This Blog was brought to you by the San Antonio Car Accident Lawyer of the Carabin Shaw Law Firm in San Antonio

DISTRACTED DRIVING

Distracted Driving and the DOT
Recently a father on his way to work was broadsided by an automobile. The impact sent his truck tumbling, and he was dead when it came to a stop.

Accident reconstructionists found no skid marks at the scene, which led them to conclude that the car driver did not even see the truck before hitting it…most likely because she was distracted. This type of auto accident happens every day in Texas. More info on this website

Distracted driving is quickly becoming the national focus of local, state, and government organizations and people of influence – including well-known celebrities.

To drive home the fact that people being killed in distracted driving accidents are our mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, family members and friends – the United States Department of Transportation has developed a video entitled ‘The Faces of Distracted Driving.’ In it, family members share the pain and tragic stories behind what many only see as the statistics of the death and devastation that accompanies a distracted driving accident.

The video is a series of segments in which family members are friends are encouraged to share their losses with verbal frankness. It is difficult to look away – and haunting for those who give little thought to their behavior behind the wheel.

An accident can be an unfortunate mishap – but distracted driving is not an accident – it is apparent negligence instead.

Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents

There are numerous reasons why sudden, unexpected truck crash occurs on our local highways. There have been several frequent causes, however, which have been identified by the federal motor carrier safety administration (FMCSA) and the department of transportation office of motor carrier compliance as the most common, or leading, causes of highway collisions. The following are a few of the primary causes of a traffic fatality or serious injury because of a truck crash: More on this website

* Physical factors affecting the driver
* Falling asleep or drowsy driving
* Aggressive driving
* Driving under the influence
* Trucks hitting pedestrians
* Collision between a big rig and smaller passenger vehicle
* Trucks hitting fixed objects
* Loss of control
* Tire blowout
* Vehicle failure
* Weather conditions

Most of these common types of semi-truck accidents involved combination trucks, tractor-trailers, and 18-wheelers (tractor trucks pulling a trailer). Additionally, FMCSA and OMCC have identified an array of truck types involved in fatal collisions or serious crashes:

* 18 wheelers
* 22 wheelers
* dump trucks
* tankers
* garbage trucks
* cement mixers
* auto carriers
* livestock carriers
* flatbed trucks
* flatbed trailers
* box trucks

Trucking Accident Assistance
It’s frequently challenging for an individual to gauge the level of devastation that has just occurred after a truck collision. An individual involved in any semi-truck accident must seek medical attention immediately at the scene and nearby medical center. Even if the passenger vehicle driver or passengers do not immediately feel pain after such an accident, they may be dazed, confused, or shell-shocked because of the force of the collision. The personal injury might be internal, such as brain hemorrhage, herniated disc, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury. An examination by a doctor immediately following a semi-truck crash can make certain that suitable safety precautions are taken. Suppose the personal injury was caused by the motor carrier’s negligence, including that of the truck driver, trucking company, or other third parties. In that case, the victim should promptly contact a personal injury lawyer and truck accident attorney to review the circumstances, begin an investigation, and if called for, prepare a truck accident claim.

While preparing a truck accident lawsuit may seem to some like a quick reaction to a trucking accident that occurred recently, the fact is your truck accident lawyer wants to have subpoena power to secure witness information, preserve critical evidence, and move the case forward as quickly as possible. Semi accidents, including tractor-trailer accidents, big rig accidents, and 18-wheeler accidents, often result in wrongful death or catastrophic injury. Delays typically only help the motor carrier, not the truck accident injury victim. So acting promptly is essential to prove the truck company’s liability quickly. Call us today. We’re here to help.

This Blog is posted by The Bryan Woods Law Firm – Your San Antonio Construction Litigation Attorney

Bryan Woods Law Firm

1250 N.E. Loop 410, Suite 725
San Antonio, TX 78209
Phone: 210-824-3278
Fax: 210-824-3937

San Antonio Construction Defects – Soil

Builders and developers perform soil analysis when researching areas they intend to develop. The analysis results allow the builder and/or developer to plan what construction strategies they will use along with what soil preparation if any, they will have to undertake. Once they have determined their development plans, they also need to hire contractors to do the job. A construction defect can be the result of poor planning, insufficient soil analysis, or unqualified contractors. Improperly compacted soils and contaminants remaining in soils (usually organic types of build-up, i.e. lumber) are two examples of construction defects that can occur as a result of these errors.

Improperly Compacted Soils

As a homeowner, you rely on the contractors that are working on your home to be qualified for the job. At the same time, you have a right to understand what poor workmanship can be. If you are seeing cracks in the drywall, cracks in bricks, windows, or doors that do not open and close properly or cracks in the foundation you may have improperly compacted soils. These symptoms could also be the result of expansive soils. Whether improperly compacted soils or other soil issues, this can be a very damaging defect that will require time and money to fix.

Contaminants Remaining in Soils

If you suspect you have an issue with contaminants remaining in soils you need to investigate it immediately. Contaminants remaining in soils can cause issues with your drinking water and other types of water issues. The severity of the issue will depend on the contaminants and also on how extensive the repair will be. In a situation like this, you do not want to go long with contaminants remaining in soils. This construction defect can be caused by human error or poor building materials.

At this point, your priority is to get your house back to a livable condition. If you move forward with getting repairs for either of these construction defects, be sure to keep good records. Document everything and make sure to take pictures. Keep any correspondences to or from the builder and document phone calls. It may be a bit tedious now, you’ll be thankful you have these records later.

Improperly compacted soils and contaminants remaining in soils are complicated construction defect issues to handle. There is a lot that goes into knowing what needs to be done. If you think you may have a construction defect issue, contact an attorney in our office today.