WATCH OUT! — for 18 Wheeler Blindspots

Did you know that nearly 840,000 blind spot accidents occur each year? This information is according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In this write up you will learn about the blind spots of 18 wheeler trucks.

Blind spots are those sections around a vehicle that appear impossible for an average driver to see or be cautious of any activity that may be going on in that particular space(s).

Learning about these areas around a long vehicle, especially, would assist you in ensuring that you keep safe on the roads.

Below are blind spots of an 18 wheeler truck

Close range at the front end of the truck

Both sides of the front end of an 18 wheeler truck especially when it is at a close range. This compass, in particular, is a spot the driver behind the wheels may not be able to see. The height of the front end of the truck places the driver at an altitude which rather gives them the advantage to see the long-range and distant views. You don’t want an 18 wheeler to get too close to you in traffic or else your vehicle will be caught in a web that shut out the sight of your car.

Spaces slightly behind and directly below the truck’s windows at both sides

You can be sure that any activity that goes on within these spaces would be at the risk of those involve because at that point the driver of the 18 wheeler is completely oblivious of whatever event that may spring up in these areas. If you find yourself at a spot that positions you slightly behind and directly below an 18 wheeler window at both sides of the truck, be informed that you are plying at a blind spot.

Directly behind the truck

When you are directly positioned at the center back of an 18 wheeler truck within a close range, you’re in a zone that is completely shut out from the view of the driver. It is advised that car drivers either change lanes when you are at the back of an 18 wheeler or deliberately initiate an attempt to keep a distance.

The right side of the truck ranging from the cab to the trailer end

Surprisingly not many people are aware that almost the entire right side of an 18 wheeler may be a blind spot. As much as possible do not pass an 18 wheeler truck on the right side.

 

It is important to take note of these blind spots when you have an 18 wheeler truck as a company on the road.

The post WATCH OUT! — for 18 Wheeler Blindspots appeared first on .

from Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C. https://www.herrmanandherrman.com/blog/watch-out-for-18-wheeler-blindspots/
via https://www.herrmanandherrman.com

Checking Your Vehicle Airbags for Functionality

Having functional vehicle airbags are one of the “must-haves” when having a functional car. You know accidents don’t usually give pre-notice so, it is best to guard yourself and co-passengers with functional airbags before hitting the road every day. To add to that, the “Takarta airbag recall” has also made it necessary to have functional one too.

If you are just getting a car, here is why you need to get functional airbags…

In the event of a crash, a functional airbag pops out forms a parachute and shields your head and heart from grave impact.

Functional airbags will have functional sensors that detect an imminent crash and responds in activating the bags in milliseconds.

In a nutshell, before having a car you need to make up mind to have a functional airbag all the time.

Now, the test here is finding out just how functional your vehicle airbags are and here is how to check.

Check the indicator light on the dashboard.

One of your first place for observation is to check for the airbag indicator light when you engage the car ignitions. Do they come up with other indicator lights and go out later? If yes, you still a dependable airbag. If it fails to pop on, flashes or stays throughout the driving, chances of a fault should not be ruled out. This is when you reach out to your automobile technician.

Get manual electrical testing too.

Some cars may not have electrical signals indicator systems, what you need to do if you have a car like this is to still visit your technician if you don’t have a multimeter and a clock spring, which you are unlikely to have. Your mechanic will help you conduct a manual test to verify your vehicle’s airbag functionality.

Contact a trusted technician after a crash. If you had a crash earlier with the car and your airbag got activated, it can be replaced and still save you in the event of another mishap. But that depends on the safety it is given at the point of replacement. Safety here demands that your reliable technician have to get an original airbag and must also use original equipment with manufacturers’ parts. When this happens, you are certain of having functional and trusted airbags in your vehicle.

Your car needs to have functional airbags because you deserve to drive your vehicle without fears or unnecessary worries about car components like a functional airbag. So, remember to check yours every morning and have a safe trip every day, you must have it!

The post Checking Your Vehicle Airbags for Functionality appeared first on .

from Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C. https://www.herrmanandherrman.com/blog/checking-your-vehicle-airbags-for-functionality/
via https://www.herrmanandherrman.com

San Antonio Mom On Motorcycle Nearly Dies In Hit And Run Caused By Drunk Driver

Janet Peña, 55, from San Antonio, TX is one bad Mamma.

Janet’s a full-time rehab technician at San Antonio State Supported Living Center, a full-time mother-of-three, and she rode her 2008 Harley-Davidson Dyna Low Rider motorcycle every chance she got. But on May 19th, 2018, the mother of three had to deal with a hit-and-run that nearly took her life.

Janet Peña on her 2008 Harley Dyna Low Rider Motorcycle

On a typical day, Janet’s bike wasn’t the only one parked in front of her home. Her husband, son and daughter are also riders. You could say that it’s a whole family biking fraternity.

On the weekends, if Janet and her husband weren’t attending a motorcycle rally, you would find the family cruising around on their bikes with other fellow riders in San Antonio, TX.

Deadly Drive Home

On Saturday, May 19th, 2018, a drunk driver changed what was a typical fun-filled afternoon into a potentially fatal one for Janet.

“I was at a picnic,” said Janet, “and had to get home by 6:30 p.m. to take my son to a sweet 16 dance.”

At the intersection of West Avenue and Redrock Dr. in San Antonio, a drunk driver collided with Janet, as she headed home on her motorcycle.

“I was riding home on my motorcycle,” said Janet, “when I was hit, run over, and dragged under a truck driven by a drunk driver.

“After dragging me about 30 feet, he left me in the street without a care of my condition.”

Not only did the drunk driver hit Janet as he tried to turn left from an outside lane, with Janet on the inside lane, but he also fled the scene, dragging Janet under his truck.

Eventually, the driver was caught, but that good news came with some bad news as well.

The drunk driver had no insurance.

“‘No Work’, Means ‘No Pay'”

Now, left with a totaled bike, which was Janet’s primary mode of transportation, a broken knee, fractured fingers, and road rash up and down her body, and months of recovery ahead, Janet was concerned she wouldn’t be able to work – let alone be the full-time mom she had always been.

Janet with her husband and kids

“I’m a busy mother of three children,” said Janet, “working a full-time job and a full-time household.

“’No work’, means ‘No pay’. The bills continue to come in for payment.

“On top of that, I was unable to interact with my kids in school and other daily activities.”

Protection From Uninsured Drivers

The upside for Janet – she carried something that many motorists tend to overlook.

“In Janet’s case, she was very smart,” said Lane Diamond, Janet’s attorney at Herrman & Herrman.

“She had uninsured motorist coverage.

“This coverage can be provided by your insurance company in the event that you’re involved in an accident with another driver that happens to be uninsured. It literally amounts to an additional $25 per month, but can be a lifesaver in cases such as Janet’s.”

Focused On Getting Better

Hiring Herrman & Herrman allowed Janet to focus on the months of recovery ahead of her.

“I was worried about compensation for my injuries,” said Janet, “and my lost wages from time off of work.

“I was assured by the firm that coverage from my insurance plan was getting processed.

“They obtained all of the necessary documentation for the case to commence and be acknowledged by all of the parties involved.

“From start to finish, I always had a sense that my case was in good hands.”

While the team at Herrman & Herrman did its best to take care of the legal aspects of Janet’s case, recovery was stressful for her.

“Prior to the accident, Janet was a very active person,” said Maureen Riley, Janet’s case manager at Herrman & Herrman.

“The motorcycle was her full-time transportation, but it was total loss and she had to get a new one. She also couldn’t go back to work until she fully recovered.

Janet and her husband Robert

“After the accident, she also couldn’t even drive a motorcycle for at least 5 or 6 months. This was all very depressing to her as she and her husband have been riding for over 20 years.

“Luckily, Janet comes from a very supportive family. Her husband wouldn’t even ride his motorcycle as long as she couldn’t.”

Insurance Company Paid Their Policy Limit

Given all that was on Janet’s plate, Herrman & Herrman were able to get her insurance company to move fast and provide financial relief.

“Janet sustained extreme injuries,” Lane said. “We were able to quickly collect her medical bills and records, in order to send out our demand for policy limits to her insurance company.

“The insurance company immediately paid out their full policy limits of $30,000 and we were able to pay out Janet her compensation for pain and suffering as a result of her accident.”

Life Is Back To Normal

Now that Janet’s case is settled and she has recovered, life has gotten back to normal.

“I have less anxiety over paying bills,” said Janet. “I’ve been able to return to work and all of the usual daily activities with my children and my husband.”

Regular communication with the firm during the recovery process allowed Janet to focus on getting better.

“Communication was prompt, informative, reassuring and convenient through phone and email on a daily and weekly basis,” said Janet.

“They Treated Me Like Family”

Even though Janet was a client of the law firm, she felt as though she was treated more like family.

“While Herrman & Herrman are aggressive in handling the case,” said Janet, “they treated me like family as their client.

“They were always thoughtful, and it was very reassuring to me.

Janet with friends and family

“They even addressed me on a first-name basis, which made me more comfortable and happy to be recovering from my injuries and this stressful event.”

She especially liked working with a local firm that is vested in helping the community.

“Local businesses, like Herrman & Herrman, that are involved and support the local community, create trust and responsible expectations from the community and the people who live in these areas.”

With Janet’s case and recovery now behind her, she feels a sense of resolution with the traumatic event.

“Since my case is resolved, I feel as though I’ve gotten justice with the help of the law firm.

“I would tell all of my friends and family, that if they were ever in a serious incident like mine, to choose Herrman & Herrman.

“You can feel confident in requesting advice from Herrman & Herrman, and get service from an outstanding firm with experience, knowledge, and compassion for their clients.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post San Antonio Mom On Motorcycle Nearly Dies In Hit And Run Caused By Drunk Driver appeared first on .

from Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C. https://www.herrmanandherrman.com/blog/motorcycle-accident-mom-drunk-driver-hit-and-run/
via https://www.herrmanandherrman.com

Texas Truck Driver Shortage

Truck driving is indeed a lucrative profession with drivers highly sorted for around the country and Texas is just another city with a high-paying job for truckers but low in availability. This has been a huge concern watching the depletion in drivers owing to several factors like retirement and having fewer qualified drivers indicating interest in the profession.

The attractiveness in truck driving.

• In every society, the truck drivers are one of the most reliable means of transporting goods from one point to another.
• In America, trucking is one of the sources of a booming economy and a decline in that sector is not appealing.
• Texas is estimated to have over 50,000 jobs awaiting truck drivers, this includes sign off bonuses, free online tuition, and added incentives but still few qualified drivers respond to it.
• Truck drivers can now be monitored with the help of some technology logging device, this is necessary to ensure they comply with job conditions and rest schedules. However, this appears not lovable to the drivers as they dislike the idea of being watched closely and may also cause some drivers to pull cold on the job.

But how bad could this shortage be?

• Shortage in truck drivers means leaving more work for the available drivers. Because the ones behind the wheel will have to handle all the driving chores and this will lead to over-working, dealing with tired and exhausted drivers.
• One of the reasons for this shortage is the stressful demands of the job, which make the drivers desire to change it and resort to better living conditions. This is because, the lifestyle of truck driving encourages poor eating habits, poor resting lifestyle and other personal concerns.
• Coping with other road users is another “lump in the throat” as car drivers occasionally and impatiently cut-off trucks on the road. This is because they failed to notice that a truck will more time and space to get to a halt.
• This shortage has made companies employ inexperienced long haul drivers and you can bet on the results.
• Accidents are one of the effects of stressed and inexperienced truck drivers because, in Texas, records bear that the city has more truck crashes than other states.

Additionally, in the event of a mishap, you will find it needful contacting your personal injury attorney to help you with the right approach in claiming your losses.

 

How can the situation be improved, where do we go from here?

• Add more flavor and flexibility. Have you considered the other gender? The women, yes! The women can handle trucking too to your amazement. Statistics present that over 8% of truckers are female drivers, so you better stop doubting…and when next you meet a female face pop up on the application site, click the offer-granted button already.
• Keep the high pay. This has been the recent practice in Texas though with little impact but hopefully, it has attracted the women and more men will catch in.

Truck driving shortage has remained a topical concern in Texas as it drags the state’s economy but with some workable strategies like the ones discussed here, truck driver’s shortage will gradually recline.

The post Texas Truck Driver Shortage appeared first on .

from Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C. https://www.herrmanandherrman.com/blog/texas-truck-driver-shortage/
via https://www.herrmanandherrman.com

Brownsville Pedicabs in Traffic Accidents: How Are They Vulnerable?

Brownsville recently debuted a pedicab service as a transportation option for tourists and residents in its historic downtown.

A pedicab is a pedaled tricycle taxi with a driver on a bicycle seat holding handlebars up front and a bench seat for passengers behind. Pedicabs are promoted as an environmentally friendly alternative to motor vehicles. They can be found in numerous large cities and as tourist attraction novelties nationwide. Unfortunately, passengers in pedicabs are vulnerable to serious injuries if struck by a car or truck.

Pedicabs move more slowly than motorized vehicles. Over the last several years, pedicabs have been involved in traffic accidents that have caused injury and even death in Austin, Texas and numerous other cities throughout the United States.

Brownsville Pedicabs will operate initially in the downtown area of Brownsville on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from early evening to 2 a.m., according to the Brownsville Herald. If you were injured while driving a pedicab or riding in a Brownsville pedicab, you may have a right to seek compensation for your injuries.

The Brownsville personal injury attorneys at Herrman & Herrman represent families and individuals injured in car, bicycle, pedestrian accidents and pedicab accidents in Brownsville.

The Risks of Pedicabs & Factors Causing Accidents

Like bicycles and motorcycles, pedicabs lack an enclosed passenger compartment to protect drivers and passengers. Pedicabs are vulnerable road users.   If a pedicab gets into a collision or even a single-vehicle accident, a pedicab driver or pedicab passengers may bear the full force of impact and even may be thrown from the pedicab.

Pedicabs transport tourists and provide tours of points of interest and historic sites in Brownsville. A Brownsville pedicab operator giving a tour presentation may be a distracted driver. Distracted driving involves engaging in any activity that diverts attention from driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Other potential causes of pedicab accidents include:

• Negligent and reckless motorists. A motorist who is inattentive may fail to see or slow down for a slower-moving pedicab, especially at night, resulting in a collision. Motorists are required to exercise due care and caution to avoid colliding with vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, bicyclists and pedicabs. Drivers who exceed the posted speed limit and change lanes aggressively may react poorly to encountering slow pedicabs in traffic.
• Pedicab operator negligence. The driver of a pedicab may be at fault if the pedicab driver disregards traffic regulations or fails to yield when appropriate. 
• Impaired pedicab operators. For many pedicab drivers, pedaling a pedicab may be a second job, raising the potential for fatigued or drowsy driving. Unfortunately, intoxication (drinking or drugging and driving) is always a potential issue on the road.
• Pedicab failure, such as loss of brakes or passenger seating becoming detached from the bicycle. In Austin, a man suffered a head injury when he stepped into a trailer-style pedicab and the trailer detached from the bike and tipped backward.

Pedicab operators and passengers are likely to suffer initial impact injuries in a crash and possibly secondary injuries if thrown from the vehicle. Pedicab accident injuries that could result in hospitalization, loss of work and income, and potentially lasting disability include:

• Head injury (traumatic brain injury or TBI)
• Fractures (broken bones)
• Back and spinal cord injury, potentially including paralysis
• Internal organ injury
• Amputation (crushed and surgically removed or severed limbs, fingers, toes)
• Serious lacerations and bleeding.

Who Is Liable for My Injuries in a Texas Pedicab Accident?

A Brownsville resident or tourist injured in a pedicab accident, or a pedicab operator, may have the legal right to seek compensation for his or her medical bills, pain and suffering and monetary losses if someone else caused the accident.

Either a pedicab operator or a car or truck driver may be at fault for a pedicab accident. If the pedicab driver was violating Brownsville traffic safety regulations when the accident occurred, the driver and pedicab company may be at fault. The pedicab itself could have a mechanical defect and fail, leading to an accident. In that case, the manufacturer might be held liable for product failure or the pedicab company may be at fault if failure was due to a maintenance issue.

The company that put pedicabs on Brownsville streets could bear legal responsibility for harm done by a pedicab and/or an operator employed by the company. Depending on any contract linking pedicabs or their operators to the Brownsville Historical Association, the Association, a private foundation, might be liable for pedicab accidents and injuries, as well.

Contact a Brownsville Pedicab Accident Lawyer

The personal injury attorneys at Herrman & Herrman help clients injured in all types of traffic accidents including pedicab accidents obtain compensation for their losses. Personal injury claims seek proper payment for losses suffered because of another party’s negligence, which is paid through insurance. Our work as attorneys representing injured people is to ensure that insurance companies pay what our clients are due.

For nearly two decades, Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., has served personal injury victims in South Texas, including Brownsville. In that time, we have also sought to give back to the communities we live and work in.

Our compassionate attorneys investigate clients’ accidents, injuries and losses, and negotiate aggressively with obligated insurers for fair settlements that cover all losses and expenses. We have successfully handled more than 20,000 cases in Texas, and we have more than 100 years of collective legal experience.

Call today at (361) 792-3669 or contact us online to schedule a free and confidential consultation with one of our pedicab accident lawyers in Brownsville about the assistance we can offer you.

The post Brownsville Pedicabs in Traffic Accidents: How Are They Vulnerable? appeared first on .

from Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C. https://www.herrmanandherrman.com/blog/brownsville-pedicabs-in-traffic-accidents-how-are-they-vulnerable/
via https://www.herrmanandherrman.com

Ask Your Doctor These Questions When Getting NEW Medication

Our bodies were not built to be flawless and for this, we sometimes fall ill. When we fall ill, we most times seek treatment in a hospital with the appropriate medical professionals – the medical doctors. In many cases, the doctor would order for a diagnosis to identify what causes the ailment of the patient experiences. After the diagnoses have revealed what is causing the disease in the patient, the patient is either prepared for a medical procedure like surgery or drugs are prescribed for the patient.

Sometimes when patients are given new drugs, they just accept the prescription, take it to the pharmacist to get the drugs and description on how to use them. But they never ask the doctors the right questions or any question at all. This is sometimes so because they do not know the right questions to ask the doctor.

In the subsequent parts of this article, we shall be discussing the questions one should ask the doctor when they get a new medication and why they should ask these questions.

The name of the medication and its function in treatment – it is essential you know the name of the drug you ingest and what it is meant to do. For instance, in a situation where a person experiences a side effect, without the name of the drug, it may be difficult for a medical professional to assist the patient in alleviating the discomfort without the name of the drug. Also, if you do not know the function of the drug, how will you ever know if it is effective or not.

The side effect profile of the drug – all drugs have side effect and you should be curious to know the side effects to expect from taking your medication. This is important so that you can prepare for it and know what to do when the side effect shows up. In some cases, you may need to report back to the health facility when you experience certain side effects so by asking the doctor, you will get to know these things.

How long do I take my medications? – to avoid therapeutic failure or complications, one should take the medication for the prescribed duration and not stop except the doctor advises

 

Asides these 3, other questions one should ask the doctor are:

 

What food, drugs, and drinks should one avoid while on the medication?

Can I get a generic version of the medication?

What should be done if one misses a dose of the medication?

When the medication is likely to take effect?

Is the medication safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

Are there tests necessary to monitor the medication?

Are there long-term risks associated with using this drug?

Conclusion

To ensure that the outcome of therapy is achieved and the one is safe throughout taking the medication, one must ask these questions. Sometimes, the drugs may not act like they are expected to and your only saving grace may be the knowledge you get from the doctor’s reply to these questions.

The post Ask Your Doctor These Questions When Getting NEW Medication appeared first on .

from Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C. https://www.herrmanandherrman.com/blog/ask-your-doctor-these-questions-when-getting-new-medication/
via https://www.herrmanandherrman.com

Drinking & Driving – What are the Damages?

Ordinarily, drinking to get drunk is not a good thing to do. But in this age and time, there is a high rise of alcoholic intake in the world; most especially amongst the youth.; and we see people drinking excessive alcohol to the extent of passing out.

As if drinking and getting drunk is not disastrous enough, most of these drunk people end up getting behind the wheels of their vehicles; and before you know it, they are crashing into people, objects and landed properties.

When any of these collisions happen; most especially a crash against property i.e. property damage, there are lots of things that can happen to the drunk drivers and perhaps the owner of the property, such as:

• Criminal charges and persecution

Damages and injuries caused by drunk drivers can bring about legal suits against the drunk driver. For damage done to properties for instance, the drunk driver might be incarcerated for a few days, their driver’s license can be suspended or be made to pay a bond before they are released.

• Pay for damages

The second penalty levied against drunk drivers involved in property damages is that they pay for the damages caused. This is where things can get dicey for the property owner, as there are so many factors that would determine if the property owner would be paid or not.

One factor includes a property damage claim and evidence to back it up. This means that you have to watch and maybe record the driver to ascertain that he was truly under the influence of alcohol when he/she crashed into your property. Also, you have to take a pictorial note of the location of the crash, to further buttress your claims.

Another factor that can help the claim of a property owner is if the state where the collision happened, has a law that backs up financial punishment for reckless drunk drivers if the state has one, it becomes easier and possible for the property owner to get his/her financial compensation without stress.

Besides, the drunk driver’s insurance policy and company are other factors that determine if the property owner will be paid or not. If the driver doesn’t have an insurance policy, it might be very difficult for the property owner to get the befitting financial settlement.

But if the driver has an insurance policy, it is easy for the property owner to get a financial settlement. Mind you, there are shady insurance companies that might not want to award the property owner a fair settlement; hence the property owner must hire the services of an attorney to help them get what is rightfully theirs.

Although, property collision as a result of drunk driving cannot be classified as an intentional act; but regardless of that, according to the DUI (Driving Under Influence) laws; property damage based on DUI is seen as a criminal act that should be addressed legally, to teach the perpetrator a big lesson, and also teach others not to engage in drinking and driving.

The post Drinking & Driving – What are the Damages? appeared first on .

from Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C. https://www.herrmanandherrman.com/blog/drinking-driving-what-are-the-damages/
via https://www.herrmanandherrman.com