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 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 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 […]
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. Big and Heavy A tractor can weigh up to 20,000 pounds without the trailer or a […]
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’, including Motor […]
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, increasing the risk of accidents with parked trucks. Unfortunately, truck drivers often do not comply with the […]
Recently, a Texas lawmaker introduced a bill that would allow overweight trucks to pay an $80 fee and enter the United States overweight without a fine. The purpose of the bill is to allow truckers from Mexico to avoid having to lighten their load before crossing into United States. Mexico allows heavier trucks on its […]
All of us have been on the highway and seen an “oversized load” either too high or too wide. Unfortunately, many times the big rig carrying the load causes damage to the highway, other vehicles or the infrastructure. A recent example of this occurred in Montgomery County, Texas yesterday when an 18 wheeler was carrying […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations in section 392.14 deal with driving in hazardous conditions. The regulations state: “extreme caution in the operation of a commercial motor vehicle shall be exercised when hazardous conditions, such as those caused by snow, ice, sleet, fog, mist, rain, dust, or smoke, adversely affect visibility or traction.” The regulations […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations provide instructions on stopping big rigs and how truck drivers can properly stop their vehicles, whether on the highway or on the shoulder of the road. The relevant section is 392.22 entitled Emergency Signals, the regulations provide: “Whenever a commercial motor vehicle is stopped on the traveled portion of […]
