Car driver injured after truck accident in houston, tx. According to the centers for disease control, 1 out of 25 drivers fall asleep while behind the wheel each month. Houston, tx april 25, 2019 a man and a woman were killed and another man was injured in a rollover crash in northeast houston. Comparison of motor vehicle traffic deaths, vehicle miles, death rates, and economic loss. A preventable accident is one which occurs because the driver fails to act in a reasonably expected manner to prevent it. Jackson suffered serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital in houston for treatment. Now you see why the feds are thinking about adjusting rules. Houston truck accidents lawyer accidents caused by 18 wheelers. Jan 20, 2016 truck accidents happen for a number of different reasons, but some of the most common causes include. According to houston police, a male was driving a silver dodge charger traveling eastbound on parker street near dodson. Driver fell asleep in singlevehicle rollover crash that.
When a driver is drowsy, the drivers reaction times, awareness of hazards, and ability to remain focused decrease. Distracted driving and drowsy driving appear to continue to be factors in fatal traffic accidents. In 2011, nearly one in five crashes involving injury occurred because of distracted driving. The cdc also estimates that the number of deaths caused by drowsy drivers could be even higher than records indicate, amounting to as many as 6,000 fatal crashes each year. Sleeping truck driver blamed for crash texas truck. Houston trucking accident attorneys call 7 4254300.
Driver fatigue houston truck accident lawyer krist law firm. The firm understands all the regulations governing bus companies and auto accidents. Houston truck accidents lawyer accidents caused by 18. Falling asleep in the sleeper cab of your truck can be challenging, though. Driver fell asleep in singlevehicle rollover crash that killed 2. Two people were killed in a singlecar wreck thursday morning after the driver fell asleep at the wheel, according to houston police. Are tired drivers more likely to get into accidents. Speeding collisions personal injury lawyer in houston texas.
Jun 15, 2019 tired mum killed another driver by falling asleep at wheel with baby in the back. When a truck driver becomes extremely tired, they may even fall asleep behind the wheel. Bus accidents are usually caused by the negligent operation of the bus driver. Semitruck drivers are some of the most dangerous drivers on the road today. Driver fatigue san antonio big rig accident lawyer. Driver b also misses work for several months due to the injuries. Taylors father wonders if the driver fell asleep or wasnt paying attention.
Sleeping truck driver blamed for crash texas truck accident. Memorial day weekend driver safety media car accident. Houston motorcycle accidents lawyer texas personal. Semi truck driver falls asleep at wheel, causes fiery two. The fmcsa study provides that fatigue accounted for % of the collisions, including 18,000 large trucks. Read here to find out more about how often drivers fall asleep at the. Michigan bus driver rams into six cars after falling asleep. Some of the parties that may be liable for your injuries include. Some statistics that seem to support the theory that driver behavior plays a significant role in car accident deaths include. Driver fatigue can cause driver to fall asleep at the wheel truck accident injuries ruin lives, destroy valuable property, and create higher insurance rates and shipping costs for everyone. Driver b sustains serious injuries, requiring extensive medical treatment. The 37yearold driver of a toyota camry fell asleep behind the wheel before causing the crash.
Drivers who work night shifts or may be traveling long distances are generally at a greater risk of falling asleep at the wheel. Our investigations into driver fatigue are just one part of a multifaceted approach to. If you are a victim of a semitruck accident, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to seek recompense. Sometimes, the truck driver might deny falling asleep. This is an increase from 2014 3,157 and 2015 3,210.
In fact, even if you have only lost one or two hours of sleep, you are still more likely to get into a. Drivers who are operating on little sleep have slower reaction times and impaired judgment. According to wlfi, a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel, causing a crash between two tractortrailers in tippecanoe county, indiana, on monday afternoon. When a driver completely dozes off, they often drift from their lane into the path of other cars, leading to a devastating crash. Sep 25, 2019 studies have shown about 30 percent of fatal truck accidents take place as a direct result of fatigue. Sleep apnea has become a major issue within the dot, because studies have indicated that the condition is a major cause of daytime sleepiness. Are tired houston drivers more likely to get into accidents. Sleep recommendations for truck drivers platinum drivers. Houston motorcycle accidents lawyer texas personal injury. Compensation for accidents caused by falling asleep while driving.
At some point during our driving lives, one in three american motorists will fall asleep at the wheel. Houston fatigued and drowsy driving accident lawyers drowsy and fatigued driving ranks among one of the greatest dangers on the road. Distracted driving may not seem dangerous while you are doing it, but studies suggest it may be just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Houston car accident lawyer car attorney walker texas.
People who snored or usually slept 6 or fewer hours per day were more likely to report falling asleep while driving. Feb 26, 2019 about onefifth of the drivers surveyed admitted they fell asleep while driving during the past year. Truck accidents johnson law group houston personal. Houston, texas ktrk drunk driving crashes are reaching epidemic levels in the houston area. Houston auto accidents driver fatigue personal injury lawyers. Their danger does not come in the form of deliberate acts of recklessness, but instead from the fact that they are operating 18 wheelers with very little rest, across long stretches of highway, at all hours of the day and night. Jackson was later transferred to a houston hospital for further treatment. Cars and trucks traveling at high speeds and colliding into each other can be a deadly combination for any driver, passenger or passerby. Oct 18, 2018 drowsy driving and drivers who fall asleep at the wheel cause a significant number of accidents on american roadways. Causes of motorcycle accidents in houston, texas although motorcycles account for less than 1% of all vehicles on the road, they are involved in over 15% of motor vehicle accidents across our state.
Mar 22, 2016 therefore, truck drivers with sleep apnea may be more likely to fall asleep at the wheel and cause accidents or even deaths. About onefifth of the drivers surveyed admitted they fell asleep while driving during the past year. But even nodding off for a split second can cause an accident that leaves people seriously injured. In some cases, a driver may actually fall asleep at the wheel. Fatigued drivers and drivers to fall asleep at the wheel account for a small but important number of fatal truck accidents. An estimated 1 in 25 adult drivers aged 18 or older report having fallen asleep while driving in the previous 30 days. As a result, drivers might fall asleep at the wheel, leading to major accidents. National highway traffic safety administration nhtsa studies estimated more than 72,000 accident were caused by drowsy drivers in one year, causing 41,000 injuries. Houstons truck accidents often occur as a result of improper driver training, negligence, lack of maintenance, and driver fatigue.
Houston drowsy driving accident lawyer terry bryant law firm. Precise figures are hard to come by regarding drowsy driving accidents because drivers are reluctant to selfreport falling asleep or nodding off behind the wheel particularly if it resulted in a collision. Speeding is already dangerous and illegal, and it becomes even more dangerous when an 18wheeler is involved. Truck accidents happen for a number of different reasons, but some of the most common causes include. Federal regulars target sleepy drivers platinum drivers inc. According to wlfi, a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel, causing a crash between two tractortrailers in tippecanoe county, indiana, on monday afternoon about the 18wheeler crash. Drowsy driving is a problem nationally, but nowhere more than in texas. Road traffic accidents where there is a fatality are arguably the most emotive cases. Speeding collisions often lead to fatalities and serious injuries.
Home car accidents houston distracted driver accident lawyer. Fatigued and drowsy driving accident lawyers in houston. When this happens, drivers may become exhausted and fall asleep, resulting in serious accidents. The resulting statistics cite significant dangers for drivers who slept fewer than 7 hours during the past 24 hours and for drivers who slept more than one hour less than they normally sleep no matter how many hours they normally sleep when compared to drivers who slept at least 7 of the past 24 hours those who slept six to seven hours were 1. Bus accidents attorney houston law offices of gene s. Drowsy or fatigued driving car accidents in houston table of contents being tired behind the wheel of an automobile, bus, or truck is just as dangerous as operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and can result in a car accident injury just as easily. Two dead in ne houston crash after driver fell asleep. Many truck accidents can be traced back to the negligence of the truck driver. Its not uncommon for drivers to nod off, even briefly. The purpose of the rules is to reduce the number of accidents due to fatigue or sleepy drivers and the rules reduce the maximum hours a truck driver can work within a week from eightytwo hours to seventy hours. Fatigue leads truck drivers to fall asleep, be inattentive, misjudge gaps, ignore the signs of impending dangers, panic, freeze, and under or overreact to a situation.
A driver apparently fell asleep just before a fatal threevehicle pileup in southwest houston monday morning. Apr 06, 2017 how not to fall asleep while driving a semitruck april 6, 2017 by admin leave a comment if you drive a semitruck for a living, we all know that both the days and nights can be grueling. Truck drivers travel long distances for many hours. Distracted driving distracted driving such as texting while driving, eating, adjusting the radio or typing a number into the gps system can also lead to accidents. Houston truck accident attorneys houston personal injury. Most of these cases can be complicated and strenuous to manage. All northbound traffic lanes of us 59 were closed, but have since. According to the oakland press, a 67yearold smart bus driver fell asleep at the wheel, which resulted in a halfmile crash. About the 18wheeler crash the semitruck crash occurred on interstate 65 north, just south of the state road 38 exit at around 1. The semitruck crash occurred on interstate 65 north, just south of the state road 38 exit at around 1. However, because so many drivers face demanding schedules and strict deadlines, these rules are often ignored. Falling asleep while driving is an all too common occurrence. Attorney for bus accidents in montgomery county, tx. Compensation for accidents caused by falling asleep while.
Another factor in many accidents is drowsy driving. Most adults need at least 7 hours of sleep a day, while teens need at least 8 hours. Studies have shown about 30 percent of fatal truck accidents take place as a direct result of fatigue. If one is not available, request an uber or lyft to pick you up. Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. When truck drivers spend too long behind the wheel, they can fall asleep or zone out, leading to accidents. Driver a strikes driver b, causing a major collision. To reduce motor carrier fleet accident rates by establishing a company standard for safe driving. Memorial day weekend driver safety media car accident lawyers. Houston trucking accidents caused by driver error stewart j.
Drowsy driving accidents in texas houston car accident lawyer. The potential for major accidents is magnified when a truck driver is fatigued or actually nods off at the wheel. Leon yusuf rasheed told police he hit the accelerator instead of the. More than 40 percent of the respondents admitted to falling asleep at least once since they began driving. For example, a major auto crash occurs on interstate 95 in wilmington when driver a falls asleep at the wheel and drifts into the next lane. Falling asleep at the wheel can be deadly for anyone, but when it applies to a commercial truck driver operating and 80,000 pound vehicle, it can be catastrophic for anyone in the trucks path. Houston fatal 3car crash caused by drowsy driver asleep. Victims of these types of accidents can potentially hold both the driver and his or her trucking company liable for damages sustained. However, according to the texas department of transportation, fatigued driving was a factor in 4,183 collisions in 2011. Seeming to back up the results of the study, a drowsy driver caused a fatal multivehicle crash earlier this week in houston. Belt, who was driving at an unsafe speed, according to an accident report, hit a tree. Driving under the influence can lead to fatal consequences, so with all the holiday parties, it is important to have a designated driver. Many cases of impaired driving go unnoticed unless theyre caught on video.
Trucking accidents caused by a fatigued driver falling asleep at the wheel are inexcusable. There are many ways that the truck driver can act negligently behind the wheel, such as. The number of trucks and passenger vehicles on houstons streets and highways has been increasing due to. Hagood knows exactly how to handle such scenarios and knows how to get truck accident victims the compensation they rightfully deserve. Houston truck accident lawyer represents trucking accident. Driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel in rollover crash that killed 2 in ne houston.
Develop good sleeping habits, such as sticking to a sleep schedule. Reflexes are slow when one is sleepy, increasing the odds of a wreck when a driver falls asleep behind the wheel. Houston truck accident attorneys houston personal injury lawyer. To reduce motor carrier fleet accident rates by establishing a company standard for safe driving description. Houston auto accidents driver fatigue personal injury. Bus accidents entail unique legal issues that are typically not dealt with in the common auto accident. May 22, 2019 fatigue leads people to fall asleep at the wheel or make bad judgement calls, so it always recommended to obtain enough sleep before driving. Driver fatigue causes wrecks not only when drivers fall asleep at the wheel, but also when drowsy drivers miss stop signs or red lights, lane drift, make unsafe lane changes, fail to see pedestrians or bicyclists when turning, or otherwise commit other moving violations and driver errors. How not to fall asleep while driving a semitruck april 6, 2017 by admin leave a comment if you drive a semitruck for a living, we all know that both the days and nights can be grueling. Therefore, truck drivers with sleep apnea may be more likely to fall asleep at the wheel and cause accidents or even deaths. Even if that doesnt happen, drowsy driving can be extremely dangerous. Fatigue leads people to fall asleep at the wheel or make bad judgement calls, so it always recommended to obtain enough sleep before driving. Driver fatigue houston truck accident lawyer the krist. The national highway safety traffic administration nhtsa has found that determining a precise number of drowsy driving crashes, injuries, and fatalities is not yet possible and relies on police and hospital reports to determine.
In judging whether the driver s actions were reasonable, one seeks to. Houston car accident lawyer car attorney walker texas lawyer. Frederick curry killed in harris county, tx wrongway accident. Common causes of 18wheeler accidents houston truck wreck. Long hours are not the only factor that causes fatigue in truck drivers. The number of trucks and passenger vehicles on houstons streets and highways has been increasing due to the growing population. Dramatic video shows houston police pull man from a burning car.
Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include. Through the enforcement of these devices, drivers are required to take frequent breaks. For far too long, stereotypical views have placed innocent motorcyclists at the center of endless scrutiny. Common causes of 18wheeler accidents houston truck. Drowsy driving and drivers who fall asleep at the wheel cause a significant number of accidents on american roadways. Tired mum killed another driver by falling asleep at. Drowsy driving common cause of semitruck accidents. Investigating an asleep at the wheel accident can be difficult because drivers who fall asleep may deny that it happened.
Houston, texas ktrk a fatal crash involving two 18wheelers is blocking all but one lane of i10 outbound at highway 6 near the barker cypress exit. According to police, the camry jumped the median on south main and crashed headon into a lincoln continental. Tim wright, 50, was driving a semi hauling water bottles when he fell asleep at the wheel. Falling asleep while driving results in hundreds of fatal crashes each year. Driver fatigue is essentially a driver that has either fallen asleep behind the wheel of a moving car or suffers a moment of unconsciousness that. Other times, the driver might try to claim you or another driver did something to cause the accident. The driver may fall asleep at the wheel, violate traffic laws or be distracted. In judging whether the drivers actions were reasonable, one seeks to determine whether the driver drove defensively and. Driver fatigue is one of the most dangerous potential problems for truckers, as evidenced by an nhtsa study that found that over 30 percent of all truck drivers killed in accidents involved driver fatigue or falling asleep at the wheel. Harris county, tx a wrongway driver struck and killed a pedestrian on friday, june 3 and has been arrested by harris county sheriffs office personnel preliminary investigation by police suggests the accident occurred around 2. Lets take a look at some of the ways you can improve your chances of sleeping better when youre on a road trip. Driver of 18wheeler fell asleep while driving, causing wreck. Serving clients in houston, galveston and throughout texas, a bus accident attorney at the law offices of gene s. Houston auto accidents driver fatigue there is now a new driver handicap being attributed to many of the car accidents reported in the united states, and that culprit is called driver fatigue.
87 301 1272 1508 890 362 711 1595 677 851 823 570 99 327 1544 1164 829 1345 1575 238 1050 1503 928 1419 200 513 1353 648 220 1028 430 569