Houston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Recently, the Texas governor vetoed a bill that had reached his desk which would have banned or made illegal, texting while driving in Texas. Many people are particularly concerned about the failure of Texas leadership on this issue on a statewide basis.

Noteworthy is the fact that many cities and municipalities such as Galveston, Texas have on their own voted to make illegal texting while driving while within their jurisdiction. Galveston is joined by many other cities in banning texting while driving and the reason has been because of the increased danger to the public of a taxi driver.

In effect, Texas citizens and others driving across the state of Texas may be texting while driving and breaking the law or not, depending on where they are at the time. This hodgepodge approach has left much uncertainty and worse has not served to curtail the dangerous practice of texting while driving.

What is needed in the state of Texas is a comprehensive approach in outlawing texting while driving while coupling that with an education campaign that in public know that texting while driving is both dangerous and illegal.

Studies have shown that texting while driving can be everything that drunk driving is as far as danger to the public. Texting can actually take away 2 car lengths of distance or safety cushion for the driver and this makes a huge difference in the number of accidents that can be avoided. There are many cell phone apps that actually will turn off your texting while the car is in motion but they are not utilized very often and can be complex to use.

Good advice on the issue includes putting your phone on "silent" why you are driving to keep you from being distracted by the "beep" of the text or an e-mail.

There are many organizations that are fighting each an every day to outlaw cell phone use while driving and many of those organizations are founded by folks who have lost loved ones because of cell phone use on the roadway.

Continue reading "Texas Gov. Vetoes Texting Ban " »

Currently the weight limit for commercial trucks is 80,000 pounds, this limit is imposed by the federal government. In addition, regulations forbid semi-trucks to pull more than a single tractor. But if the trucking company lobbyists have their way the weight limit will be increased to 97,000 pounds. In addition, they would like the laws to be changed so that they are able to pull two trailers instead of one.

While this certainly sounds advantageous to the trucking industry as a whole - I would suggest that it has nothing but disaster written all over it for the American driving public. For your edification - may I remind you of a few of the more germane statistics related to semi-truck accidents that occur under the current trucking industry regulations.

In a recent year nearly 5000 fatalities due to semi-truck accidents occurred on city, rural and highway roads. That is an average of 14 people killed every day in a semi-truck accident somewhere in the United States. While only 1% of these is due to a driver who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs - 27% of these same drivers have been ticketed for speeding...and if it's hard to slow down a semi-truck weighing 80,000 pounds in a single trailer without losing control - believe me when I say that a double trailer semi that weighs (for all practical purposes) nearly 100,000 pounds is going to be even more difficult to bring to a safe stop in challenging conditions.

You have a voice - contact your representative and let them know you do not support the increased tonnage for the semi-truck industry.

Continue reading "Increased Weights For Semi Trucks?" »

What happens when we choose to ignore or otherwise overlook a situation in which another person's life is in danger. Any regular consumer of local and national news has seen incident after incident in which a victim falls prey to criminal behavior while those around him or her ignore it.

There was the recent video of an elderly man who was beaten and robbed in broad daylight and lay between two cars for some time without an offer of help by those who stepped over him or looked away during the perpetration of the crime. A similar incident can be seen in a subway station. Either those who see the incident choose to look away and scurry off or simply do not offer the least bit of assistance even in the form of a phone call to 911.

As these types of crimes have impinged on the American consciousness - if injury or catastrophic death has occurred then the victim's families are beginning to wonder what happened to the ideals that made of country great. Helping those who need it! It seems our consciousness has been hardened in the last decade and it is painful to witness.

To bolster the empathetic bystander into action many legislators are either considering or have passed 'Good Samaritan Laws' requiring action if you witness a crime - to the extent that you do not endanger yourself.

If we cannot be counted on to do the 'right' thing as a matter of principle - it seems some are poised to impose appropriate decision-making.

Continue reading "Should We Legislate a Duty to Help?" »

There is a lot of interesting and varied news in the world of vehicles recently. Consider the following news shorts.

*As if rising (skyrocketing) gas prices were not enough of a punishment for those who own larger vehicles - now some in the state of Texas wants to further abuse them. One news source states that legislators are considering adding a surcharge to the cost of new vehicles that fall short of the required fuel efficiency standards set by the federal government. The reason they are mulling over this additional cost is to help cover a projected budget deficit. I guess that is a way of increasing taxes without admitting you raised taxes!

*It seems that vehicle technology is changing faster than I can ever write about it. A short television news segment offered viewers a look at what they can expect in their cars in the coming year or so and there are some great ideas out there.

For instance, new voice technology will allow you to listen to your text messages and respond without ever taking your eyes off the road and hands off the wheel (like a phone conversation but better).

In addition, new technology has been designed that will allow parents more control over the speed their children can travel at and even how high the music can be played. Too, physics played a hand in the newer designs - as engineers are finding ways to disseminate the energy from a crash thereby minimizing damage to the vehicle and injuries.

Finally, a rising pop star offered this advice to his fans - don't twitter and drive.

Continue reading "Technology and Cars" »

Many times the federal government makes a decision that has a trickle-down effect - impacting each one of us in a variety of ways but most often our wallets. Such is the case with the recent October decision to impose greenhouse gas and fuel efficiency standards for trucks and buses.

Although you will find a link to their website at the end of this blog - and I wholly encourage you to visit it and read the entire article - let us offer some of the highlights of this legislation.

* These are the first national standards to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve fuel efficiency of heavy-duty trucks and buses.

*The program is expected to reduce emissions by nearly 250 million metric tons and save 500 million barrels of oil.

*New fuel efficiency standards for trucks will reduce the cost of transporting freight.

* it is estimated an operator of a semi truck could pay for the technology upgrades in under a year, and save as much as $74,000 over the truck's useful life.

If all of the above information is factual and bears out in the years to come then one could expect that the cost associated with transporting goods around the country will, in fact, decrease and these savings will be passed on to the consumer, right?

Oh well, barring that at least we can celebrate the fact that gains are being made on the environmental front. Certainly we are all glad to know that these regulations will improve air quality and reduce green house gas emissions.

Continue reading "New Fuel Efficiency Standards for Trucks" »

Traffic cams play an increasing role in analyzing traffic accidents today. These devices are actual video cameras placed along highways, freeways and other major thoroughfares and connected with fiber optics.

A monitoring center receives live video feed in real time and can act as a dispatcher if an accident or safety issue is detected. For those who are techno savvy you can even watch individual frames from the traffic cam that are posted to the internet every few moments.

Traffic cams are separate from road safety - or traffic enforcement - cameras. detect traffic regulation violations such as speeding, vehicles going through a red traffic light, and unauthorized use of a bus lane.

These devices are designed to enforce traffic laws and can take still photos of individual cars (and their license plates) at a much higher resolution than a traffic cam. Traffic tickets may be issued based on the pictures from a safety camera - and difficult to dispute since its 'on tape' (so to speak).

A third type of traffic cam is the Online Traffic Cameras. These are actually linked to a website that allows the public to view real time traffic conditions. However, they usually refresh every sixty seconds - look for them on government websites.

Of course these devices are not without their vociferous detractors. Civil rights groups liken it to the age of 'Big Brother' watching while others consider it an invasion of privacy.

Finally, these cameras give the appearance of nothing more than a new source of revenue collection for local, state and federal municipalities.

However, anytime something serves to make our Houston streets safer, i am for it.

Continue reading "Traffic Cams- Helpful or a Revenue Stream" »

Some bizarre but amusing driving laws from various states around the country.

*It is illegal to drive blindfolded in Alabama.

*It is illegal to jump from a car moving 65 miles per hour or more in California.

*It is illegal to drive through playgrounds in Georgia.

*It is illegal to screech your tires in Kansas. The fine is $30.

*It is illegal to park in front of a Dunkin Donuts in Maine.

*It is illegal to swear from an automobile in Rockford, Maryland.

*It is illegal to place a bench or chair in the middle of the road in Reno, Nevada.

*It is illegal to plant trees in the middle of the street in New Jersey.

*It is illegal to disrobe while in your car in Sag Harbor, New York.

*It is (REALLY!) illegal to play in traffic in North Carolina.

*It is illegal to drive through cemeteries in North Carolina.

*It is illegal to drive on the sidewalks in North Carolina.

Doesn't it make you wonder what event precipitated the enactment of these laws? Tune in to our next blog where'll we'll finish touring the country in search of more of these kooky declarations.

Continue reading "Bizarre Driving Laws" »