By Greg Baumgartner Texas law requires an 18-wheeler driver to leave enough room to stop safely for the speed, traffic, and road conditions. There is no single number of feet or seconds that works in every situation. If a semi-truck hits you from behind, one of the first questions I ask is how much room […]
On-the-job fatigue will be a factor in many accidents, but it becomes a more critical issue when it relates to 80,000-pound moving vehicles. There is little question that driving a big rig for hours and miles on end can be fatiguing to the truck driver. Every driver who has driven on trips can relate to […]
Sunday evening, a man from Magnolia was involved in an accident that resulted in the death of a local woman. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, the incident occurred at about 1 AM Sunday morning on state 105. The impact of the two vehicles was so severe it knocked over a Mitsubishi SUV, which […]
Recent article outlined the economic costs that the Houston community faces when the needed transportation infrastructure is not addressed in a timely manner. The conclusion, is that they are to address our highway system needs costs Houston-area jobs. Houston is a hub for transportation of goods across the United States whether by ship, semi-truck or […]
There has been an increasing trend of semi-truck accidents in the United States that catch fire. Unfortunately, big rigs that catch fire do not generate the same level of scrutiny that an investigation of a car fire would involve. Recently, the NTSB initiated an investigation regarding a FedEx tractor-trailer fire that involved striking a school […]
The Department of Transportation is set to require the use of speed limiters, which they call Electric Control Modules (ECM), on some 18-wheelers. In a March 2014 report regarding significant rulemaking, a new speed module rule may become applicable in October.
Everyone has driven down a Texas highway and has been forced to avoid a semi truck hauling an “oversize load”. The reality is that oversize loads are dangerous to the truck driver and also to the general public. Texas has certain limitations in size and weight that, when exceeded, will require an oversized load permit. […]
A recent report published in the Houston Chronicle online publication, Chron.com contains an account of an 18-wheeler accident that happened Wednesday night on FM 528. The report suggests that Joseph Robinson, who was killed in this tragic crash, was speeding in the westbound lane of FM 529. That analysis apparently came from the Harris County […]
Highways are jammed in every major city across the United States because of a truck accident involving a jackknifed big rig. The tractor-trailer will frequently roll over and spill diesel fuel on the highway. There is a point of no return when a trailer travels at a speed greater than the tractor. It is this […]
A FedEx truck driver was involved in an accident that resulted in the death of at least one person and injured others in Baytown, Texas. According to the Houston Chronicle, the Baytown Police Department and investigators are investigating the crash to determine the cause, which occurred about noon on the 8500 block of North Texas […]
Recent developments in expert witness selection for a trucking accident lawsuit have served to clarify what is required of an attorney handling a case for personal injury victim. Texas courts have largely followed federal courts in analyzing when an expert may testify and when an expert should be excluded. There are four individual factors that […]
Federal law bans hand-held phone use by commercial truck drivers—yet violations happen every day on Texas highways. If a distracted trucker injured you, those violations create powerful evidence in your case. Updated April, 2026 1. Federal Rules: What the FMCSA Says About Truckers and Cell Phones Under 49 CFR 392.82, the Federal Motor Carrier […]
Another Houston big truck accident occurred this morning during rush hour traffic on Interstate 10 and Gregg Street. The crash snarled traffic for hours this morning. The two main traveled lanes and the shoulder lane of Interstate 10 were blocked, and the intersection of Gregg Street at the underpass was also shut down. Photographs of […]
The recent announcement that the DOT is proposing new requirements for drug and alcohol testing to be disclosed for commercial truck drivers is a great step forward for highway safety. Under the new rule, a clearinghouse would be established that includes all commercial driver’s license holders, making it much easier for motor carriers to learn […]
Many Houstonians had to be evacuated after a semi truck carrying chemicals rolled over and spilled toxic alkaline near Houston home sites. The tanker truck crash occurred at the intersection of Des Chaumes and Roland Street, close to US 59. Hazmat crews were dispatched to deal with the chemical spill and as part of the […]
1. How many truck accident cases do you currently have? There are many personal injury attorneys who handle truck accident cases when they are able to take on a client. Most of these attorneys have a practice that centers around other areas such as maritime, mass torts, or general personal injury. How many truck accident […]
You’ve been in a truck accident, an insurance adjuster is calling, and you don’t know what to do. Knowing the first steps after a truck wreck can make a significant difference in how you handle the situation. This is a very common occurrence, one that we hear frequently at the Baumgartner Law Firm. Consult an […]
Big rigs are extremely susceptible to what is called a “jackknife,” where the tractor and attached trailer travel together but in separate directions at the same time. The main cause of this type of truck accident is the brake application on the part of the professional truck driver that causes the trailer to travel at […]
When a tanker truck collided with a pickup, the semi-truck carrying hazardous material rolled over and spilled hazardous chemicals on the highway. This is another in a series of ongoing tanker truck accidents in Houston, where hazardous materials crews have had to spend precious time and resources cleaning up the mess. An estimate of thousands […]
One very important issue in a number of personal injury cases is whether or not the evidence has been preserved. One would guess that the answer would always be yes; however, that is not always the case. Some evidence, by its very nature, has a very limited life and will vanish over time. Scene Evidence […]
The federal government does not regulate oversize permits; instead, it relies on each individual state to issue permits for travel within its borders. In Texas, for instance, permits are crucial for managing oversized truck loads that exceed standard legal limits. Each state has the authority to issue permits for oversize and overweight loads, and these […]
