Are Side Underride Guards Required on 18-Wheelers?
An 18-wheeler's underride guard or "Mansfield bar" helps prevent a smaller vehicle from traveling underneath a semi-trailer during a rear-end collision. The standard guard design has room for improvement and a mixed success rate, but most would agree that something between a car and a trailer's undercarriage is generally better than nothing. The government seemingly...
How Do I Find Out if My Employer Has Workers’ Comp or if They’re a Non-Subscriber?
Most workers in Texas are surprised to learn that employers do not have to participate in the workers' compensation program. About 25% of the companies in Texas actually opt-out of workers comp; we call these companies non-subscribers. This means that if you are injured on the job, you can't assume you will receive workers compensation...
Who Is Liable if an 18-Wheeler Underride Guard Fails?
A semi-trailer typically sits higher off the ground than the bumpers of many passenger vehicles, which means when a car hits the rear or side of that trailer there's a strong risk that it will travel underneath in what's commonly called an underride accident. Such collisions are often devastating to the people in the car,...
Can You Sue the Owner of a Trailer if the Underride Guard Fails?
An underride guard, or "Mansfield bar," is designed to keep passenger vehicles from traveling underneath a commercial truck's trailer during a collision—a situation that often causes serious or even fatal injuries. Unfortunately, many underride guards are poorly designed or maintained and don't achieve their stated purpose. When someone is hurt or killed in a crash...
How Much Alcohol Can a Truck Driver Legally Have in Their System?
There are few people capable of causing more carnage than an intoxicated truck driver. In an effort to prevent that from happening, the federal government imposes heavy restrictions on alcohol consumption by commercial drivers, including lowering the legal intoxication limit for truck drivers with respect to alcohol. So what is a truck driver's maximum legal...
What is an Underride Guard (AKA Mansfield Bar)?
There's no "good" way for a passenger vehicle to crash with a commercial truck, but one of the worst forms of that is an underride collision where a car travels beneath a truck or trailer. Modern 18-wheelers are meant to have some built-in protections to help prevent those crashes or at least reduce their damage,...
How Often Do Truck Drivers Fail DOT Physicals?
Truck drivers have to undergo a physical exam at least once every two years to ensure they're in good enough health to safely operate a commercial vehicle. Some pass with flying colors while doctors may ask others to return sooner than 24 months for monitoring. Still others, however, fail the DOT exam for one reason...
What Are My Rights if My Employer Does Not Have Workers’ Comp. in Texas?
Texas is unique; employers in Texas can choose NOT to participate in the workers' compensation program. When a company opts out of providing workers' comp. coverage, injured workers do not receive automatic benefits like they would if the company did participate in the workers' comp. program. This raises the question, "If I am injured on...
What is the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners?
Among the many regulations governing commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) are ones about drivers passing mandatory physical exams to ensure they're fit to do the job. Not just any doctor can conduct the exam, though; in fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) created a specific registry of approved physicians permitted to test drivers and...
What is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration?
Commercial vehicles like tractor-trailers are integral to our country's economic and logistical needs, but they can be extremely dangerous if mishandled. That's why the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has many rules and regulations about how to maximize the safety of those vehicle, their drivers, and everyone around them on the road. But who actually...
What’s the Average Settlement for Loss of Limb Injury Claims?
An accident that causes the loss of a limb changes your life forever. When someone’s negligence or intentional action caused this tragedy, the victim has every right to seek the largest monetary settlement possible. A personal injury attorney who has experience handling cases involving amputations can recover the compensation you deserve for this harm. How...
What is a Commercial Motor Vehicle?
Knowing which kinds of vehicles fall under the umbrella of "commercial motor vehicle" is more important than some may realize, since the rules governing them and the expected behavior of their drivers are different from those of personal vehicles. So what exactly is a commercial motor vehicle? Answer: A commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is a...
What is a Commercial Driver?
Heavy vehicles that move passengers or cargo from place to place are generally classified as commercial vehicles. The operators of those vehicles must be specially trained and licensed to drive them due to their increased size and the complexities of driving them safely—and the rules they must follow differ from those for drivers of passenger...
Do Commercial Drivers Cheat on DOT Physicals?
The law requires new and current commercial drivers to be healthy enough to operate their vehicles safely. Drivers are expected to see physicians and be cleared to drive at least once every two years, and if they don't state agencies may revoke their commercial status. One might think that's enough reason for drivers to handle...
Who Is Responsible for Ensuring Truck Drivers Undergo DOT Physicals?
The Department of Transportation mandates that truck drivers get a physical checkup at least once every 2 years. The purpose is simple: Ensure truck drivers are fit to drive. Of course a rule is only effective when someone enforces it, which raises the question: Who is actually responsible for making sure that truck drivers stay...
Can a Driver Still Operate an 18-Wheeler if They Fail a Physical?
Per the Department of Transportation, all commercial drivers must undergo regular physical exams to make sure they're in good enough shape to safely operate their vehicles. The requirement is inflexible and every commercial driver must comply at least once every 2 years to maintain their CDL. But what happens to drivers who fail the exam?...
What are DOT Truck Driver Physical Exams?
Truck drivers have a demanding job and it’s crucial that they’re able to do it properly. That means they need extensive training, but on top of that they have to be in good health. That’s why the Department of Transportation requires all commercially licensed drivers to get regular health checkups from certified physicians. So what...
What Are the Truck Driver Hours of Service Rules?
Recognizing the danger of letting truck drivers go on extended "long haul" drives until they are dangerously exhausted, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) imposed limits on the amount of time a truck driver may legally operate their vehicle before they're required to rest. So what exactly are those "hours of service" rules? Answer:...
How Do Truck Accident Victims’ Lawyers use DOT Driver Physicals in Lawsuits?
Truck driver medical episodes should be incredibly uncommon because they’re required as part of their job to pass a physical every 1-2 years to stay on the road. Despite this requirement, a truck driver causing a crash because of a medical episode is not nearly as rare as it should be. When these accidents result...
Why Do Truckers Falsify Their Records of Duty Status (Hours of Service Logs)?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established the Hours of Service (HOS) Rule with the intention to limit—even completely prevent—crashes due to driver fatigue. Additionally, the HOS Rule aims to protect drivers from harassment and forced, unsafe driving by their employers. So why would some truckers intentionally violate the HOS rule and edit their...