2011 January Archive

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces regulations that govern truck drivers and other commercial motor carriers. The agency is concerned with the safety of truck drivers, who spend a great deal of time on the road. The following tips are from the FMCSA on how to avoid driver fatigue and are designed for truck drivers, but any driver can use these tips to help prevent traffic accidents.

Know the signs of drowsiness. Frequent yawning, heavy eyes, and blurred vision all indicate you’re getting drowsy, even if you don’t feel particularly tired. If you start to notice these symptoms, pull over. Being awake for 18 hours straight puts you at the same risk for a crash as someone whose blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08, according to the FMCSA.

Get enough sleep. The human body is naturally drowsy between midnight and 6 a.m. and between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., reports the FMCSA, so it’s wise not to drive at these times. Instead, use this time to make sure you’re getting an adequate amount of sleep. If you find yourself getting sleepy while driving, pull over in a safe place and rest.

Maintain a healthy diet. Not eating can cause fatigue and dizziness or lightheadedness, while eating irregular meals may interfere with the quality of your sleep.

Take a nap. When you feel sleepy, take a nap if possible. A short nap of at least 10 minutes can help restore energy and alertness. To prevent fatigue from affecting your driving, schedule your naps so you get rest before you feel drowsy.

Avoid medications that cause drowsiness. Cold medication is especially notorious for causing drowsiness that can affect your driving, according to the FMCSA. A recent study showed 17 percent of truck drivers who were in crashes had taken cold medicine before the crash. If you must drive with a cold, the FMCSA recommends avoiding cold medication, as the symptoms of your cold are less likely to interfere with your driving than the cold medicine.

By avoiding fatigue, you can help prevent car accidents. Unfortunately, even the most careful drivers may be involved in an accident with someone who is not being as cautious. When a car accident results in injury or death, an experienced Texas personal injury lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and options.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that as many as 100,000 car accidents each year are caused by driver fatigue. Fatigue can cause a condition known as “road trance.” In road trance, a driver’s alertness and reaction times are slowed. These drivers may not be aware of objects or people in their path until it is too late to prevent a crash.

Driver fatigue has several possible causes. These include poor sleep, lack of exercise, and driving for long periods of time without rest. The Texas Department of Insurance notes that it is possible to stave off driver fatigue before you even get in the car by getting proper sleep before a road trip, eating a light, well-balanced meal, stopping to rest or switching drivers every few hours, and avoiding long trips at night.

You can also prevent fatigue-related accidents in Texas by recognizing the symptoms. Symptoms of driver fatigue include an eye burning sensation, heaviness, or inability to focus; back tension, muscle twitching, or a feeling of heaviness in the muscles; wandering thoughts; and excessive yawning or shallow breathing.

If you start to experience these symptoms, stop for a rest. Get out of the car and walk around, or take a nap of no more than twenty minutes, if possible. Other ways to combat fatigue while driving include keeping the car cool and well-ventilated, changing radio stations frequently, actively looking for road signs, and talking to other people in the car. Try to avoid driving at hours when you would normally be asleep, and never drive under the influence of alcohol or medications that make you drowsy.

Being completely alert and attentive while driving helps curb car accidents in Texas and throughout the nation. Make preventing driver fatigue a habit.

A car accident in Texas can happen at any time. Even if you are driving carefully, other drivers may not be taking the same precautions. The Texas Department of Insurance offers a number of tips for drivers who are involved in car accidents. If a Texas vehicle collision occurs, here’s what you should do:

1. Safely move your car out of the way of traffic as soon as possible. If you can’t move your car or if someone is injured, call 911 immediately. Also call 911 if you are a victim of a hit and run driver. Your insurance company may refuse to pay for damage caused by a hit and run driver unless you report the incident to police.
2. Trade names, addresses, phone numbers, and insurance information with the other driver(s). If there are any witnesses to the accident, trade names and contact information with them as well.
3. If the other driver refuses to give you his or her insurance information, you can request a copy of the police accident report, which should contain this information. If the police did not investigate the accident, you can report the other driver’s refusal to trade insurance information to the police.
4. Contact your insurance company to file a claim as soon as possible. Many insurance companies include a toll-free number for reporting claims on your insurance card. You may also contact your insurance agent, who will be able to contact the insurance company or will tell you how to do so. Cooperate with your insurance company by submitting any required forms, appearing promptly for any required medical examinations, and sending copies of the police accident report to your insurance company.
5. If you develop symptoms of injury, such as neck or back pain, do not ignore them. Seek medical help. These symptoms may not appear immediately after the accident, but may take a few days to show up.

While these suggestions as to what you can do after an auto accident should be helpful, everyone is responsible for their own actions after a collision. Make the right choices and be safe!

On any given day, a car-train crash is far less likely than a multiple-car accident.

Yet a car collision with a train can cause far more severe injuries, and it can easily result in death.

If your car stalls or stops on the train tracks, get out immediately. If a train is coming, turn to face it, and then walk at a 45-degree angle away from the train and your vehicle in order to be out of the way of flying debris. Call the railroad’s emergency phone number or 911 and tell them there is a car stalled on the tracks and you need help. The railroad’s phone number and the Department of Transportation number for the crossing should be posted on one of the crossing signs or on railroad equipment.

To protect yourself and your passengers, practice these railroad crossing safety tips, courtesy of the Federal Railroad Administration:

• Approach the train crossing with care. Use your brake lights and hazard lights to warn those behind you that you are slowing down, and stop 15 to 50 feet from the closest rail.
• Stop, look, and listen. Roll down your windows and turn off the car radio. Move your head and body as necessary so you can see around any obstacles, like crossing signs.
• Keep looking and listening as you cross the train tracks. Use the highest gear that you can, but do not shift gears while on the tracks.
• Once you have started crossing the tracks, do not stop, even if the lights begin to flash or the crossbars come down.

Even the most careful drivers may be involved in a car accident or train accident. When an accident occurs, Texas residents have certain legal rights and options. An experienced Texas train accident attorney can help those injured in an accident find the answers and compensation they need in order to move forward with their lives.

A 26-year-old man from Red Oak lost his life in a car accident on the North Central Expressway on New Year’s Eve, according to a report released by The Dallas Morning News.

The driver was approaching Southwestern Boulevard when he attempted to change lanes and lost control of his pickup truck and collided with a nearby car carrying two passengers. Both the car and the pickup truck struck the Expressway’s retaining walls.

The driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was partially thrown from his pickup. Paramedics were unable to save his life, and he died at the scene, according to police. The passengers in the other car involved in the accident, along with a passenger in the pickup truck, suffered injuries in the Texas car crash and were taken to Baylor University Medical Center.

Car accidents are an unfortunate fact of life for most drivers. According to the Safe Car Guide, car crashes are responsible for a staggering 94 percent of transportation-related deaths and 99 percent of transportation-related injuries. The World Health Organization estimates that, for every person who dies in a car accident each year worldwide, 13 people are hospitalized for car accident injuries.

Although you can reduce your risk of an accident by driving carefully and using safety belts, you cannot always predict or control the behavior of other drivers on the road. Texas law gives its motorists certain legal rights and options after an accident. If you’re injured or lose a loved one in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, an experienced Texas personal injury attorney can help you learn what your rights and options are and help you take the next step after a car crash in Texas.

The number of dormitory fires in the United States has steadily increased each year since 1980, according to the National Fire Protection Association. In 2006, 4,290 fires were reported in dormitories, student housing, and fraternity and sorority houses. Over three-quarters of dorm fires are started by someone cooking, whether over a stove or by using a hot plate, toaster, or other appliance.

In order to protect yourself or your loved ones from dormitory fires, the National Fire Protection Association recommends several steps you can take before moving in for the semester. For instance, a dorm or house should have a sprinkler system in each room, as well as a smoke alarm. For the best protection, the smoke alarms should be connected so that every alarm will sound if one of them detects a fire. An exit and escape plan is also invaluable.

Since so many dorm fires are the result of cooking, extra care when preparing food is highly important in preventing fires. Cook only in permitted areas, and never leave a cooking meal unattended. Follow the building’s rules about which appliances are permitted and which are prohibited, and never try to cook when under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Unfortunately, even the best fire safety precautions may fail. An appliance with a hidden defect may malfunction and start a fire, or another person’s carelessness or negligence may cause flames to get out of hand. If the college, landlord, or housing supervisor has not adequately prepared for fires and allowed for proper escape routes, tragedy can result. After a fire, it is wise to discuss your legal rights and options with an experienced Texas injury lawyer.