Houston Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

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" »

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.

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" »

As I have mention previously - my main concern is semi-truck accidents of which there are thousands each year - and many of the truck accidents are caused by the rig driver due to one negligent act or another.

However, we private vehicle drivers can also be the cause of an accident with a semi-truck that can have equally disastrous results.

For instance, right here in Houston a driver of an automobile was said to have been speeding and darting in and out of traffic when his vehicle 'clipped' the back of a semi-truck. This caused the auto driver to lose control of his vehicle which then ultimately ran into an electric pole snapping it in half. The driver suffered serious injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital.

In another incident a driver passed a semi on the left but did not leave enough room before passing back in front of the truck. The semi driver had to brake unexpectedly causing him to lose control of his rig and run off the road. The story could have been worse. The semi-truck driver suffered only minor injuries but traffic had to be rerouted for several hours.

It's not only important that semi drivers use common sense and caution on our roads - we have to do the same in the name of safety. Most importantly, keep a sharp lookout when driving around an 18-wheeler because the sheer size and weight of the big rig can be devastating to occupants of smaller passenger cars and pick-up trucks

Continue reading "Use Caution Around 18-Wheelers" »

There have been a number of unusual accidents on Houston roadways recently. Over the weekend the driver of a truck was said to have been traveling at a high rate of speed on a local highway when he lost control of the vehicle and hit the median. The truck rolled several times and the driver was ejected.

Oddly enough the vehicle did not come to a stop, however, but remained in gear traveling in circles until someone was able to bring it to a complete stop. Unfortunately, the driver died at the scene.

File this incident under 'having a really bad day'. A female driver was determined to be at fault in a collision with a Houston fire truck on an emergency run. Although she only received minor injuries she was taken to the hospital. Her biggest problem, however, may have nothing to do with the accident itself. She was found to be driving without a driver's license OR vehicle insurance.

The implications of this are even greater. Fortunately, no firefighters were injured in the accident.

Finally, a dump truck being towed on a main highway got loose and crashed into a retaining wall. A large fuel and oil spill resulted and the roadway was shut down to traffic for several hours for clean-up before reopening to the driving public. Houston has had a rash of 18-wheeler accidents that required haz-mat teams to be dispatched for cleanup and at a high cost to Houston in dollars and delay for commuters.

Houston drivers - pay attention out there. Drive within the speed limit, wear your seatbelt, keep insurance on your car - and make sure you have secured a vehicle you are towing.

Continue reading "Recent Houston Truck Accidents" »

Some days Houston roadways seem like nothing more than a 'demolition derby' event at the local fairgrounds. Within the last week the following accidents have occurred and according to reports:

*A semi-truck driver headed in the wrong direction on a state highway pulled onto the berm when he realized his mistake. However, when he attempted to turn around he drove right into the path of an oncoming semi. A horrific accident ensued. Both 18-wheelers were demolished but, fortunately, no suffered any serious injuries. The driver who caused the accident claims he did not even see the other truck coming when he pulled out. (That type of proclamation should instill fear in the hearts of every driver. First, the semi is headed into oncoming traffic. Then the driver fails to recognize a ten ton machine bearing down on him and pulls directly into its path.)

*Two robbery suspects led police on a chase while driving an ATV. At some point the driver lost control of the vehicle and both men were thrown off. One died at the scene and the other was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.

*A driver speeding on the freeway and darting in and out of traffic lost control of his truck and crashed head-on into a utility pole. He was pronounced dead at the scene and a female companion was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

*A motorcycle driver was seen to be weaving in and out of traffic moments before losing control of his bike and hitting a curb. He was thrown from the motorcycle and died at the scene.

Drive safely. Don't be a statistic.

Continue reading "Recent Houston Car Accidents" »

Another fatal 18-wheeler accident happened last Friday afternoon on Highway 290 in Northwest Houston. According to reports, the victim was stopped on the right shoulder of the highway exchanging insurance information after a fender bender. While retrieving his insurance information the victim was struck by an 18-wheeler and killed. My heart goes out to the family of the deceased victim.

Reports further indicated that the 18-wheeler driver was taken into custody as a result of outstanding warrants. There is no indication that alcohol was a factor in the accident.

Highway 290 has been notorious for fatal truck accidents like this one. Given the congestion on Highway 290 the likelihood of serious or fatal accidents is increased with the heavy traffic.

Plans have been developed for the widening of Highway 290 but as of yet the plants have not been funded. One of the most pressing needs of the Houston area and in the state of Texas is to relieve traffic pressure in northwest Houston by the development of the grand parkway and also taking steps to improve Highway 290.

Truck drivers are supposed to be professional drivers and we expect more out of them as a professional driver then we do every day drivers. One of the duties of a commercial vehicle driver is to keep a proper lookout to ensure they do not end up in situations like this. A proper lookout is even more critical because an 18-wheeler takes much longer to stop than a passenger car or pickup truck.

Continue reading "Fatal Truck Accident on Highway 290 in Houston" »

It seems like an everyday occurrence, a hit and run accident in the news. It is so frequent in Houston that most people know someone who has been the victim of a hit-and-run or whose vehicle has been damaged and no one took responsibility.

This week there were several hit-and-run accidents in Houston and one of them happened early Sunday morning in southwest Houston. A blue car ran a red light and slammed into the side of another vehicle injuring two victims who had to be rescued by first responders. The victims of the hit-and-run were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

The story is one that occurs so often that it does not even raise eyebrows anymore.

Many times the hit and run driver is caught and many times they are not. It is been my experience that people believe an accident scene for many different reasons some of the more frequent reasons are as follows: drinking and driving, fear of arrest and younger people who panic.

When an insurance claim is made from an injury in a hit-and-run accident, I have found that frequently the car involved in the accident is reported stolen shortly after the accident. Using this police report the insurance for the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run usually attempts to deny the claim. Often however evidence can be generated that shows the driver of the vehicle and in those situations the liability becomes crystal clear.

Additionally, victims of hit and run accidents that have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can remain protected even if the driver of the vehicle is not located.

If you have any questions about a Houston hit and run accident contact the Houston personal injury law firm, the Baumgartner firm at 281-587-1111.

A bus leaving Houston going to the Valley crashed after an impact with the pickup truck on Highway 77 near Victoria, Texas.

The bus was a Greyhound bus and in addition to the fatality numerous other people were injured in the truck accident. Apparently, according to reports, the pickup truck glanced off the side of the bus and the bus then careened into a telephone pole.

Numerous passengers were treated at local hospitals and initial reports indicate that the pickup driver was ticketed for failure to yield right of way.

The extent of the injuries from the crash are not known at this time but quite a few people were transported to the hospitals to be treated. Photos from the accident scene showed the crash to be significant ripping most of the front of the bus apart.

Greyhound bus in the United States and Canada carry almost 18,000,000 people each year.

Generally, bus travel is considered among the safest available and reduces the number of cars on the road significantly while reducing fuel cost per passenger mile.

Some Greyhound buses are equipped with three-point seatbelts -generally the newer models. It is unknown at this time whether the bus involved in this truck accident had seatbelts available to the passengers.

Continue reading "Fatal Houston Bus Accident" »

Semi-truck accidents have been the cause of a number of fatalities around the country in the last week.

In one accident a young woman was killed when a semi-truck driver clipped her compact vehicle as he tried to change lanes. This caused the young woman to lose control of her small car sending it careening into the concrete median and back into traffic where it was then struck by a second semi-truck. The young woman died at the scene.

In a northern state a young woman was struck by a semi-truck when biking to the university campus. At this point there have been no charges filed. According to reports, witnesses state that both the bike and truck were traveling in the same direction when the truck turned right and she drove into it. What is currently in question is who had the right-of-way at the time of the accident.

In another case a semi-truck driver smashed head on into a smaller truck - killing the driver of the pick-up instantly. It was an evening accident and the semi hit the other vehicle with such force that it went airborne for fifty feet before landing on its side.

Finally, a trucker was alleged to be traveling at an excessive speed - when the driver lost control careening into the median and throwing the driver from the rig. He died at the scene.

Semi-truck accidents cause thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of injuries annually. Property and personal damage and insurance pay-outs run into the millions of dollars.

But the real cost cannot be measured in dollars and cents.

Continue reading "Recent 18 Wheeler Accidents" »

Traffic accidents happen every day in Texas and sometimes the consequences are pretty severe. From passenger cars to pick up trucks and 18-wheelers each can be deadly and also difficult for a victim to handle on their own.

Most people are not exposed to the litigation process until they are seriously injured in an accident due to the fault of another. If you find yourself in a situation where a lawsuit is required is best to have a skilled advocate on your side. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of lawyers in Texas who handles personal injury cases.

The question is how to best select a Texas personal injury lawyer? What do you look for and how you choose? The Internet has literally hundreds of websites of personal injury lawyers all advertising for your business. These tips may help the search process the more fruitful for you.

If you're searching the Internet choose words that are very selective for what you're looking and also in the area where the accident occurred. So if you are in a truck accident in Houston, Texas you might Google "Houston in truck accident lawyer" or "personal injury attorney in Houston".

Once you have narrowed down the selection to those specific lawyers who are serving the area where lawsuit may be filed the next step is to find the best lawyer you can.

Here are some guidelines or suggestions for selecting a lawyer:
• Choose a lawyer who has experience with the type of case you have.
• Choose a lawyer who has a track record of success and who is well thought of by his or her peers.
• Choose a lawyer who you get along with and who is willing to take the time to listen to your concerns.

Do not settle for second best on a serious injury case. An experienced and successful attorney can make quite a difference in a personal injury case.

I use this blog to relate accident information as a means of informing readers of the many ways in which one could find themselves involved in a vehicle collision right here on Houston roadways. Consider the following recent semi-truck accident reports.

*A couple found themselves trapped in their car when it drove underneath a semi-truck as it entered the highway from an on-ramp. The accident occurred in the wee hours in the morning and on freezing roads. The best advice is to avoid driving in poor weather - and remember that middle-of-the-night driving can be MORE dangerous than any other time.

*A semi-truck driver (literally) plowed into the back of a sedan causing serious injury to the driver of the vehicle. The semi-truck driver was ticketed for speeding which did little to improve the physical condition of the injured party who spent several weeks in the hospital and went home in a wheelchair.

The best advice is to drive defensively and check your rear-view mirrors occasionally for cars and trucks that may be getting to close to your vehicle. If it appears that someone is moving up on you from behind too fast - take measures to get out of the way.

*A pedestrian was struck by a semi-truck as he stepped into a crosswalk with the 'walk' arrow blinking. The semi-truck was making a right hand turn and failed to see the individual crossing the street. Thankfully the truck was traveling very slowly - but the pedestrian suffered broken bones and contusions. The semi-truck driver was cited but the pedestrian spent several months in recovery.

Continue reading "Recent Houston Truck Accidents" »

A driver of a car that struck a parked trailer in a lane of traffic died recently and the passenger in the vehicle was injured. According to reports, a trailer was parked on a dead-end roadway but in a lane of traffic when the car struck it.

A 25-year-old man from Bacliff, Texas was killed in the accident according to reports from the Galveston County Medical Examiner's Office. Not much is known about the injury sustained by the passenger or whether or not the trailer was properly parked with required cones.

Reports indicate that part of the trailer intruded into the windshield of the car, which was the mechanism of the fatal blow to the driver, and also what injured the passenger.

Commercial truck drivers have very specific rules under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations regarding parking of tractor-trailers. Many times a serious or fatal accident can be attributed to an illegally parked semi truck.

When a commercial vehicle is illegally parked it does not provide sufficient warning to motorists coming upon it, which leads to many truck accidents.

Continue reading "Parked Trailer Leads to Wrongful Death" »

Recent semi-truck accidents reinforce the belief that there is a need to address the problem nation-wide to avoid continued carnage on our roadways.

A semi-truck driver failed to recognize slowed traffic in time to avoid plowing into a minivan. As a result three children were killed - all preschoolers and brothers and sisters. The accident occurred as the mother watched helplessly from the front seat.

A Good Samaritan who had stopped to help another driver was struck and killed by a semi as he stood on the side of the road.

A rig driver lost control of his vehicle causing it to cross the median and strike two other cars head on. All of the passengers and drivers of the cars were killed instantly. The semi-truck driver survived.

A semi-truck driver failed to stop in time to avoid literally driving over several smaller cars stopped for construction. It was the greatest loss of life in any semi-truck accident ever recorded in the United States.

It is expected that there will be an increase of 20 - 40% in the number of semi-trucks that will traverse this country over the next decade. No one has even begun to broach the subject of how this will 'play-out' in terms of an increase in injuries and deaths due to the additional rigs on our roads - but if I could proffer an educated guess - it can't be good.

Some people are calling for the development of roadways dedicated exclusively for semi-truck use. While this is certainly an expensive proposition on the surface - with the medical and insurance costs that are bound to occur because of semi-truck accidents as well as the sheer loss of life - one has to wonder if this idea shouldn't be explored further - and quickly.

Continue reading "Highways Just for Trucks?" »

Accidents are as common as a cold in Houston. Consider the following accident reports from Houston roadways that were filed over a single 12 hour period.

At seven minutes before 1 a.m. our first accident was reported southbound on Calder. Two lanes were affected. At nearly the same time on the South Loop and the 45 Gulf. All were injury free and quickly cleared.

By 2 a.m. another accident was reported on North 45 - and quickly cleared. Two twenty and another wreck happened on the South Loop. All was quiet until shortly before 4 a.m. when three accidents occurred in quick succession around the city - one on the North Loop, one on the Sam Houston and the third on 45. Again - no injuries reported.

Finally, another accident happened at 4:30 a.m. and then all was quiet til about 8 when a wreck was reported on the 290.

O.K. - so then everyone straightened up and drove right until nearly 11 a.m. when an accident occurred on 59 and then another on Sam Houston at 12:15 p.m. One more right before 1 p.m. on the 225 rounds out the accident roster to an even dozen - and thankfully not a serious injury among them.

Statistics show that there are over a million accidents every year in the U.S. With the types of numbers we put up in half a day it's easy to believe those figures.

Continue reading "12 Car Accidents in 12 Hours in Houston" »