Why Texas School Buses May Be Unsafe for Children

Every car has seat belts; it’s the law. If you are caught without your seat belt in Texas, you will be fined, and a minor caught without a seat belt faces an even greater fine. Seat belts save many lives every day, and you would assume that, since Texas state law has made wearing seat belts a priority enforceable by law, especially for children, school buses would definitely be equipped with the best seat belt technology. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and is why Texas school buses may be unsafe for passengers.In 2009, the Texas legislature allocated $10 million to update school buses with seat belts.

The majority of school districts have still not updated their buses to this day. State officials say it is a priority for school districts not to purchase new buses with seat belts because the buses they currently have are sturdy and last a very long time. The state's allocated funds do not cover retrofitting old buses; they only cover purchasing new ones. A Texas state senator has introduced a bill requiring all new buses to have 3-point seat belts, one of the safest types. We can assume that school buses will continue to get safer as more are purchased, but many older buses are still in service, offering limited safety for passengers. This is a serious issue. Below are some tips on how to react if you are involved in a bus accident as a car driver. Steps to Take If Involved in a Bus Accident.

• Remain calm: This will be difficult in the wake of a potentially severe bus accident with multiple victims, but you must get through the situation.

• Report the accident: Call the local authorities if the accident is serious, and ensure emergency responders reach the scene as quickly as possible.

• Call your insurance company: Report the damages to your vehicle, take pictures of the crash scene, and tell them what happened. Report how much the damages cost to repair once they are fixed.

Bus accidents can be severe, and the reasons behind them can be much more complex than they initially appear. Having a Lufkin auto accident attorney who is experienced in handling many vehicle accident cases, including different kinds of vehicles, can help you get all the information you need for dealing with compensation for injuries and vehicle damage. Rules for filing claims against Governmental entities, like an accident involving a city bus, differ from those for filing against another insured driver of a car.

Was Negligence Involved In a Bad Weather Car Accident?

Bad weather greatly increases the risk of an accident. Determining who is at fault in an accident is usually an issue of negligence. East Texas is especially prone to bad weather. Severe thunderstorms and hurricanes can create flash floods within minutes. Driving in these conditions requires greater care to keep everyone safe. Keep reading below for some questions asked to determine whether negligence was involved in an auto accident.

How to Prove Negligence in a Bad Weather Car Accident

• What speed was necessary? Determining how fast the vehicles involved in the accident were traveling will help determine whether negligence was involved. In bad or severe weather, cars are expected to slow down for visibility and safety.

• Were the headlights on? Visibility can become scarce when skies darken in severe thunderstorms or heavy fog. Driving without headlights can cause accidents to other cars and pedestrians.

• What was the condition of the vehicle? Were the windshield wipers on and working? What about headlights? Were tire pressures at a safe level and in decent condition? Was there an engine failure that could be at the heart of the accident? These are all questions that need to be considered to determine the level of fault in an accident.

• How bad was the weather? The driving conditions at the time of the accident will also determine how the drivers should behave in that scenario. The less severe the weather, the less it would matter that you are driving slowly, with hazards on, etc.

What If Both Parties Are at Fault?

States have different laws that determine when a member involved in an accident can sue the other party for damages. In Texas, if a member is found to be 51 percent or more at fault for the accident, they cannot recover damages from the other party. Some states are 50 percent or higher; other states compensate on the exact amount of the percentage of liability they have in the accident, i.e., if you are 90 percent responsible for an accident, you can win the remaining 10 percent from the other insurance party. Car accidents can be expensive, and many complex factors go into determining whether drivers were negligent and who is financially responsible for the accident. Contact Mike Love & Associates, LLC today. Our team of Lufkin car accident lawyers can help you answer the hard questions in your auto accident.

Travel Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

November and December are among the busiest months on highways and interstates nationwide. The vast majority of people are travelling to visit family and friends during the holidays. With more cars on the road and adverse weather conditions, there are more opportunities for car accidents. Safety should be a significant concern for all motorists this time of year. The following travel safety tips may help reduce your risk of an auto accident during the holidays.

Get Enough Sleep: Drunk and Drowsy Driving Are Similar

Lack of sleep is one of the greatest dangers for motorists taking long road trips. Drowsiness can significantly raise your chances of being involved in an accident. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released a report earlier this month linking drunk and drowsy driving. According to the study, motorists driving on four to five hours of sleep show impairment similar to a blood alcohol content of .08, the legal limit. AAA also claims that missing one or two hours of sleep per night can quadruple the risk of being involved in an accident. People who get less than 4 hours of sleep are 12 times more likely to crash. The National Sleep Foundation recommends getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep before setting out on a trip and avoiding sleep medications or alcohol the night before departure. If you notice symptoms of drowsiness, such as heavy eyelids, yawning or difficulty focusing, pull over and rest or let someone else drive.

Make Sure Your Vehicle is Safe to Drive

Your vehicle cannot protect you if certain parts are not in working condition. Before setting out on a trip, it is wise to receive a tune-up. A qualified mechanic can check your brakes and pads, head and tail lights, car battery, tires, and fluids. If you have young children, the week before a road trip is a good time to check the effectiveness of booster seats. An estimated 8 in 10 parents do not know whether their booster seats are installed correctly. Some police and fire departments can perform checks. Local Texas Department of Transportation offices may also help parents with car seat issues.

Always Remember to Drive Safely During Your Trip

Long-distance driving requires extra attentiveness to road etiquette and safety. Use extra caution while traveling through work zones. Pay careful attention to speed limits during your travels. Always avoid distractions, such as mobile phones, eating, or applying makeup. There are also driving etiquette rules that can improve your safety. Never tailgate other drivers, and do not drive in the left-hand passing lane. National Safety Council statistics show more than 700 people die in car accidents every year between Christmas and New Year’s. The best way to avoid an accident is to take preventive action and plan. The Texas personal injury attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC, wish everyone a happy holiday season. Please stay safe!

Why Does Angelina County’s Most Dangerous Intersection Continue Causing Accidents?

Angelina County’s most dangerous intersection recently caused another serious car accident, this time involving a 22-year-old woman and a 2-year-old child. The intersection at U.S. Highway 69 and FM 326 is well known in our county for causing accidents. Nearby residents interviewed by KTRE claim they frequently see serious wrecks occur. One of the residents claimed they had seen four car accidents occur at the intersection in the last month and a half. Why is the intersection a significant cause of accidents? Motorists turning onto Highway 69 from FM 326 cannot see oncoming traffic coming from over a hill to the left. Some vehicles on Highway 69 may be speeding, making this intersection even more dangerous. Fortunately, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is taking complaints about the intersection seriously. TxDOT will be conducting a signal analysis study at the intersection this week. Data collected from the study will determine whether further action is warranted. If necessary, TxDOT could make the Highway 69 and FM 326 intersection signalized by installing traffic lights.

How Can You Avoid Accidents at Angelina County’s Most Dangerous Intersection?

The best way to avoid an accident at Highway 69 and FM 326 is to avoid the intersection by taking alternative routes. People turning right or left can take Pee Wee Smith Rd to Highway 69, as there is no hill obstructing oncoming traffic. Visibility is much better for traffic coming from either direction. Alternative routes may not be an option for everyone. Until TxDOT makes its decision, there are other ways you can reduce the chances of being involved in an accident at Lufkin’s most dangerous intersection.

• Turn off music: Highway 69 and FM 326 are a blind intersection, so it is crucial to rely on your other senses to detect approaching traffic. You may have an easier time hearing other vehicles approaching if you turn off the radio or stereo.

• Scrutinize the intersection: Look both ways, but do so quickly. It does not take long for traffic coming up over the hill to reach the intersection.

• Avoid this intersection at night: It's hard to see traffic approaching from the left. This is even more the case at night on a poorly lit highway. If you are going to turn onto Highway 69 at night, it may be best to use one of those alternative routes.

• Avoid any distractions: Eating, texting, or grooming can be fatal at this intersection. Highway 69 and FM 326 require your full attention.

It could take TxDOT a while to fix this dangerous intersection. In the meantime, we need to stay vigilant or find alternate routes. The Texas personal injury attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC, encourage you to drive safely.

Road Etiquette: How Driving Politely Can Improve Your Safety

Driving etiquette is not only polite, but it may also save lives. If you follow some of the behaviors listed below, you may reduce your risk of being involved in a car accident. Getting somewhere a few seconds faster is not worth your life or the lives of others. Use your turn signal: Neglecting it is a safety risk for apparent reasons. According to research by the Society of Automotive Engineers, failure to use turn signals causes 2 million accidents each year. The study claims drivers neglect to use their turn signals 48 percent of the time. Please, don’t be one of these people. Be careful using your high beams: High beams can improve your personal safety while endangering others.

The truth is, there is a right and wrong way to use high beams. Switch off your high beams to standard lighting when you see an approaching vehicle. Also, do not use high beams while driving directly behind another driver. Avoid distracted driving: Centers for Disease Control statistics show distracted driving kills eight and injures 1,161 drivers daily. Texting while driving is not the only form of distracted driving. Eating while driving, talking to other passengers, or reaching for nearby items can also cause distractions. Your only focus should be on driving. Let other drivers merge: Never speed up to keep other drivers from merging, as you may cause a collision. Don’t tailgate other drivers: If the driver in front of you is going too slowly, attempt to switch lanes and pass them. Tailgating is extremely risky because it does not provide you with enough stopping room if the driver unexpectedly hits the brakes. Yield the right of way: If you are at a stop sign or intersection and believe another driver may have the right of way, let them pass first. Attempting to run through the intersection is likely to cause a collision. Don’t slow down to look at roadside accidents: Slowing down to gawk at roadside accidents is known as ‘rubbernecking’. Rubbernecking is an annoyance for other drivers because it causes traffic jams. It can also increase your risk of an accident by taking your eyes off the road.

Why You Should Practice Driving Etiquette

Developing these habits will take repetition. Like all good habits, practicing driving etiquette can take time. According to researchers at the University of College London, new habits take an average of 66 days before they become automatic. If you feel you could be a ‘politer’ driver, give these techniques a try over the next two to three months and see if they stick. The Texas personal injury attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC, encourage you to practice safe driving habits.