Texas Truck Wreck Attorney Blog

The truck driver who rolled his 18-wheeler into a canal is thought to have suffered a heart attack. The 61-year-old trucker went off the road and rolled his tractor-trailer in a one-truck crash.

It took rescue personnel almost 1/2 hour to extract the truck driver from his rig. Authorities believe that the truck driver suffered a stroke just prior to losing control of the vehicle.

The federal motor carrier safety regulations provide some level of comfort to the public with respect to the driver health of a big rig. However not every circumstances can be foreseen and regulated in a way fair to truck drivers and to the public.

Let us hope, that the truck driver recovers from this stroke and is in a condition to safely return to his profession soon. Given the sheer size of the big rigs extra caution is always appropriate when determining driver qualifications.

Continue reading "Heart attack suspected in 18 wheeler crash" »

A two-vehicle crash on Interstate 59 tangled traffic on the highway for several hours. According to the police department the truck accident happened in the northbound lane of Interstate 59 and involved a pickup truck and a tractor-trailer.

Police officials indicate, that the pickup attempted to merge onto the highway when the accident occurred. The police department responded to the crash site and the investigation into the cause of the truck accident is ongoing.

The collision was significant and the pickup truck was dragged over 100 yards before coming to rest at the crash site. Skid marks from the tractor-trailer were apparent to the officers investigating the wreck.

The cause of the tractor-trailer accident is not currently available, however one must wonder if the pickup truck appropriately yielded the right of way when entering the interstate.

Continue reading " 18-wheeler accident snarls traffic on Interstate 59" »

An on-duty officer was driving a marked police car and still was the victim of a hit and run accident in Texas. According to reports, officer Matje was westbound on a Texas freeway when the squad car was sideswiped by another car. The police car then crashed in to a third vehicle.

At this time, there is no description of the hit and run driver who fled the scene, except that the hit and run vehicle should have significant damage to the front.

The officer was taken to Baylor Hospital in Dallas by ambulance and according to the police is listed in fair condition. Anyone with information about this hit and run accident is urged to call the Dallas Police Department at 214 -- 670 - 5816.

Hit and run accidents have been a real problem in Texas recently. The number of fatal hit and runs in the lone star state is at an all-time high. Although no one has offered reasons why the hit and run numbers are so high.

Continue reading "Officer injured in Texas hit and run" »

An eight-year-old child was killed and her mother seriously injured in a truck rack on I -10 this weekend.

The semi truck accident happened when a Toyota Sequoia going east on Interstate 10 crossed the median into oncoming traffic, according to authorities. The car slid sideways and was struck by a semi truck headed west on Interstate 10.

The impact with the car was so significant that the car was driven almost 200 feet before finally coming to rest.

The eight-year-old child reportedly was seated in the passenger backseat and to the hit from the 18-wheeler head-on. The child's mother was a front seat passenger and sustained very serious and life-threatening injuries according to police.

I am hopeful that the mother survives and recovers quickly. My heart goes out to this family that has been torn apart in this terrible tragedy.

At this time, nothing has been reported about what caused the car to cross the median.

Continue reading "Truck accident on I-10 claims life of child" »

The truck driver of a tractor-trailer miraculously survived a brutal accident when his semi-truck slid off the highway overpass and crashed below.

The truck driver apparently was exceeding a safe speed and lost control on wet roads when the big truck went off the overpass and onto the highway below.

When the truck flipped over and landed on the cab diesel fuel leaked from the accident and hazmat crews were dispatched to clean up the fuel. Fuel on the roadway unattended can lead to some very dangerous conditions as the fuel acts as a lubricant on wet roads much the same as hitting a patch of ice.

In this accident the trucker was wearing a seatbelt, which probably saved him from more significant injury.

Continue reading "18 wheeler slides off highway bridge" »

Outside of Texarkana, Texas a major pileup of cars and semi trucks sent three people to the hospital with serious injuries.

According to reports, a tractor-trailer was approaching traffic stalled along a construction so and failed to slow down plowing through six different vehicles before ending up in the ditch.

This accident is another example of the danger that the public is in when a professional driver of a 20,000-pound vehicle is inattentive. Had a similar accident occurred with a car or pickup truck undoubtedly the accident would not have been as severe?

There are no reports as to the injuries other than they have been described as serious. The truck rack included a total of 10 people and left debris scattered along the interstate.

I cannot emphasize enough the damage and destruction that 18 wheeler trucks can cause when crashing into small 5000 pound passenger cars.

Professional drivers are held to a higher standard in safety regulations and expectations. Do to the massive size of the tractor-trailers and increased stopping distance required it is imperative that the professional driver is attentive to the roadway.

Continue reading "Major 18-wheeler accident on Interstate 30" »

According to reports at truck driver was on his cell phone prior to a truck accident that left the truck driver and 10 other people dead.

The state patrol issued a 28 page accident report which listed driving over the speed limit and cell phone use as a distraction in the reconstruction and by the troopers.

Unfortunately, it takes a tragedy such as the loss of 11 lives to shock us into the realization of the dangers of distracted driving. Distracted driving my truck drivers is simply magnifying the inherit dangers that automobile drivers also face.

When a professional driver driving a 20,000 pound vehicle is distracted results such as in this horrific truck wreck are not unexpected. Because big rigs take longer to stop and generate such force on impact we cannot stand for truckers to be distracted by cell phone or text use.

Frequently, in multiple vehicle fatal accidents at the investigation spills over to the trucking company and the condition of the 18 wheeler. Trucking companies have a non-delegable duty to maintain the tractor-trailers in safe operating condition.

Continue reading "Cell phone use listed as a cause of semi truck accident that killed 11 " »

A tire blowout leads to a tractor-trailer rollover accident outside of Falls County, Texas this week. The truck driver was injured after the 18-wheeler rolled over onto its side.

The 18-wheeler driver suffered both head and bodily injuries in the rollover accident. As with many other rollover truck accidents, hazardous material crews were called upon to clean up spilled diesel fuel.

Diesel fuel on the roadway can be extremely slippery particularly to an unsuspecting motorist. Officers have indicated that hitting a patch of diesel on the roadway is similar to hitting a patch of ice.

For that reason, the hazardous material cleanup crews routinely use sand and other agents to clean up the diesel and also provide traction to the roadway.

Generally, 18-wheeler trucks do not roll over on blowout of a tire particularly rear tires, because of the dual nature of the tractor-trailer rear tires. In other words, if one tire fails the other is available to the vehicle.

Continue reading " Texas truck accident caused by tire blowout" »

Sunday an 18-wheeler overturned and closed all eastbound lanes of I. 10 for several hours. The police temporarily closed three lanes of Interstate 10 because of the truck accident.

Police indicate that an 18-wheeler overturned which caused the highway to be closed.

Reportedly, the accident happened during bad weather with strong winds and sporadic rain. Other minor car accidents were reported in the area.

Professional truck drivers have a duty to pull off the road when the driving is hazardous due to inclement weather or when other conditions such as snow and ice make driving dangerous.

Part of the responsibility of being the pilot of a 20,000-pound vehicle is to follow these safety regulations to the letter. The Federal motor carrier safety regulations were designed to protect the public against forcing and potential hazards.

In this truck accident no one was killed and hopefully the truck driver sustained minor injuries. Unfortunately, many jackknife and overturned 18-wheelers result in numerous car accidents often with fatal results.

Continue reading "Truck wreck closes Interstate 10" »

On March 23 a child abruptly and without forethought ran into a suburban Houston street as well as the path of an oncoming car. As several parents looked on in horror the little girl was struck by an automobile.

The woman driver stepped out of the car and seemed to check on the condition of the eight year old. Then she said to no one in particular something to the effect that it wasn't her fault, got back in her car and left. The child was rushed by ambulance to the hospital where she died the next day.

This scene is played over and over in cities across America. National statistics place the number of hit and run accidents each year at 11% of all motor vehicle collisions. In numbers this equals about 700,000 incidences where a driver has left the scene of the crime.

Hit and run is the crime of colliding with a person, their personal property (including their motor vehicle), or a fixture and failing to stop and identify oneself. In many jurisdictions a driver is legally obligated to stop and exchange information and summon emergency services. In addition, the driver is required to remain at the scene until police arrive.

Hit and run perpetrators face a variety of consequences including the suspension and cancellation of one's driving privileges and even imprisonment. Lifetime revocation of a driver's license is also a possibility. In addition, increased insurance costs, compensatory fines and punitive fines can be imposed.

Finally, if caught the driver may also incur DMV points on their license.

Last September 19, two separate hit and run accidents occurred. On April 1 a 33 year old man was struck and killed by a hit and run driver. The list goes on and on.

Perhaps the most unfortunate part of this story is that the police in Texas say there are not enough officers to investigate all the accidents as fully as need be.

Continue reading "Hit and run is a problem for all of Texas" »

A truck driver from Texas was severely injured when his semi truck ran off the highway at the intersection of a railroad overpass. The 31-year-old driver received extensive facial injuries from the truck wreck.

The tractor-trailer fell over on the railroad tracks and discharged the trucker's load, which covered the railroad tracks. Crews from the railroad company worked overtime to clear the debris, which was substantial.

There were several different public entities represented at the same including a fire department, sheriff's office, Texas Department of Transportation, and Texas Department of public safety.

It is unknown what caused the truck to fall off the highway overpass and crash onto the railroad tracks. Sometimes, gusting wind can cause instability with tractor-trailers. Most often however this involves semi trucks which are empty, and not those fully loaded.

No information was available to comment further on the cause of this 18-wheeler accident. It is my hope that the truck driver recovers quickly from this accident.

Not long ago in Houston we had a vehicle crash off a third-floor parking garage and unfortunately the driver did not survive. Anytime a freefall of a vehicle is involved the odds of injury to a significantly.

Continue reading "Texas truck accident injures driver " »

A major highway was closed for most of the day Sunday after a 18 wheeler tanker truck rollover that spilled thousands of gallons of chemicals on the highway.

The truck accident happened on Highway 99 and led to a massive cleanup effort. The truck was loaded with over 35,000 gallons of ammonia that was discharged when the truck rolled over.

Fortunately, authorities indicate that while the chemical that was filled is considered hazardous they do not expect anyone to be hospitalized due to exposure to the ammonia.

The truck driver was treated for injuries and released.

The cleanup was a huge undertaking that took almost 8 hours and numerous crewmembers at to handle.

Continue reading "Tanker truck crash spills chemicals" »