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Nearly One-Quarter Of Trucks On Texas Highways In Violation Of Safety Standards
An inspection blitz earlier this summer of more than 8,000 commercial vehicles by the Texas Department of Public Safety resulted in nearly 2,000 of them being placed out of service due to a wide range of violations. This is a frightening reminder of the dangers that tractor trailers pose on Texas highways, in many cases because of negligence or blatant disregard of safety regulations by truck drivers and the companies that own these big rigs.
The report in Overdrive, an online publication that covers the commercial trucking industry, states the Texas DPS inspected 8,182 commercial vehicles during the blitz and placed 1,938 of those (23.6 percent) out of service. Issues with brakes and defective vehicle lighting were two of the most common violations that led to removing these vehicles from the road.
The inspections occurred in June during Road check, an annual program operated by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Administration.
More Than 200 Drivers Also Cited
What Are the Deadliest Cars On the Road?
As much as Americans are drawn to their cars for their interior and exterior styling, safety is also a primary concern when making a buying decision. This is especially true when parents hit that nerve-wracking milestone of having young children get their driver's licenses.
A recent study on car safety identifies models that provide reliability and those that are involved in higher rates of fatal accidents. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) collects data on the rate at which drivers of individual models are killed in crashes (it does not take into account passenger deaths).
Bigger Is Safer
Not surprisingly, small cars with structures that are less able to absorb the brunt of crashes have the highest rate of driver fatality. All of the cars with the lowest driver death rates in the most recent IIHS study are either large luxury cars or SUVs. IIHS grouped the vehicles it rated into four categories: mini, small, midsize and large.
Why Truck Accidents Need Close Scrutiny
As we hear more about autonomous vehicles and all of their potential benefits, including as it relates to commercial transportation, that technology is still on the horizon. For now, the steady flow of local and interstate commercial vehicle traffic is powered by humans, and that means human error is inevitable. The sheer size and weight of these trucks means when they are involved in crashes, catastrophic injuries often occur, leading to a lifetime of disability or even death.
Because of the increased danger that truck crashes pose, the commercial trucking industry is regulated by federal and state laws. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are primarily responsible for enforcing federal trucking regulations, while each state has additional laws regulating intra-state commercial trucking.
However, in a 2015 opinion piece published in the New York Times, Howard Abramson, a former executive at the American Trucking Association, stated that catastrophic truck accidents will continue to occur at an unacceptable rate as long as Congress kowtows to lobbyists from the commercial trucking industry. Abramson says the industry advocates for more flexibility regarding driver breaks and against mandatory safety features that would make all trucks safer.
Should Income Disparity Be Reflected In Injury Settlements?
The most devastating personal injury claims involve wrongful death or injuries so severe the victim can no longer work. In these cases, it is necessary to use economic statistics to determine the total amount of lost earning capacity. If the victim is only beginning a career or is a minor who has not yet completed his or her studies, determining lifetime earning potential becomes much more difficult.
When creating a lost earning capacity damage model, economists often times refer to broader statistics that break down earning potential by gender, race and pre-existing health issues (smoking, diabetes, etc.) to determine how much a victim would have earned during his or her lifetime. It is one of the only instances in the legal system in which race and gender are regularly considered in determining a damage award.
Women and Minorities Receive Less
Projections take into account average lifetime earnings. Because statistics show white males earn more on average than minorities and women in similar positions, a white male or his family often receives a larger award than a person of color or a woman in a similar wrongful death or catastrophic injury case.
Keep Calm and Collect Information After A Car Wreck
The minutes and hours following a car wreck can be hectic and confusing. Thoughts become scrambled and logic may disappear as you receive treatment for your own injuries or stay close to family members or others who are injured in the crash.
This recap of steps to take when a wreck occurs can help you accomplish important tasks and avoid common mistakes that can prove costly. As you will see, a cellphone is a critical tool to record important information following a wreck.
Check on the condition of all drivers and passengers. This may seem obvious, but there are important details that should be followed. Anyone experiencing back or neck pain should not move until qualified medical assistance arrives on the scene.
Report the wreck to police immediately. Ask the dispatcher how long it will take for police to arrive at the scene. If you or others are seriously injured, report that to the dispatcher.
Take proper safety precautions. Activate your car's warning flashers. If you can move your vehicle out of traffic and onto the shoulder or side of the roadway, do so. If an injury prevents someone from moving, remain with them. Do not move an injured person if moving risks making the injury worse. If at all possible, step away from the crash area and move to a safe location that is clear of traffic.
The Walk of Life: Being A Pedestrian Is Getting Riskier
The past two years have been challenging for auto safety, and even worse for pedestrians. A study released by the Governors Highway Safety Association reports pedestrian fatalities increased 22 percent in the past two years. Based on data from the first six months of 2016, the report projected there were 5,997 pedestrian fatalities in 2016, which is up from 4,910 in 2014.
This increase in pedestrian fatalities comes on the heels of a report from the National Safety Council that traffic fatalities in general increased 14 percent in the past two years, marking the first increase in consecutive years since the 1960s.
Texas and three other states - California, Florida and New York - account for 42 percent of pedestrian deaths in the United States. Using preliminary data for the last six months of 2016, the Governors Highway Safety Association report stated Texas had 322 pedestrian deaths last year, an increase of 33 percent over 2015. Thirty-four states had an increase in pedestrian deaths in 2016.
The Massive Expense of Suffering a Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries can be emotionally and financially devastating to the victim and their loved ones. Much of a person's identity is wrapped up in their personality and their physical ability to do the things they love. Both of these driving forces could be dramatically impacted by a traumatic brain injury. In addition, the victim and their family could be responsible for significant medical bills that accompany the treatment of such a severe injury.
Many people assume that their health insurance will simply pick up the tab regarding the injury; however, this does not mean there will not be significant money the victim will owe due to high deductibles or other health insurance limits (in addition to a health insurance plan's subrogation rights) that could still place a family in dire financial straits. Furthermore, many physicians refuse to treat injury victims regardless of whether they have health insurance. What makes a traumatic brain injury potentially so expensive?
An Overview of what can be Claimed After a Car Accident
Unfortunately, car accidents are a reality of the road. There are numerous conditions that can contribute to a car accident. Sometimes, the weather becomes so bad that drivers cannot see the car in front of them. Other times, negligent drivers or drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol can cause serious multi-car pileups.
Regardless of the circumstances, all car accidents have the potential to lead to serious medical injuries. These bills can place individuals and families under severe financial stress, particularly if the patient requires an intensive care stay or a surgical procedure. Sometimes, there are legal routes for financial relief. What kinds of damages can be claimed after car accidents occur?
The Potential for Lost Wages
When people are seriously injured in a car accident, they may be forced to miss time at work. While some employers might be understanding given the circumstances, other employers may force their employee to use up their vacation time and sick days. Once these have been exhausted, the injured party may start losing pay. Someone who is injured in a car accident may be able to seek damages equal to the amount of wages lost during their recovery period. Nobody should deserve to lose their income due to injury. This is a common reason for damages claimed in car accident cases.
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From our offices in McKinney, Frisco, Paris, and Sherman, we serve clients throughout Collin County, Lamar County, Grayson County, and all of the state of Texas, including Plano, Murphy, Allen, Princeton, Prosper, Celina, Carrollton, Denton, Lewisville, Bonham, Dallas, and Denison.
Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.
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