Staying safe on Texas highways – tips to avoid large truck accidents on the interstate

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Driving on the interstate can be scary. The maximum daytime speed limit on most Texas interstates and state highways is 70 miles per hour. At night, it is 65 miles an hour. Fast cars, big trucks, people in a hurry, lots of traffic… it is not surprising that there are so many Texas highway crashes.

One of the biggest dangers of highway driving is the presence of large trucks. Eighteen wheelers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and may need up to 100 yards to stop. For this reason, semi trucks accidents can be a major danger to Texas drivers.

In 2008, 39,559 commercial trucks were involved in Texas highway accidents. Large truck accidents accounted for 2% of Texas highway deaths.

The Brownsville car wreck attorneys at The Cowen Law Group represents those who have been injured or killed in South Texas big rig accidents. The amount of injury and devastation that can come out of these accidents is tragic.

Here are some tips that can help keep you safe while driving near 18-wheelers and other large trucks:

• Maintain a safe following distance. Safety experts recommend the three second rule. This means that once the vehicle in front of you has passed a fixed object like a mile marker or a Brownsville exit sign, it should be about three seconds before you pass the same object.

• Don’t try to squeeze in the space between a large truck and the curb. Because of their size, semi trucks must make wide turns. The driver may not see your vehicle.

• When you pass a truck, don’t move back into the lane until you can see both headlights in your rear view mirror.

• Trucks have large blind spots, so be aware of them. An 18-wheeler’s blind spots extend up to 20 feet in front of the tractor, anywhere along the sides of the trailer, and up to 200 feet behind the trailer.

• Do not cross behind a truck that is backing up.

• Watch for trucks with unsecured loads.

If you are in a large truck accident, contact The Cowen Law Group and request your copy of The Insiders Guide to Texas Car Accidents. The booklet explains how you can avoid insurance and trucking company hassles and get a fair insurance settlement. To learn more, call our San Antonio law office at 877-385-1282.

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62 E. Price Road
Brownsville, Texas 78521
Phone: 956-541-4981
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Rio Grande City, Texas 78582
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Offices

Brownsville Office
62 E. Price Road
Brownsville, Texas 78521
Phone: 956-541-4981
Toll Free: 877-385-1282

Laredo Office
6909 Springfield Ave., Suite 106
Laredo, Texas 78041
Toll Free: (877) 385-1282

Rio Grande City Office
611 Main
Rio Grande City, Texas 78582
Phone: 956-487-0105
Toll Free: 877-385-1282

"Principal office in Brownsville, Texas. Meetings with lawyers at the McAllen and Rio Grande City offices are by appointment only."

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