How the Blind Spot can Lead to Fatal Wrecks

We know that when driving there are blind spots.  These areas where it’s difficult, if not impossible, to see create a danger zone that.  If the other driver happens to change lanes while you’re located in the blind spot, they may not realize that you’re driving there.

How does that blind spot change between a passenger vehicle and a commercial vehicle?  What technology is available to prevent blind spot collisions?  Keep reading as the Car Crash Captain lays it all out for you.

Understanding the Blind Spots of Commercial Trucks

While a blind spot in a passenger car is small, sometimes non-existent, that’s not the case with commercial trucks.

For about 20 feet in front of them, the trucker can’t see what’s coming up.  Merging in too soon after passing means you’re slipping right into where they can’t see.

Behind the big rig is an even larger area.  Because of the size of the trailer, the mirrors can’t catch site of you if you’re within 30 feet of their bumper.

Along the sides are larger blind spots.  Especially the passenger side, where the mirrors have trouble seeing, the blind spot can extend from near the cab all the way to the rear of the trailer.

What Can Truck Drivers do to Avoid Collisions?

To prevent wrecks with vehicles in their blind spots, truck drivers have several options to ensure they’re not accidentally colliding with someone they don’t see.

Modern vehicles are equipped with detection systems.  You may even have them on your vehicle – a little light on the mirror that illuminates when someone is next to you so you don’t accidentally merge into them.

Proper training and using convex mirrors eliminate quite a few of the accidents that occur.

Finally, maintaining the trucks is essential – especially keeping them clean so those mirrors aren’t obscured in any way.

What Can Other Motorists do to Avoid Collisions?

If you’re hit while driving in the truck’s blind spot, the trucker will most likely be at fault.  But if you’re permanently disabled, or killed, it doesn’t matter who is at fault, your life is still turned upside down.  So, there are ways for passenger vehicles to help ensure safety.

The biggest thing is to stay out of those blind spots.  Don’t creep up close behind the truck, even if they’re stopped at a light.  Don’t merge back in too soon – if you cut in front, and the driver was looking at something else, they may not even know you’re there.

When passing, make sure you pass through the blind spot quickly.  Remember, if you can’t see their mirrors, they can’t see you (there are some times when you can see the mirror and they still can’t see you).

Finally, be extra aware when a truck is turning.  They need more room, and do wider turns, if you’re in the blind spot and they’re turning, you might get swept away.

After a Truck Wreck, You Need Herbert Law Group

Because of the complications that can arise with these truck accidents, victims almost always need a commercial vehicle accident lawyer.  That’s why Herbert Law Group is here.

Our job is to make sure the insurance company doesn’t stiff you on a settlement.  There will be needs that arise later in life, and only with an attorney can you successfully argue for what you need.

Let’s talk about what happened.  Call our office at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site, and we’ll reach out to you for a free conversation.

Untreated Trauma Can Have Devastating Effects

The likelihood of physical injury after a semi-truck accident in Texas is huge.  The likelihood of trauma that comes from that wreck is just as great – a hidden condition that many people don’t realize is there.  Because it can go unseen, coping with trauma is often undealt with.  The result can be devastating on your lifestyle, your emotional health, and your family.

Today, the Car Crash Captain is looking at some of these effects, how they show up in everyday life, and what we need to do to ensure that you are able to heal from both physical and emotional wounds after a major wreck.

Different Types of Emotional Trauma that May Arise

Emotional trauma can come in different forms.  However, when we look at major wrecks, we can see that it primarily results in the following.

PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder results when someone witnesses, or survives a traumatic event.  It doesn’t often pop up until weeks after the accident, but can cause numbness, disconnectedness, flash backs, and paranoia.

Anxiety – An overall feeling of dread, fear, or uneasiness, anxiety can worsen after trauma.  Symptoms include trouble sleeping, being tense, irritability, and easily startled.

Depression – Often considered to be sadness and lack of interest, depression goes beyond just situational.  It can be triggered by the deep losses after an accident, and it shows up as diminished energy, difficulty sleeping, weight loss or gain, and even recurring suicidal thoughts.

Phobias – A phobia is the extreme (and often irrational) fear of something or an activity.  Phobias that pop up after a major truck accident can involve driving, big rigs, roads, signs, and more.  Sweating, nausea, increased heart rate, and lightheadedness are common symptoms.

No matter how these emotional traumas pop up, or which one you experience, it’s important to seek care for them.

How to Cope with Trauma After a Major Wreck

It’s important to note that most emotional trauma won’t go away on its own.  There’s often little that the individual can do when coping with trauma without seeking outside help.

Find a Therapist – A therapist, or even a psychologist, can help you uncover the trauma, find the core, and treat it.  You may never fully heal, but with the help of a professional you will learn how to cope with it and get back to a life closer to normal.

Learn to Meditate – Many emotional health issues can be helped by looking inward.  As you discover how you truly tick, you can discover how to overcome the issues you’ve been forced into.

Care for Physical Health – Physical health and emotional health are very closely tied.  Maintaining a healthy diet, exercise, and overall caring for the physical body can have great effects in helping care for your mental health too.

Why You Need Herbert Law Group on Your Side

If you have been involved in a semi-truck accident in Texas, you have a lot going on.  Dealing with insurance companies that are likely ignoring the emotional trauma you are going through can only add to the hard times you’re already experiencing.

Herbert Law Group knows that emotional pain is just as bad as physical pain, and needs to be dealt with as part of your settlement.  Let us do all the hard work, and you focus on getting back to life as normal possible.

Call our offices at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site, and we’ll be in touch for your free conversation to see how we can help.

How Different Weather Contributes to Truck Wrecks

We know that weather can significantly impact driving.  Just take a look at how many wrecks there are when it rains, snows, or otherwise isn’t a perfectly sunny day.  We also know that when the weather is nasty, we have to adjust our driving habits so we don’t end up causing a wreck.

However, not all drivers are quite as aware of the weather.  And not all vehicles are affected by weather the same way.  When you’re sharing the road with semi-trucks, keep in mind that they will drive differently than you do, and it’s important to be aware of the moves they might make.  The Car Crash Captain goes through some of the more common weather mishaps.

Rain and the Wet Roads Beneath You

If you’re in a passenger vehicle, you know that wet roads can get slick.  This is especially true after a period of time with no rain.  A little rain, combined with the oil and gas that has leaked out onto the road, turn the otherwise grippy asphalt into a skating rink… well, maybe not that slick.

While semi-trucks are bigger and heavier, they may still slip on the wet roads.  Greater stopping distance is required (on top of their already longer stopping distance), and reduced visibility makes it harder for them to see you.

Fog and the Reduction of Visibility

Speaking of reduced visibility, have you ever driven into a patch of dense fog?  You can go from absolutely clear, to barely able to see 20 feet ahead of you in a matter of seconds.

Now, consider the fact that a semi takes much longer to stop, and if they come into that same fog, they can’t see very far ahead of them.  If you’ve slowed, or stopped, because you can’t see, there’s a good chance the truck will plow right into the back of your vehicle.

Snow and Ice for the Slippery Surface

Texas isn’t known for snowy weather, but we do get some wild ice storms on occasion.  Often it starts as rain, but then the wet surfaces freeze as the temperatures dip below freezing.  The worst part is when this happens, it’s almost impossible to tell a wet road from an icy road.

Just like your car, a truck hitting that black ice can lose control.  While they will “stick” better due to their weight, when the tires break loose the mass of the truck can cause some serious destruction.

Wind and the Tipping Trucks

There are some highways, usually in the plains or desert where there aren’t trees or buildings to slow the wind, that can be downright treacherous just because of the wind gusts.  When a semi is pulling a trailer that doesn’t have an incredibly heavy load, that trailer can literally just tip right over due to those gusts.

Even without tipping over, a truck in high winds is hard to control.  Wind can push them out of their lane, and into any vehicle driving nearby.  Watch as the high winds in Canada tip a semi onto its side.

Extreme Heat and the Invisible Killer

Often, we consider winter driving, especially if there is snow and ice, to be more treacherous than summer driving.  But the summer creates problems of its own.  High heat can cause tires to become over pressurized, and the softened rubber makes them blow out.  Engine’s overheating and breakdowns are concerns of their own.

Even if the mechanics of the truck are up-to-snuff, heat takes a toll on drivers.  Fatigue and reduced reaction times can lead to driver error and wrecks.

Come See Herbert Law Group if You’ve Been in a Wreck

The best way to avoid a wreck is to be prepared for what’s going to happen.  Understand the road, the conditions, and pay attention to the drivers around you.

Weather conditions can change quickly, and if they do, you have to know how the truckers on the road with you may react.  Never follow closely, try not to stay beside them for too long, and don’t stop suddenly.  When driving proactively like this, the chance of being injured or killed is greatly reduced.

If you have been injured, or your loved one was killed, in a semi-truck accident, then we need to talk.  Call our offices at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site and we’ll be in touch with you soon for your free initial consultation.

Many Semi-Truck Accidents End Better Than Expected

When a semi-truck and a vehicle collide, the smaller vehicle bears the brunt of the damage.  When the average passenger vehicle weighs in at 4,000 pounds, and the semi weighs in at 80,000 pounds (20 times larger), the impact can demolish the lighter rig.  Semi-truck accident survivors tend to be the exception after these wrecks.

The Car Crash Captain looks at three survivors, what happened, and if anything could have been done to avoid the accident.

Amy Suffers Traumatic Brain Injury

Partway through her first semester in college, Amy had a bright future ahead of her.  During a long weekend, she headed home to spend time with her family.  As she signaled left and waited for oncoming traffic to clear, a semi-truck driver coming behind her didn’t notice her in time.  Despite trying to brake, he slammed into the rear of her vehicle, jostling Amy around inside.  The impact was intense, and Amy struck her head on the frame of the car, but didn’t seem to suffer any other major injuries.

Over the next few days major changes in Amy’s behavior were apparent.  Forgetfulness, fatigue, and irritability popped up; traits not common in the bubbly, intelligent, and friendly college student.

Despite doctors saying all was fine, her parents insisted on further testing.  It was discovered that she suffered from traumatic brain injury – a hidden injury that can often go undiagnosed.

Amy was forced to drop out of college for the remainder of her freshman year as she focused on her health.  Despite the set-back, she was able to recover, and then return to school.  Without treatment, she may not have survived.

Benji Gets Trapped Under a Logging Truck

Benji, a professional chef, was driving in Western Washington on a rainy afternoon.  The highway he was on had the right-of-way, with side streets entering required to stop at posted stop signs.

A logging truck was coming onto the highway.  The driver stopped, then proceeded to make a left-hand turn in front of Benji’s vehicle.  The truck driver stopped in the highway, and despite trying to avoid the collision Benji’s vehicle struck the trailer and slid beneath a loaded logging truck.

The roof collapsed and Benji was stuck.  His survival appeared to be a miracle, but his injuries were severe.  Multiple jaw fractures, broken teeth, and a neck fracture meant he was in for a long and painful recovery – one that could end up setting back his career as a chef.  Without a fully functioning jaw, he wouldn’t be able to work.

He had to take a six-month hiatus from his job.  After two full years, Benji’s health had almost returned to normal, but he was still recovering.

Kaleb is Crushed Between Two Semis

Before dawn, Kaleb was driving down a h6ighway he had traveled many times before.  Today, however, the fog was thick and unknown to him there was black ice on the road ahead.

When the semi-truck ahead of him began to lose control, Kaleb tapped the brakes and felt his pickup begin to lose control as well.  Even at the low speeds of 30 miles per hour, he couldn’t maintain control and aimed the front of his pickup for the back end of the semi ahead of him.

With little time to even collect his thoughts, Kaleb looked behind him and saw the headlights of another semi-truck barreling at him.  He braced for impact and his pickup crumpled around him, trapping him between two massive vehicles.

Somehow, he was enveloped in his own vehicle, virtually unscathed by physical injuries.  He was able to twist and wiggle himself free, climb through a hole in the now annihilated pickup, and make his way to safety.  Check out the news story on CNN for an incredible photo of Kaleb, stuck in his truck, yet alive.

Herbert Law Group Helps You Find Justice

All three of these stories have a common theme: semi-truck accident survivors do exist.  However, surviving doesn’t mean there aren’t injuries.  Often, survivors have severe injuries that can take months, even years, to recover from.

Without proper guidance from a personal injury lawyer that specializes in semi-truck accidents, would you receive the compensation that you need to fully recover from those injuries?  Would your settlement help you recover from injuries to your mental health as well?

That’s why Herbert Law Group is here.  We know what it takes, we understand the recovery process, and we are ready to fight for the compensation you need.

Let’s talk about what happened.  Call us at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site, and we’ll be in touch for a free conversation where you can tell us how you’re a semi-truck accident survivor.

Myths Abound – Let’s Get to the Truth about Commercial Vehicle Wrecks

Commercial vehicle accidents aren’t always trucking accidents – although that’s the most common commercial vehicle on the highways.  Because of regulations, laws, and a variety of other factors surrounding these vehicles, the way they’re handled is a little different than a typical motor vehicle accident.  Today, the Car Crash Captain is looking into the myths of commercial vehicle accidents in Texas.

Common Myths and Realities of Commercial Vehicle Wrecks

Myth – The Truck Driver is Always at Fault

After being involved in a wreck with a big rig, there are numerous parties that may be liable for the wreck.  The driver is the first to be examined, as driver error and negligence often leads to wrecks.  However, the trucking company, the maintenance crew, the loading crew, or even another party may be at fault.  There are times, too, when the injured motorist is at fault and the truck driver was following the law.

Myth – You Can’t Sue Trucking Companies

Inexperienced attorneys, and those who don’t work in the legal field, find that large trucking companies have intimidating legal presences.  However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t able to be sued.  If their driver, or their company, was negligent, then they need to compensate the injured party – regardless of how big their legal department is.

Myth – Insurance Will Cover Everything

The truth is that insurance would deny every claim if they could.  Their business model is to collect premiums and make money for their shareholders or policy owners.  Paying out settlements means they aren’t making as much money.  That’s why Herbert Law Group is here – we help “encourage” the insurance companies to pay out what they owe to help fully compensate the injured party.

Myth – Claims Follow the Same Process as Car Wrecks

Claims follow a similar process, however, with a truck wreck there’s a lot more that goes into the overall process.  With multiple parties that may be liable for the wreck, injuries that are often more severe (fatal accidents are much more common), and more regulations to know and understand, the process can take longer and become much more complicated than a regular car wreck.

Myth – It’s Too Expensive to Hire a Lawyer

The truth is actually the opposite.  Personal injury lawyers, including truck wreck lawyers, usually work on a contingency basis.  This means if your case isn’t won or settled, you don’t owe any money.  Even with a 20 or 25% fee, your settlement is larger when using a lawyer than if you try to take things on yourself.  Besides, why spend your energy fighting with insurance and a trucking company’s legal team when you should be resting and healing from injuries?

Myth – You Have Plenty of Time to File a Claim Later

You have time, but “plenty of time” may be a bit subjective.  It’s understood that you might be laid up, injured, or the victim may have passed away.  So, the ability to file a claim is open for up to two years from the date of the accident.  However, the more time that passes, the harder it is to prove negligence – this is why you want to start working with an attorney right away.

Myth – Herbert Law Group Won’t Handle Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Herbert Law Group has extensive experience handling commercial vehicle accidents in Texas.  We don’t just deal with car wrecks and motorcycle wrecks, we’ll help you if you’re the victim of a truck wreck as well.

Reality – Herbert Law Group is on Your Side

Our goal is to make sure you’re well taken care of.  Insurance companies have a tendency to minimize claims and pay out less than what is adequate.  We’re here to fight for you.

Let’s talk about what happened, and we’ll dispel the myths of commercial vehicle accidents in Texas.  We’ll learn what happened, and make a plan to help you receive compensation that fully compensates you for your losses.

Call our offices at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site and we’ll be in touch with you for a free conversation.

Victims of Commercial Vehicle Accidents Deserve Compensation

After a commercial vehicle accident, there’s a lot going on.  The victim, and their family, are dealing with injuries, death, property damage, and psychological turmoil.  Through it all, they’re expected to navigate the difficult insurance world so they can receive the compensation they deserve.  Insurance companies are counting on the victim being overwhelmed, and they expect them to take a settlement that isn’t quite up to what they need.

What they need is an attorney that specializes in commercial vehicle accidents.  The Car Crash Captain has the information on how victims are protected under Texas law.

Proving Liability in a Commercial Vehicle Accident

Unlike many car wrecks, where the at-fault driver is the one that is ultimately liable for the wreck, commercial accidents are a little bit different.  The liable party may not be the driver, or the liability may fall onto multiple different parties.  They include:

• Maintenance Workers
• Parts Manufacturers
• Cargo Loaders
• Drivers
• Employers
• Trucking Company
• Truck Owner

Some of these may be the same person, or all of them may be different parties.  We’ve written about this in the past; take a look at how to understand liability in a truck accident to learn more about that.

Proving Negligence in a Commercial Vehicle Accident

When you know who is responsible for the wreck, then it’s a matter of determining that the liable party was negligent and they caused the accident.  This is a four-part process.

First, we have to prove that a duty of care was owed to the victim.  This is fairly easy, if you’re sharing the road, you have a duty of care not to injure anyone else that you’re sharing the road with.

Next, we show there was a breach of that duty.  If you’re minding your business and obeying traffic laws, and a commercial vehicle smashes into you, there was a breach of duty.  This could be failure to maintain their lane, running a stop sign or light, or something of the sort.

Third, did that breach directly cause the accident?  It’s easy to prove if a truck runs a red light and T-bones your vehicle.  But what if a truck merges, maybe a little closer than you’re comfortable with, you overreact, lose control, and roll the vehicle?  Is that the trucker’s fault, or yours?

Finally, once the first three are satisfied, were there damages?  These can fall into economic and non-economic damages.  Take a look at attorney Zach Herbert’s post that explains economic and non-economic damages to fully understand these.

Compensation Available to Victims

When the liable party is identified, and negligence is proven, then we can figure out what sorts of compensation are available to victims.

Expenses – Lost wages, medical bills, property damage, and other costs are pretty easy to tally up.

Pain and Suffering – Emotional distress, loss of consortium, and other intangible damages can be a little harder to put a price on.

Punitive Damages – In some cases, the court system may award punitive damages to “encourage” the negligent party to get their act together.  We see a great example in the 1994 case of the McDonald’s hot coffee.  The victim sought compensation to cover medical bills, the court hit the fast-food joint with punitive damages because they didn’t seem to care and didn’t think the problem needed to be remedied.

How Herbert Law Group Helps Victims of Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Considering the fact that if you’re the victim of a wreck like this, you’re likely severely injured – or, you’re dealing with the emotional stress and trauma of planning a funeral for a loved one – will you have the time, awareness, knowledge, and energy to figure out everything we just talked about?

Or will you be so strapped that you just take whatever offer the insurance company gives you?

Most people won’t want to deal with it.  And that’s why Herbert Law Group is here.  We have the experience to deal with it.  We know what to look for, we have previous cases that prove the compensation we seek isn’t out of the ordinary, and we’re ready to help you. Let’s talk about what happened, and determine a plan.  Call our offices at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form and we’ll be in touch with you for a free initial consultation.

Not All Complications Arise Immediately After a Wreck

Some injuries are easy to see after a wreck.  However, there are many secondary injuries and complications that can arise if you’ve been the victim of a semi-truck accident.  These injuries may show up right away, or they may not show up for years after the wreck occurs.

Let’s see what these injuries and complications look like, and why you need the Car Crash Captain to help you receive compensation that covers injuries now, and any that may come up in the future.

What are Secondary Injuries after a Wreck?

Primary injuries are those that happen during the wreck.  For example, you are rear-ended, and you suffer from whiplash.  The whiplash is a primary injury.

A secondary injury is something that will come up later in life.  It can be a direct result of the wreck, or it can be a result of a previous injury.  Secondary injuries aren’t always physical, but can be mental health issues that come from a prolonged physical recovery.

Some secondary injuries include:

Chronic Pain – Our bodies have the amazing ability to heal themselves.  However, scar tissue and incomplete healing can lead to chronic pain.  Sometimes this pain will last the rest of a victim’s life.

Mental Health – No matter how mentally tough you are, a semi-truck accident will take a toll on your mental health.  PTSD, emotional trauma, trouble sleeping, and more can arise well after the body has healed from physical injuries.

Headaches – Traumatic Brain Injuries rarely heal without ongoing complications.  Headaches, migraines, and other ongoing issues can pop up later in life.

Furthermore, a secondary injury could be one that is caused because of the primary injury.  For example, if the truck wreck caused you to lose a limb, and during the recovery period you fall and break your arm, the broken arm would be considered a secondary injury – if you had both legs, you wouldn’t have fallen.

Examples of Complications that Could Arise

We’ll differentiate the injuries from complications, because the complications aren’t exactly another injury that occurs, but rather issues and difficulties living life as you lived before the wreck.  They include:

Permanent Limp – Once the body has healed, muscles, ligaments, and bones might not be as they once were.  A permanent limp after a truck wreck will cause complications the rest of a victim’s life.

Breathing Issues – Spinal cord injuries can lead to breathing issues.  Struggling to breath may cause hypoxia (not getting enough oxygen) and reduce quality of life.

Difficulty Lifting – Even healed injuries may leave permanent reduced motor skills.  Victims that could once lift heavily without issues, now struggle with small objects.

Why You Need Herbert Law Group

Because secondary injuries and complications often don’t show up for months, or even years, after the wreck, insurance companies will hope you don’t take them into consideration when you’re negotiating a settlement.

This is why you need a semi-truck accident lawyer on your side.  Legal representation from Herbert Law Group means you have a powerful negotiator to help you receive the settlement you deserve – one that will completely cover the losses you have suffered.

Let’s find out what happened, and see how we can help.  Call our offices at 214-414-3808, or fill out our contact form and we’ll reach out to you for your free initial consultation.

Finding Closure After a Devastating Accident

After being injured in a commercial vehicle accident, victims are faced with obstacles to overcome.  They must physically heal from their injuries, and at the same time navigate the difficult process of seeking justice from the at-fault driver.  Even long after the physical injuries heal, the emotional toll can last for years to come.

The Car Crash Captain has some insights on what this long-term emotional toll can look like.

What Toll Does a Commercial Vehicle Accident Take

No matter how you look at it, injuries will have a lasting impact.  Even those that appear to be minor physical injuries can compound over the years.

Physical Injury – Scrapes, bruises, and broken bones will heal.  But no matter how well they heal, complications will arise.  For those who suffer from severe injuries, how much emotional toll do you think they go through as they strive to continue a normal life?

In January 2024, a man in Dallas was hit by a drunk driver.  That accident resulted in his leg being severed from his body.  How long do you think it will take 30-year-old Thomas Toledo to “recover” from his injury?  What toll do you think it will take on his mind as he learns to live the rest of his life with only one leg?

Physical injuries can heal, but the emotional damage tends to last a bit longer and take more time to heal.

Emotional Injury – What emotional injuries come from being involved in a commercial vehicle accident?  There are many that we can see easily, such as PTSD after a wreck, but there are other injuries that may not even have names.

Consider a driver who was driving a small passenger vehicle when they wrecked with a semi-truck.  The enormous truck crushed the car – possibly killing a passenger.  The emotional toll that would take on the driver can be intense; even to the point where they don’t feel safe in any vehicle that’s not a large SUV.

Emotional injuries are often hidden.  They’re harder to see, and may not come to the surface for many months or years after the wreck takes place.  If you were to suffer an emotional toll, would you know how to argue for a settlement that included treatment for them?

Family Injury – Wrecks don’t just affect those who were driving or passengers in the vehicle, they extend far beyond to the victim’s families.

Consider the wife who lost her husband in a wreck, how deep will the emotional impacts be when their marriage is suddenly cut short?

What about the grandparents who lose grandkids, what toll will the death have on their ability to enjoy retirement?

Even if the truck wreck wasn’t fatal, the emotional toll of caring for a loved one that was injured can be extreme – in some cases leading to divorce.  A family split up because of the negligence of another driver.

Wrecks are devastating, and have lasting impacts.  The right lawyer, however, knows how to analyze the situation for these rippling effects that go beyond physical injuries, and extend into the families of the victims as well.

Herbert Law Group Helps Victims find Justice

If you, or a loved one, have been involved in a commercial vehicle accident in Texas, you know the emotional toll those things can take.

It’s important that you focus on navigating these difficult times and healing from injuries.  Don’t waste your energy on insurance companies or impending lawsuits – that’s why Herbert Law Group is here.

We’ll handle the legal stuff for you.  But first, we need to get to know you and find out what happened.  Call our offices at 214-414-3808, and let’s see how we can help you.  You can also fill out the contact form on our site and we’ll be in touch shortly.

The Ripple Effect of a Truck Wreck Goes into the Community

There are obvious impacts of being involved in a commercial vehicle accident – your vehicle is probably totaled, and you have significant injuries that will take a long time to recover from.

However, these accidents can end up with a ripple effect that extends even further into the community.  Some can eventually lead to a change in the laws surrounding commercial vehicles and their operation.  The Car Crash Captain has the details for us.

Effects of Commercial Vehicle Accidents

If you were involved in the wreck, you were at the very least shaken by what happened.  Due to the nature of commercial vehicle wrecks, injuries or even death are often part of the aftermath.  The toll those take on people can extend for quite some time.

Physical and emotional injuries may take years to heal.  Some of those injuries never do, and the injured party is left permanently disabled.

In the community where the wreck took place, there are emotional scars that extend even beyond the parties involved.  Witnesses deal with the trauma of seeing a terrible wreck happen in front of them.  Business owners nearby have the trauma of emergency and cleanup crews working out in front until the area is safe again.  And many of those effects continue to ripple throughout the community.

Ripple Effects of Commercial Vehicle Accidents

One major wreck can upset a community far beyond the time it takes to clean up the mess left behind.

Effects on Roadways – It’s not uncommon for a road to be shut down for an extended period of time after the wreck.  If there was damage to the road, signage, lighting, or more, that road could be shut down for days.  In many areas of the country the resulting detours can route traffic through neighborhoods putting further strain on citizens.

Effects on Business – If the roadway is shut down in front of a business, they’re going to struggle – especially if they rely on customers driving in every day.  Imagine your favorite coffee shop being blocked in by a wreck and the subsequent construction to rebuild – how long could they last without making a sale?

Effects on Extended Families – If your family member was injured or killed in a wreck, you have to re-learn how to live life without them.  Even if it’s an extended family member, reunions won’t be the same, travel will be different, and holidays a little bleaker.

Effects on Laws – Major wrecks lead to legislative change.  The US has strict laws for those who drive commercial vehicles, many of those laws are the result of lessons learned from wrecks.  A wreck that is caused by negligence could lead to a law that helps minimize that factor.

Herbert Law Group Helps Commercial Vehicle Accident Victims

All of these factors can come into play when negotiating a settlement after a truck wreck.  Most insurance companies will hope they aren’t factors that you’ll ever consider, and they low-ball the settlement offer because of it.

That’s why Herbert Law Group is here.  We’re on your side to ensure you get the compensation that you need to recover from this traumatic experience.

Let’s have a quick phone call to find out what happened, and to determine just how we can help.  Our office number is 214-414-3808.  You can also fill out the contact form on our site and we’ll reach out to you.

Equipment Malfunction may Lead to Truck Accidents

Mechanical failures rank high in the causes for fatal truck accidents around the country.  Not only are these issues preventable, but modern technology should be able to alert the driver, truck owner, and others when a failure is about to happen.

For now, however, these issues continue to lead to wrecks that claim lives.  The Car Crash Captain has some insights on what these major malfunctions are, and what can be done to help prevent future truck wrecks.

Driver Negligence is Still the Primary Cause of Wrecks

Despite the fact that most mechanical failures happen because the truck wasn’t inspected or maintained properly (technically this would fall under negligence), other forms of negligence remain the number one cause of major truck wrecks.

• Fatigue – Driving while tired is nearly as dangerous as driving intoxicated.
• Alcohol or Drug Use – Substance abuse remains an issue.
• Driver Error – Risky maneuvers or otherwise failure to yield.
• Road Rage – Intentionally driving dangerously.

When the big rig is found to be at fault, it often is one of these issues that has led to the crash.

What Three Mechanical Failures Lead to Truck Accidents?

Aside from negligence while driving, there are three areas of equipment that malfunction or fail and lead to more wrecks than other pieces of equipment malfunctioning or failing; brake defects, steering issues, and tire failures.

• Brake Defects – Truck brakes have to be tough.  They get red hot while braking and rely on air power to ensure maximum stopping pressure.  When these brakes aren’t maintained properly, they will fail.  That doesn’t necessarily mean they were defective (although defects can lead to early failure), but it does mean that even if the driver was operating safely, the equipment is the “cause” of the wreck.  A study has shown that brake defects were found in 42% of truck accidents investigated.
• Steering Issues – Steering issues were once a major cause in big rig accidents.  These instances have gone down over the years (possibly due to better equipment or better inspections).  However, the remain a big issue when analyzing the underlying cause of truck accidents.
• Tire Failures – How many times have you driven on the highway and there were pieces of tires lying on the side of the road?  Sometimes these tires are even in the middle of the driving lanes.  Semi-trucks have 18 tires that are all taking some serious wear and tear.  If they’re not maintained properly, and replaced when they’re worn, they can, and will, blow out.  A blowout doesn’t always lead to a crash, but they do often enough that they are one of the top three mechanical failures that lead to truck accidents.

Herbert Law Group is Here to Help You

If you have been the victim of a truck wreck, due to mechanical failures, driver negligence, or something else, then we are here to help.  You already have enough to deal with when it comes to healing from injuries, hospital visits, and getting your life back in order.  Let us deal with the insurance and legal stuff.

First, we have to get to know you and understand what happened.  That starts with a free phone call.  Just dial 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site and we’ll reach out to you.