In recent years, state-of-the-art technology has enabled companies to begin seriously considering the use of self-driving systems for commercial vehicles in the transportation and shipping industries. Silicon Valley-basedPlus.aiis among those laying the groundwork to make autonomous commercial trucking a reality.
Recently, Plus released a voluntary safety self-assessment of the company’s Level 3 automated driving systems, industry publicationFreightWaves.comreports. These systems are slated to begin mass production in China as soon as 2021. A Level 3 system is a step below a fully automated truck. Level 3 systems still need a human driver, but some functions are automated.
The assessments conducted by Plus were intended to measure two things:
The ability of autonomous trucks to drive the “middle mile” between shipping hubs and delivery destinations
The relative safety of autonomous trucks as compared to human-operated rigs
Plus states in its report that billions of miles of test driving in real-world scenarios will be necessary before the company can prove that its system is indeed safer than truckers driving big rigs in the traditional manner.
Criticism Over Voluntary Safety Reports on Autonomous Trucks
The self-assessments submitted by Plus and other self-driving vehicle manufacturers are informative. However, some industry experts have criticized the voluntary, non-standardized nature of these reports. Michael Ramsey is a connected-vehicle analyst from Connecticut-based research firm Gartner. He noted that these assessments are “more like marketing documents” than any rigorous or detailed mechanical evaluations, according to FreightWaves.com.
Ramsey also pointed out that, even though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides avoluntary self-assessment template, no common standards currently exist among autonomous vehicle manufacturers.
What Safety Reports Are Supposed to Cover
In its voluntary safety self-assessment documents, the NHTSA provides a self-described “nonregulatory approach to automated vehicle technology safety.” This approach is based on several “priority” elements of safety design, including:
System safety, including design architecture, sensors, software, and communication capabilities
Operational design domains, which govern the specific conditions under which automated driving systems are supposed to operate
Object and event detection and response, intended to help autonomous vehicles recognize and avoid obstacles
Fallback risk conditions, which describe processes for transitioning self-driving vehicles to “minimal risk conditions” when problems arise
Vehicle cybersecurity, which must be robust enough to protect autonomous systems from hacking and other cyber attacks
Data recording systems, which are useful in accident reconstruction and efforts to prevent future crashes
Federal, state, and local law adherence, since self-driving vehicles will eventually be responsible for observing all applicable rules of the road
Contact an Experienced Truck Driver Accident Lawyer
It’s unclear when fully automated, self-driving trucks will be safe enough to roam the roads. But the current reality is that human-driven trucks are still involved inthousands of accidentsin the U.S. every year. If you have been injured in an El Paso trucking accident, you could be entitled to compensation for your losses. Contact the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, today to discuss your crash in a free, no-obligation case review.
Most hernias are caused by a combination of pressure and an opening or weakness of muscle or connective tissue. The pressure pushes an organ or tissue through the opening or weak spot … Anything that causes an increase in abdominal pressure can cause a hernia, including obesity, lifting heavy objects, diarrhea or constipation, or persistent coughing or sneezing.
Essentially, hernia mesh is an implant doctors sometimes use to support weak or damaged tissue in hopes of fixing a hernia and preventing future hernias, according to the FDA. Severe complications can include abdominal pain, infection and bowel obstruction. Patients may have to undergo surgery to remove the mesh.
When these complications happen, patients may be entitled to financial compensation. The Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin has more than 30 years of experience handling defective product cases — the most in the El Paso area. Their attorneys will fight for clients’ rights, demand the compensation they deserve and make our community stronger by holding negligent parties accountable.
If you think you or a loved one might have a case, please call Michael Gopin’s offices at 915-532-1111 or reach out via michaelgopin.com/contact.
And don’t forget: Michael Gopin joins Mike and Tricia regularly on air answer listener questions on anything related to personal injury law — so now’s your big chance. Submit your question ahead of time by using thesubmit audio feature on the 93.1 KISS-FM mobile app.
Male: You’re listening to Mike and Tricia Mornings, 93.1 KISS-FM.
Mike: It’s our new monthly feature, Ask A Lawyer, with special guests Michael Gopin starts today. Michael has an ebook that you can download off his website. Tell us about this ebook and what we can find out from it?
Michael: Yes, the ebook I think is a great source of information. Just general questions about what an insurance company is looking for? What do you need to do to prove your case? Different types of cases like slip and fall, car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents. It’s a wealth of information. You can download it for free from our website at michaelgopin.com. And I think it’ll answer a lot of your simple questions about, you know, what’s really going on and what the insurance companies are thinking.
Mike: It’s a very informative website too. I mean, like you’ve got a lot of videos as well where you explain some of these things, you know, basic stuff that before you go talk to any lawyer you should probably educate yourself on.
Michael: Sure. I mean, I think that’s really important. We’re here to help and teach and have people learn what’s going on with their cases and what they can expect from a case.
Mike: Now are dog bites, are those kinds of cases common?
Michael: They are common. You definitely see them. And sometimes you run into issues there about insurance also. Typically, your homeowner’s insurance will cover dog bite issues but a lot of people don’t have homeowners insurance or they’re renting and so there’s no coverage but yes we’ve had some really severe dog bite cases and, you know, some pretty crazy scenarios as well. So yeah, those are…
Mike: Like even if my dog gets out of my yard or does it all have to take place on your property?
Michael: No, if your dog gets out of your yard then, you know, you’re responsible for your dog and you should have maybe been more careful in regards to keeping him in your yard. There’s what they call a one-bite rule, so if a dog has never bitten someone before, you’re not gonna be held liable but if they had bitten someone before, that changes the story completely and the dog owner may be liable for damages.
Mike: Even if the first bite was severe?
Michael: No, the first bite is different. So I mean, if you don’t have an idea that this dog has a propensity, you know, to bite people then you’re okay as the dog owner but if the dog has a history of biting and bites you, yes, you can be held responsible.
Mike: What about if it’s like workers coming onto your property?
Michael: Same thing, same rule.
Mike: Same thing.
Michael: So, I mean, we have, you know, dogs and we always make sure to lock them up when workers are coming just to, you know, to protect them, make sure nothing happens.
Tricia: And there’s a lot of things…I mean, think about it, living in El Paso, you know, people have housekeepers that they might not necessarily…they might be kind of an under the table kind of thing, you know, where you’re paying this person, they’re not necessarily your official employee, but if they get hurt in your house, you know, then you could liable.
Michael: That’s true. Any visitor that comes to your house that has an accident could be a potential liability for you. So, you know, it’s important if you are in a home that you, you know, properly protect yourself with proper insurance, so that’s always a good thing to have.
Tricia: Well, and then a lawyer, you know, people think to themselves, well, you know, I can’t afford it or whatever, but honestly, the insurance companies, they have lawyers and they’re designed to take care of the insurance company, not you.
Michael: They are professionals. This is their job. They do this all the time. They’re very experienced. They’re really knowledgeable. They know what, you know, your cases are worth. They know how to try to save themselves money because that’s the bottom line for them, you know, their profit margin.
Tricia: Right.
Mike: I noticed that the section where you can download the ebook, like if you’re not like into reading, if you’re like, ugh, reading would be hard…
Michael: Speak a book, right?
Mike: Yeah, you have that on there as well.
Michael: So they can read it to you, so make it as easy as possible.
Tricia: You are speaking Mike’s language, man. He’s like reading?
Mike: There’s a section there where you can download an audio copy of his ebook as well.
Tricia: Oh, my gosh.
Michael: We want to make it easy.
Mike: So once, you know, Mike and Tricia are off the air, you can listen to it in your car but not while Mike and Tricia are on the air. We will seek a lawyer for you.
Tricia: And don’t hold your phone while you’re doing that because you might get into a car accident.
Tricia: And somebody might call Michael Gopin against you.
Mike: in which case, we know somebody. We have a guy.
Tricia: That’s right, we do.
Michael: I’m your guy.
Mike: All right, Mr. Gopin, anything else before… We got this great pumpkin giveaway to do here in a couple of minutes. Would you like to add anything?
Michael: Sure. Just El Paso, stay safe, and stay smart. You know, we’re dealing with this crazy pandemic here and our numbers in El Paso are getting out of control, so, you know, be smart, stay safe. And if you have any legal questions, please call us. We’d be happy to help.
Tricia: Nice.
Mike: And we’ll have him again next month so submit your question ahead of time by using the Submit Audio feature on the free 93.1 KISS-FM Mobile App. And when he’s in next time, we’ll address your situation. It’s Mike and Tricia Mornings on…
Announcer: You are listening to Mike and Tricia Mornings, 93.1 KISS FM.
Mike: It’s called “Ask a Lawyer.” It’s our new monthly feature with special guest, Michael Gopin. It starts today. It’s your opportunity to get legal advice on problems you may have and anything related to personal injury law from a qualified professional.
Tricia: Okay. So on the KISS FM free mobile app, we have got a question from Jasmine, and she said she was in an accident. She was rear-ended about a year ago. Before the pandemic, she didn’t have a chance to hire a lawyer. She said her car is still not fixed and the person who hit her isn’t answering her calls, and now she can’t get a hold of the evil insurance adjuster, so she wants to know, is it too late to try and be compensated for the damage?
Michael: Yes, that’s a very good question. No, it’s not too late. You have two years from the date of the accident to bring a claim or bring a lawsuit actually against the person who caused the accident. So it’s not too late.
Now, certainly, the insurance company, as I know from experience, likes to dodge things and not answer the calls and puts you off, but certainly, you can go to a lawyer and seek to get your proper damage fixed. And if you were injured, I don’t know by the question if you were hurt or not, but it’s not too late for that also. But if you haven’t been to the doctor and it’s a year out, you know, then it’s probably not gonna be a very strong case for anything in terms of personal injury because you hadn’t treated yet. So it’s not too late, so you can certainly call a lawyer.
Tricia: Okay. The second one off of the KISS FM app, this person says, “I have a notarized agreement signed by a person who owes me money. He’s now refusing to pay and I was wondering if I need to take this to small claims court.”
Michael: You certainly can take it to small claims court. For that type of case, you have a little bit more time. You have probably four years from the date of the contract or the notary agreement to file a claim in a small claims court. The problem that you’re gonna run into is collection.
So let’s just assume for this question that you win your case and you have a judge say, “Pay me $1,000,” or whatever the amount is owed, you’re still gonna run into the same problem of collecting the money from the person who owes it to you. They can’t throw you in jail or do things like that for not paying the money, so that’s the difficult part. So that’s where you’re going to have a problem.
Mike: But if you have a claim against a person that somehow you can be able to collect eventually, can’t you?
Michael: Just depends. In Texas, you cannot take away their home. You can’t take away their car. You can’t take away a certain amount of personal property. So most people in Texas are called what they call judgment-proof, which means you can have a judgment against them, but there’s no way to be able to collect it or enforce it. It’ll stay. So if they, at some point, own more than one piece of property or have more wealth…
Mike: Or win the lottery.
Michael: Or win the lottery, then you can collect. And the judgments are good for 10 years at a time and you can renew them so they can last for a lifetime, but it’s a lot of work and there’s certainly no guarantees that you’re gonna recover. So that’s the problem a lot of times with cases that there’s no insurance at all because most people in Texas are protected by the homestead laws and the laws regarding creditors, so it’s a tough issue.
Mike: I know that this one, it was like a person to person kind of thing with a notarized letter saying, “I borrowed this, and I owe you this.”
Tricia: “I’ll pay you back.” Yeah.
Mike: Does it work the same way when you sign a contract with a business?
Michael: Same way, same thing.
Mike: So if I signed a contract saying I would pay the window installer a certain amount and they install the windows and then I default on the payment, it would work the same way? They could come after me, but they’re not necessarily gonna get my money if I don’t have it?
Michael: The question in that type of case is, was there a mechanics lien filed because that would protect them also. So if they did a lien and did things proper on their end, they may have some additional rights that you’re not gonna get around because there’ll be a lien on the house or the home.
Mike: That’s what a mechanics lien is.
Michael: Correct.
Tricia: For the work done, yeah.
Michael: Yeah. So that would be the question. If they did it legally and properly to preserve a lien, then the person would owe the money and they really can’t get out of that debt because when the house is sold, the lien is gonna pop up and it will be paid.
Mike: So, I mean, it’s not like they can’t take your house away but…
Tricia: Right. But eventually, if you sell your house…
Mike: One of these days, someday, part of your estate or whatever, that house is gonna have to change hands.
Michael: Correct.
Mike: And that’s when.
Tricia: And that happens all the time. My dad does probate law. Yeah. My dad does probate law and that happens all the time. People, you know, the heirs are like, “Hey, wait a minute.”
Michael: “We didn’t know we had that debt.”
Tricia: “I didn’t know that there was a $50,000 lien against my dad,” you know, whatever. But this, it kind of illustrates that even though you think to yourself, “I have this piece of paper, it’s notarized. You say you’re going to pay me back. I’m going to get this money.” If you don’t go and spend a couple of hundred bucks on an attorney to make sure that you’re writing, whatever it is written correctly to save, you know, both of you guys, then you really do need to go see that lawyer. A lot of people think, “I don’t need to do this. Come on. It’s written on a piece of paper, everybody’s signatures are on it and stuff like that,” but that’s not the case.
Michael: That’s not the case because the paper is only good as, you know, what it’s written on. So, you know, you have to be able to collect, you have to be able to have some protection. That’s why with a car, for example, you have a contract with a car, would they have a lien on the car? So that’s the bank’s collateral.
And in the case of this person who lent the money out, there’s no collateral. There’s no lien. They have a duty, a moral duty, and a legal duty to pay it back, but it doesn’t mean that they’re going to actually get it because of the collection laws.
Mike: Okay. So then, like, I don’t even know if you could answer this, but so then how would a person in this kind of situation go about making sure that he wouldn’t be in this kind of situation? Is there something on top of a piece of paper with a signature saying…
Tricia: Like if you owed somebody’s money.
Mike: Yeah, “I promise that I’m going to pay you the money back, brother-in-law.”
Michael: Well, you can attach it to something, you know, real estate, for example. Not your home. The home has special laws to protect it, so you can’t necessarily give away someone a lien unless they really are proper in what they do, and that’s pretty difficult to do.
But you know, you could have your car as collateral for a loan. So, you know, you can put them in the title, you know, for the cars that they have a lien on that. So that would be the only way to protect yourself. Or you could, you know, if they’re borrowing money, you could take jewelry or something as collateral or something that you have in your possession that’s valuable to protect yourself, otherwise, blind trust.
Mike: Otherwise, they don’t pay, you keep it. Okay, all right.
Tricia: Yeah. And so, okay. So the other question that a lot of people ask is, “So can I get a free consultation?”
Michael: Most lawyers give free consultations. Not all. I know in family law, typically there is a charge for the initial consultation. For our office, for all personal injury-related, you know, ideas, or possible cases, we certainly give a free consultation to them. These days that would be, you know, by phone or Zoom as opposed to in person, but yes, certainly you can get a free consultation with any questions that you may have.
Mike: Okay. All right. Let’s take a break, and then when we come back, I know you also have an ebook that people can access and learn a little bit more about your services.
Michael: Sounds good.
Mike: So we’ll talk about that next, 93.1 KISS FM, it’s “Ask a Lawyer” with our special guest, Michael Gopin.
Large semi-trucks are some of the most dangerous vehicles on the road. When an accident involves a large truck, which may weigh up to 15 times more than a passenger vehicle, the likelihood of serious injury and death resulting skyrockets.
Despite this danger, many large semi-trucks lack common safety technologies proven to reduce accidents, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) as well as forward-collision warning (FCW).
Both of these technologies play a key role in helping reduce the risk of accidents in which a truck rear-ends another motor vehicle. A recent report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that installing AEB and/or FCW on large semi-trucks (over 33,000 pounds) could prevent over 40 percent of accidents in which a large truck strikes another vehicle from behind. In 2018, at least 119 people died in such accidents in the U.S., and many more were injured.
Despite this demonstrated reduction in accident risk, the IIHS estimates that AEB and/or FCW are installed on about only half of the new commercial semi-trucks. About 66 percent of new passenger vehicles come equipped with these safety features. Semi-trucks have a lower level of AEB/FCW equipment, even though their large size and weight make them much more dangerous than passenger vehicles.
Not only do AEB and FCW prevent accidents, but they can also help make accidents less severe when they do happen, since these safety features are designed to slow down the vehicle before it impacts another vehicle or surface. In fact, in a study of AEB and FCW in passenger vehicles, the IIHS found that these safety features resulted in a 65% drop in injuries in crashes that did occur.
What the Study Reinforces
The IIHS study shows that with the widespread implementation of AEB and FCW safety technology, countless lives could be saved, and even more injuries avoided. According to Oriene Shin, policy counsel for Consumer Reports, “Congress should take action now by requiring AEB on all new vehicles, including large trucks, and directing NHTSA to create strong performance standards for the technology.”
In the past, the trucking industry had been opposed to government mandates for trucks to be equipped with AEB, but the American Trucking Association says that they are working with officials, fleet managers, and individual owners to encourage safety feature implementation and to determine if mandates should be implemented.
Contact Us for Legal Assistance
If you or a loved one has been in an accident involving a large truck, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, today by calling (915) 613-5076. Our community-focused law firm has been in business since 1987, and with 30-plus years of combined legal experience, we are ready to do everything possible to assist you with your case.
Monitoring and coaching drivers on the job could reduce risky driving behaviors by half, according to a new study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Researchers discovered this by monitoring drivers in a fleet of oil and gas well servicing vehicles. When drivers of these light trucks were monitored and coached on bad habits, incidents of speeding and hard braking were cut in half, researchers found.
The study found that speeding events and aggressive driving dropped dramatically in the six weeks when drivers were coached and scored. Speeding events ranging from 3.6 to 8.7 per hour dropped to 1.49 to 3.61 per hour. Aggressive driving events dropped from .89 to 1.18 per hour to .41 to .59 per hour. Overall, the study highlighted the importance of accountability in improving driving behavior.
How the Study Was Conducted
Researchers collected 3,500 hours of data from 23 pickups driven by employees who worked on 30 oil and gas well rigs in western Colorado and eastern Utah. Researchers installed monitoring dongles in vehicles driven by the oil and gas well service workers. Both drivers and managers were unaware the monitoring devices had been installed in order to ensure the researchers could capture true driving habits, uninfluenced by knowledge of the study.
The monitoring collected sufficient data on 21 of those vehicles, and researchers began actively monitoring four drivers who agreed to participate in a more detailed study. Researchers monitored drivers for six weeks. They intervened when drivers engaged in dangerous driving. Employees received a score of their driving every week during the six weeks and were given detailed information regarding the specific incidents of their dangerous driving.
After the intervention, speeding dropped by 60% and sharp turns and hard braking dropped by 50%.
Importance of Holding Drivers Accountable
Researchers say that their results confirm previous findings by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, which found that coaching is an essential part of any driver monitoring system. According to Virginia Tech researcher Andrew Miller, “The monitoring systems themselves weren’t necessarily effective on their own, but with the inclusion of some sort of accountability, then you see the change in behavior.”
Improving safe driving is critically important for the oil and gas industry. Oil and gas workers die on the job at six times the national average, and motor vehicle accidents cause 40% of those fatalities. Part of this is because workers in this industry spend a significant amount of time driving. For example, the study showed that workers drove an average of 147.5 miles to each worksite — nearly three hours of driving every day.
How the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, Can Help You
The research from Virginia Tech shows that monitoring and coaching can drastically reduce risky driving. This is promising information that could help make roads safer and reduce auto accidents in the future. Unfortunately, dangerous and deadly crashes still happen every day on Texas roads. If you have been injured in a car accident, you need to learn about your legal rights.
The Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, has been serving the El Paso community since 1987, and our attorneys are ready to help you with your case. Contact us now for your free consultation.
The effects of a concussion on driving may linger even after the symptoms of the injury disappear, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Georgia. The study indicates that concussed drivers place themselves and others in danger if they get behind the wheel too soon.
“People who have concussions often have slower reaction times as a result, and do more poorly on tests of thinking skills after their injury than their peers without concussions,” the University of Georgia’s Julianne D. Schmidt, Ph.D., reported. “Our study suggests that complicated driving skills, the kind involving split-second reaction times that could mean the difference between life and death, are the ones that may take the longest to regain after you have a concussion — even when all of your symptoms have resolved.”
A Study of Post-Concussion Drivers
The study group was made up of 28 college students averaging 20 years of age. Half of them had a concussion; the other half did not. They took a simulated driving test as well as a computer-based mental acuity test. These tests took place 48 hours after all concussion symptoms had disappeared (just over two weeks after the injuries had occurred).
Those with concussions were slower in responding by as little as 0.06 second and as much as 1 second. A delay of 0.06 second equates to a loss of three feet for stopping distance. Although this seems minimal, even a split-second delay could mean the difference between striking a pedestrian or a car ahead.
What You Need to Know About Driving After a Concussion
A concussion occurs when the brain is jostled inside the skull due to a blow to the head or body or a fall on a hard surface or object. The jostling can lead to damage and stretching of brain cells, causing chemical changes and temporary loss of normal brain function, especially as it relates to memory and orientation.
Researchers found that the skill level of the concussed participants was similar to driving after drinking. The drivers appeared to have less control of the vehicle, especially when navigating curves. They also swerved more in their lane.
A severe concussion can cause changes in behavior. While most symptoms go away in a few days, they can linger for weeks or even months. Every concussion should be taken seriously, especially if you’ve had one before. Don’t return to normal activity until cleared by a doctor. This includes driving.
Most Common Concussion Symptoms
A concussion may result in a loss of consciousness for a few seconds or a few minutes. You may feel dazed for days or weeks afterward. Symptoms that can occur include:
Headache
Dizziness
Slurred speech
Confusion
Nausea
Vomiting
Delayed response to questions
Fatigue
You may recover within a week or two but still have symptoms such as memory problems, headaches, and behavioral changes that may persist for weeks or even months, according to Brain & Life, the consumer journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
How the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin Can Help You
Have you suffered a concussion in an accident that could have been prevented? At the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, our personal injury attorneys have the skills, experience, and the resources to fight for justice for you. For more than 30 years, we have been working with accident victims to demand full compensation for serious injuries like concussions.
So you have been hurt in an accident. You may be wondering whether you can negotiate a personal injury claim on your own. After all, why pay a lawyer if you can do it yourself? Unfortunately, that is exactly what the insurance company wants you to think. Insurance adjusters are notorious for acting like your friend, when in reality, their job is to keep your payout as low as possible.
As longtime personal injury attorneys, we often work with people who were being taken advantage of by insurance companies. We know how these insurers operate. We know the tricks they use to reduce or even deny claims. And we know how to fight back.
Why We Wrote This Book
At the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, we believe in giving accident victims the information they need to make the best possible decisions about their case. We want you to understand the personal injury claims process as well as how insurance companies operate. Ultimately, we believe an educated client contributes to a successful case.
That’s why we offer this free book: “Personal Injury Cases in Texas, Everything You Need to Know Before and After Filing Your Claim.” Accomplished personal injury attorneys Michael J. Gopin and Lee R. Montion wrote this book based on decades of experience successfully representing people just like you in cases across Texas. We hope that by reading this book, you will feel confident in the next steps to take in your personal injury case.
What Will You Learn from This Book?
Our highly qualified legal team covers all the essential information you need to know when considering filing a personal injury claim. You will learn about:
What to expect in the different phases of a personal injury case
The tactics insurance companies use to undervalue cases or avoid paying out on claims
How to weigh your options of accepting a settlement or going to trial
How personal injury settlement amounts are calculated in Texas
How an attorney can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case
Our Firm’s Practice Areas
The Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, focuses exclusively on personal injury cases. We have extensive experience in a broad range of claims, including:
We offer free consultations on all personal injury claims, so accident victims can get the advice they need without spending a dime.
Get Your Free Ebook Now
If you are ready to learn how to file a personal injury lawsuit, please fill out this form to download your free ebook now. Remember, Texas has strict time limits for how long you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. So it is important that you act quickly to protect your legal rights.
If you are ready to speak with an attorney directly, you can also contact our firm now for a free consultation. We will go over the specific details of your case and help you decide the best path forward for you.
* Michael Gopin is not licensed in New Mexico. Lee Montion is licensed in New Mexico.*
As communities across Texas and the rest of the United States continue to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic, more people are venturing out of their homes and onto the roadways. After being cooped up inside for weeks, a short road trip sounds like a treat. However, recent statistics may make you think again. Despite the reduced numbers of cars on the road during pandemic shutdowns, the traffic fatality rate shot up, according to a report in The Washington Post.
What the Statistics Show
During the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, city streets and interstate highways showed noticeable shifts in traffic volume and patterns as stay-at-home orders began to take effect:
Statewide, Texas traffic volume was down almost 30%, and The Dallas Morning News reports that city traffic was about 20% lower during the first week of May 2020 than an average week in late February of the same year.
Between March 28 and April 3, Austin experienced a 49% drop in traffic volume, San Antonio saw a 43% decrease, and Fort Worth had a 42% drop.
At the same time, highway authorities have reported an increase in speeding and reckless driving nationwide. So, despite significant shifts in traffic patterns, Texas saw a 6% increase in roadway deaths within the first three months of 2020.
Why the Increase in Traffic Fatalities During the Pandemic?
State police agencies and highway patrol departments believe lighter traffic tempts some to drive faster. Empty highways allow irresponsible drivers to push their vehicles to the limit. Given this increase in speeding and reckless driving behavior, it is no surprise that there has been a death rate increase on Texas roadways.
Speeding is a major factor in many car accidents. Speeding cars require more time to stop. If the driver fails to react in time, a collision can result. The faster the car’s speed, the higher the risk of a driver losing control and causing a rollover accident. In addition, safety features such as airbags may not function as designed during a high-speed crash.
Need Legal Advice After a Crash? Contact Our Law Firm Now
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin have been fighting to protect the rights of car accident victims throughout Texas for more than 30 years. We believe injury victims deserve to be fairly compensated for their losses. Innocent crash victims should not face the financial consequences of someone else’s negligent or reckless driving.
Every day, we work to hold negligent drivers and insurance companies accountable. The work we do for you after a serious crash can make a powerful difference in your life for years to come.
Our experienced Texas car accident lawyers will provide compassionate, personalized service to help you get your life back on track after a serious crash. Do not give up hope; we can help. Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation, and let us walk you through your next steps.
Across Texas and throughout the United States, most people are hunkering down in their homes, practicing social distancing, and only getting in their vehicles for essentials such as running to the grocery store or going to work. The lack of traffic on the roads has some predicting there will be a drop in crash statistics during the COVID-19 pandemic, as fewer vehicles should automatically translate to fewer collisions.
In fact, more than a dozen car insurance companies are offering COVID-19 rebate programs to return a portion of premium payments because they expect customers to drive less — and therefore reduce their risk of accidents — while under stay-at-home orders, the Houston Chronicle recently reported.
Still, it is important to understand that just because the number of accidents may drop with the volume of traffic, the rate of crashes may not follow suit. With the streets almost empty, some drivers are taking the shut-down as a green light to test their fast and furious side.
“Evidence is beginning to emerge that absent traffic jams during the coronavirus crisis, many drivers are getting more reckless. And because speed is the number one predictor of crash severity, the proportion of people dying per collision is on the rise in many communities,” Streets Blog reports.
Understanding the Impact of Speeding
On an open road, it may seem like speeding is no big deal. The truth is: The faster a driver goes, the less time he or she has to react and brake if there’s an emergency or hazard in the road, and the more severe the impact is in a crash.
Getting into a crash at 65 mph results in the same force of impact as driving off the top of a 12-story building.
When you increase your speed from 25 mph to 35 mph, the force of impact in a crash almost doubles.
When you increase your speed from 25 mph to 50 mph, the force of impact in a crash is four times as violent.
Drivers who choose to speed pose a risk to everyone on the road, and they should be held accountable for the damage they cause to innocent victims.
Hurt in a Crash During COVID-19? Get the Legal Advice You Need
Staying safe is on everyone’s mind these days, and no one needs the added stress of figuring out how to cope with injuries after a car accident. At the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, our attorneys work to take the pressure off you during this difficult time. We can evaluate your case for free over the phone or meet with you in a video conference to explain your legal rights. Our legal team will do all the legwork in your case, including dealing with the insurance companies, so you can focus on your health.
Please call our law firm or contact us online today to get started on your claim. There are no upfront charges, and you only pay us if we win money for you.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered drug makers to pull the popular heartburn medication Zantac and other prescription and over-the-counter versions of the drug ranitidine off the market immediately. The FDA warns that the medication contains a “probable” cancer-causing contaminant that poses an unacceptable risk to patients.
Last year, the FDA had warned that the medication was contaminated with low levels of a chemical called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which has been classified as a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. However, at the time, the FDA considered the levels of contamination too low to cause harm. After further study, though, the administration determined the contamination levels increase over time, particularly when the medication is stored at higher than room temperature.
“Low levels of NDMA are commonly ingested in the diet, for example NDMA is present in foods and in water. These low levels would not be expected to lead to an increase in the risk of cancer,” the FDA stated. “However, sustained higher levels of exposure may increase the risk of cancer in humans.”
What Should You Do If You Are Taking Zantac?
The FDA is asking consumers who are using the drug to treat heartburn, stomach acid, or ulcers to stop taking it immediately. The agency suggests that consumers who are taking the over-the-counter version of the medication switch to another approved product for their condition. People who are taking a prescription ranitidine should talk with their doctor as soon as possible about alternative medications.
What to Do If You Have Suffered Illness Possibly Related to Zantac Contamination
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer or experienced other severe side effects that you believe could be related to Zantac, seek legal advice immediately. If you have leftover medication, save it along with the packaging it came in, as that could be used as evidence in your case. Also save any records, receipts, and other paperwork related to your diagnosis and treatment.
Lost income if you are missing work due to your illness
Reduced earning capacity for the future
Pain and suffering
Talk to Our Zantac Lawyer About Your Legal Rights
We should be able to trust that the medications we take are safe ─ that they will make us better, not worse. Unfortunately, drug makers don’t always look out for consumers like they should. Medication contamination poses a serious threat to consumers across the United States. Those who are diagnosed with cancer and other illnesses due to this contamination deserve justice.
Contact the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin to speak with a knowledgeable product liability attorney about your case. We will listen to your story and explain your legal options in a free, no-obligation consultation. There are no fees for us to begin work on your claim, and you do not pay us unless we recover money for you.
from https://www.michaelgopin.com/blog/fda-orders-heartburn-medication-zantac-and-generic-versions-pulled-from-market/
via https://www.michaelgopin.com
We’ve all seen it. Left-turning drivers cutting diagonally through intersections without any regard for the pedestrians who are trying to cross safely. How could we prevent these types of serious accidents? A new study suggests that “centerline hardening” could be a solution.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study showed that the use of bollards and rubber curbs along the center lines of lanes forced drivers at intersections to take left turns more slowly and at more of a right angle, rather than trying to cut across diagonally. The infrastructure changes introduced in Washington, D.C., prompted a significant reduction in the number of times left-turning drivers suddenly hit the brakes or swerved, as well as reduced the number of instances where pedestrians had to rush to get out of the way of vehicles. Overall, these crash-avoidance maneuvers were reduced by 70 percent with the introduction of the obstacles added to centerlines, the study showed.
“This study suggests that simple infrastructure changes can deliver big benefits,” IIHS Senior Research Transportation Engineer Wen Hu says. “Communities looking for ways to make pedestrians safer should add centerline hardening to their toolbox.”
What Is Centerline Hardening?
The IIHS study defines centerline hardening as “a technique to make intersections safer for pedestrians by encouraging drivers to make left turns at slower speeds. Bollards and rubber curbs are used to block the diagonal path through the intersection.”
Bollards are short posts that are bolted or otherwise secured to the road to provide visual guidance to drivers. They are sturdy but oftentimes flexible to reduce damage in case a vehicle strikes them. Rubber curbs are simply raised curbs placed in the centerline of lanes at intersections as a reminder for drivers to stay in the correct lane when turning.
What the Pedestrian Accident Statistics Show
Across the United States, pedestrian fatalities jumped 53 percent from 2009 to 2018, the IIHS noted. More than half of all crashes involving pedestrians in 2018 happened at intersections. Left-turn accidents in particular accounted for almost a third of all intersection crashes involving pedestrians in 2018.
In the IIHS study, Hu collected data from 10 intersections in Washington, D.C., for two months before and three months after the centerline infrastructure measures were put in place. She compared the data collected against numbers from eight control sites where no centerline safety features were implemented.
The study found that using the centerline hardening infrastructure:
Decreased the average left-turn speed by 7 percent
Reduced by 36 percent the number of drivers who made the turn at more than 15 mph
Hurt in a Pedestrian Accident? Talk to a Lawyer Now
No matter what safety infrastructure is in place at an intersection, drivers have a duty to watch out for pedestrians. When drivers are speeding or distracted and make a dangerous left-hand turn, hitting an innocent pedestrian, they should be held accountable.
At the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, our pedestrian accident lawyers are here to help crash victims fight for the full compensation they need to recover after devastating accidents. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation, and learn how our team can help you get through this difficult time.
For more than 30 years, the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, has been standing strong for car accident victims who need an aggressive advocate against deep-pocketed insurance companies. The car accident law firm in El Paso, Texas, has earned a reputation for securing full and fair financial compensation for people who have been seriously hurt or lost a loved one in crashes caused by others’ negligence.
No car accident victim should have to face off against a powerful insurance company after a serious crash. Victims are often facing overwhelming medical expenses, missing time from work, struggling to get their vehicles fixed or replaced, and dealing with ongoing pain. They should not be pressured to settle for less than the full compensation they deserve. That’s where the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin can make a huge difference.
How the Law Firm Helps Car Accident Victims
When you choose an experienced car accident attorney in El Paso, you can trust that legal professional to handle every aspect of your claim for compensation. This includes:
Reviewing your case for free, answering all your legal questions, and explaining what to expect moving forward
Launching an immediate investigation into your auto accident to collect all the evidence, such as the police accident report, photos, video surveillance footage, witness statements, etc.
Working with experts such as accident reconstruction professionals to show exactly what happened and who should be held liable
Documenting the full extent of your injuries and related damages, including hiring medical specialists, long-term care experts, economists, and other experts to demonstrate what maximum compensation should be in your claim
Managing all communication and negotiations with the insurance companies while working toward a full settlement that covers current and future losses
Taking your case to trial if the insurance company refuses to agree to a fair settlement
An injured crash victim should never try to handle a car accident claim without professional legal representation. An insurance adjuster may seem nice and understanding, but that person’s job is to protect the insurance company, not the victim. The insurer’s goal is to minimize or deny claims as much as possible, and they have professionals on their team who deal with these types of claims every day. That is why victims need professional legal representation as well ─ to level the playing field.
Demanding Justice for Car Accident Victims Across El Paso
Accident victims often face far-reaching complications beyond the injuries themselves. For example, many victims cannot return to work right away. They may have trouble getting transportation to and from doctor’s appointments. They may find that they will need additional surgeries and rehabilitative therapy in the months and years to come. Some may be totally disabled and unable to return to the life they once knew.
The dedicated El Paso car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, understand the short-term challenges and long-term damages accident victims can expect. The legal team works to alleviate these burdens by demanding the full financial compensation clients need to move forward with their lives.
Our law firm is open and working hard on your cases. We are recommending that meetings be conducted via telephone or FaceTime. New clients’ initial interviews and document can also be accomplished by E-Sign or a phone call.
El Paso, Texas─ We want to express our concerns on the pandemic currently affecting everyone and everywhere around the world. Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is considered a respiratory illness with cold- and flu-like symptoms.
As the virus continues to spread, we are experiencing moderate chaos in what seems to be a public panic on an issue that grows more intense as time passes. The last thing we want to do as a community is panic in these types of emergencies. We encourage you to take precautions to keep yourself and your loved ones safe and in good health.
We all have a duty to keep ourselves, our families, our neighbors, and our communities safe right now. This means temporarily reshaping the way we live our lives to combat the novel coronavirus. At the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, we are taking this duty seriously. While our offices remain open, we understand the need for “social distancing,” our lawyers are available to meet with you remotely so we can answer your legal questions and discuss your case without in-person contact.
Coronavirus can be spread through physical contact, coughing, and sneezing. It is important to remember to wash your hands and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, not with your hands but with a forearm or up shoulder. (We have provided a PDF document from www.aphagetready.com and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with more information on preparing for COVID-19.) It’s important to educate yourself on this matter and listen only to factual information provided by proper communication channels.
El Paso has been through a lot in the past six months or so, but we remain strong. We want to express the importance of personal hygiene during this time and encourage you to make this a priority.
About the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin
Our personal injury attorneys have over 40 years of combined experience fighting to protect the rights of car accident victims in El Paso and across the state of Texas. We don’t just work here – El Paso is our home. Our goal is to stand up for our clients’ rights, demand the full compensation they deserve, and make our community stronger by informing residents and giving back in any way possible.
