Brian Eberstein Talks About Why You Need To Check Your Insurance Coverage

Brian Eberstein

WE HATE PAYING FOR INSURANCE TOO!

But, there is a type of insurance that, today, is almost a must for you and me to have. First, If I asked you how many people in Texas are driving around without any insurance, what would you say? How about two million! That crazy number is about people who are drivers in Texas who have zero insurance on their car. So, when you are driving in your own neighborhood or on I30 or Loop 12 or Belt Line Road or I20 or anywhere in the Dallas/Ft Worth area, every 3rd or 4th car driving next to you and not paying attention because they’re on their cell phone has NO insurance. When they finally veer into your lane of traffic and destroy your car and injure you, there’s no one to pay for the car or your medical bills. Now, getting back to insurance, which we don’t like paying for, there is this: You must protect yourself and your family with Uninsured Motorist insurance. And, Texas law requires it in all automobile policies.

Yes, Texas law requires it. Unless you, the person buying the insurance, reject it. Please read this: your insurance agent will put several documents in front of you when you’re buying your car insurance. One of those will be a reject form for Uninsured Motorist coverage. Don’t sign it. It is not expensive insurance to buy and it is, in my opinion, a must for you to have to protect yourself and your family. A must. Please get Uninsured Motorist insurance. Many people don’t and most are unaware that they rejected it. I hear “ I have full coverage “ all the time, but without Uninsured Motorist insurance, you may have protected the other guy in a crash, but not you or your family. If you want to discuss how this works in more detail, call me. You’ll get me and we can discuss. Here’s a good number. 800-448-6487. I answer that phone. If I can help with anything else that’s on your mind, give me a call.

-Brian Eberstein

You Need Legal Help after a Semi Truck Accident

You Need Legal Help after a Semi Truck Accident

Ensure Indemnification with a Truck Accident Attorney

Indemnification.  You have probably seen the word before, and it’s usually used in association with insurance policies.  Really, it’s a fancy way of saying, “to be made whole again.”  After an accident, the insurance kicks in and provides monetary reimbursement that is supposed to make your finances “whole” again.  Often, however, that doesn’t happen.  To get there, you need the help of a semi truck wreck attorney that will fight on your behalf.

Because a semi truck weighs so much more than a car (80,000 pounds versus 5,000 pounds in many cases), the damage and fatality rate in these accidents are much higher than in car on car accidents.  Because the problems are so much higher, and so much more complicated, you need to seek semi truck accident legal help.

Four Major Causes of Semi Truck Accidents

When we talk about semi trucks, we are referring to the large freight haulers often called 18-wheelers.  These causes aren’t limited to semi trucks though; any commercial truck driver is held to a higher driving standard because of the potentially serious results if they mess up.

Commercial Truck Driver Fatigue
Current regulations allow drivers to be on the road for a maximum of 11 hours per day (following 10 consecutive hours of not driving).  That time is bumped up to 14 hours if there is a small break during those hours.  Without getting too much into the finer details of hourly limitations, suffice to say that after many consecutive days on the road, drivers get tired!  It doesn’t matter how experienced you are, fatigue sets in and decision making is impaired.

If you have been involved in a semi-truck accident, you need an attorney to help you settle the case.

Truck Driver Drug Use
Because driving is tiring, and because many drivers work back-to-back 11+ hour days, drug use is not uncommon.  And we aren’t talking narcotics (although there are instances where that has been the cause); instead, many drivers turn to over-the-counter drugs.  From coffee to no-doze, to other stimulants that help ward off the drowsiness, and on to other medications such as allergy meds that actually cause impaired function, drugs don’t have to be illegal to have a detrimental effect.

After an accident with a semi truck, it’s important to have an attorney help to determine the actual cause.

Mechanical Issues
Commercial trucks have required inspections every 12 months.  Since there are many mechanical issues that can occur between inspections, drivers should be doing a quick inspection before every trip.  Unfortunately, this is often skipped.  Drivers miss issues that could have been easily spotted in a routine 15 minute inspection.  And when a major issue comes up, such as the loss of brakes, accidents with fatal outcomes occur.

Your truck accident attorney can prove that mechanical inspections were not up-to-date after your accident.

Stress to Meet Deadlines
Truck drivers are under a lot of stress to get shipments to the destination on time.  Combine that with limitations on driving hours, and some drivers will take unnecessary risks to avoid being reprimanded by their employer.  The result is a less safe road for everyone and their travels.

Enlisting the help of a truck accident attorney can allow a probe into the company policies to determine the issues.

Attorney Zach Herbert Offers Legal Help after a Semi Truck Accident

Commercial truck drivers are under a lot of stress.  Often they aren’t trained properly.  Sometimes they’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  Sometimes fatigue has set in and their decision making skills are slowed down.  When a semi truck driver causes an accident, it’s often with fatal consequences.

To help prevent future accidents, the drivers and their companies need to be held accountable.  On top of that, you and your family need to be indemnified.  Too often, a quick settlement that doesn’t nearly cover the costs associated with the accident (not to mention ongoing pain and suffering) is offered.

Attorney Zach Herbert, serving Texas and Oklahoma as a semi truck accident attorney, can help you get the restitution that you deserve.  If you’re ready to learn more, fill out our contact form or give us a call at 214-414-3808 and let’s chat.

Let’s make this right.

Dallas Car Wreck Lawyer Says Avoiding Treatment May Hurt Your Case

Dallas Car Wreck Lawyer Says Avoiding Treatment May Hurt Your Case

“Avoiding the doctor isn’t just bad for your health, it can hurt your personal injury claim as well,” says Dallas car wreck lawyer, Attorney Zach Herbert. Some people avoid treatment because they don’t want to admit that they are injured. Others avoid the doctor because they cannot afford it.  In one study reported in The Journal of General Internal Medicine, a variety of reasons were reported for individuals to not seek treatment. One category avoided the doctor due to poor perceptions related to doctors, healthcare personnel, or systems. Another category avoided the doctor primarily because they were hoping that their condition would improve without having to go. The last category avoided the doctor because of costs barriers, no health insurance, or time associated with treatment.¹

Regardless of what you tell yourself, avoiding the doctor and avoiding treatment is not going to make the pain, injury, or illness go away.  Only by getting treatment can one begin to heal. Once on the path to recovery and treatment, you also need to follow through. This gives you the greatest chance of success at healing.

A major barrier to treatment to those injured in an auto accident in Texas is that they are victimized multiple times on their way to recovery.  Not only are they dealing with the initial accident, but later they are dealing with the compounding physical and financial effects of the aftermath of the injury.  This can include (among other things) costs associated with the loss of a vehicle or physical property, costs associated with the loss of work, physical pain, and medical bills.  Even if you have medical insurance, there are significant costs associated with seeking treatment that tempts many to not follow through on their treatment. This is a bad idea.

Not getting treated may make the injury worse and is not the path to healing and recovery.  By avoiding treatment you are sending a message that your injuries are not that serious. If your injuries are not serious enough for you to get treated, then a jury is not likely to see them as serious either.  It is a lot more difficult to get compensated for future medical treatment expenses when you’ve already demonstrated that you are willing to put off or avoid treatment (regardless of the reason). If you are injured in a car accident in Dallas, you should seek treatment and continue in accordance with your doctors’ orders.

What if you are having real difficulty getting treatment?  Maybe you don’t have insurance. Maybe you can’t afford the time off from work.  The good news is that you do not have to go through the healing and recovery process alone. The Herbert & Eberstein is here to assist you in the recovery process. We are a team of personal injury lawyers in Dallas who have been through this process many times with and for our clients. We will work hard to get you the medical treatment and financial recovery that you need to get you back on your feet.

Media Contact:

Personal Injury Attorney Zach Herbert

(T): 214-414-3808

zachherbert.attorney

How Each of Us Can Help Prevent School Bus Accidents

How we can help prevent school bus accidents

School buses are the safest form of transportation for school-aged children. Unfortunately, school bus accidents still happen. Here’s what you can do to help keep children safe.

School buses provide an incredibly valuable service to families all across the United States. They arrive on schedule every day to safely transport parents’ most precious cargo to and from school and other school-related functions. We often take the safety of these buses for granted, and a recent increase in school bus accidents has caused many parents to think twice about putting their children on them.

In general, school bus accidents are a relatively rare occurrence. Yet, last year we saw a cluster of school bus-related accidents that occurred due to distracted drivers. “When it comes to the safety of children, we all have a responsibility to do our part in preventing these types of accidents from occurring,” says Dallas personal injury lawyer, Attorney Zach Herbert.

School Bus Accident Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, school buses are among the safest vehicles on the road.  In fact, a child is more likely to be involved in an accident while being transported by a parent or walking to school. Recent school bus accident statistics support both of these claims.

In a report covering the ten year period from 2006 to 2015, there were 1,172 fatal accidents that were related to school buses. This number represents not even half a percentage point of all fatal accidents that occurred during the same time period. Of these, the overwhelming majority happened when the child was outside of the school bus, including waiting at the bus stop or crossing the road. (1)

What we can gather from this information is that the biggest threat to children boarding, exiting or traveling on school buses is the other drivers on the road. This scenario is exactly what happened in a series of accidents that occurred in late 2018. The accidents that occurred in Indiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Florida resulted in five fatalities and seven injuries at the hands of distracted drivers who failed to slow down and stop at school bus stops.

Unfortunately, there were also several school bus crashes last year that resulted in injuries and fatalities- including one that occurred in North Texas last October in which one fatality and three injuries were reported.

A single school bus-related accident is one too many. Here is what you can do to help keep our communities and roadways a safer place for our children and the hardworking school bus drivers who are in charge of transporting them safely every day.

Tips for School Bus Safety

When it comes to accidents that occur at school bus stops, there’s only so much that the bus driver can do to keep children safe. On the roadways, school buses should be given extra attention from other drivers traveling on the same road. Here are a few tips for doing your part to promote school bus safety.

  • If a school bus is in front of you, be prepared to stop. When a school bus approaches one of its stops, the driver will flash either yellow or red lights and extend an arm with a stop sign attached. Legally, your vehicle must stop at this point and wait for the bus to indicate it’s safe to resume travel, which is done by turning off the stop lights and lowering its arm.
  • When braking, make sure you allow enough space between your vehicle and the bus for children to safely cross the road and enter or exit their bus.
  • If you see children waiting at a bus stop, proceed with extreme caution. Children have less impulse control and often aren’t fully aware of the consequences of their actions. What’s common horseplay for them could turn into a tragic accident if a car comes along too quickly.
  • Never block a crosswalk or attempt to pass another vehicle that’s stopped for pedestrians.
  • If you’re traveling behind a school bus, allow yourself extra stopping distance.

Reach Out to a Personal Injury Attorney in Dallas

If you or someone you love has been involved in a school bus accident, please reach out to a personal injury attorney in Dallas to review your case. An experienced personal injury attorney at Herbert & Eberstein in Richardson can represent you through the process of filing a personal injury claim. The devastation of the accident was enough, there’s no reason to not seek the compensation you and your family deserve.

 

Media Contact:

Dallas Personal Injury Attorney Zach Herbert

(T): 214-414-3808

zachherbert.attorney

Sources

  1. https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/school-bus-safety
  2. https://www.schoolbusfleet.com/news/724886/nhtsa-report-puts-school-bus-fatality-data-in-perspective

 

Top Reasons to Seek Medical Care After a Minor Automobile Accident

Top reasons to seek medical care after a minor automobile accident.

If you’ve been involved in an automobile accident, it’s absolutely crucial that you receive medical attention, even if the accident was minor. Here are some reasons according to Dallas car wreck lawyer Attorney Zach Herbert.

When a serious automobile accident occurs, emergency responders are often quick to arrive on the scene. These responders include paramedics who can provide a preliminary medical assessment to everyone involved. This situation isn’t always the case in minor accidents where the only emergency responder to arrive on the scene is a police officer who is there only to take a report.

Just because a car wreck itself wasn’t serious doesn’t mean that the people involved didn’t sustain some degree of injury. Neglecting to seek medical attention after an accident, no matter how minor, may be a decision that you’ll ultimately regret.

Why You Might Not Notice a Car Accident Injury

When a collision occurs, it happens in the blink of an eye. Protective safety equipment such as seat belts and airbags can minimize the injuries sustained during impact. Still, it’s important to realize that minor car accident injuries do occur, even in low impact collisions where everyone involved may appear to feel just fine.

We all know that there is a tremendous difference between a minor, low-speed collision and a devastating high impact crash. When a person has been involved in a relatively minor accident, they may take a moment to realize how lucky they are and decide they’re fortunate enough to not need medical attention.

While it’s true that many minor accidents could have been much worse, this doesn’t mean the driver and any passengers haven’t sustained an injury — even if the injuries are not yet apparent. Combine this with the flurry of activity surrounding an accident and it becomes easy to see why people get distracted and forget to make their own wellbeing a top priority.

Reasons You Need Medical Attention After a Car Accident

Anyone who has ever been involved in a car accident, regardless of how minor, knows all too well how disorienting the experience can be for someone. Your levels of stress and adrenaline are at an all-time high and all you really want is to go somewhere else, calm down and try to regain a sense of normal. While it’s tempting to not seek medical attention after a car accident, it’s incredibly important that you do.

Here are a few reasons why.

All other things aside, your health and wellbeing should be your top priority. Symptoms of injuries aren’t always immediately evident, especially after a minor collision. It’s possible for the rush of adrenaline you’re experiencing to block some of the initial physical pain of an injury. Soft tissue damage and internal bruising or bleeding can take hours or even days before signs of an injury become obvious.

By not seeking medical attention immediately, you risk causing further damage that could have been prevented by a quick medical assessment after your accident. The pain of back injuries and whiplash can escalate quickly and become potentially life-threatening injuries that when left undiagnosed can pose a serious threat to your health, resulting in hospitalization and additional time in recovery.

There are also practical reasons that you’ll want to seek attention immediately after an accident. For starters, the insurance company is going to want a copy of your medical records if you hope to receive any financial reimbursement for medical expenses and time off work to recover. Additionally, if you’re considering filing a personal injury claim, not seeking immediate medical care can significantly jeopardize your ability to receive fair compensation.

Reach Out to a Personal Injury Attorney in Dallas

If you’ve been in an automobile accident, your very first priority should be to seek medical attention, even if you feel perfectly fine. There will be plenty of time to take care of your vehicle and deal with insurance companies but your health can’t wait. If you believe that you may be entitled to financial damages, a personal injury attorney in Dallas at Herbert & Eberstein can review your case and help you recover the financial compensation you deserve. Call Attorney Zach Herbert in Richardson today at 214-414-3808.

 

Media Contact:

Attorney Zach Herbert

(T): 214-414-3808

https://zachherbert.attorney/

Dallas Personal Injury Attorney Explains Uber Accidents

Dallas Personal Injury Attorney Explains Uber Accidents

Rideshare options have become popular, but what happens if you find yourself involved in a Lyft or Uber accident? Herbert & Eberstein offers some advice.

Rideshare platforms, like Uber and Lyft, have become incredibly popular in recent years. Uber, which was founded in 2009, now makes 15 million trips every day in over 600 cities worldwide.  With so many people taking advantage of the benefits of rideshare platforms, it’s important to understand what happens if you’re unfortunately involved in a Lyft or Uber accident. If you are injured in a Lyft or Uber accident, you may be entitled to damages and should discuss your case with an experienced personal injury lawyer like attorney Zach Herbert at Herbert & Eberstein.

Accidents and Rideshare Liability

When considering the big picture, the popularity of rideshare platforms is only about a decade or so old, which means that there are still some grey areas considering legislation and insurance regulations for rideshare contractors. This naturally opens the discussion about how to handle accidents and rideshare liability.

Most rideshare companies require their drivers to obtain and provide proof of a special rideshare insurance policy. Uber and Lyft provide a certain degree of coverage, but the amount and type of coverage are contingent upon specific details. A rideshare driver who hasn’t acquired an additional insurance policy may not be fully covered in the event of an accident.

This brings up the question of liability in regard to personal injury for passengers who are involved in an Uber or Lyft accident. This is where things can start to get tricky.

How to Respond in an Uber or Lyft Accident

When you use a rideshare program, you’re putting your trust completely in the driver. These services do their best to ensure that their drivers are safe, but this doesn’t eliminate the risks for passengers. Even when a rideshare driver takes every precaution for safety, there’s still a risk presented by other drivers on the road. While these services are generally safe, it’s important to be prepared and to know how to respond in an Uber or Lyft accident.

Anytime that you’re involved in a car accident, the first priority should always be to seek emergency assistance – no matter how minor the accident may seem. Police need to be notified so that an accident report can be filed, but more important than that is that emergency medical responders arrive to assess the health of everyone involved.

It’s important to get a medical examination following an accident, even if you don’t feel that you’ve sustained any injuries. It often happens that injuries can take a day or two to manifest physical symptoms, and turning down a medical examination can work against you in a personal injury case.

If you are physically able to do so, you should gather as much information about the accident that you can at the scene. This process might include taking a few snapshots of the scene with your phone, getting the contact and insurance information of the driver and asking where you can obtain an official copy of the accident report.

Additionally, while the driver has a responsibility to contact the service that they work for and report the accident, you should also make contact with the service as soon as you are able to. Doing so provides them with your own account of the accident and to have their representative answer your questions.

The Final Step Is to Contact a Dallas Personal Injury Attorney

While you should make contact with the rideshare company, it’s important to speak to a Dallas Personal Injury Attorney to discuss how to handle your Lyft or Uber accident. You want to use caution in answering any questions relating to your injuries or medical care with the rideshare provider and you should never accept or deny a claim without the assistance of an experienced attorney. If you are entitled to damages in a rideshare accident, a personal injury attorney can help ensure the very best outcome for your case. Call the attorneys at Herbert & Eberstein in Dallas today to discuss your case.

 

Media Contact:

Attorney Zach Herbert

Phone: 214-414-3808

http://zachherbert.attorney

Sources

  1. http://www.businessofapps.com/data/uber-statistics/

Study Says Trucker Health Affects Accident Risk

Study Says Trucker Health Affects Accident Risk

When a person drives a semi-truck for a living, their “office” is their vehicle. For truckers, staying safe at work means being alert and competent behind the wheel, which often means staying as fit and healthy as possible.

By contrast, an unhealthy driver is more susceptible to serious medical emergencies on the road, which can put the motorists around them at risk.

But just how dangerous is it for a trucker to have a health problem? According to a study from the University of Utah School of Medicine, it can be quite dangerous for an unhealthy driver to get on the road. Researchers have found that truckers who have health conditions can have four times the risk of being involved in a trucking accident.  

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Texas, you should contact a personal injury lawyer like Attorney Zach Herbert of Herbert & Eberstein in Richardson, who has experience handling truck wreck cases. 

Link Between Trucker Health and Truck Crashes

The study, which was published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, looked at the medical records of nearly 50,000 truck drivers involved in accidents between 2005 and 2012.

Researchers found that 34 percent of drivers showed signs of at least one major health condition, including diabetes, low back pain, and heart disease. All three of these conditions have been linked to lower performance while driving.

When researchers examined the motor vehicle accident history of drivers with health problems, they found those truck drivers who had a minimum of three identified health conditions had the highest accident rates.

Among all truckers, 82 drivers were put into a high-risk group based on calculations that assessed their daily crash risk. Researchers found that truckers in this category also had the highest rates of preventable accidents as well as accidents that resulted in injuries.

According to one of the study’s authors, “What these data are telling us is that with decreasing health comes increased crash risk, including crashes that truck drivers could prevent.”

The crash statistics showed that the frequency of accidents involving an injury was 29 accidents per 100 million miles for all drivers. However, among those in the high-risk group, the rate skyrocketed to 93 accidents per 100 million miles. The rate stayed the same even after researchers factored in things like the trucker’s driving experience and the number of years on the road.

Researchers also found that certain conditions by themselves didn’t impact a driver’s crash rate, but combinations of health conditions did. For example, a trucker could probably manage diabetes, but a trucker who suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure was less likely to successfully manage their condition.  

The study’s lead author stated, “Right now, conditions are thought of in isolation. There’s no guidance for looking at multiple conditions in concert.” According to experts, looking at truckers’ health conditions as a whole could improve safety on the road for both truck drivers and other motorists.

Trucker Mental Health

One area of overall health among truckers that is often neglected is mental health. According to one statistic, about one-third of the 3.5 million truck drivers in the United States will experience at least one major motor vehicle accident in their career.

Even if the trucker isn’t directly involved in the crash, being on the road all the time means truckers are more likely to see a crash as it happens or shortly afterward. Like first responders such as police officers and paramedics, truckers may be among the first individuals to arrive on the scene of an accident.

This exposure to serious accidents, including fatal crashes, can leave many truckers with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

According to industry experts, many truckers have difficulty getting access to appropriate mental health services, which can exacerbate the problem. Because truckers typically work long hours away from home, it can be tough, if not impossible, for them to make appointments with mental health counselors.

Additionally, about 94 percent of truck drivers are men, and men tend to seek out mental health services at lower rates compared to women.

Experts say that truckers are also more likely to come from a lower economic background, and studies show that people with lower incomes are less likely to obtain mental health services than people from the middle and upper classes.

Mental health problems in truck drivers can get worse if the trucker is fatigued. Because many truckers work long hours with minimal breaks, their stress levels may be higher than the average person.

When you compound this with PTSD, the result can be a higher risk of being involved in a serious accident.

Speak to a Truck Accident Lawyer About Your Case

If you were injured by a semi-truck, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. It’s important to work with an experienced Dallas truck accident lawyer about your case. Call Herbert & Eberstein, a personal injury law firm in Dallas, TX and let them explain your options and help you make informed decisions.  

 

Media Contact:

Attorney Zach Herbert

Phone: 214-414-3808

https://zachherbert.attorney/

 

Sources:

  1. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170117083849.htm
  2. https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2017/01/17/439005.htm
  3. https://journals.lww.com/joem/Citation/2017/02000/Multiple_Conditions_Increase_Preventable_Crash.11.aspx
  4. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/03/long-haul-trucking-and-mental-health/474840/

Highway Hypnosis Can Cause Truck Accidents

Highway Hypnosis Can Cause Truck Accidents

Most people think of hypnosis as something that happens on a stage and involves a magician swinging a pocket watch back and forth in front of another person’s face. However, there is another type of hypnosis that probably just about everyone has experienced.

Highway hypnosis occurs when a motorist zones out behind the wheel. Highway hypnosis is also sometimes referred to as “white line fever” after the white painted lines on the road. When a person drives for long distances on the highway with little or no stopping or stimulation, they can lapse into a relaxed state that is similar to sleeping.

Although anyone can experience highway hypnosis, it’s more common among truck drivers, who spend hours at a time behind the wheel and often drive long routes with repetitive scenery. If you’ve been injured in a truck wreck in Texas, the best thing you can do is speak with a Dallas personal injury lawyer like Attorney Zach Herbert of Herbert & Eberstein, as soon as possible.

How Does Highway Hypnosis Happen?

According to experts, anyone can fall into something of a hypnotized state when they are very relaxed. For example, a train engineer reported feeling like he was in a daze prior to a fatal train derailment in New York City.

Sean Meehan, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Michigan, stated. “When we’re tired, effectively there’s a change in the state of our brain that results in that information just not getting to those centers where we actively, consciously process it.”

This change in state is why some people can even become hypnotized while reading. If you have ever read the same paragraph over and over again because you’re simply not absorbing the text, it’s possible you were experiencing a mild form of hypnotism.

When people experience highway hypnosis, however, they don’t have the benefit of just snapping out of it and safely rereading a page they overlooked. When you’re behind the wheel, highway hypnosis can lead to a serious car accident. A driver who is zoned out has a slower reaction time, and they may not even realize they’re in danger until the accident is in progress.

Highway hypnosis falls under the general umbrella of “drowsy driving.” According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are over 100,000 drowsy driving car accidents every year, with over 1,500 of those accidents causing a fatality.

Tips for Avoiding Highway Hypnosis

Truck drivers operate huge vehicles that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. With a vehicle this massive, it’s incredibly important for truckers to stay alert behind the wheel.

Highway hypnosis can cause a truck driver to space out and cause a catastrophic accident, which is why it’s important for semi-truck drivers to do everything they can to avoid driving drowsy. These tips are also useful for any motorist who drives long distances or boring routes that can lead to highway hypnosis.

Keep Temperatures Cool

Many people get sleepy when they’re warm, and there are a couple of different reasons for this. When you’re too warm, you can actually become dehydrated, which can make you feel tired. This reason is why it’s important for truckers to drink plenty of water.

Being warm also causes your blood pressure to drop, which makes you feel groggy. Warm temperatures also coax many people into feeling cozy and comforted, which is great if you’re trying to sleep but a serious safety hazard when you’re driving a semi-truck.

Take Frequent Breaks

Truck drivers are required to take certain breaks under federal law. However, they should also change up their routine by making stops for quick rest breaks as they drive.

Even if it’s just a few minutes of brisk walking or some light stretching, getting out of the truck and getting your blood flowing can help reduce the drowsiness that comes with driving for too many hours in a row on the highway.

Listen to Music or Talk Radio

Many truckers enjoy listening to music or the radio as they drive. With satellite radio, there are more options than ever for listening to interesting programs and talk radio. You can even download audio books or podcast so you can listen to something interesting or entertaining as you drive.

In some cases, however, music can lull you into drowsiness. If you find this happening, it’s a good idea to switch up your favorite station and try listening to something new or outside your regular interests. This shift can help keep your mind engaged, which will increase blood flow to the brain and stop you from feeling tired.

Avoid Heavy Meals Before Driving

There’s a good reason why many people feel so tired after Thanksgiving and similar gatherings. The body must work overtime to digest a large meal, which can make people feel sleepy.

To stop drowsiness behind the wheel, truckers should avoid heavy, carb-based meals like pasta before they get on the road. Instead, opt for healthier options like salads and fresh fruit. It’s not always easy to find fresh food choices on the road, which is why many truckers pack a cooler with fruit, salad, and healthy menu items before they leave home.

Help for Those Injured in Truck Accidents

If you have been injured in a truck accident, it’s in your best interest to discuss your case with an experienced Dallas truck wreck lawyer.  Call the personal injury law firm of Herbert & Eberstein in Richardson, TX today, and schedule a time to review your case with our compassionate team.

 

Media Contact:

Attorney Zach Herbert

(T): 214-414-3808

zachherbert.attorney

 

Sources:

  1. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/highway-hypnosis/story?id=21098081
  2. https://www.sleepadvisor.org/why-heat-makes-you-sleepy/

Why Employees Need to Be Aware of Workplace Heat Stress Injuries

Why Employees Need to Be Aware of Workplace Heat Stress Injuries

Each year, thousands of workers are affected by workplace heat stress injuries. Learn what heat stress is, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you’re affected.

Workplace injuries are an all too common occurrence, and while most employers take measures to reduce the chances of accidents occurring, there are certain factors of a work environment that are not completely within their control – like the weather, for instance. Workers whose job requires them to endure the elements and long periods of exposure to the hot, Texas sun are at a greater risk of a workplace heat stress injury, as are those that work in factories or other facilities where environmental temperature regulation becomes an issue.

Workplace heat stress is a serious issue, one that can lead to significant health problems and in some cases can even be fatal. Unfortunately, the effects of heat stress can creep up without warning, and it’s not uncommon for someone to not realize that a risk is present until it’s too late.

Many workers are unsure if heat stress is considered a workplace injury in Texas and will incur a mountain of medical bills and the financial strain of lost wages when they could be receiving at least some compensation for damages. Here’s what you need to know about workplace heat stress and what to do if you’re affected.

Heat Stress in the Workplace

Workers can suffer countless types of workplace injuries, many of them avoidable. When it comes to heat stress in the workplace, the most effective, proactive approach involves a combination of employers controlling the environment when possible, helping their employees acclimate to spikes in temperatures and instilling specific protocols that help prevent heat stress from occurring.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, exposure to high environmental temperatures resulted in 37 work-related deaths in 2015, as well as more than 2,800 heat-related occupational injuries and illnesses during the same year. Texas was among the states with the highest number of non-fatality, workplace heat stress injuries.

Signs of Heat Stress

Heat stress is a term used to describe a range of injuries and illnesses that occur as a result of prolonged exposure to heat, which makes it more difficult for the body to regulate its own temperature. Most people are familiar with heat exhaustion and heat stroke as two types of heat stress injuries. Because the initial phases of heat-related injury can produce very subtle symptoms, it’s important that anyone who works outdoors in the heat or in a facility where the temperature exceeds a comfortable level, be aware of the different types and signs of heat stress.

Heat exhaustion occurs when the body overheats and responds to the loss of water and salt that occurs due to excessive perspiration – which is also one of the very first signs of heat stress. Heat exhaustion, if left unchecked, can rapidly progress to heat stroke.

Heat stroke occurs when the body becomes so overheated that it’s no longer able to maintain temperature stability. This process causes a rapid rise in body temperature that can lead to extremely dangerous symptoms. Heat stroke can result in seizures, unconsciousness, cognitive impairment and in extreme cases, death.

Other signs of heat stress include:

  • Headache
  • Chills or clammy skin
  • Dry, hot skin
  • Extremely elevated body temperature
  • Loss of balance
  • Confusion
  • Hallucinations
  • Slurred speech

Contacting a Personal Injury Attorney for Heat Stress in Texas

Employers have a responsibility to protect their workers from heat stress. This responsibility includes measures such as education and awareness of the signs and effects of heat stress, as well as doing whatever possible to help workers acclimate to the heat or reduce work-related exposure to high temperatures. If you’ve suffered a workplace injury due to high environmental temperatures, don’t hesitate to contact Dallas personal injury attorney Zach Herbert to discuss your case of heat stress in Texas.

Heat stress is not something that should be taken lightly. If you’ve suffered from the effects or feel that you’re at risk, it’s important to take measures to protect your health. An experienced lawyer at Herbert & Eberstein in Richardson, Texas can guide you through the process and provide you with the resources you need to recover financially from a workplace heat stress injury.

 

Media Contact:

Attorney Zach Herbert

(T): 214-414-3808

https://zachherbert.attorney/

Sources

  1. https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2017/work-injuries-in-the-heat-in-2015.htm