Self Driving Trucks are Hitting the Road… What if they Hit You?

Five years ago Uber launched a test version of a self driving truck.  The trip was short, but successful.

Today, there are a half dozen or so companies that are trying to tap into the driverless truck market.  In an industry where the driver shortage is expected to crest 160,000 in a few years, it’s a big push to get this technology perfected.

There aren’t many self driving trucks on the road today.  But they are out there.  And you need to know your rights if you happen to get hit and injured by one of these things.

How Safe are Self Driving Trucks?

Automated vehicles have come a long way in just a few years.  But there is still much work that needs to be done before safety can be relied on completely.

The NHTSA defines automation in stages from Level 0 to Level 5, with 0 being no automation and 5 being no driver.  Currently automated trucks are sitting around a Level 3.  That is, in most situations they can drive themselves (stretches of highway, even with turns and varying driving conditions).  However, there are companies that are working on Level 4 trucks that are able to drive in all situations with a human merely paying attention if things get wild.

But how safe are these trucks?  Can we drive comfortably next to them on the highway?

94% of auto accidents are caused by human error.  So, in a world of all automated vehicles, our highways would actually be a lot safer than they are now.  But there are a few problems with fully automated trucks.

First, vehicles are yet to be able to communicate with each other.  Someday, when every vehicle is hooked up with the capability to broadcast signals, and a truck can be alerted of a stopped vehicle miles ahead.  For now, they can “see” the stoppage, but it could be too late before that time.

Second, trucks can’t stop quickly for obstacles in the road.  That includes animals and people.  If you’re crossing the road, legally at a cross walk, the truck may not sense you in time to stop before hitting you.

While self driving trucks will solve a lot of problems, at the moment they need to get better safety marks before people can fully trust them.

Who is Liable in a Self Driving Truck Wreck?

So, what happens if you’re in a wreck with an automated truck?  Normally the driver is the first person to be looked at for liability.  Without a driver, you can’t hold a machine liable.

Instead, we have to look at a variety of other factors.

• It might be the trucking company that is liable by putting a truck on the road that wasn’t ready.
• It might be the truck manufacturer who didn’t install the right safety equipment.
• It might be the computer engineer that developed the AI in that self driving truck.

Or it might be someone else or another company entirely.  Truck wrecks are complicated, and without a good semi truck accident lawyer, it’s hard to navigate the legal mess that could result after a wreck.

Herbert Law Group is Your Truck Wreck Lawyer

Here at Herbert Law Group, we have helped a lot of people after their accidents.  Any time you get in a wreck, and there is injury or death involved, you will need the help of a personal injury lawyer on your side.

We help you heal by taking away the stress of dealing with insurance companies.

Need to make your life after an accident a little more stress free?  Give us a call at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site.

Determining Fault after a Tire Blowout Leads to a Wreck

You’re driving down the highway when you see something in the road ahead.  Roadkill?  No, probably not… oh, it’s a blown tire; likely from a semi truck.

It’s hard to drive without seeing the remnants of a blown tire littering at least the shoulder of the highway.  Which makes one wonder, what happens if you’re driving next to the big rig when those massive chunks of rubber come shredding off?  Furthermore, who is at fault?  The driver, the tire company, the owner of the truck, or someone else completely?

Let’s take a look at how bad tire management can lead to truck accidents, and why you would need a Texas truck accident attorney to navigate these convoluted waters.

What Sort of Faulty Tires Can Lead to Truck Accidents?

Unlike passenger vehicles, where fault is almost always placed on the driver, truck accidents can have a range of faulty parties.  It’s not always the driver that is responsible, but it can come down to a number of other issues with the tires, and blame can be put on:

Manufacturers – Sometimes products just aren’t made right.  Tires are no different.  Truck accidents can occur when there is:

• Design flaws
• Steel belt separation
• Tread separation
• Poor retread

After you have been in a wreck with a truck, will you know what to look for to see if the accident was caused by poor manufacturing?

Maintenance Workers – Often the driver is responsible for maintaining his or her own vehicle.  But there is more to it when it comes down to it, including:

• Poor tire mounting
• Poor flat repair
• Poor tire alignment
• Improper installation

A thorough investigation can determine what exactly happened.

Texas Truck Accidents Caused by Tire Blowouts

Blowouts generally don’t “just happen.”  There’s almost always a cause that sets things in motion (that cause can sometimes be that the tires are just too old and should have been replaced many miles ago).

Other causes of truck accidents due to blowouts include:

• Road hazards. A generalized term for anything in the road that shouldn’t be there including potholes, nails, etc.
• Overloaded or poorly loaded trucks. Too much weight ultimately rests on the tires.
• Slick roads put different stressors on the tires.

Proving Fault in Texas Truck Accidents

After a wreck, there’s so much to do.  You have to get your vehicle fixed or replaced, you are dealing with insurance, you might have injuries, you may be missing work or trying to work from home with limited mobility… there’s so much going on that stress is eating away at you.

To top it all off, you’re trying to figure out who is at fault.  The truck driver?  The company the driver drivers for?  The maintenance worker or the manufacturer?  If you haven’t dealt with this before, how do you even know where to start?

Instead of adding to the stress, getting help from a Texas truck accidents lawyer, like Herbert Law Group, is the way to go.

We take all that stress off your plate, so you focus on getting back to life as normally as you possibly can.  Give us a call at 214-414-6808, or fill out the contact form on contact page and we’ll be in touch for your free initial consultation.

Do You know if the Truck Driver was Impaired?

Trucks, semis, big rigs, 18-wheelers.

There are a bunch of names for these commercial vehicles, but they all mean the same thing.  They are vehicles that are usually much larger than a passenger vehicle, and their purpose is to provide a service.  Because of their size, job, and the fact that they’re on the road for many more miles than the average motorist, professional drivers have a bigger responsibility to make sure that they are staying safe.

But what if you’re in a wreck with a truck?  What if the truck driver was impaired at the time of the crash?  Do you know how to prove the driver wasn’t operating at full capacity?  Do you know how to show that they acted negligently, and you’re entitled to compensation that will help you heal completely?

Herbert Law Group is on your side, so you can focus on healing.

Impaired Driving in the Trucking World

Drugs and alcohol both affect how our brains function and our bodies react.  We all know that we shouldn’t be drinking and driving, but many people believe in a bit of a gray area when it comes to drugs.  After all, you need those prescription drugs to help combat illness and disease right?

Both illicit (those that are illegal) and prescription drugs can cause impaired driving and lead to deadly results.  When a driver doesn’t have full control over his or her body (mentally or physically) then they are considered to be impaired.

Because truck drivers have a great responsibility than passenger motorists, their legal limit for a blood alcohol concentration is .04% (half the legal limit for passenger vehicle drivers).

But how do we know if the driver was impaired?

How to Prove a Truck Driver was Impaired

In most cases, if there was a crash involving a big rig, sobriety tests are administered.  When and who gives the test, however, vary depending on what happened in the crash.

Any accident where someone died, the trucking company must test the driver as soon as possible after the accident.  The same goes for if someone got injured and the truck driver was cited, or if one of more vehicles needed to be towed from the scene and the truck driver was cited.  You can see the whole chart the FMCSA website.

Drivers can must also be tested before their employment begins, and they can randomly be tested throughout their career.

Impaired can also mean Sleep Deprived or Distracted

Most people differentiate between impaired by drugs or alcohol and impaired by distraction or fatigue.  But for many legal definitions, impairment is whenever you don’t have full control over your mind or body; something that happens when you’re staring at a phone or suffering from lack of sleep.

Electronic logging helps to monitor and ensure that drivers aren’t on the road for more than the legally allowable hours.  Tracking devices can show when the crash happened and when the text messages (or other messages) were sent.

Discovering how, when, and why the driver is impaired can get to be rather labor intensive and cumbersome.  And that’s not something you want to be doing while you’re injured and recovering from a crash.

Herbert Law Group is on Your Side to prove the Truck Driver was Impaired

Because the legal world after a wreck can be downright confusing, Herbert Law Group is here to help.

With experience in these situations in the past, and thorough understanding of the laws around professional drivers, we can help you receive the compensation that you need in order to focus on recovering from injuries sustained in the wreck.

Let’s talk about it and see how we can help.  Fill out our contact form, or give us a call at 214-414-3808 for your free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in the Dallas area.

Why Truck Accidents are Rising Across the Country

Truck accidents in Texas are on the rise.  Accident rates are going up across the country too, but in Texas there are a disproportionately higher number of truck accidents than elsewhere.

Why is Texas getting hit harder?

It’s a multi-faceted problem that isn’t getting better with time.  In fact, fatal accidents rose in 2020, despite the pandemic that saw fewer vehicles traveling on the road.  In order to combat the issue that there are more fatal truck accidents in Texas than in any other state, everyone has to be more aware and more alert to stay safe.

People are Driving Faster than Before

Depending on which study you look at, speeding is often considered to be the number one cause of fatal crashes.  It’s not hard to see that the faster you’re going, the more damage the wreck will do.

Studies that look at fatal truck accidents in Texas don’t usually show who is at fault.  So when we consider speeding, we have to consider that both passenger vehicles and truck drivers share the blame for driving too fast.  When either party increases speed, the likelihood of a wreck increases, and the likelihood of a fatal accident occurring also increases.

Drivers are Paying Less Attention

Other studies will show that distracted driving is the number one cause of fatal crashes.  Distracted driving, especially among younger drivers, remains a huge issue that does not seem to be getting better over the years.

An increase in truck accidents can also be linked to distractions.  While there are specific rules in place for those driving commercial vehicles, those rules are often ignored or bypassed with the mindset that “It won’t happen to me.”

To reduce fatal wrecks, we all need to keep our focus on the road.

There’s a Truck Driver Shortage Going On

The American Trucking Associations reports that in 2018, the industry was short over 60,000 truckers to keep up with demand; if nothing changes that number will grow to 160,000 by 2028.

That means those drivers that are working now, are working harder than ever.  Longer hours, more trips, and a push to move goods faster all lead up to the same thing: mistakes made on the road.

While there are regulations on how many hours one driver can spend behind the wheel, those numbers can be fudged, pushed, or ignored completely.

Even when following the number of driving hours, maintenance can go unchecked in order to get back on the road faster.

Texas has a Lot of People Living Here

One of the biggest reasons that there are so many truck accidents in Texas is because of the number of people that live here.

The Dallas area is pushing 8 million people alone.  With major interstate highways that connect to the rest of the United States, there is a lot of traffic for both trucks and passengers.  And that’s not even to mention the other major cities throughout the state.

When more people drive in a smaller area, it’s harder to navigate these big rigs.

Companies are Opting Out of Life Saving Technology

There is a lot of technology out there that will save lives.  Some of it is mandatory, and some of it has largely been ignored by manufacturers and trucking companies.

The reason: cost savings.  It’s expensive to buy a new truck, and expensive to retrofit an old one with updated technology that can help to prevent an accident.

Herbert Law Group Helps with Truck Accidents in Texas

No matter what the cause is, if you’re involved in an accident with a commercial truck in Texas, you need the help of an attorney that specializes in truck accidents.

These wrecks usually have major injuries, and there are so many complicated parts, that it’s really hard to navigate the legal battles that can ensue; and that’s if you’re not trying to recover from your injuries!

That’s why Herbert Law Group specializes in truck accidents in Texas.  Fill out our contact form, or just give us a call at 214-414-3808 and we can get started on your free consultation.

For Over a Decade Texas has been the Leader in Fatal Truck Accidents

Texas is a big state with a lot of production.  That’s something to be proud of.  Goods are manufactured here and shipped all around the country and the world.

With that production and shipment, however, come a lot of trucks on the road.  More trucks lead to more crashes, and something that we shouldn’t be proud of: being the leader in deadly truck and bus crashes for a decade running.

FMCSA Reports Show Texas Far Outpaces Other States in Deadly Crashes

The FMCSA, or the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, puts out a report each year that calculates a variety of statistics on crashes.  One of the reports has to do with Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts.

The report comes out in September, and contains facts looking back two years.  So, in 2021, the crash facts for 2019 will be available.

If previous years are any indication, the crash stats for 2019 probably won’t look any better than the stats from 2008 to 2018; all 10 years Texas had more fatal crashes in this category than any other state.  In many years the discrepancy between the deadliest and second deadliest state was incredibly large.

Texas: Deadliest State for Large Truck Crashes

Over the years, deadly crashes have slowly increased (with the exception a couple small drops).  Overall, however, the trend is toward deadlier roads.

This is an unfortunate result of having more people on the roads, and technology that continues to distract people at an alarming rate.

With a lot of people, and a lot of traffic, including a lot of semi trucks, Texas is significantly higher.  How much higher?  In 2018 there were 589 fatal truck and bus crashes in Texas, compared to 314 in California.  See the stats on the FMCSA site.

Those crashes actually accounted for 13.3% of all fatal crashes across the nation.

California: Second Deadliest State for Large Truck Crashes

California, with its high population and intricate freeway network fares better, but is still far from reaching a fatality free year.

Every year since 2008, this state has been the second deadliest state for large truck crashes.  Although in some years, such as 2018, Florida was approaching being just as deadly with their 295 fatal crashes to California’s 314.

How to Avoid Being a Statistic in a Deadly Truck Crash

Unfortunately, there is no way to properly honor all of the victims of these wrecks.  It’s easy to talk about numbers, but hard to talk about the lives lost, the families broken, and the grief suffered by many thousands of people.

Fortunately, there is a way to reduce these numbers whether you’re driving truck or you’re sharing the road in a passenger vehicle.

The primary way.  The best way.  The method that will have the most significant impact on making every road throughout the country safer is to put down the phone.  Eliminate those distractions.  Focus on driving.

Learn more about the regulations on distracted driving as a semi truck driver.

Beyond that, pay more attention.  Be aware of what’s going on, traffic patterns, and what other vehicles might not be paying attention and could lead to a crash.  It’s a lot of work driving in high traffic areas; but arriving safely is worthwhile.

Herbert Law Group Helps Victims of Large Truck Crashes in Texas

If you, or a loved one, have been involved in a large truck crash, you need an attorney to help you navigate this complicated mess.

Most truck accidents aren’t as straight forward as car wrecks.  There are a lot of moving parts that an experienced truck accident attorney will help with so you receive a settlement that is fair.

Let’s have a conversation about your wreck.  Just call us at 214-414-3808, or simply fill out the contact form and we will reach out to you.

Big Rig Accidents are All Different

You’re on your way home from work, stopped at a light, and an inexperienced driver doesn’t see you in time.

You’re in a fender bender.  Annoying? Yes.  Complicated?  Not usually.

But what if you’re on the highway and a semi truck jackknifes in front of you?  What if you swerve to avoid hitting the truck, and you hit another motorist?  What if the truck overturns, and you’re pinned beneath it?  The world of commercial truck accidents is complicated with a thousand different variables.

If you have been involved in one of these types of accidents, you need a semi truck accident lawyer to navigate the waters.

Differing Degrees of Semi Truck Accidents

Most of the time we think of accidents as pretty straightforward.  A truck driver didn’t slow down in time and rear ended you, or a truck veered into your lane and sideswiped your car, or a truck ran a red light and t-boned you… there are a number of scenarios and often when we imagine them it’s driver error that caused the wreck.

Let’s take a look at a handful of commercial truck wrecks from May and June 2021 to see just how different these can be.

Car Pinned Beneath Truck in Oregon

A semi truck near Portland, Oregon flipped onto its side while traveling down I-5 recently.  One unlucky motorist happened to be driving next to the big rig, and the occupants were trapped inside their vehicle pinned beneath the truck.  Fortunately, they weren’t killed in the crash.

Cement Truck Driver Seriously Injured in Michigan

Here’s a unique one: the driver of a commercial truck rear ended another commercial truck.  The cement truck driver crashed into the back of the semi truck.  Traffic was slowing down, and the semi had decreased its speed to accommodate; the cement truck driver didn’t slow in time.

Driver Airlifted to Florida Hospital

A driver navigating the highway along the Florida Panhandle was airlifted to a nearby hospital after being involved in a crash with a semi truck.  The driver was pinned under the truck and trapped in the vehicle until rescue crews could extract him.

Woman Hospitalized after Being Rear Ended in California

A woman had stopped her vehicle along the side of the road on I-10 in Southern California.  It’s unclear why the semi struck her from behind.  The commercial truck rear ended the vehicle which rolled onto its roof causing the driver to be rushed to the hospital with critical injuries.

Motorcyclist with Life Threatening Injuries in Ohio

In Ohio a motorcycle driver collided with a semi truck on a recent afternoon.  Details are sparse as to the cause of the wreck, but the outcome is not good for the biker.  He was airlifted with life-threatening injuries to the closest hospital.

Two Killed in Semi Crash in Kentucky

In Kentucky two young men driving a pickup truck and pulling a trailer crashed into a semi truck hauling freight.  The pickup went under the trailer of the truck and killed the two men instantly.  It’s unclear how the pickup ended up striking the semi, or who was at fault for the accident.

Truck Flips on Interstate Near Cleveland

On a busy Wednesday afternoon, a semi hauling a load of dry concrete navigated a turn a little too quickly.  As gravity did its job, the truck flipped onto its side and blocked all lanes of traffic.  If you had been driving nearby, would you have been able to get clear, or would you have been pinned under it?

These are just a few of the thousands of yearly crashes involving commercial vehicles.  Every one of them is different.  Every one of them needs a semi truck accident lawyer to ensure that the victim is being compensated completely to ensure proper healing.

Herbert Law Group: Your Semi Truck Accident Lawyer

One of the biggest causes of stress in our lives today is money issues.

If you’re injured, or a loved one is killed, in a semi truck accident, there will be money issues.

While we can’t take away the injury, or bring back that loved one that you miss, we can take away some of the stress you’re feeling so you can focus on healing.

You need a semi truck accident lawyer after a wreck with a commercial truck.  That way you can know everything is being handled for you.

Ready to talk about it and see how we can help?  Give us a call at 214-414-3808, or fill out our contact form.  Our discussion is no charge to you, we just need to know if we’ll be able to help you heal.

The FMCSA Has Specific Rules for Truck Drivers

Cell phones kill people.

Well, the phone itself doesn’t do the killing.  Drivers using their phones kill people.  About 8 people every day actually.  And more than 1,000 a day are injured because people in vehicles can’t seem to put down their phones for a few minutes.

Because of this problem that has persisted for more than a decade, the FMCSA (that’s the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the entity that builds the guidelines for commercial vehicles) has developed implemented how much cell phone use can be used while driving a commercial vehicle (like a semi truck).

Bottom line: to prevent semi truck distracted driving accidents you can press a button.  Not more than one button, just one button.

No Texting While Driving

We all know that we shouldn’t be texting while driving.  And those behind the wheel of a big rig know that they are especially more dangerous than a small passenger vehicle.  We get that part.

But what constitutes texting?  Is it sending a message to your bae?  Typing in the name of your favorite podcast?  Inputting an address so you get to the right destination?

The newest rules dictate that, “Texting means manually entering alphanumeric text into, or reading text from, an electronic device.”  It goes on to tell us that basically anything you type into a device (phone, laptop, tablet, plug-in-typewriter) is considered texting.  It’s anything beyond pressing a single button to initiate or terminate a call.

Pretty much just put it away, you can press the little button on a Bluetooth earpiece to answer a call that comes in.

No Reading While Driving

So maybe you’re not typing out emails, or sending text messages while you drive.  Maybe you’re reading the Wikipedia entry for the town you just drove through.

Nope, this still falls into the no texting rule.

Quit glancing at the phone, even reading just a sentence is enough to kill someone in a semi truck distracted driving accident.

No Touching While Driving

But it goes even further.

The latest rules restrict commercial vehicle drivers from reaching for or holding a mobile phone.  That of course, doesn’t include, grabbing it and pressing “answer” or “ignore.”

What it does entail, however, is holding the phone to your ear while you drive.  Or digging around in the seat next to you, or under it, or in the glove box, or putting the truck on cruise control and going back into the sleeper compartment to find where you left the darn thing.  It has to be safely accessed within an arm’s reach, without adjusting safety belts.

Herbert Law Group Handles Semi Truck Distracted Driving Accidents

When a driver is caught breaking one of these rules, the fines can be up to $2,750 and possible license revocation.  If you’re driving truck, it’s not worth ruining your career to send that quick note that you’ll be home in 3 hours.

But what about the rest of us?

Most areas around the country have very similar distracted driving laws.  And those laws, as we can see by the 400,000 people injured every year in distracted driving accidents, are ignored by many people.

If you have been injured in a truck accident, you need Herbert Law Group, truck accident attorneys in Dallas, on your side.

Cell phone records can be reviewed, and it can be determined if the accident occurred around the time when messages were being sent.

No matter what, let’s talk about your accident.  There’s no obligation to you to become a client, we need to make sure we’re a good fit first.

Give us a call at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form and we will be in touch.

How to Stay Safe and Avoid a Construction Zone Accident

Every summer the nation’s highways are reduced by a lane or two as they’re repaired, resurfaced, and made better for our transportation needs.  It’s estimated that 20% of highways are under construction on any given year.

Here in Texas, there are thousands of workers updating the roads.  And whenever traffic is congested, speeds reduced, and workers around, it means those who insist on driving distracted, dangerously, or drunk, are going to get in a construction zone accident.

But that doesn’t excuse those driving the big construction vehicles from minding their driving either.

Both parties should be on the lookout when navigating a construction zone.  Here’s how you, the passenger vehicle, can have a heads up to prevent an unwanted collision.

How to Avoid a Construction Zone Accident

Driving means keeping an eye out and expecting the unexpected.  In a construction zone, you have to remain even more diligent.

Slow Down Before the Zone

The leading cause of accidents in a construction zone is speed.  The unfortunate fact is that most of the victims are the workers that aren’t protected by a vehicle, and they are struck while just trying to do their job.

Before you enter the construction zone, reduce your speed.  Be aware that vehicles whipping by are not only dangerous, but they’re also distracting and irritating.

Not to mention that if a worker pulls out in front of you, expecting you to be going much slower than you are, it could mean a nasty collision.

Watch for Foot Traffic

Some construction workers will be in heavy machinery, but many of them will be on foot.  It’s not just the worker holding the “slow” sign that is in harm’s way.

Be aware of all the construction workers that aren’t driving anywhere.  And know that the human body is often clumsy and fragile.  They can stumble, fall, or drop something into the lane if they’re close enough.

Pay Attention to the Big Rigs

Most of these trucks and heavy equipment are moving pretty slowly.  But that doesn’t mean they can’t pull out in front of you, swerve into your lane, or stall at just the wrong moment.

Keep an eye out as you drive through these zones and make a note of the direction the equipment is moving long before you get there.  If it looks like it’s coming into your lane, be prepared to stop or get out of the way.

Check Above You

Often construction means working on bridges and overpasses.  Large cranes are moving heavy objects from ground level, up to locations sometimes far above the roadway.

While equipment failure is not common, and rarely will a crane drop a steal beam onto a vehicle below, other falling objects can have just as deadly effects without as much force.  What would happen if a hammer crashed through your windshield as you’re cruising along?

Don’t Ignore other Drivers

Construction workers are trained to watch for vehicles and pay attention to their surroundings.  They know what needs to be done to avoid a construction zone accident.

But most drivers have minimal driver’s education.  And even those that have taken the classes only have a small portion of the time in class dedicated to driving in these zones.

The biggest danger in a construction zone is actually the fellow drivers around you.  Those that have their nose buried in their phone and don’t see the construction coming up.  Those that think the speed limit is too slow and want to zip through faster.  Those that have had a night out drinking and believe that having a few drinks and driving home is perfectly safe.

Do your part so that you can avoid negligent drivers, and avoid a terrible construction zone accident.

Come to Herbert & Eberstein if You’ve Been in a Construction Zone Accident

Accidents do happen.

People make mistakes.

If you have been injured in an accident that happened in a construction zone, especially if the construction company was found to be at fault, then we want to talk to you.

Fill out the contact form, or give us a call at 214-414-3808, and we’ll conduct your free initial consultation.  No worries about signing up as a client, we first want to make sure we can help you heal from your injuries.

Cross Traffic Turns can have Deadly Results

In the fall of 2016, a group of 48 people were making their way from Georgia to North Carolina to visit a local casino.

Tragically, their getaway would be ended after the bus they were traveling in collided with a turning semi-truck.  The crash resulted in 43 of the passengers sustaining injuries, and the life of the bus driver was cut short.

The crash highlights an important awareness point for anyone driving on the same roads as these big rigs.  It’s a safety precaution that we all need to pay attention to when driving.

The Truck Was Making a Left-Hand Turn

As the bus was making its way to the north, the tractor trailer was waiting to turn left, or southbound, onto Georgia Highway 515.  Anyone who has encountered a similar situation knows that it can be downright frustrating trying to make this type of turn.  You have to wait for traffic in both directions to clear, and then get up to speed quickly so that you don’t impede traffic.

As the driver pulled out to make his turn, traffic continued to come along the southbound lanes.  Pausing and waiting for it to clear, his trailer completely blocked the northbound lanes.  It was during this time that the tour bus was heading that way.

Before the bus driver had a chance to stop, they collided.  The bus rammed into the trailer with so much force that the bus driver was killed and one passenger had to be airlifted to a nearby hospital with serious injuries, while 42 others were transported by ground.  NBCNews has the full report.

Guidelines for Turns that Cross Traffic

When a truck is ready to turn and cross traffic, studies have shown that the entire process (from when the vehicle starts to move, until it is fully into the lane intends to enter) takes 40 seconds.  That time is extended even longer if they must pause part-way through their turn to allow traffic to clear.

Other vehicles traveling at 60mph will travel nearly three quarters of a mile during this same 40 second period.

This means that if the truck is not visible from far enough away, traffic can quickly cover a significant amount of distance and collide with the truck long before the driver has had enough time to clear the semi from the lanes he or she was blocking.

As a passenger vehicle, it’s important to pay attention to what might happen and what obstacles might get in your way down the road.  When a big rig is waiting to turn, either into your lane or crossing it, be ready to avoid the situation in case the truck driver doesn’t see you coming.

Informal Regulations for Truck Driving Safety

Because these turns are so dangerous, there are methods put in place that minimize the circumstances.

While there are no legal regulations that don’t allow large vehicle to turn left, there are best practices that have been put into place by trucking companies and those who design distribution routes.  Some companies go as far as implementing guidelines that don’t allow their drivers to make these types of turns.

With tight deadlines and long hauls between loads, it’s hard to create a route that is even longer in order to avoid the left hand turn.  But in many cases, it’s what needs to be done in order to prevent an unfortunate wreck like what happened in Georgia.

Herbert & Eberstein are Your Texas Truck Accident Attorneys

If you, or a loved one, have been in a collision with a commercial vehicle (including semi trucks, dump trucks, bus, or other large rig) you need an experienced attorney on your side.

Fill out the contact form and we will be in touch, or give us a call at 1-214-414-3808 to start your free initial consultation.

Stationary Trucks can be a Huge Issue

On a cool October evening in 2019, Oliver Jordan, age 83, was on his way to his Newnan, Georgia home from dinner.

At 9pm the sun had long ago set, and although legally blind in one eye, Jordan was still legally able to drive without restrictions.  This night, however, as he drove home, a tractor-trailer was attempting to back into a driveway without proper markings and warnings on the roadway.  Blocking northbound traffic, and the center turn lane, it was only a matter of time before an unsuspecting motorist wasn’t able to stop and a collision would ensue.

Jordan noticed the truck too late, and despite attempts to stop still collided with the truck.  10 months later, he died from injuries sustained in the wreck.

Truck accidents can happen anywhere and at all sorts of speeds.  There are lessons we can learn from this particular instance that had a very unfortunate conclusion.

Big Rigs Take Time to Back Up

Hauling a 50+ foot trailer means that things are going to take time.  Getting up to speed on the highway, changing lanes, stopping, backing up… these all take longer for a big rig than they do for a passenger vehicle.

When you’re driving among trucks, be aware that they can’t change direction and speed as quickly as you can.  But truckers have the obligation to warn others if they have to block traffic for any reason.  One of those reasons is while attempting to back into a parking space or loading dock.

Highways are Dangerous; so are Side Roads

Speed kills.  But that’s just because it’s one factor in the physics equation to determine the amount of force something exerts.  Without getting too technical the faster an object goes, the more force it exerts; or the larger an object is the more force it exerts.

Quick calculations show us that an 80,000 pound truck exerts the same force at 2.5mph as a 4,000 pound passenger vehicle does at 50mph.

Trucking Companies Will Always Claim no Wrong Doing

In reality, it’s the insurance companies and their attorneys that make the claims.  And it’s reasonable from their end: insurance companies are in the business of making money.  You don’t make money by paying big settlements on truck accidents!

If you’re planning to file a claim against them without the help of an experienced truck attorney, then you are going against some very powerful attorneys on your own.

Settlements Take a Long Time

When the lawsuit mentioned above was first started, Oliver Jordan was alive.  It wasn’t until after his death that the settlement was finally reached.  Around a year for a $2 million settlement is moving quickly.

In reality, large settlements can take well over a year; especially if they go to trial.  There are expert witnesses that need to testify, accident reconstruction, and arguments showing that the driver acted negligently and caused an injury or death.

Without an Attorney with Truck Accidents Knowledge, You’re Stuck

A truck accident attorney is a personal injury attorney that knows and understands what goes into these crashes involving big rigs.  Without someone on your side, like Herbert & Eberstein, you will end up in a long legal battle that statistically you won’t get the settlement that you need to ensure proper healing.

If you, or a loved one, have been involved in a semi truck accident in Texas, then you need to speak with Zach Herbert or Brian Eberstein!  There’s no obligation to become a client; it all starts with a call to figure out if our services are the right fit to help you get back on your feet.

Simply call 214-414-3808, or head over to the contact page and we will be in touch.