Truck accidents ordinarily cause much greater damage than car accidents. A tractor trailer on the road can be more than 60 feet long and weigh more than 80,000 pounds. Because of a semi-tractor’s size and weight, victims of trucking accidents are far more likely to sustain very serious and debilitating personal injuries or even be killed. Most truck accidents result from one or a combination of the following causes. 1) Driver error is often the result of fatigue, distraction or inattention. Whenever one of these situations is experienced by a driver, the risk of an accident increases … [Read more...]
Speed Kills
Speed limit signs are posted in efforts to encourage safe driving and prevent personal injury, death and property damage. Speed limits are determined based on traffic studies that include how many vehicles, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians are on or near the roadway at different times of the day. Drivers who exceed the speed limit endanger the physical safety and property of everybody around them. If a collision occurs as a result of speeding, and injuries or a death are caused, you/and/or the estate of the person who was killed should contact us at Springer & Lyle for a free … [Read more...]
Are Background Checks Required to be Done to Hire A Truck Driver?
Being involved in a truck accidents or a car accident can be physically, emotionally and financially devastating. Due to the serious results of a commercial truck accident, one of the first questions many people ask is “Are background checks required to be done to hire a truck driver”? This is a popular question for several reasons, especially when the accident involved a truck driver who was hired by a trucking company, without undergoing an extensive background check. Under the federal motor carrier safety regulations, thorough background checks are required to be performed. The trucking … [Read more...]
No Zone Blind Spot Truck Accidents
Truck drivers have areas surrounding their tractor-trailers where they can’t see anything. We call them blind spots. They call them no go zones. They don’t want you driving in those spots, even though their speed limit might be 55 mph, and your speed limit could be 65 or more. In our continuing efforts at serving and protecting the public, Springer & Lyle wants to provide you with these tips that can save you and any of your passengers from being involved in a blind spot or no zone accident with a tractor-trailer. Keep the Truck’s Mirrors in Sight If you can see the trucker’s mirrors in … [Read more...]
Truck Accidents: Improper Loading of Cargo
When a truck is in transit, its cargo can shift and create a very dangerous situation for those in other vehicles near it. A load shift can result in jackknifing or even the cargo spilling onto the road or out of the rear of the truck’s trailer. Load shifting is a common cause of truck accidents. It often happens when a truck driver brakes in slippery conditions, and the truck’s trailer jackknifes and swings out from its pivot point and forms a "V" with the truck that’s pulling it. An 80,000 pound vehicle 60 feet long is completely out of control. It crashes into anything in its way. If you or … [Read more...]
Six Things You Hope Truck Drivers Are Not Doing
When a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle collide, the consequences can be deadly. Although accidents happen, there are generally causes for these accidents that could have been avoided. A truck and car accident is often fatal, because the size of the commercial truck makes it a more serious threat to other vehicles on the road. Like any type of accident, each truck accident is unique. However, there are several causes of truck accidents that can often be avoided and Springer & Lyle are here to help if you get injured as a result of a negligent truck driver that fails to take proper … [Read more...]
City of Denton Bans Texting and Other Cell Phone Activities
The Denton City Council voted unanimously to outlaw texting and most usage of mobile phones with the exception of vocal conversation in the entire city excluding interstates and their service roads. The following information is gathered from reports by the Denton Record-Chronicle, The Dallas Morning News, and NBC-5 News. Heated testimony filled the council chamber as citizens reported of incidents where pedestrians and bicyclists are injured as a result of neglectful and distracted driving while using cellular devices. One pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on the historic Denton Square and … [Read more...]
Greyhound Bus Drivers say Company Opposes Safety Reform
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1700, which represents Greyhound bus drivers, has been speaking out against the company’s safety record. "Members of the National Association of Bus Crash Families said they recently learned that Greyhound did not support HR7, a bill introduced by Georgia Democrat John Lewis and Texas Republican Ted Poe. The Lewis-Poe Amendment, as it is known, is identical to language in the MESA Bill, and replaces earlier provisions in the House version with a “Greyhound Compromise.” “We negotiated with Greyhound in good faith and gave up important safety priorities … [Read more...]
1/5 of Commercial Vehicles were Found Unsafe
The Texas Department of Public Safety reports that one-fifth of commercial vehicles they inspected in in 2011 were unsafe: "Since the first of the year, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement personnel and specially-trained Highway Patrol troopers have inspected 331,505 commercial vehicles. As a result of these inspections, DPS removed 66,189 unsafe commercial vehicles and 12,301 unsafe commercial vehicle drivers from Texas roads for a variety of safety violations. “Commercial vehicles are responsible for approximately 15 percent of the fatalities in Texas crashes,” said McCraw. “Most … [Read more...]
American Trucking Associations Support Congressional Mandate for Electronic Logging Devices in 18-Wheelers
Many 18-wheeler accidents become more difficult to investigate due to missing or incomplete information concerning hours-of-service compliance. Electronic Logging Devices could assist in safety and compliance with federal laws by more closely tracking hours 0f service and other important metrics. The American Trucking Associations, along with other law enforcement and advocacy groups, recently signaled support for such a measure by sending a letter to members of the House and Senate who are currently negotiating safety regulations. “The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has … [Read more...]
