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 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 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 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. Mandatory Safety Rule Some evidence regarding whether or not the motor carrier or the truck driver has complied with the minimum safety rules includes such things […]
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 are familiar with the attorneys who prosecute them and the expert witnesses who […]
Recently, in the news was a story about drunk truck drivers and a particular 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 […]
Section 396 Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair of Large Trucks 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 […]
Houston highways were backed up for miles when a semi truck rolled over near the exit ramp of Interstate 59 and the 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 traffic 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 tour bus accidents are generally rare, they do occur, and when they do, the results can be shocking. In such cases, Tour Bus Accident Litigation becomes a […]
Interstate 10 was closed for almost 24 hours after a recent truck wreck. It took workers almost a full day to repair the damage caused by a large rig hauling steel that rolled over near downtown. The accident caused major damage to the interstate roadway and shut the highway down for a full day. All […]
When you are loved one has been injured by another driver’s carelessness or neglect, and that other driver was driving a company truck, you probably have options that often are not available in a typical car wreck. Company Trucks May Be Subject to Federal Safety Regulations Company trucks, such as FedEx or UPS, travel on […]
Big Rigs Take Longer to Stop 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 […]
Intriguingly, there are many interesting facts about big rigs. 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 could not move on its own. Hence, the semi-trailer tag stuck, and from that came the term […]
Some of the most important information about a truck wreck can come from the black box or event data recorder on 18-wheelers. Reaching the critical information before it is destroyed can be a crucial step for your legal representatives. Event data recorders typically display the vehicle’s speed in the crucial seconds leading up to a truck accident, as […]
