to pull over, to avoid unintentionally causing your own accident in the process. Above all, do not try to follow the vehicle or detain the driver − that is what the police are for. Instead, after you've safely pulled over, you'll first want to call 911 and tell the operator you would like to report a drunk driver.

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 Posted on December 08, 2017 in Uncategorized

Every driver in Texas will likely admit to getting behind the wheel while in a hurry and driving a bit too fast at least once. However, as you know, speeding is dangerous, and the reality is that driving too fast greatly increases the chance of a car accident and the severity of a collision.

If you were hurt in an accident caused by a speeding driver, you have options. Victims of excessive speed are able to hold liable drivers accountable through personal injury claims. You have no time to lose in ensuring the protection of your rights and learning more about your options for obtaining compensation after an accident.

Too fast is simply too dangerous

When the speed is especially high, driving too fast is a type of reckless driving. Many people speed, and some may think that it is not that bad as long as no one gets hurt and they don't get caught. In reality, speeding is simply too risky. Consider the following about excessive speed and car accidents:

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 Posted on November 08, 2017 in Uncategorized

Distracted driving accidents have been on the rise in Texas and across the country, despite increased education and law enforcement efforts. While not necessarily as risky as distraction behind the wheel, distraction on the part of pedestrians is also an issue.

In fact, statistics show an 11-percent increase in the number of pedestrians killed in the United States last year, and pedestrian distraction was a contributing factor.

Factors to Consider

As vehicles these days come with more safety features than ever before, you might assume that the number of car accidents would decrease, but that is not the case. Overall, the number of motor vehicle accidents has increased by 6 percent, and a significant number of these collisions involve people on foot. Researchers note a variety of contributing factors:

• Better gas prices and a stronger economy mean more people driving, which raises the risk of vehicle accidents, including pedestrian accidents.

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 Posted on August 11, 2017 in Uncategorized

These days people live their lives constantly attached to their cellphones, and in many ways, cellphones make aspects of life more convenient.

On the other hand, mobile devices also cause a considerable amount of distraction, particularly when it comes to driving.

Research has shown that use of hands-free or handheld technology behind the wheel quadruples the risk of an accident.

Texting or talking on a cellphone is known for causing frequent car accidents, and often the main hazard is attributed to taking hands off the wheel and eyes off the road in order to send texts or answer calls. However, even with hands-free technology, cellphone use continues to put drivers and other travelers at risk.

Many people are under the impression that going hands-free will allow them to use their cellphones in a safer manner. Unfortunately, this notion does not hold up under scrutiny. In fact, studies have shown that using a hands-free device still distracts drivers because they take their minds off the task of driving.

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 Posted on July 12, 2017 in Uncategorized

Distraction is a threat to every Texas motorist, including you. Drivers who choose to participate in a distracting behavior can cause devastating harm, even in a matter of a few seconds of distraction.

Technically, distracted driving is any type of behavior that takes a driver's attention from the road and the obligation to drive safely. All forms of distraction fall into at least one of three main categories, and every form of distraction is preventable, negligent and dangerous for every person on the road.

What are the three main types of distracted driving?

As noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, distracted driving falls into these three categories:

• Visual: Visual distraction includes anything that takes a driver's eyes off the road for any reason, for any amount of time. From reading a phone screen to looking at a billboard, a visual distraction can be incredibly dangerous.

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