Understanding Common Product-Related Injuries

A proposed Senate bill, pushed by insurance company lobbyists, would severely limit damages for victims involved in crashes with 18-wheelers, further tipping the scales in favor of insurance companies at the expense of Texans’ rights.

Five people were killed and eleven injured in a major, multi-vehicle collision on the evening of March 13th in Austin, Texas. According to NBC affiliate KXAN , one individual has been charged: "Police sources confirmed with KXAN the person arrested was the driver of a semi-truck hauling for Amazon. The driver involved in this incident is not an Amazon employee. … The owner of ZBN Transport LLC said Friday afternoon there’s been no contact with its semi-truck driver." (KXAN) According to Austin police, the alleged driver has been charged with multiple counts of intoxication manslaughter. Amazon, like many other large corporations, has chosen to expand its operations via an array of third-party contractors rather than relying solely upon employees. This provides the company with greater flexibility on pay and benefits, and may also seem like attractive way to reduce liability for accidents like the above. However, many large corporations have discovered that merely declaring a worker to be an “independent contractor” does not necessarily make it so. In one notable example, a court of appeals in Oregon ruled that Domino’s Pizza, Inc. was directly responsible for an accident caused by one of their franchisee’s delivery drivers, and could not disclaim liability . A decade later, the Supreme Court of Ireland found the same. Amazon has also faced legal scrutiny over its "Delivery Service Partner" program in the state of Georgia: "Jurors Thursday handed down a $16.2 million verdict at trial against Amazon Logistics and a service partner. ... Notably, jurors also concluded that Amazon exercised sufficient control over defendant Fly Fella Logistics to render the delivery giant liable ." (Courtroom View Network) To be considered truly “independent”, a contractor should exercise significant control over his own schedule, and be able to make decisions over how and when to provide services. When a company policy guarantees a specific delivery timeframe, or denies digital app or marketplace access to a contractor based on number of jobs taken per week, they may risk having the supposedly “independent” contractor being considered an employee. If you have been seriously injured by a commercial driver, or a contractor for a major corporation, the Texas 18-wheeler accident experts at Wham & Rogers, PLLC can help. Speak to an attorney today by calling (832) 592-1108 or leaving us a message on our contact page.

Up to 40% of all commercial truck accidents are caused by distracted driving. In 2018, there were 4,832 deaths caused by distracted truck drivers. That number was 4,977 in 2019 and 4,777 in 2020, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administratio n. The categories of distracted driving tracked by the FMCSA include: Talking or Listening to Cellular Phone Other Cellular Phone Related Using or Reaching For Device/Object Brought Into Vehicle Eating or Drinking Dialing/Manipulating Cellular Phone a Lost In Thought/Day Dreaming Adjusting Audio and/or Climate Controls Using Other Device/Controls Integral to Vehicle Distracted By Other Occupant(s) Careless/Inattentive Distracted By Moving Object in Vehicle Distraction/Careless Looked But Did Not See Smoking Related Cell phone use by truck drivers It’s important to note that the FMCSA prohibits texting and the use of handheld devices by truck drivers. Violations can result in fines, and even suspension of commercial driver’s licenses. Drivers who use handheld devices are 4x more likely to be in a serious crash. Text messaging increases the risk of a collision by 23 times. Cell phone use delays a driver’s reaction time as much as a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%. How does distracted driving affect truck drivers’ performance? Distracted driving can slow the driver’s perception of traffic events, resulting in delayed reaction times. Slow reaction times may cause incorrect steering, too much brake pressure or inaccurate accelerator pressure. What can trucking companies do to reduce distracted driving by truck drivers? Require regular distracted driving training for drivers; Install distracted driving software which blocks use of social media, streaming video and texting while driving; Develop a distracted driving policy and require each employee to sign it, requiring them to agree to follow the policy. Enforce their distracted driving policy—and reprimand employees who fail to follow the policy. Educate dispatchers: Dispatchers shouldn’t expect immediate responses if drivers are on the road. Remind drivers to set their voicemail and call forwarding when on the road. Use driver facing cameras to ensure compliance with the safety rules. If you have been the victim of distracted driving by a commercial driver, Wham & Rogers can help you. We can rapidly respond to a collision in order to download the electronic control module and when necessary, download the phone of the distracted driver. Call 832-592-1108 or text (832) 413-1428‬ for a free consultation. ‬

If you drive on Texas highways you have likely encountered some situations which you felt were unsafe or even dangerous. As a parent or grandparent, we especially worry about protecting our children from dangerous drivers, particularly from large commercial vehicles such as 18 -wheelers. How to protect your family while on the road with 18-wheelers: Be alert and aware of your surroundings when driving near 18-wheelers. Keep watch where the truck is and where other nearby cars are located and their movement. Being alert can give you time to move out of the way and to safety in the event of a collision. Don’t crowd 18-wheelers. When driving behind a semi- truck, leave enough space to stop in case the driver must slam on his brakes. You do not want to rear-end an 18-wheeler. Pass safely. When passing an 18-wheeler, stay closer to the shoulder than to the truck and pass as quickly as you can safely pass. If you linger next to the 18-wheeler, you may be in their blind spot. Don’t cut in front of a semi-truck. It takes large trucks a long distance to stop. Leave enough space between you and the truck so they can avoid hitting you in the event of a slowdown. Avoid the big rig’s blind spots. Large trucks have multiple blind spots, including the right side of the truck, directly in front of the truck, and directly behind the trailer. To protect yourself, stay out of these blind spots. The old adage is that if you can’t see the driver in the mirror, they can’t see you. Use your turn signal. Always use your turn signal when you are changing l anes or making a turn. Give the big rig driver sufficient warning of where you are moving to so he can avoid hitting you. If you travel in mountainous areas, you may have seen the runaway truck ramps. These ramps are there because trucks can have brake failures on steep slopes. Stay away from big trucks on both inclining and declining slopes to protect yourself in the event of a runaway truck. If you are sharing the road with a big truck and the road is steep, stay as far away as you can in the event of a brake failure. 18-wheelers take very wide turns due to their length. Give them enough space when they are turning so they don’t hit you. Here are some other safe driving tips to help keep you and your family safe while on the road: Avoid distractions, such as texting, applying make-up and eating; Watch out for and move away from drivers who are swerving or otherwise demonstrating that they are distracted by texting on their phone; Always make sure your child is in the proper car seat, even when traveling in someone else’s vehicle; Keep a proper distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you. Keep enough space to that if the traffic stops ahead of you that you have time to stop; Check your rear and side mirror often. You may be able to change lanes to avoid a collision if you are keeping a close lookout; Allow enough time to get to your destination so you don’t have to rush; Plan your route ahead of time and use voice-activated navigation systems so that you can focus on driving rather than searching for the road you need to turn on; Obey the posted speed limits; Take breaks—don’t become fatigued; Keep a first aid kit in your car and if you are traveling in desert areas, keep extra water in your car. If you are traveling in icy conditions, make sure you have the proper tires and chains, if required. Also, make sure you have blankets and other supplies to stay warm if you are stranded. The attorneys at Wham & Rogers have years of experience in 18-wheeler collision cases. Call 832-592-1108 or text (832) 413-1428‬ for a free consultation.

If you have sustained serious injuries due to someone else’s negligence, you should consult with a personal injury attorney right away. If you delay in retaining an attorney, you take the risk that evidence favorable to you will disappear. You also risk being misled or taken advantage of by the insurance company.

Don’t all employers in Texas have to carry worker’s compensation insurance? No. Texas is the only state that does not require private employers to carry worker’s compensation insurance. How do I find out if my employer carries worker’s compensation insurance? You can search the Texas Department of Insurance page here: https://www.tdi.texas.gov/ Many large employers such as Amazon, Walmart, HEB, McDonald's, Home Depot, Kroger, Target, Dollar General, Hobby Lobby, and Whole Foods are non-subscribers, meaning that they do not have worker’s compensation insurance. If you are employed by one of these companies and are injured on the job, you have a "non-subscriber" claim. I’ve been injured on the job and my employer is a non-subscriber. What rights do I have? You have the right to recover for all damages you suffered. Your recovery is not limited by the Texas Worker’s Compensation Act. As the employee of a non-subscriber, you must prove the negligence of your employer. Your employer has a duty to provide you with a safe workplace. If you are injured by your employer’s failure to provide proper safety equipment, failure to properly train your coworkers, or assigning you tasks outside your job description, you may be able to recover for your employer’s negligence which caused your injuries. If there is an on-the-job fatality, the family members of the worker who lost his life may be able to file a claim for wrongful death against the non-subscribing employer. When an employee is injured as a result of his or her employer’s negligence, the employee may recover more in damages than if the employer had worker’s compensation insurance. What damages can I recover in a non-subscriber case? A non-subscribing company may be sued for damages such as pain and suffering and medical expenses. The non-subscribing company may also be held liable for gross negligence or punitive damages. What defenses do non-subscriber employers have when employees are injured? Non-subscribing employers may not claim that their employees were contributorily negligent or that the employee assumed the risk of the dangerous activity they were assigned to do. Non-subscribers cannot escape liability for their employee’s injury because a coworker was at-fault. Non-subscribing employers are able to escape liability if an employee is intoxicated, reckless or deliberately caused their own injury. Can I sue my employer for an on-the-job injury if my employer has worker’s comp? No. If your employer has worker’s compensation insurance, your sole remedy is through the worker’s compensation system. At Wham & Rogers, we have years of experience handling non-subscriber cases. If you have been injured on the job and your employer is a non-subscriber, call us at 832-592-1108 or text us at (832) 413-1428‬ for your free consultation.

On the night of January 31st, drivers and passengers waiting at the intersection of East Sam Houston Parkway and Sabo Road were struck by an 18-wheeler . In addition to the truck, a further six vehicles were damaged in the collision, with at least two occupants, including a child, sustaining injuries. Tragically, one driver lost his life. The driver of the 18-wheeler reportedly left the scene rather than rendering aid to the victims . Fleeing the scene of a crash can severely increase legal penalties under these circumstances: hit-and-runs that result in death carry sentences up to 20 years in Texas. The suspect is still at large, but will probably be identified soon from security camera footage recorded before, during, and after the wreck. Beltway 8, of which Sam Houston Parkway is a part, has high definition cameras that record license plates at regular intervals. What should you do if you are hit by an 18-wheeler? If you have been in a collision with an 18-wheeler, it is critical to retain counsel right away to investigate the collision and to ensure evidence is preserved . In this situation, an attorney can send preservation letters to all vehicle owners who were involved in the collision to request preservation of dash cam video and electronic control modules. An attorney can also hire an investigator to canvas local businesses for video footage of the collision in order to track down the 18-wheeler driver and company.

Always order your crash report from a .gov site

Many accident victims do not understand that the insurance adjusters are not appointed to help them — and are not even required to tell the truth. In our 70 plus years of experience dealing with liability insurers we have often seen detrimental strategies in action. When you have been in an accident, don’t forget that the adjuster’s role is to save the insurance company money and that the adjuster cannot be trusted to protect your interests. Here are some real examples of unfair insurance company tactics and how to avoid becoming a victim. Tactic 1: Letting the Statute of Limitations Expire An accident victim supplied medical bills and records to the adjuster as requested. The injuries were severe, and treatment took a long time. The adjuster advised that the medical bills would be paid, lulling the accident victim into a sense of security. At no time did the adjuster advise that the year two statute of limitations was approaching or that the claim would be denied after the statute ran. Once the two-year mark passed, the adjuster denied the claim. Lesson : The third-party liability adjuster has no duty to tell you the deadlines applicable to your case. Consult with an attorney about your deadlines so your claim will not be barred. Tactic 2: Concealing Payout Amounts An adjuster offered an individual injured in an auto accident $10,000 in settlement, which she accepted. The individual received a check for $1,000. When she asked why she only received $1,000 when she had settled for $10,000, the adjuster told her, for the first time, that $9,000 was paid to the hospital. Had the adjuster been upfront with the individual, she could have negotiated the hospital bill herself, saving thousands of dollars. Because she had already settled with the insurance company, she had no recourse. Lesson: Ask the adjuster specifically how much money YOU will be receiving, and how much money is being paid to the hospital and health insurance company. You have the right to negotiate with the hospital and health insurance company, but you have to ask. The adjuster will not tell you this. Tactic 3: Insurer-led Investigations A family tragically lost their son in a collision. The insurance adjuster contacted the son’s friends, misrepresented the details of the accident, and took recorded statements, recording only part of the interviews, creating a misleading record. This misleading record was then used against the family. Lesson: Contact an attorney right away if a family member has been killed or has suffered catastrophic injuries. The adjusters immediately begin to build their defense, using unfair tactics. You do not want to be put at a disadvantage. An attorney can contact friends and family to alert them to be on guard and combat these unfair tactics. Tactic 4: Adjuster Harassment of Victims’ Families After a family tragically lost their child, the adjuster began hounding the family and relatives—going so far as to send messages to family members on social media. The actions of the adjuster caused additional stress for the grieving family. Lesson: If you retain an attorney and advise the adjuster that you have done so, the adjuster must stop contacting you and your family members. Tactic 5: Concealing Liens A woman settled a personal injury case with the adjuster. After the settlement, the woman’s health insurance contacted her and told her she was required to pay all of the settlement funds to the health insurance company. The adjuster failed to disclose to the woman that she would have to repay her health insurance company from the settlement funds. Had the woman known this, she would not have accepted the settlement amount from the adjuster and would have attempted to negotiate a higher recovery. Lesson: Most health insurance companies have a lien on your personal injury settlement. Adjusters will not volunteer this information to you. If you negotiate a settlement yourself, you need to find out about all liens on your recovery, so you know the exact amount you will receive in settlement. Health insurance liens can be negotiated before the settlement is reached. Tactic 6: Swoop and Settle A gentleman was injured in an accident. The liability adjuster told him the insurance company would pay up to $20,000 in medical bills and $2,500 for pain and suffering. The gentleman accepted this offer. He received his $2,500 check and then submitted $15,000 in medical bills to the liability adjuster. The liability adjuster paid only $7,500 of the $15,000 in medical bills. When asked, the adjuster advised that she did not agree he needed 36 sessions of physical therapy nor that he needed an MRI, so she would not pay for those charges. The adjuster further pointed out that the settlement agreement obligated the liability insurance company to pay up to $20,000 in medical expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred due to the accident . The agreement left it up to the adjuster to decide which bills to pay. The gentleman was then on the hook to pay $7,500 in medical bills, with no recourse. Lesson: This tactic is called swoop and settle . The insurance company wants to trick you into settling before you know the extent of your damages. This leaves the insurance company with the discretion to decide which bills to pay, and you with no remedy for the wrongful denial of medical charges. DO NOT fall prey to this scheme. There is no requirement that you settle your case immediately . Adjusters often threaten that they will “close their file” and the like. This is a hollow threat. You can wait until you have completed treatment to attempt to settle the case. You have two years after the accident to file a lawsuit. Conclusion Liability insurance companies and their adjusters have a whole playbook of dirty tricks. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, you need experienced Texas personal injury attorneys who have seen it all and know how to win. Please contact Wham & Rogers for your free consultation, by phone, Zoom or in person.