Uber Is Not Criminally Liable for 2018 Fatal Self-Driving Accident

Last year a self-driving Uber struck and killed a woman in Tempe, Arizona. At the time of the crash, the Uber vehicle was in autonomous mode. Although capable of driving on its own, the Uber still requires a backup driver inside the vehicle to intervene when the autonomous system fails to navigate complex driving situations. In this case, the driver was looking down at his phone. By the time he looked up and could have intervened, it was too late. Police say this accident was “entirely avoidable.” The Yavapai County Attorney recently released a letter made public stating there was "no basis"...

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AAA Looking to Standardize Vehicle Safety Technology

When it comes to vehicle safety, technology offerings should be crystal clear so that the driver is fully aware of the capabilities. Right now, there is no widely accepted name for the safety technologies featured in vehicles currently on the market. In a recent study, AAA looked at 34 car brands and found that their advanced driver assistance systems vary greatly and in some cases could overpromise features for customers. Features like “autopilot” or “ProPilot Assist” suggest more autonomous driving than they can actually deliver. In fact, according to the study, 40% of Americans expect such features as “autopilot” to offer...

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Attorney Michael Cowen Achieves Board Certification In Truck Accident Law By The National Board Of Trial Advocacy

SAN ANTONIO, TX, March 12, 2019 /24-7 Press Release/ The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) is pleased to announce Michael Cowen, Founding Partner of the law firm, Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock has successfully achieved Board Certification as a Truck Accident Law advocate. The NBTA was formed out of a strong conviction that both the law profession and its clients would benefit from an organization designed specifically to create an objective set of standards illustrating an attorney's experience and expertise in the practice of trial law. Michael Cowen joins an exclusive number of trial attorneys...

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Meet the Latest Technology to Prevent Distracted Driving Events

At Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock, we specialize in trucking cases. Too many times we’ve seen the effects of what distracted driving can do. Last month we shared information on the new Trimble/Pulsar Informatics technology taking on distracted driving. This month we’re sharing information on Guardian, which has already been on the market, combats this issue differently, and has the results to show. Introducing Guardian Guardian is a technology which prevents driver fatigue and distraction related events in real time, helping to stop accidents before they even happen. Guardian uses face and gaze-tracking algorithms to measure a driver’s head position and eye closure....

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Trimble/Pulsar Informatics Driver Fatigue Technology

The trucking industry has battled driver fatigue for years. But now, thanks to a partnership between Trimble Transportation and Pulsar Informatics, a new fatigue-monitoring and risk-management system is available to combat this problem. Pulsar Informatics is known for their work monitoring sleep patterns and fatigue for astronauts and pilots. Their industry-leading fatigue monitoring solutions were developed with funding from the FMCSA, NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as other prominent government organizations. Their partnership with Trimble Transportation will now allow them to share their expertise with the transportation industry, creating a safety dashboard designed to identify driver sleep and...

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Michael Cowen Obtains Board Certification in Truck Accident Law

Our office is proud to announce attorney Michael Cowen has obtained his board certification in truck accident law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and is the first attorney in the state of Texas to receive this certification! He is also 1 of only 14 attorneys in the United States (at the time of this publishing) to receive this certification from the NBTA. The elaborate screening of credentials which all NBTA board certified attorneys must successfully complete includes: demonstration of substantial trial experience, submission of judicial and peer references to attest to their competency, attendance of continuing legal education courses,...

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Shopping Habits of Millennials is Helping Boost the Trucking Industry

Consumers, especially millennials, are becoming more dependent on online shopping. Traditionally, “big” items, such as mattresses, furniture, and appliances were purchased in stores where the buyer could browse options, try it out, and use the store’s own delivery service. Times are changing. Studies have found millennials are comfortable purchasing everything online. eMarketer reported that online furniture purchases were expected to grow by 18.2% in 2018 hitting $50.32 billion total. In 2017, Amazon’s furniture sales more than doubled year over year. Searching for the best price, reading reviews, and setting up a delivery all with a few clicks makes online shopping all too easy...

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Law and Lunch in 2019 – Looking Sunny with a Chance of Brainstorms

Starting this April, we’re Launching a monthly brainstorm luncheon! How it Works: Each month, we will choose up to 10 plaintiff attorneys to attend our luncheon. Attorneys who are attending the next luncheon can submit a case 3 weeks before the luncheon, which they want to be selected for discussion with the group. The CRP team will review all submissions and will choose 1 case to be the focus of the meeting. A brief synopsis of the case and goals for the brainstorming session will be shared with all meeting attendees 2 weeks before the luncheon. On the meeting day, we will...

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“Ghosting” Your Employer– an Increasing Trend

A recent Washington Post article about the increase of employees quitting without providing a two-week notice has many people talking. This increasing trend, called “ghosting” by many, isn’t something employers want to happen. But some employers worry about defamation lawsuits, if they share that an employee quit without notice, on an employee reference. So what should you do if an employee does this to you? And are defamation lawsuits due to a negative reference something to be wary of? We asked employment law attorney Melissa Morales Fletcher of The Morales Firm, P.C. to provide us with some guidance on this. “There are...

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Put Yourself First in 2019

There’s no doubt the legal industry can often be overwhelming and stressful. Between managing a law firm, marketing your firm, working up your cases, and taking on the stress of your client’s worries, it can really take a toll on our overall well-being and state of mind. As we end 2018, it's important to reflect so we can learn and grow in the new year. When you begin to make resolutions and set goals for 2019, be sure to include your mental health as a priority. Find a way to schedule time for yourself to help bring clarity and a clear mind....

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