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 […]
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 of a series of ongoing tanker truck accidents in Houston where the hazardous materials crews 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 the case. Some evidence by its very nature has a very limited life and will vanish after time. Skid marks on […]
The federal government does not regulate oversize permits but relies upon each individual state to issue such permits for travel within their borders. Texas has a very liberal and accommodating DOT, which often allows up to 200,000 pounds for an oversize permit. TEXAS REGULATES OVERSIDE TRUCK LOADS Normal loads not requiring a special permit would […]
Because truck drivers and their employers- motor carriers- must meet specific safety rules that do not apply to other drivers, this evidence differs greatly from a normal car accident. Some evidence regarding whether or not the motor carrier or the truck driver has complied with the minimum safety rules include such things as Driver’s Daily […]
Yet again we have a tractor-trailer rolling over and shutting down traffic on a major Houston highway. The latest truck wreck occurred yesterday morning on the Northwest Freeway close to Beltway 8. The big truck rolled over and what it did crashed into a concrete barrier dividing the highway from the HOV lanes. The impact […]
There’s an old saying, “there is no substitute for experience,” and that is certainly true in truck accident litigation. The reasons for the plaintiff’s and defense attorneys who practice truck accident litigation daily are crystal clear. Attorneys who defend truck accident cases know the attorneys who prosecute them and the expert witnesses who will be […]
Recently, in the news was a story about a trucker who was intoxicated while driving a big rig and who endangered the community by getting behind the wheel of a big truck drunk. While the incidence of intoxicated truck drivers or truck drivers under the influence of drugs is not a very high percentage compared […]
Every trucking company and professional truck driver must be intimately familiar with Part 396 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations. Those regulations provide specific duties and obligations on the part of companies and drivers to make sure that the trucks and trailers are in safe operating condition when on the roadway. Section 396.3 provides […]
Houston highways were backed up for miles when a semi truck rolled over near the exit ramp of Interstate 59 and southbound West Loop. The truck crash occurred about 6 o’clock in the morning and delayed commuters for hours. Drivers headed northbound were rerouted to an alternative route given the backed up dropping and the […]
A tanker truck accident in La Porte closed a highway at the La Porte Freeway and Texas 146. Apparently, the semi truck went over an overpass and crashed spilling propane fuel and resulting in a huge fire. Cleanup crews worked to open the roadway and part of the process included burning off the excess fuel. […]
With the summer upon us, holiday travel is at its peak. Many families and individuals use tour bus trips to visit relatives and travel to vacation sites. While generally speaking, tour bus accidents are rare, they do occur and when they do the results can be shocking. There are many examples of recent tour bus […]
Interstate 10 was closed for almost 24 hours after a recent truck wreck. It took workers almost a full day to repair the damage that was done by a big rig hauling steel when it rolled over near downtown. The accident caused major damage to the interstate roadway and shut the highway down for a […]
When you are loved one has been injured by another driver’s carelessness or neglect, and that another driver was driving a company truck, you probably have options that often are not available in a typical car wreck. Company trucks such as FedEx or UPS travel are highways and streets every day delivering products and goods. […]
There is no question that a big rig or a tractor – trailer takes much longer to stop than a passenger car or pickup truck. In fact, at highway speeds an 18-wheeler takes approximately 1/3 longer to come to a complete stop than a typical car. Variables such as the load and make up of […]
A commercial tractor-trailer is often called a “semi truck” or simply “semi” the origin of the term came from the recognition that the trailer had no front wheels and was unable to move itself. Hence, the semi trailer tag stuck and from that came the term “semi truck”. A typical trailer is about 53 feet […]
Some of the most important information about a truck wreck can come from the black box or event data recorder on most of the newer model 18 – Wheelers. Getting to the critical information before it is destroyed can be an important step by your legal representatives. Event data recorders typically show the speed of […]
The truth of the matter is that big rigs or semi trucks are so much larger and heavier than the other traffic on our Texas highways that an accident with a big rig is usually a very bad accident. A tractor can weigh up to 20,000 pounds without the trailer or a load. A tractor […]
At those times when you may become frustrated with what you believe to be the cumbersome and lumbering manner in which government business is conducted – As a truck accident lawyer, I invite you to visit the U.S. Department of Transportation’s website. It is a veritable wealth of up-to-date information on all things ‘transportation-related’ – […]
With the vast number of commercial vehicles like 18-wheelers, big rigs, semi trucks, or tractor-trailers, many long-haul truckers need to pull off the road either to check their load, check out problems or park to sleep and rest. Unfortunately, truck drivers often do not comply with the rules that apply to parking a truck. Many […]
