Houston Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

Semi-truck accidents that cause catastrophic injury and death occur nearly every day in and around Houston and across the state of Texas. What follows is a short litany of reports of vehicle collisions that occurred over the past week or two.

*On a clear Sunday morning a passenger vehicle collided with a semi-truck on a rural Texas road - leaving the driver of the car dead as a result. The investigation is still in its preliminary stages and anyone who was witness to the accident is asked to contact the authorities.

*A particularly heinous semi-truck accident last week led to the decapitation of a small truck driver as he passed under the turning rig on a Texas country road. In this case, the final determination of fault is still pending while accident reconstruction is underway. But it is difficult to imagine the emotional trauma incurred by surviving family and friends. Truck accident attorneys sometimes see this type of injury with 18-wheelers jackknifing across the roadway.

*Not all semi-truck accidents involve drivers and passengers in other vehicles. A man unloading a rig was pinned by a semi-truck while on the dock and died as a result. Preliminary reports say that there were no witnesses to the accident except the driver of the 18-wheeler - which may make getting to the truth of the accident difficult to discern. Loading accidents are much more common that one would expect, heavy cargo can be very dangerous if not loaded properly or if there is not enough manpower or proper equipment for the job.

Semi-trucks are dangerous vehicles and should be treated with a respectable caution when you are driving or otherwise in the vicinity of these big rigs because the sheer size of a tractor- trailer makes than dangerous.

Continue reading "Recent Texas 18 Wheeler Accidents" »

The last few days on public roadways in and around Houston are a testimony to the fact that 'safe driving' is a great concept in theory - but not always realized in actuality. Consider the following news items.

*A man who was confined to a wheelchair took a toddler with him for a 'walk' - only to be hit by a vehicle while in a crosswalk. The man was ejected and witnesses say he may have been thrown up to twenty feet before coming to rest - all the while holding the child safely within his grip - thereby saving the baby's life. The man, however, died as a result of the accident.

*The case of a car chase and attempted carjacking in Houston continues to unfold with new details being offered by law enforcement. A man led the officers on a harrowing chase through the city - reaching speeds of up to 110 mph. He was eventually tracked to his apartment where he confessed an explained that the reason he did not stop was that he did not want his car towed! For the record - his car was towed and he is now facing felony charges. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

*A woman from a Houston suburb stopped to help a stranded motorist and became a victim herself as a result. She was on her way home from her own birthday celebration when she pulled over to help a person with a flat tire and was struck by a suspected drunk driver and lost her life as a result.

The forgoing news reports show us that you never know when a serious or deadly car accident is in the cards. Sometimes bad things happen to good people.

Continue reading "Recent Houston Area Car Accidents" »

There have been a number of unusual but deadly vehicle collisions in and around the Texas area recently. Unfortunately, many of these could have been avoided with a little patience and some common sense. Reports indicate:

*In the early morning hours of a school day last week a passenger car was seen to be tailgating a school bus. When it attempted to pass the larger and slower moving vehicle it clipped the left rear fender. This caused both the car and bus to careen out of control. Before the vehicles came to a stop the bus had nearly flipped over and the driver of the car was killed. A third truck could not avoid becoming a part of the accident. No students on the bus were injured.

*A teenager was killed and his passenger injured when their vehicle was struck by a semi-truck last week. Preliminary indications are that the trucker ran a red light. In the course of the accident the trailer literally flipped over onto the smaller vehicle - crushing the victim.

*A driver whose vehicle was disabled pulled off the side of the road. A good Samaritan stopped to offer assistance and as both men were standing alongside the car an SUV struck them. Unbelievably - the same thing happened the following night. Sadly, one of the men died from his injuries.

Continue reading "Deadly Accidents in Texas" »

Although it may seem implausible - hit and run semi-truck accidents occur much more regularly than one might think. Certainly after an accident it is more difficult for a rig to 'high-tail' it away from the scene of the crime than - let's say - a car. But it does happen nevertheless. Consider these following reports of incidents.

*A truck driver hit the back of an automobile being driven by an elderly female causing it to careen across the highway and into the path of oncoming traffic. The woman was killed and the trucker fled the scene. He (or she) has yet to be apprehended. The accident happened too quickly for bystanders to note any valuable information about the truck other than its color.

*A semi-truck driver in a northern state sideswiped another rig as it attempted to pass it on the road. The damaged semi began to leak diesel fuel and exploded within moments - destroying the truck and a section of the highway. The semi-truck driver who caused the accident fled the scene. He (or she) has yet to be apprehended - there were no witnesses other than the driver of the 18 wheeler that was destroyed. He, himself, suffered minor injuries.

Hit and run accidents are a bigger problem than most people realize. In one state alone, over the course of a single year, nearly 17,000 accidents were attributed to hit and run drivers. Unfortunately only a small number of these cases are ever solved.

Continue reading "Hit and Run Truck Accidents" »

Several unusual driving accidents have been in the Houston news lately.

*According to the female driver her brakes failed causing her to lose control of her car. It careened through the storefront of a business in a strip mall. Pictures show that it is completely inside the building! Fortunately, the store was unoccupied and no one was hurt - not even the driver who had actually been on her way to a nearby locale to get her hair done.

*Recently another driver lost control of his vehicle - and it ended up in a local and well known waterway. Emergency crews responded - and the only injuries were cuts and scrapes - and a bruised ego. It seems the driver was probably distracted by holiday errands. His wife will probably have something to say about this.

*A teen driver on her way to work ended up driving into the back of a delivery truck - in a delivery truck accident where the operator was busy sorting holiday packages to be dropped off at surrounding houses. The driver joked and called this a 'special delivery'. The teen, who had intended to drop off packages at the delivery company before arriving at her job - handed the mail to the driver who gladly accepted responsibility for posting and sending it.

Everyone is busy at this holiday time - which is reason enough to stay focused on your driving until you reach your destination safely. THEN you can get into the hustle and bustle of the season.

Greg Baumgartner is a semi truck accident attorney and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, a Texas personal injury law firm dedicated to helping families of people injured or killed in accidents. For a free no obligation consultation with an 18 wheeler accident attorney call the Baumgartner law firm at toll free at 1-866-758-4529.

I am a semi-truck and automobile accident attorney. I see the tragedy that can result from these accidents on a daily basis which prompts me to regularly address the public about some of the more simple safety driving precautions. I hope the following will be beneficial to you and your family when out motoring.

*Don't drink and drive. Certainly there has been enough media attention on the dangers of this particular behavior. Even if you've only had a couple drinks your driving acuity may be impaired. I always suggest that those who enjoy a night out on the town find a safer way home than getting behind the wheel of their vehicle themselves.

*Don't drive distracted. Researchers have found this behavior to be as dangerous as drunk driving in many cases. That means - put your cell phone down and keep your eyes on the road. Don't eat your breakfast or dinner, don't finish getting ready for work, don't discipline the kids, and don't watch a movie or read the paper (yes, this happens). Keep your eyes on the road.

*Don't allow your car to fall into disrepair. Take it in for regular check-ups. Keep the tires filled and replace them when the tread is worn. Keep all fluids topped off. Change your oil when needed. Keep your brakes in tip-top shape and keep the gas tank filled.

Do not be the cause of an injury or fatality accident because of your own negligent behavior.

If you have lost a loved one after a fatal accident contact an experienced and successful wrongful death attorney as soon as possible after the accident before critical evidence disappears.

Continue reading "Causes of Fatal Auto Accidents" »

If improperly loaded trucks pose a hazard to the driving public - one can be sure that so, too, does an improperly parked truck. Now, there is no question that truck drivers are usually faced with a dilemma in most parking situations. In city driving - there is usually little room to turn or maneuver and few parking areas allotted to hold a vehicle of such massive size and girth. Highway driving is equally problematic.

If a semi-truck driver suddenly needs to pull off the road - it requires ample space for them to get up to speed again before pulling back onto the road. Of course, it is true that over-the-road or long-distance truckers are usually able to find a place to park either short or long term if they need to grab a bite to eat or get some sleep (most are equipped with sleeping berths).

Unfortunately, even though there are ordinances that govern where a truck can stop and park - often truck drivers overlook these rules in the name of convenience. When this happens -accidents that result from improperly parked trucks are very common - and many have resulted in catastrophic injuries or even death.

Recently, reports indicate a UPS driver double parked his vehicle on a busy city street to drop off a package. In the moments it took for him to exit the truck and return, a teenager rear-ended the delivery vehicle because he did not realize it was stopped. The young man suffered extensive spinal injuries and is still not walking.

In another incident, a semi-truck driver pulled off a freeway ramp to get a few hours of shut-eye. An older man on his way to work failed to see the truck and sideswiped it - flipping his own vehicle. He died at the scene.

If you have questions about a truck accident and would like to speak with a truck accident attorney about your rights and options call the Texas truck accident attorneys at the Baumgartner Law Firm for a no obligation consultation.

The truck driving industry is fraught with dangers and problems compounded by lower profit margins and greater competition. Poorly maintained equipment, unprofessional drivers and questionable industry tactics are but a few of the challenges that have the potential to impact the driving public at large.

In addition, an often hidden hazard in the trucking industry is an improperly loaded truck. In these instances, cargo has a tendency to shift and this can adversely affect the trajectory of a tractor trailer causing a number of scenarios.

For instance, in one case improperly loaded material shifted when a truck took a highway curve too quickly and the tractor trailer overturned. The driver was thrown from the vehicle and later died from injuries he sustained. The driver was not responsible for loading the material on the truck - and the accident remains under investigation while blame can be determined.

Recently, the Baumgartner Law Firm handled a semi truck accident case where a big rig rolled over and a passenger was seriously injured, in the case we sued both the driver and the company who loaded the semi truck.

Another example of an improperly loaded truck is one that has been overloaded. An overloaded truck can cause the tires to burst, the vehicle to roll over, difficulty in bringing the truck to a stop or causing the brakes to fail altogether, and jackknifing. Too, an overloaded truck may not be able to maneuver up a steep incline.

As you can tell, an improperly loaded truck - one that is under or overloaded or one in which the load has not been secured correctly - can lead to deadly accidents. This is just one more reason to give semi-trucks a lot of room on the open road.

Continue reading "Houston Area Loading Accidents" »

Tanker trucks are a specific type of semi-truck designed to carry liquefied loads, gases or dry bulk cargo. Because this encompasses such a wide variety of products tankers take a variety of forms.

Tanker trucks are actually prone to roll over accidents for several reasons. First, the design of the carrier makes it more likely to roll in extreme weight shifts. Then, if it does roll, it has a tendency to roll multiple times (like a ball) before coming to rest.

Tankers are also more difficult to stop in certain circumstances and behave very differently when loaded than when empty. Truckers who drive tankers must be aware of the unique ways in which this vehicle behaves under different circumstances before getting behind the wheel and taking to the open road.

Unfortunately, other causes of tanker truck accidents are similar to that of fellow semi-truck drivers. Driver fatigue and inattention are two reasons for serious truck accidents. A poorly maintained vehicle or inexperience can also lead to injury and death of the truck driver or other innocent drivers and passengers on the road.

Finally, tankers are usually transporting flammable or toxic materials that make them an even greater danger and more reason to travel cautiously - a warning to all those on the road. Tanker trucks in particular are the cause of several accidents a week in and around Houston and the country. Some are deadly - all are unsettling and even the truck accident without injury can have huge costs in cleanup and traffic delay.

Continue reading "Tanker Truck Accidents" »

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers a wealth of research on all things transportation related. One study provides the following information on the topic of braking distances for trucks of various weights. While this blog will only provide brief highlights - you may visit www.nhtsa.gov for further information.

Current Stopping Distance Requirements for Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicles
Vehicle Type:
Tractor- trailer-Stopping Distance from 60 mph was a whopping 335 feet.
These numbers are not new and have been consistent for may years. However, with the advances in technology we should expect better braking from commercial vehicles.

The purpose of the research was to validate current stopping capabilities for vehicles and using these figures as a starting point for improving expectations. The following suggestions are currently under consideration:

*Substantially shorten the required stopping distances for ALL vehicles - buses, automobiles, semi-trucks and tractor trailers from their current abilities.

*Improve heavy duty brake systems for semi-trucks and tractor trailers AND increase brake retardation force.

The research study was presented recently by two NHTSA project engineers.

Continue reading "Stopping Distance For 18-Wheelers" »

The duty to inspect, maintain and repair semi trucks in the motor carriers fleet is codified in part 396 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

396.1 provides that: "every motor carrier, its officers, drivers, agents, representatives and employees directly concerned with the inspection or maintenance of motor vehicles shall comply and be conversant with the rules". What this is saying is that the trucking company must ensure that its employees not only follow the rules but also know the rules with respect to maintaining and repairing trucks.

Further, section 396.3 provides: "every motor carrier shall systematically inspect, repair, and maintain, or cause to be systematically inspected, repaired, and maintained, all motor vehicles subject to its control".
The regulation goes on to provide that parts and accessories shall be in safe in proper operating condition at all times.

That only does part 396 specify specific actions that must be taken to make sure that big rigs are safe to be on the roadway but also and equally important document the condition of the vehicle with appropriate paperwork.

Many truck accidents in Texas involve commercial vehicles that when subjected to an impartial inspection reveals the truck was being operated in an unsafe condition at the time of the accident.

Sometimes the condition of the vehicle can be the specific cause of the accident.

If you are loved one has been involved in a serious 18 wheeler accident and would like to speak with an experienced 18 wheeler accident attorney in Houston, contact the Baumgartner law firm at 281-587-1111 or fill out the contact us form on this website.

Another semi-truck accident out of state joins the sad litany of big rig vehicle wrecks that result in multiple fatalities. This time a semi-truck slammed into the back of a minivan killing seven people at the scene and sending 3 more to area hospitals. The truck driver was also hospitalized.

There are conflicting reports concerning the moments that led up to the crash. Some witnesses claim to have seen the minivan strike a deer - which may have precipitated it to slow down as it was trying to pull off the highway. Somewhere along the line it was hit by the semi. This leads me to reiterate several safety cautions that I regularly offer my readers.

A driver who is prepared for the inevitable is therefore more capable of reacting to unexpected events - such as a deer darting in front of their vehicle. How is this possible? Drivers must remain alert at all times. Driving is not a leisurely activity. It requires focus and concentration. Scan the roadway in front and beside you and consider what possible scenarios could result in an accident and how you might react to avoid it.

Too, be sure that all passengers are safely fastened into the vehicle and there are no loose objects that could become projectiles if your car or truck is hit.

As one can discern from this accident - it only takes a moment to change the course of your life and that of others.

There is a very good reason for the safety rules that apply to truck drivers and trucking companies- that is to protect the public

Continue reading "Multiple Fatality Truck Accident" »

As a semi-truck accident lawyer - data is an integral part of my practice. What follows are some vital statistics that should be of interest to consumers.

*The average weight of a semi-truck is 80,000 pounds. That's 40,000 tons and in comparison to the average weight of a car coming in at 5 or 6 thousand pounds it is easy to see that major injuries are usually the result of semi-truck/automobile accidents.

*Statistics show that an automobile traveling at 60 mph in good weather and decent road conditions actually covers 88 feet for each second of forward motion. That translates to nearly a third of a football field each time you count to 'one'.

At that rate it takes the car nearly 300 feet or, conversely, no less than 3 seconds to come to a full stop. At the same time and in the same conditions it takes a semi-truck nearly twice as long to come to a complete stop. Even if a semi appears to be moving at a slower pace - their ability to react to a sudden change in the traffic pattern is negligible at best.

*In all, there are nearly 5200 large truck fatalities annually in the United States and almost 100,000 injuries as well. Moreover, there are an additional 140,000 truck accidents each year that do not result in fatalities.

Travel at a safe distance around semi-trucks and be cognizant of their ability to cause injury and death to unsuspecting drivers - and sometimes through no fault of their own.

Continue reading "100,000 Truck Accident Injuries Each Year" »

Injury and fatality accidents that are the result of a semi or other big truck in the act of 'backing-up' are simply much more common than people realize.

In one recent incident a package delivery worker backed over a woman as she crossed the roadway in front of a busy airline terminal. In another case, a garbage hauler failed to see a resident as he was backing up his truck and - again - the homeowner was killed instantly as a result.

Of course, the responsibility lay with the driver (and person in control) of the vehicle but these horrifying accidents carry with them a warning for pedestrians across the country. Simply put - maintain a healthy vigilance when you are in the area of motor vehicles (cars and trucks alike) Even if they appear to be moving slowly a sudden and unexpected movement could result in your injury or even death if you do not behave with caution.

There are really two problems with large trucks backing up. First, the drivers tend to believe that there are less concerns for the persons around them because a truck that is backing up is moving at much slower speeds than if they were traveling forward on a roadway.

This tends to lull everyone into a false sense of safety. Whether a truck is moving backward slowly or forward quickly - pedestrians have little time to react when the vehicle is moving towards them - and the same is true for the driver.

In addition, even all the mirrors in the world do not guarantee that drivers will see everything behind them - in time to react appropriately. There are bound to be valuable seconds of time in which the walker is in a blind spot.

Safety equipment such as rear monitors can be installed for as little as $100 and in my opinion should be installed on all tractor-trailers on the road today as an after market item.

Move cautiously around any type of truck in the act of backing up. Give them lots of room and make sure they can see you at all times.

Continue reading "Loading Accidents Can Be Prevented " »

Reports indicate that a big rig had a blowout while traveling down Interstate 10 near San Jacinto yesterday morning and the result was a fatality. Fire crews and hazardous materials quick response teams struggled to put out the fire which was Northwest of downtown Houston and caused a huge traffic jam on both sides of Interstate 10.

As reported, a witness observed a tire blowout on the tractor-trailer and the driver appearing to lose control and striking the highway divider bursting into flames. Many of the 18 wheelers on the roadway today have the gas tank's exposed on the side of the tractor. Apparently the gas tank caught fire when the rig contacted the divider.

The witness heard an explosion and then saw the flames from the big rig. Reports also indicate that the driver appeared to perish in the fire and that rescuers could not help them due to the intense fire.

Tire failure can lead to very serious consequences such as this fatal accident. The motor carrier has an obligation to ensure that the trucks are in a safe and proper operating condition before they are dispatched. For further information on this Houston area fatal truck accident see the report from chron.com.

Continue reading "Blowout Truck accident a Fatality in Houston" »