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What Are the Differences Between Truck and Car Accidents in Texas?
Posted on Monday, March 21st, 2022 at 12:00 am
Being involved in any sort of auto accident can cause substantial physical and emotional trauma. Although there are many common factors between truck and car accidents, there are also many differences between the two types of crashes.
Your Austin truck accident lawyer at Ramos James Law, PLLC, recommends motorists learn the difference between the two types of accidents to better understand their own circumstances should they be involved in one.
Truck Accident Statistic in Texas
Truck drivers are essential to our economy, transporting goods and materials across our state and nation. However, being involved in a collision with a truck can cause catastrophic damage to your vehicle and health.
These statistics from 2010 prove the seriousness of truck accidents:
- There were over 115,000 truck accidents in the United States
- About 12,600 of those accidents took place on Texas roadways
- There were almost 400 fatalities
- These accidents led to 6,500 severe injuries
Unfortunately, truck accidents continue to happen in Texas at a frightening rate and with calamitous consequences. If you have been involved in an accident with a truck, contact your Austin attorney to see if you can start a claim against the driver or company.
Key Differences Between Truck and Car Accidents
Below we have listed the three principal differences between truck and passenger car accidents:
1. Truck Drivers And Their Companies Must Follow Safety Regulations
Truck drivers have specific laws targeted to them on top of obeying the standard road rules. Some safety regulations truck drivers have to follow, while other drivers do not, include the following:
- Amount of hours driven
- Weight of the vehicle
- Truck inspections by the driver and company
- Maintenance requirements
- CDL licensing requirements
- Drug testing
- Background checks
A truck driver or company that fails to follow these regulations may be subject to negligence.
2. The Gravity of the Personal Injury
It doesn’t take a physicist to foresee the devastating results a truck collision can have on a passenger car. A truck’s weight can easily be double the weight of a passenger vehicle. Because of the size difference, drivers and passengers of a car involved in a truck accident can face severe injuries:
- Broken bones
- Injuries to their back and neck
- Burns
- Death
3. Dealing With Trucking Companies and Their Insurance is Complicated
Most truck companies are prepared for any and all types of situations that can occur with their employees. The companies are aware of the severity of accidents their drivers can potentially cause, so their insurance companies are prepared to investigate and fight at any given moment.
This is why you must act fast, if you can, and follow the steps on what to do after a truck accident to begin building your claim with your Austin truck accident lawyer.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a truck accident, contact your Austin truck accident lawyers at Ramos James Law, PLLC, to start your personal injury claim and receive the justice you deserve.
One Person Hospitalized After Being Struck by a Car in South Austin
Posted on Monday, March 14th, 2022 at 12:00 am
One person was injured after being struck by a car around 12:40 a.m. in Austin.
Details on the Auto-Pedestrian Accident
A person walking on Westgate Boulevard was hit by a car on March 14 at about 12:40 a.m. in South Austin. The pedestrian was said to be in critical condition and was taken to St. David’s South Austin Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
The accident is still pending investigation and no further details have been released.
Auto-Pedestrian Accidents in Texas
About 6,000 pedestrians are fatally struck by vehicles each year in the United States. Approximately 10% of these accidents happen in Texas.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, pedestrian fatalities are increasing in Texas and account for almost one in every five accidents.
In Texas, there were about 5,000 pedestrian-involved accidents in 2020. Consequently, those accidents caused over 1,000 serious injuries and 731 deaths.
The most common circumstances for auto-pedestrian accidents in Texas are:
- Pedestrians not yielding to vehicles’ right-of-way
- Drivers not paying attention
- Drivers not yielding to pedestrians’ right-of-way
- Drivers traveling over the speed limit
Safety Tips for Pedestrians and Drivers To Prevent Accidents
Pedestrians are more susceptible to serious injuries or death in traffic accidents simply because of the sheer size of vehicles. We each have a responsibility to abide by the rules of the road and decrease the tragic numbers of pedestrian deaths.
As a driver:
- Be aware of the pedestrians’ right-of-way, especially when making turns
- Come to a complete stop for pedestrians at crosswalks
- Be mindful of stopped buses or other vehicles
- Keep your eyes on the road; don’t be distracted; don’t use your phone
As a pedestrian:
- Use intersections or crosswalks to cross the street
- Look both ways before crossing
- Make eye contact with drivers to make sure you are seen
- Don’t presume all drivers see you or are paying attention
- Follow all traffic and crosswalk signs
- Always walk on a sidewalk or on the left side of the street to face oncoming traffic
- Avoid using devices that distract you from seeing and hearing
Austin Car Accident Attorneys Determined To Help You Secure Justice
If you or a loved one have been involved in a pedestrian accident, look no further than Ramos James Law, PLLC, to get the justice and compensation you deserve.
How Social Media Can Hurt Your Personal Injury Claim
Posted on Monday, February 7th, 2022 at 12:00 am
Posting on social media platforms allows your personal life to become public information. When you make a post, you may think your friends and family are your only audience but the information you post on any platform is easily accessible to anyone prepared to pry into your personal life.
If you were involved in an accident or are a victim of a personal injury, it can be natural to notify your followers on social media of your situation, however, this information can be used against your favor. Posting about your accident, even if it was with good intentions, can be used to manipulate your words and create a false narrative of your situation.
Austin car accident attorney at Ramos James Law, PLLC, recommends not using social media until your injury claim has been decided. If you decide to continue posting online, you should be informed on how interacting online can hurt your injury claim.
Your Posts on Social Media Can Be Used as Evidence Against Your Claim
After filing a personal injury claim, the defense team may search your social media accounts to find anything that can be used against you. Their goal is to dodge paying what they owe you by shifting the blame of your personal injury onto you.
It is common to be stressed and overwhelmed after a car accident and to vent to friends and family online. However, no matter how harmless you think your post is, it can be used by the defense attorney to dispute your injury and minimize your claim.
Using Social Media After an Accident
It is suggested to lay off social media while the litigation process is in progress. If you decide to post online, there are some things you can do to protect yourself from being debunked.
The tips will come in handy if you post on social media after submitting a personal injury claim:
1. Be selective with your posts.
It’s for the best if you avoid posting any pictures of you in the hospital, of the accident, or pictures involving your recovery process. You may want to be wary of posting anything positive, as well, even if it is irrelevant to the accident or injury.
The defense party can claim you are not in distress or in any pain if you are posting yourself being active and having fun.
2. Change your privacy settings.
It is advised you go into your privacy settings on your social media accounts and change your profiles to private, if they aren’t already. You can do this just while the process is occurring.
3. Ask not to be tagged in photos and posts.
It is suggested you ask your friends and family to not tag you in any posts during the ongoing investigation. You can also check your setting and turn off the ability to be tagged in others’ posts.
4. Be aware of friend requests from people you don’t know.
If you get a friend request from someone who is unfamiliar to you or has a strange profile, it can be individuals who are looking into your claim. You should only accept requests from people you know until the claims process is over.
5. Do not delete existing posts.
If you posted about your car accident, don’t delete the post because it can seem suspicious and self-incriminating. Leave your posts up but refrain from making any more posts about the accident until your insurance claim is resolved.
