Truck Accident Attorney Choose Carefully

In an accident, the collision between a commercial truck and a compact car, well, that's like putting an elephant in a boxing ring with a mouse! Who do you think is going to come out the better?

There are hundreds of thousands of these big, bad machines on our highways and they're involved in thousands of accidents a year.

Don't assume anything, talk to a qualified

Accident Attorney before you talk to anyone!

If you are involved in an accident involving a commercial truck, you need to seek the legal advice of a qualified South Texas Truck Accident Attorney. These types of lawsuits are tricky to handle. Truck drivers who are running for a company may have the upper hand right after the accident. They can immediately dispatch the company who in turn is going to immediately contact their insurance company.

I recommend that people always carry a disposable camera in their car. Having a camera phone with you is also a great idea. If you are not seriously injured, it is wise to take photographs or video immediately following the accident. You may capture a vital piece of evidence that perhaps the police might miss.

Your South Texas Accident Attorney will thoroughly investigate all the evidence. They will speak to anyone who may have witnessed the accident. The will also gather all police reports and photographs and medical records.

Your attorney will investigate if the truck driver was following their companies rules and regulations at the time of the accident. Was the truck driver operating beyond the amount of time they were allowed? Truck drivers who push themselves for to long may become overtired and a tired truck driver on the road can result in a deadly accident.

Your truck accident attorney isn't just dealing with the truck driver. They have to deal with the trucking company and their insurance company.

If you are injured in an accident involving a commercial truck, you may be eligible for damages such as medical bills, loss of income, and damages to your vehicle.

You need to keep in mind however that one must take extra care when you see a large truck on the road. Keep your distance. Never attempt to pull up alongside of a semi if you are both making a right-hand turn. They need much more room to make a turn and because of their size, chances are they won't even see you. In a way, this makes both parties somewhat responsible and in Texas, this is called 'comparative negligence'.

Don't assume anything, talk to a qualified Accident Attorney before you talk to anyone!

We hope you've enjoyed this information and learned a bit from it as well. Are hopes are that you may live a happier and healthy life because of it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Keith_Ule/102691

California Truck Accident Attorney Derives Safety Recommendations From Recent Accident Statistics!

Every accident has a cause, but can you avoid an accident with a truck? The answer is yes, if you follow the rules we have derived from many years as a California Truck accident lawyer. Ask yourself, would you rather hire a truck accident attorney to represent you or avoid the collision all together?

California and U.S. Truck accident statistics of truck accidents can help us see why accidents with trucks happen. A 2008 NTSB, (National Transportation and Safety Board), the study recorded the number of California and National truck and bus accidents producing death or injury. In California, 8,700 truck and bus accidents occurred and nationally the number of accidents was 148,500.

California recorded over 300 deaths, while nationally the death toll was 4,600

California recorded over 300 deaths, while nationally the death toll was 4,600. Of the 148,500 truck and bus crash in the U.S. 88,500 sustained injuries from 60,000 accidents. The injury statistics may not be complete as it only records injury reported at the scene. Any Truck accident lawyer knows that it can take days for symptoms to onset.

More than half of the truck accidents were related to truck driver error, as divided into four categories; recognizing that a danger is approaching, accounting for one-third of accidents, unavoidable seizures or heart attacks which cause about 8,000 accidents a year, poor reaction by the truck driver, which is the most of any category exceeding 50% and finally panicking or overreacting to an event, thereby causing an accident.

To avoid being involved in a truck accident, here are a couple of easy steps you can take to stay out of the way of trucks.

Inattention, distraction or failing to perceive danger: If a driver is having a heart attack, a seizure, or falls asleep, or does not perceive the danger before it is too late, there is little you can do once the truck is bearing down on you. These two categories represent more than one-half of all truck driver-related accidents. Obviously, as a safety precaution, try never to put your vehicle in this position. To do that here are some simple rules:

* Never allow a truck to travel close behind you in your lane. Switch lanes, or speed up and leave it behind. In close traffic, it is better to remain behind the truck than in front of it.

* Before passing or overtaking a truck, make sure that you have enough room to complete the maneuver without pulling in front of the truck too soon.

* Even if there are multiple lanes, pass the truck, do not operate next to it for any length of time.

These two steps help you avoid the inadvertent swerve as the driver falls asleep, or the failure to recognize a danger when they cannot see you or do not slow fast enough. Imagine if most vehicle drivers observed these simple rules, more than one-half of all truck accident injuries would almost be nonexistent.

Poor driver reaction to danger or overreaction: The second category of causes of accidents is a little more involved. They require you to assess whether the driver is competent. When a truck driver is making a poor decision, overreacting or recognizing a danger but traveling too close, there will be tell signs you can observe before passing or traveling alongside a truck. As an example, if you see a truck speeding well in excess of the speed limit, do not consider this driver to be competent.

In fact drivers know that excessive speed is very much a cause of many accidents. They are speeding because they have made a conscious choice to risk some danger for their personal need to arrive at their destination faster. While the typical driver of an auto does the same thing, the consequences of injury are much more likely to occur when a truck is involved in a collision.

* Therefore observing the driver behavior before passing or traveling in front of a truck is paramount. Is the driver swerving, traveling too fast for the conditions, running up the back of another truck or car too often, braking hard then accelerating too fast. If they are, rest assured that if they are faced with a dangerous condition ahead of them, they may not act appropriately, and in fact may cause an accident with your car. If you observe this behavior, either travel well back of the truck, or pass and advance well ahead of the truck by a few miles, and do not allow the truck to catch up to you. If the driver causes an accident, at least you will be far from the collision.

As a California truck accident lawyer, many clients come to us with injuries from an accident. While the accident is not their fault, all would say they would rather have avoided the accident altogether. These suggestions have been observed as applicable in most truck accidents. Follow them and protect yourself and your family.

As a California truck accident attorney, James Ballidis has helped truck accident victims plead and prove their claims for over 25 years. You can obtain more statistics by referring to a more detailed study of Truck Accidents in California and the Nation. Please feel free to also take advantage of our free books on such subjects as how to find an attorney, how to process your own claim and additional information about truck accidents and your rights by visiting the California truck accident lawyer site or the firm California personal injury and claims processing web pages. Please call with any questions at 1 866 981-5596.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/James_Ballidis/571325

Get Compensated by Hiring an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney

The first thing to do when one is involved in a truck accident is to hire an experienced truck accident attorney who is well versed with the regulations and existing state laws that apply to the scene of the accident. You should be able to get a verdict that is successful as the trucking company dispatches their Accident Response Teams immediately to plan the defense against the claims when a person is injured due to the truck accident. The attorney should be able to pursue the case aggressively in your favor. This is carried out by focusing on different types of accidents that take place which include trucks, semis, and 18-wheelers. These attorneys know how to advocate for the victims of truck accidents and will prosecute the lawsuit cases that they take up anywhere in the country.

The results of a collision with a huge tractor-trailer or similar type of commercial vehicle cause devastating results due to the size of the vehicle. The attorney has to file complex lawsuits which are not in the same bracket as the crash cases from cars. This is because they have to handle different safety regulations as well and comply with safety regulations that are specific to trucks.

If you or anyone of your family members is faced with this type of situation do not hesitate to get a consultation with the law firm. There are many accident attorneys who are both skilled and experienced in handling these cases. You can get a free consultation but it is imperative to hire one immediately an accident occurs so that they can collect evidence before it is destroyed. Re-constructionists of accidents are generally hired by the truck accident lawyers who will try to document and preserve evidence. The evidence that are generally available are scuff and yaw marks which do not last after a couple of hours. Once the accident has taken place and the police barriers are removed, the other trucks and cars that pass the same route will wipe out all evidence.

The varying changes in weather will also remove all traces of marks etc. The other criterion is that truck companies can dispose of documents that are related to the truck accident as mandated by FMCSR (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations) after a certain specified time period. The truck accident attorney starts collecting, examining and preserving evidence that is related to the truck crash as soon as you hire him. It is important to collect as much evidence as possible as it will work to your advantage. These could be damages caused due to the failure of the brakes or tires of the truck. The truck attorney can use these to prove that the defective product caused the accident and the manufacturer or owner of the truck can be proved liable for damages.

You are sure to get good compensations for injuries suffered if you hire the truck accident attorney. This will help you to tide over the financial or emotional losses. If property or income is damaged or lost and the victim is unable to earn the same income due to suffering or pain, they will litigate the case and seek additional compensation.

You must hire an experienced Beverly Hills truck accident attorney to get a fair compensation. For more information regarding the same, visit kashlegal.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/M_Umesh/739148

Practical Tips for Avoiding Truck Accidents

Due to their immense size and enormous weight, commercial trucks handle differently than normal automobiles. Big rigs and other large trucks usually require more time to start and stop and take a longer period of time to accelerate as well. When a large commercial truck is involved in a collision or accident with another automobile, the results are catastrophic. The victims of truck accidents have a far greater chance of suffering serious injury or fatality because of the size, weight, and speed of large trucks. The devastating nature of semi-truck accidents has led to the formation of a Semi Truck Accident Victims Center that serves innocent victims in the United States.

One of the best ways that we can protect against the devastating
consequences of truck accidents is to prevent them
from happening in the first place

One of the best ways that we can protect against the devastating consequences of truck accidents is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Every driver should practice defensive driving skills and be on the alert at all times for bad or reckless drivers. One of the contributing causes of commercial truck accidents is related to the large blind spots located in the front, back and sides of large trucks. Bikers and automobile drivers are in danger for collision if they spend a period of time riding in a truck driver's blind spot.

These blind spots in commercial trucks can also lead to accidents and fatalities because of what is called the "right hook". This term refers to the large right turn that truck drivers make when their tractor-trailer swings out to the left. Right hook turns are one of the leading causes of bicycle fatalities, and the driver should also be sure to give trucks extra space around turns. Be on the alert for turn signals, brake lights and backup lights from commercial trucks and other vehicles as well.

Above all, you should notify the proper authorities if you notice that a truck driver is driving aggressively or carelessly. It is better to pull off the road and let the truck pass than to risk getting in a serious accident. If you or someone you know has been injured because of the negligence or recklessness of a truck driver, you may be able to file a claim for compensation with the help of a Palm Beach truck accident attorney. The first step involved in seeking compensation is filing a claim, but you must also be prepared to defend your rights against a trucking insurance company as well.

If you have been unable to avoid a truck accident and you have been injured as a result, the time in which you can protect your rights is limited. When you contact a Palm Beach truck accident attorney at Weinstein, Scharf & Dubinsky, a legal expert will take the time to investigate your accident and determine if you qualify for compensation.

Regardless of the circumstances that led to your accident, we will provide you with high-quality legal care and representation. We are not afraid to take your claim against large trucking companies and powerful insurance companies, and you can trust that we will act in your best interests. Contact a Palm Beach truck accident lawyer at our firm, and learn more about how we can help at [http://www.personalinjurylawfirmpalmbeach.com].


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Lawrence_Weinstein/1256702

Trucking Industry Calls On Federal Government to Clarify Automated Truck Rules

Due partially to worries about potential execution of clashing state rules representing mechanized and associated trucks, the American Trucking Association (ATA) as of late supported its first far reaching approach on computerized trucks and related rising advancements. The ATA's new approach talks about wellbeing, the separate parts of the elected and state governments, consistency crosswise over state lines, framework, and instruction.

According to the ATA, federal and state laws and regulations
should not require or limit different levels of automation.

Communicating that mechanized and associated vehicles can possibly lessen engine vehicle crashes and related fatalities, the ATA requires a coalition with government, the scholarly world, explore establishments, and the private division to show expanded wellbeing identified with computerized and associated vehicle innovation. The ATA noticed that inside the use of mechanized and associated trucking innovation, there remains a part for drivers because of their obligations and necessities past working the vehicle.

Consistency Needed in Automated Trucking Technology Rules 

As per the ATA, government and state laws and directions ought not require or confine diverse levels of computerization. The ATA underscores that clashing or duplicative state and government would defer advancement and usage of the new advances' potential wellbeing benefits, fuel reserve funds, outflows, and transportation enhancements. Consistency in robotized trucking rules over the states is critical for the trucking business.

The strategy urges consistency and approaches the national government to assume sole liability for drafting and managing execution and specialized particulars for mechanized and associated trucks and, if important, to utilize appropriation to accomplish consistency objectives. Distinctive states ought not have diverse mechanized trucking rules. Obsolete wellbeing laws and directions ought to be reexamined as information exhibits a particular innovation's capacity to build security.

In accordance with the strategy, states would keep on maintaining obligations that don't meddle with interstate trade. States should step toward evacuating existing boundaries that may smother development, testing, and sending of cutting edge innovation.

Existing Federal Legislation 

As of late, the House passed the Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research in Vehicle Evolution – or SELF DRIVE Act – concerning the direction organization of self-driving autos and refreshing elected standards that apply to them and additionally tending to the particular parts of elected and state governments. Proposed government enactment to direct robotized driving frameworks does not hitherto address mechanized trucks.

The ATA is supporting for comparable regard for the computerized and associated driving frameworks in the trucking business.

San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyers

Trucks are large, powerful vehicles that are extremely useful when it comes to transporting large amounts of materials from one place to another. However, with such convenience comes a greatly increased degree of danger that presents itself whenever accidents involving trucks occur. Their sheer size puts all other motorists at great risk of injury when involved in a collision with trucks, and the variety of ways in which a person can be injured is unfortunate.

According to national guidelines, truck drivers are not allowed
to drive for more than 11 hours straight

Trucks are sophisticated machines that require regular maintenance to ensure that they are working properly. If maintenance does not occur, then a truck may experience engine problems or brake failure. In addition, trailer hitches must be regularly inspected to avoid Texas runaway trailer accidents, and brake lights and side reflectors must all be functioning properly to ensure that motorists who are driving within close proximity to a large truck at night can see the truck and avoid accidents. Failure to see a large truck at night could result in either a rear collision or an under-ride collision, in which a passenger vehicle becomes wedged underneath the truck and is dragged by the truck, sometimes for quite a distance before a tired truck driver can even notice.

Truck drivers themselves pose another danger to motorists. According to national guidelines, truck drivers are not allowed to drive for more than 11 hours straight and must take daily 10 hour breaks. Unfortunately, many truck drivers, in attempts to deliver their loads quicker and take on more delivery jobs, consequently increasing their own financial incentive, choose to drive longer than the allowed time frame, sometimes utilizing over-the-counter stimulants to keep themselves alert and awake. However, once the stimulants wear off, and even while under the influence of said stimulants, truck drivers are more of a hazard to the road than anything else. Factor in sleep deprivation and you have a recipe for disaster where driver negligence can lead to truck accidents of deadly proportion.

With truck accidents in San Antonio, negligence can be attributed to truck drivers, trucking companies, and/or the owner of the involved truck. If mechanical failure caused the accident, then the truck’s owner can be held liable for damages. If a driver loses control of his truck, possibly because that driver is under the influence of an illicit substance, then the driver should be held liable for damages. In fact, if dangerous road conditions, such as poorly paved roads or obscured street signs/traffic signals are the cause of the accident, then even the city/governing body of the location in which the accident occurred may be held liable for monetary damages.

In any event, it is important to have someone on your side that can sort through the details of your accident and determine the negligent party at fault. At Villarreal & Begum Law Group, our skilled San Antonio personal injury lawyers will help you seek monetary compensation to help cover medical bills, physical therapy costs, and possibly even lost wages in the event that injuries sustained have prevented you from being able to go about your daily routine in life. Please call us today for a free consultation, and a knowledgeable Texas truck accident attorney at Villarreal & Begum Law Group will examine every aspect of your case to ensure that your rights are upheld in a court of law, and negligent parties are rightfully held accountable for their actions.

Source: VB Law Group

Platooning Tractor-Trailers – Is it Safe?

Is it a smart thought for two 80,000-pound 18-wheelers to rear-end each other? Many states are thinking about that issue, because of the rise of innovation intended to make trucks more secure, combined with vehicle-to-vehicle correspondences. These advances would permit two carefully associated trucks to take after each other out and about at a nearer separate in light of the fact that the electronically-connected trucks quicken and brake together, bypassing the driver. This electronic matching of tractor-trailers is called platooning.

Platooning Tractor-Trailers – Is it Safe?

Platooning Saves Fuel 

Platooning can spare cash by decreasing fuel costs because of "slipstreaming." When two trucks match up nearly, the wind streams all the more easily with less air drag. A truck in the slipstream of another tractor-trailer can spare 10 percent on fuel. The truck in front will likewise consume around 5 percent less fuel. Purchasing diesel regularly sums to 20 percent of working costs, which over the business keeps running into billions of dollars.

Is Tractor-Trailer Platooning Legal? 

Many states have "following excessively close" driving statutes that effect platooning. A few states have just exempted platooning from those statutes to permit platooning by and large. Others are exempting platooning from the take after excessively close standards to approve the testing of platooning innovation on state streets. An interactive guide demonstrating state-by-state rules tending to platooning is accessible here.

Is Tractor-Trailer Platooning Safe? 

Trucks are associated with 11 percent of deadly crashes, despite the fact that they make up only 4 percent of vehicles out and about, as per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Yearly crash-casualty information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that 72 percent of the 4,317 individuals who kicked the bucket in expansive truck crashes in 2016 were in traveler autos and 11 percent were walkers, bicyclists, street laborers, or cops.

Platooning depends on innovations as of now introduced in a few trucks, which must be associated, subsequently, continuous information is a necessity. In carefully associated trucks, a camera from the front truck shows the street in front of it to the driver of the second truck. Platooning impacts the capacity of drivers to decide. A lost association could affect wellbeing.

Wellbeing advocates are worried about platooning trucks, as per Jonathan Adkins, official executive of the Governors Highway Safety Association. One issue is how different drivers will respond – will they endeavor to cut in the middle of the two trucks? Will companies square off-ramps? The responses to these and different inquiries stay to be seen.

Analysts at the U.S. Division of Transportation's Volpe Center concentrated one issue concerning mechanized companies – that is the ideal separation the trucks should be from each other to keep up wellbeing and still receive the rewards related with platooning. In view of Volpe's discoveries, following separations of around one moment could limit crash chance, while saving the advantages of platooning. That slices the standard after separation down the middle. Rather than having two seconds to react, drivers would have one moment. On the off chance that the lead truck imparts legitimately, and the accompanying truck reacts fittingly, there is no requirement for the accompanying truck driver to react by any means. Be that as it may, would one say one is sufficiently second time to react if something turns out badly simultaneously?

Two vast truck fabricating organizations, Navistar and Daimler, are planning to put platooning trucks out and about. A California new business, Peloton Technology, is working with truck producers all alone platooning framework. Daimler's North American truck unit reports that it got consent from the Oregon Department of Transportation to test its platooning innovation on open streets. By then, this present reality ramification of platooning and its effect on street wellbeing, particularly for tenants of traveler autos, will turn out to be clear. In trusts, platooning will turn out to be protected and blameless drivers won't be harmed or slaughtered amid the on-street testing.