The federal government has designed their motor carrier safety website to better serve the public. The site now features content which is based upon who you are whether you are a consumer, motor carrier or professional truck driver. Additionally, the content is now organized based upon subject matter and is much more user-friendly. Consumers can […]
A professional truck driver is alleged to have been intoxicated at the time of a fatal accident Sunday in Houston. The car wreck occurred at about 10:30 Sunday evening at Cook Road near Beechnut. According to reports, the truck driver ran a red light which resulted in the big rig being struck by a Chevy […]
In an era of “tort reform” and efforts at reducing safety regulations, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration recently published a report detailing the actual costs of traffic accidents to Motor Carriers and other employers. Not surprisingly, the report suggests that employers who advocate safety policies end up saving money in the long run. Whether […]
Rear End Truck Wrecks A large percentage of semi-truck accidents occur because the truck driver fails to maintain a safe following distance, given the conditions on the roadway. It is no secret that 18-wheelers take much longer to stop than passenger car pickup trucks. For that reason, semi-trucks or tractor-trailers should follow a safe distance […]
On-the-job fatigue will be a factor in many accidents, but it is a more critical factor when fatigue relates to 80,000 pound moving vehicles. There is little question that driving a big rig 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 involving semi truck accidents in the United States – they 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 […]
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 was involved in an accident that resulted in the death of at least one person with others injured in Baytown, Texas. The Baytown Police Department is currently investigating the crash, which occurred about noon on the 8500 block of North Texas 146, according to reports by the Houston Chronicle. The accident was […]
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 […]
Professional truck drivers while driving a big rig are statutorily precluded from using a mobile telephone while driving a commercial motor vehicle under certain conditions. The mobile telephone rule went into effect January 3, 2012. Despite its implementation in an effort to protect communities, truck drivers continue to violate the rules that apply to mobile […]
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 of commercial truck drivers is a great step forward for highway safety. Under the new rule, a clearinghouse would be established that includes all commercial drivers 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 sign one up. Most of these attorneys have a practice that centers around other areas such as maritime, mass torts, or general personal injury instead of motor carrier and […]
You’ve been in a truck accident, an insurance adjuster is calling and you don’t know what to do. This is a very common occurrence, one that we hear frequently at the Baumgartner Law Firm. Generally, we recommend that you do not speak with an adverse insurance adjuster until you have consulted with an experienced personal […]
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 […]
