Texas Truck Wreck Attorney Blog

Long overdue the new fuel economy rules for tractor-trailers was announced today in Washington DC. The new standards were authorized under a bill signed into law by Pres. George W. Bush way back in 2007. It is taken until today to develop the standards, which have been described, as fairly complex.

While the new rules are going to cover new trucks in the year 2018 and designed to save 20% in fuel efficiency the standards are long overdue. On balance, trucking companies will see the price of the new truck increase, which will be offset in no time by reduced fuel consumption, which is the major expenditure for trucking companies.

The net effect for commercial carriers will be increase profit from the new standards. There will be some who criticize the move toward more fuel-efficient vehicles but there is no doubt that the new regulations will increase profit for trucking companies and small owner operators.

Generally the larger the truck the more savings for the trucking company under the new rules. Not only will profits for trucking companies be increased but we will be that much less dependent upon foreign oil to meet our needs.

The technology exists to have rapid and substantial increases in miles per gallon for almost all vehicles on the roadway. Heavy resistance from both consumers and manufacturers has slowed the progress toward more fuel-efficient vehicles. No credible expert has opined that the new standards will do anything but increase profits for small businesses and trucking companies.

The less it costs you to haul your goods the better your bottom line.

Continue reading "New Fuel Economy Rules for Big Rigs" »

Many people who have been faced with a very serious accident, injury or death of a family call their family lawyer right for help with handling the matter. Often, hiring a general practitioner, a family lawyer, a business lawyer or a criminal defense attorney is not the best alternative for serious injury case. Why is that so?

While Texas allows any licensed attorney to handle any matter the lawyer feels competent to undertake, there is no question that experience matters. A lawyer who has handled hundreds if not thousands of personal injury cases and only personal-injury cases is in a better position most of the time to successfully conclude the matter.

Many times, a lawyer who is not accustomed to handling serious personal injury cases on a day-by-day basis is not prepared to handle the case on a contingency basis and fund the litigation to obtain the best result. Most personal-injury lawyers are accustomed to what it takes to get the case to the finish line financially.

Frankly, a good deal of the time a lawyer who is not a full-time personal injury lawyer will often seek help of a personal injury attorney after the case is begun and they realize what it takes to fund the case.

The best approach is to serve as case is seek out a Texas personal injury lawyer from the start.

If you take public transportation because you believe it to be safer than driving then consider the following news items. You may decide you're better off driving yourself.

*A young woman was injured on a New York subway when the car door from which she was deboarding closed on her before she had completely exited. Her injuries were substantial.

*When an elderly male was stepping off a public bus from the back the driver began to pull off - causing the man to fall out the door. Although he was injured - it could have been worse. The bus driver nearly ran over the man before passengers got his attention and urged him to stop.

*A man on vacation at Disneyworld was struck and eventually died from his injuries when he was hit by a Resort bus.

*Two morning trains carrying passengers into the city for work collided near the Great Lakes recently. Several persons were injured.

*A ferry taking passengers across a well-known waterway began to take on water. The coast guard came to their rescue.

Planes, trains, buses and other forms of public transportation can pose danger to unsuspecting passengers in a moment's notice. Follow all rules and regulations that are posted for your safety.

Continue reading "Public Transportation Accidents" »

Rehabilitation after an automobile or truck accident is a personal and - for many - painful issue - even in the case of what some would label 'a minor incident'.

Sometimes after an accident the individual suffers either temporary or permanent physical changes - such as a traumatic brain injury, broken bones, internal injuries or even the loss of a limb.

More often than not accident victims will experience some level of post-traumatic stress disorder and in a 'worst-case' scenario there may have been the loss of a loved one.

Therefore, rehabilitation may take many forms. Survivors may seek emotional or mental counseling with a psychiatrist or psychologist. They may need to undergo physical rehabilitation that will allow them to return to their normal way of life - or learn how to life in a new reality due to life-altering injuries. Often there is a need for a combination of emotional and physical rehabilitation.

Those who work in the field of rehabilitative services continue to refine their skills so as to ensure that the victim receives the most advanced support possible. It is common for teams of professionals that include a social worker, psychologist, nurses and doctors to meet, discuss and create a comprehensive rehabilitation or life plan. They then reconvene on a regular basis to assess the patient's overall progress.

Their goal is to give new hope and life to the victim as they move forward.

Continue reading "Rehabilitation From a Car Wreck" »

Nothing can be more frustrating than a vehicle collision with an 18-wheeler (with or without injuries) that results from poor maintenance of the semi-truck or other safety violations. Truck drivers (and the companies they represent) have an obligation to keep their rigs in perfect working order. They also have a responsibility to ensure that they are healthy and alert enough to get behind the wheel of the behemoth vehicle as well.

Yet time and time again safety issues take a back seat to a company's bottom line. Trucks take to the road with worn tires, dangerously inadequate braking systems and other problems.

Drivers move from state to state and company to company leaving past driving transgressions unknown and uncovered. Some are simply too old to be driving (consider the 76 year old man who caused a deadly accident because he failed to see that the traffic was at a standstill in front of him. He literally ran over several cars and their occupants and killed several people).

Now Congress has taken up the matter of increased safety requirements for the trucking industry on more than one occasion.

Unfortunately, the very powerful trucking lobby has been able to prevent the enactment of anything but a few minor laws. If you are concerned about trucking safety I advise you to contact your state representative. In a match-up between safety and dollars - I vote for safety every time.

Continue reading "Truck Accidents From Improper Maintenance " »