Federal hours of service (HOS) regulations are in place to help promote the safety of commercial truck drivers as well as everyone who shares the road with them. They mandate things like how long a driver can be behind the wheel without a break.

This month, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), published a final rule that updates existing HOS regulations. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said that the updated regulations will provide “greater flexibility” for truck drivers.

The four primary changes are the following:

The new rule is scheduled to be implemented 120 days after it was published, which means that commercial truck drivers will be operating under these relaxed rules in the fall. Since drowsy driving by commercial truck drivers is already one of the leading causes of accidents involving trucks, it’s only reasonable to be concerned about how these changes will impact their safety as well as that of all motorists.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash caused by a truck driver , you’re likely looking at significant medical bills and possibly long-term therapy, rehabilitation and care. By holding the appropriate parties legally and financially accountable, you can get the compensation you need and deserve.

Sometimes, crashes are the result of a vehicle malfunction or lack of maintenance rather than driver error. That seems to have been the case in a Reno crash this month that sent two people to the hospital with injuries.

On the afternoon of May 12, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol, a van traveling north on Interstate 580 near the Spaghetti Bowl road construction project lost tire tread. It went across multiple lanes of traffic, striking an SUV. That vehicle fell some 50 feet off an overpass onto a lot below on East Fourth Street.

The drivers of both the van and the SUV, who were reportedly the only occupants of their vehicles, were hospitalized with serious injuries.

Taking proper care of your tires — especially in states like Nevada with unpredictable weather and temperature extremes — can help prevent crashes. Tires that are worn or not properly inflated can result in skids, blowouts and other issues that can cause serious accidents.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, over 700 people died in 2017 due to tire-related accidents.

The federal agency recommends that drivers pay attention to the following when ensuring that their tires are properly maintained:

Keeping your tires in good condition can help you better react if you encounter a reckless or negligent driver. It can also improve your mileage.

However, if you’re injured in a crash caused by a driver who had a tire malfunction, you have a right to seek the compensation you need to cover medical bills and other expenses and damages. It’s wise to have the guidance of an experienced attorney.

If you’re used to riding your motorcycle alone, you may be surprised by how much different it is to ride with a group. You might think there is safety in numbers because you’re less likely to be hit by a driver who doesn’t see you.

However, riding as a group presents a whole other set of risks if everyone isn’t careful. Let’s look at some things you can do to help everyone stay safe on a group ride.

Before the ride

Be prepared. Everyone should have a full gas tank and a phone. Determine who will bring tools, first-aid supplies and other items, like food or water, that the group may want or need.

Plan your ride. Get everyone together to decide where you’re going, what route you’re taking and where you’ll stop for breaks. Consider what your least experienced rider can do. Don’t take a route that’s too difficult for them.

Determine your riding order and formation. Typically, the most experienced biker or the one who knows the area best is the lead rider. They alert the others to anything that could cause a problem, from a traffic jam to storm clouds. Also, decide who will be the sweep rider who stays at the back and sets the pace. It’s best to decide where everyone else will be in your line-up, with the least-experienced rider typically just behind the leader.

On the ride

Except in certain areas, including winding roads and highway entrances, it’s usually best to stagger your formation between the left and right side of the lane rather than directly behind one another. You want to stay relatively close to the riders ahead of you, but at least a second apart.

Remain in formation when you pass a vehicle. Pass one at a time, returning to your previous place in the designated formation.

Don’t try to race or outdo another rider. Whether it’s someone in your group or another rider you see along the way, don’t “go rogue.” Stay in your formation. This isn’t a competition.

Just because you’re in a group, don’t assume that you’re safe from motorists. Some drivers become fearful when they see a group of motorcyclists, assuming that they’re some kind of “biker gang.” This can cause them to do reckless things. If you’re injured by a driver (or another motorcyclist ), make sure that you get the compensation you need.

A spinal cord injury can have a significant impact on a person’s life — possibly forever. It also puts them at a higher risk of developing other conditions, including mental health disorders and chronic diseases.

A recently published study compared adults who had suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury with those who had not. Researchers found that those who had suffered a spinal cord injury were 20% more likely to have depressive disorders , 5% more likely to have anxiety disorders and 13.5% more likely to have three or more mental health conditions.

They were also more likely to develop diseases including cardiovascular, pulmonary and liver disease, cancer and diabetes. The doctor who was the study’s lead author said that this “makes sense, as patients with spinal cord injuries have extreme sedentary behavior including prolonged bed rest after injury.”

Another doctor involved with the study says that the results highlight the need to better understand both the mental and physical health needs of people who are dealing with a spinal cord injury.

If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury as the result of a crash caused by another driver, it’s essential to make sure that they get the compensation they need for all of their short-term and long-term health care needs. It can be difficult, if not impossible, to determine what these will be in the weeks and even months following a crash. An experienced attorney can help you work to get a settlement that will take in to account the expenses you may be facing for many years to come.

As a motorcyclist, one of your biggest safety challenges is making sure that drivers see you. The most serious motorcycle crashes involve cars and even larger vehicles. In fact. the most common cause of motorcycle accidents is drivers who turn in front motorcyclists at intersections.

Often, this happens because a driver is only looking for cars when checking to make sure the intersection is clear before entering it. Sometimes, the cyclist is in their blind spot. Other times, they may be distracted. That’s why cyclists need to be particularly cautious when there are gaps in traffic before proceeding — even if they have the right of way — and be prepared to take evasive action at a moment’s notice. If you see a car waiting at an intersection, look at the way that their wheels are pointing. Even if they don’t have their turn signal on, they may be planning to turn.

Another common type of crash also involves drivers not looking for — or at least not seeing — motorcyclists. Cars will sometimes change lanes and hit a motorcyclist that’s in the lane.

Again, motorcyclists can help prevent this by watching the vehicles around them, particularly if they’re on a busy highway where everyone’s trying to get in to the lane that’s moving the fastest. If you see a driver who appears to be anticipating a lane change, whether they’re signaling or not, stay out of their way.

A type of collision you definitely want to avoid is being hit from behind by a vehicle. Rear-end collisions are often just “fender-benders” for drivers. For motorcyclists, however, they can be fatal. It’s essential to be aware of traffic behind you, especially if you’re coming to a stop sign or light. Be prepared to move out of the way quickly if you see that the driver behind you isn’t slowing down or is hitting the brakes too late.

While cyclists have to be conscientious about drivers with whom they share the road, that doesn’t absolve drivers of responsibility when they behave negligently or recklessly. If you or a loved one was injured on a motorcycle by an at-fault driver , it’s essential to seek the compensation you need for medical costs and other expenses.

Nevada residents who are excited about the advent of self-driving cars should know that there are several concerns that keep the majority of the U.S. public from accepting them. AAA conducted a survey in January 2020 asking consumers if they would feel safe riding in a self-driving car, and only 12% answered in the affirmative. Twenty-eight percent admitted they don’t know what to think about self-driving cars in the first place.

The survey clarified what sort of tangible information consumers want about self-driving cars. For example, 57% want to know how liability would work in the case of accidents with self-driving cars, 51% are interested in the laws that would protect self-driving cars, and 49% are concerned about the cars being hacked.

Respondents also shared what sort of things would help them overcome doubts about the tech. Seventy-two percent said they want self-driving cars to let them take control if something goes wrong while 69% want a human back-up driver. Forty-seven percent would be reassured if the cars passed rigorous testing, and 42% said the same if they could see or take part in a demonstration beforehand.

Respondents also expressed the desire for more news stories on these cars. Ultimately, the survey may help automakers, policymakers and media as they try to make self-driving cars more palatable to the public.

Before self-driving cars come close to being a reality, though, automakers need to address the issues being raised by semi-autonomous vehicles. Some car collisions occur because semi-autonomous cars make their drivers complacent and inattentive to the road. Those who are injured as a result of this form of negligence may want a lawyer to represent them. Personal injury lawyers might have a network of crash investigators and other third parties to help strengthen a case.

If you were involved in a car crash, you may be hesitant to get behind the wheel again. You may have injuries that prevent you from driving. You may have even lost your driver’s license for a time. Regardless of the reason you’re not driving, ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft can help you get where you need to go.

Not much more than a decade ago, many of us couldn’t have imagined hopping in a stranger’s car. Now, millions of people use Uber and Lyft every day.

However, we’ve all read of rides going horribly wrong, with passengers becoming the victims of rapes, theft and kidnapping. In some cases, the perpetrators were masquerading as Uber or Lyft drivers or passengers got in a car they mistook for the ride they ordered.

Ride-hailing companies run background checks on applicants. They’ve also implemented a number of safety features and guidelines for passengers to help ensure their safety. It’s important to remember these every time you ride and not to become complacent. For example:

Of course, safety is important. Make sure that you buckle your seat belt. The driver’s probably anxious to get moving, but make sure they wait until you’re fastened in. If you’re not comfortable with how they’re driving, end the ride and report the issue to the company.

If you’re recovering from injuries you suffered in a crash caused by a negligent or reckless driver, make sure you see the compensation you need.