Truck Accident Lawyer Blog : Houston Truck Accident Lawyer & Attorney : Arnold & Itkin Law Firm : 18-wheeler injuries, semi accidents : Texas, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso

Days after a deadly 18-wheeler accident; in which a commercial truck failed to stop at a Los Angeles-area intersection, ultimately killing two people; California's Department of Transportation (Caltrans), announces a temporary ban on tractor trailers using the highway.

On April 1st, the driver of an 18-wheeler, Marcos Costa, lost control of his truck as he came down the Angeles Crest Highway near the busy, La Canada Flintridge intersection. His brakes failed and the truck plowed into several vehicles in his path; the 18-wheeler ended up in a nearby bookstore. By the time the truck came to a stop, a 12-year-old girl and her father were dead. Since then, Costa has been arrested and questioned; he, apparently, missed a posted sign, warning against the entry of large trucks.

The deadly accident shocked not only local residents, but also city authorities. La Canada Mayor, Laura Olhasso, accused Caltrans of ignoring requests for a runaway trucks escape lane. This is not the first time an accident like this has taken place in this area. Last year, a tractor trailer went out of control near a parking lot, damaging and overturning several parked vehicles, and injuring at least one person. The intersection at La Canada Flintridge has always been very busy, but has never been this dangerous. There used to be a truck escape lane near the intersection, but Caltrans decided to close the lane as they thought the area was safe. Since then, city officials have made several requests to Caltrans to get a new truck escape lane built. However, Caltrans and city authorities failed to reach an agreement regarding the location of the escape lane and the plans were put on hold. On Friday, the agency announced a temporary ban of commercial trucks on the Angeles Crest Highway. Responding to criticism over its failure to enhance safety on the highway, Caltrans announced that it will examine ways to make the road safer. Hopefully, Caltrans will build a new truck escape lane and the ban on large trucks in the area will become permanent.

Truck Accident Lawyers

A runaway truck escape lane could have allowed Costa to steer his vehicle away from the busy traffic, thereby avoiding this tragedy. Accidents involving 18-wheelers can be linked to the failure of city and state officials to make highways safe for large trucks to share. An 18-wheeler accident lawyer can help determine liability after an accident so victims can get the compensation they deserve.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, contact an 18-wheeler accident attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free evaluation of your options for compensation.

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In 2007, an 18-wheeler speeding on a California highway crashed inside a tunnel, triggering a series of accidents that, ultimately, left 3 people dead and several injured. Now, a report by the California Highway Patrol points to a big rig's excessive speed as the main factor in the crash.

The multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 5 began when an 18-wheeler was traveling through a tunnel. As the driver traveled at more than 65 mph, the truck jackknifed, crashing into a wall. Vehicles behind the truck were able to slow down and avoid hitting the 18-wheeler. Further down the tunnel, however, other big rigs, pickup trucks, and cars were not as lucky. Several vehicles crashed into one another and fuel from large trucks set off a raging fire. Motorists were forced to abandon their cars and run for safety. The tunnel instantly became an inferno, killing 3 people. One was a 6-year-old boy who managed to survive the crash, but burned to death. In all, the accident included 33 trucks, 26 of which were consumed by flames.

The California Highway Patrol provided a number of factors that contributed to that tragic October night:

• It had been raining and the roads were slick,
• the 18-wheeler had a malfunctioning brake,
• and, the most important factor in the crash, the driver, Jose Reyes, was speeding.

The trucking company, Saia Inc., which owned the 18-wheeler disagrees with the findings of the report. According to a statement released by the company, there were other factors contributing to the crash that were to blame. For instance, the statement says:

• Several of the motorists involved in the crash were speeding or violating traffic rules.
• The tunnel was design and maintained poorly.

The company, it is clear, shares liability for Reyes' speeding behavior, his reckless driving, and the malfunctioning brake that prevented the 18-wheeler from maintaining grip on the road. However, it is also a fact that Interstate 5 has been mentioned on a list of the most dangerous roads in the country. At least 10 years before the 2007 accident, there were warnings that the stretch of freeway needed urgent safety improvements. Although authorities did take minor steps to improve road traction, requests to have the road closed during poor weather were ignored.

Truck Accident Lawsuits

Very often, truck accidents can be traced to a whole range of factors, all of which may have contributed to an accident. A truck accident lawyer filing claims in such cases will undertake extensive investigations to isolate specific factors that can be mentioned in the lawsuit, ensuring that the victim gets fair compensation from all negligent parties.

If you have been injured in an accident with an 18-wheeler, contact an 18-wheeler accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free evaluation of your case.

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The driver of an 18-wheeler has been sentenced to 364 days in jail for killing 3 children when his big rig crashed into a mini-van on a California freeway in 2007.

The driver, Jorge Miguel Romero was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter in August 2008 after the horrific big rig crash that killed Kyle, Emma and Katie Coble. The accident took place on the I-5 freeway as the children rode in the back seat of the vehicle. Traffic had slowed down and the mini-van stopped in line waiting for the line vehicles to move ahead. Romero, who was approaching the stalled traffic, was unable to stop in time and his big rig crashed into the Coble's mini-van. The 3 siblings, all under the age of 5 were killed; their mother and grandmother, the front seat passengers, sustained minor injuries. 

In the days and weeks after the 18-wheeler accident, the local Ladera Ranch community and the Cobles have pushed for changes in the trucking industry. Investigations of the accident revealed inaccuracies and inconsistencies in fleet inspection records maintained at the trucking company that employed Romero. During the trial, his defense lawyers claimed his accident was the result of Romero not being able to stop in time to avoid the mini-van. The judge was willing to buy that explanation, especially because Romero had been working more than the stipulated number of hours in the days before the accident. Romero admitted that he had fabricated his company log books in order to work more than the hour allowance. However, the judge also believed that particular stretch of freeway was one Romero used often, and that he should have been aware of any problem spots ahead.  Caltrans, the California Department of Transportation, was also faulted by Romero’s lawyer for ignoring calls for an additional lane at the Oso parkway off-ramp. An extra lane could have helped unclog the freeway and prevented this accident.  The Cobles, have filed a lawsuit against the trucking company and Caltrans.

It definitely appears that there was negligence by more than one party here - the driver who was negligent by driving at an unsafe speed, considering he was driving at a known problem spot, the trucking company that turned a blind eye to manipulation of the log books, and Caltrans for failing to construct an additional lane, thereby contributing to an unsafe road design. Very often, truck accidents are the result of a number of factors, all coming together to contribute to a devastating accident. In such cases, each party can be held accountable for negligence that contributed to the accident.

Pursuing Truck Accident Claims

The truck accident lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP have expertise in litigating damages claims related to 18-wheeler accidents, and have the resources necessary to pursue claims against truck drivers, state and local agencies, trucking companies and other parties that may have been responsible for the accident.

If you have sustained injuries in a big rig accident, contact an 18-wheeler accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP to discuss possible compensation.

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11 people narrowly escaped what could have been a disastrous 18-wheeler accident in California when the driver of a big rig lost control of his vehicle and crashed into several other vehicles north of Los Angeles on December 31^st. All 11 people sustained injuries in the accident, some of them very serious injuries.

The accident occurred at about 1 in the afternoon, and according to reports, the weather conditions at the time were foggy. The driver of the 18-wheeler lost control of the truck, crashing into at least 11 vehicles on Interstate 5 north of Los Angeles. The big rig finally came to a stop at a center divider. At least four people injured suffered from serious injuries and were airlifted to nearby hospitals. Reports say that the driver told police that the brakes failed on a downhill stretch of road. Police are investigating the cause of the accident and will focus, primarily, on the condition of the brakes at the time of the crash. There is also speculation that the foggy conditions at the time of the accident could have affected the driver's visibility.

Causes of Big Rig Accidents

If the brakes are found to have failed, it wouldn't be the first time poor truck maintenance has contributed to a crash involving one of these massive machines. Due to the sheer volume of loads they carry, and their massive size, 18-wheeler trucks are more prone to wear and tear than your ordinary passenger car. That is why federal trucking regulations call for regular inspections of semis and require trucking companies to conduct regular maintenance to make sure that all components of the 18-wheeler are in good working condition. With a tractor trailer combination there are various malfunctions that can occur – brakes, lights, reflectors, tires, and the steering wheel – could have serious, possibly fatal repercussions for motorists on the road. Investigations in the Los Angeles accident will also reveal if the driver exercised proper care while driving in adverse, foggy weather conditions.

Whether an accident is caused by malfunctioning parts, driver negligence or driver fatigue, any person who is injured in a collision with one of these massive vehicles may be eligible for compensation for their injuries. The 18 wheeler accident attorneys at Arnold & Itkin LLP specialize in representing persons who have been injured in big rig accidents. 

If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in an accident involving an 18 wheeler, contact an 18 wheeler accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free consultation. 

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