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

Truck accident lawyers frequently come across accident cases where negligent 18-wheeler drivers fail to drive with road and weather conditions in mind. Such negligent driving behavior resulted in a series of 18-wheeler accidents on Interstate 40 near Brinkley, Arkansas and left three people dead.

In the first accident, a 52-year-old man was killed when he crashed into the back of an 18-wheeler in a construction zone.  Just as the road was being cleared another 18-wheeler rear ended a pickup truck; this accident involved a third 18-wheeler. The impact caused an explosion in which both trucks were engulfed in flames. Two people, who have yet to be identified, were confirmed dead in that accident. Interstate 40 was a mess for hours as cleanup crews worked to clear the roadway.

18-wheeler Safety

Motorists are expected to slow down and drive steadily in construction zones. Speeding in such situations can be lethal driving behavior for an 18-wheeler driver. Drivers must keep the conditions of the road in mind when negotiating massive vehicles that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds.

For instance, driving in a construction zone requires slower speeds than normal. This is because an 18-wheeler takes much longer to come to a complete stop after the brakes are applied than passenger vehicles. Also, construction work on the highway provides vehicles with a smaller and more confined space to drive. It is important for drivers to operate their vehicles carefully when in such confined spaces.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an 18-wheeler accident a truck accident attorney can help you recover the compensation you deserve. For a free evaluation of your case, contact a truck accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP. 

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Driving teachers at a school in Mississippi are catching them young – they were teaching high school students to drive safely around 18-wheelers in order to prevent serious accidents.

Students at Petal High School in Petal, Mississippi received driving education with a twist on the 1st of April. They learned how to drive vigilantly and safely around 18-wheelers in order to reduce the possibility of potentially serious accidents. The program included the participation of experienced 18-wheeler drivers who regularly travel around the community to teach motorists how to drive safely around the massive vehicles.

Driving classes for teens do not normally include tips on how to be safe when sharing the road with big rigs that can reach 53 feet in length and up to 80,000 pounds in weight. Teaching these teens that an 18-wheeler driver may face driving challenges that can impact other vehicles on the road is extremely important. For instance, apart from truck accident lawyers and law enforcement officers, very few adults, let alone teens, know that 18-wheelers have large blind spots that prevent the driver from seeing some vehicles. To drive home that message, three 18-wheelers were set up in the parking lot of the school. Two of the trucks were parked in the blind spot of the other truck. The teens were encouraged to sit in the cab of the third truck and see for themselves how the trucks in the blind spot "disappeared". The students were surprised at how truckers can actually miss seeing even large 18-wheelers in their blind spot. This teaches them to be more careful around tractor trailers.

Truck Accident Safety

It makes more sense to teach teens the right ways of driving around large trucks from the start.  Teen drivers are still learning the rules of the road as they drive; teaching them how to be safe around an 18-wheeler can help them avoid making foolish mistakes, like driving too close behind an 18-wheeler, racing with a large truck, and so on. It can also help them to identify signals an 18-wheeler driver makes to signify he is making a turn or changing lanes, thereby helping avoid accidents.

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

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The driver of an SUV narrowly escaped injuries in an 18-wheeler accident when a container on the back of a truck struck an overpass, came loose, and fell on the SUV.

The driver of the SUV escaped injuries only because the container landed on the passenger side of the SUV; the right side of the vehicle was completely destroyed. The container, a portable galley, was apparently being transported from Louisiana to Brownsville. General Marine Leasing, the company that owns the container, said this is the second time an incident like this has happened with their containers as they were being transported across the country by the trucking company, Dynasty Trucking. The general procedure before trucks begin their cross country journeys includes:

• reporting the height of the cargo to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
• transportation officials then provide the company with a route that will allow the 18-wheeler to move safely along the highway without damaging the container or endangering other drivers

There is no information yet on whether Dynasty Trucking followed standard procedures in this case, although officials believe the driver was likely off route.  

Meanwhile, the woman who miraculously escaped injuries, Zoma Ramirez, is undergoing a CT scan to rule out the presence of internal injuries after the accident. The fact that Dynasty Trucking had a similar accident before does not speak well of the company's operating procedures. A complete investigation will reveal more about procedure violations at the company that could have contributed to the 18 wheeler-accident.

Truck Accident Claims

A trucking company can be held liable for injuries sustained in a truck accident. An experienced truck accident lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation of the company's record to look for any similar prior violations and to identify whether or not the driver has a poor driving history.

If you have been injured in an 18-wheeler accident and have questions about the trucking company's liability, contact an 18-wheeler accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free consultation.

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Truck accident lawyers are very familiar with reckless 18-wheeler drivers who cause serious accidents and injuries as a result of careless driving, but according to the FBI, reckless driving may not be the only way truck drivers are claiming victims.

The FBI calls it an emerging trend: highway serial killers who double as truck drivers. The agency has been aware of the connection between long haul truck drivers and crimes, like murder and rape committed near highways, for years now. FBI agents stumbled on the connection about five years ago during a case involving a series of murders on highways in several states. Those murders were ultimately traced to an 18-wheeler driver. Soon after, the agency established the "Highway Serial Killing Initiative’’ to monitor suspected truck drivers. The FBI currently has a database of dozens of truckers who have been either charged with or suspected of murder or rape. More than 500 victims, mostly female prostitutes, have been murdered near highways.

There is no information on whether truck driving is a preferred occupation of known serial killers, but the nature of the job and the kind of cover it offers could make trucking the perfect front for a killer. Investigators say there are several reasons a serial killer would choose trucking as his occupation:

• Truckers are highly mobile and a serial killer could benefit from the anonymity that mobility offers
• They work without any supervision while on the road
• They constantly come in contact with potential victims, usually women with a high-risk background

The agency has collected enough evidence linking truckers to serial killings to make this frightening announcement. Bodies of victims have been found dumped by the roadside, along highways, and behind truck stops. The Highway Serial Killing Initiative has come in especially useful for cases involving murders outside local jurisdiction. Several murders, thought to have been committed by truckers, involved bodies being dumped in a location other than where the murder took place.

Truck Driver Screening

You have to wonder how it is so easy for a serial killer to gain employment in a trucking company. None of this, however, is to say that all truckers are suspect, but if there was any incentive for trucking companies to begin screening their drivers more stringently, this would be it. Trucking companies could help save innocent victims by screening potential employees and monitoring current employees more closely.

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

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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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A Texas couple who escaped a potentially fatal collision with an 18-wheeler last month is calling for tougher restrictions on big rigs driving through North Texas.

The couple, Cindy and Christian Benitez, were traveling in their Toyota Corolla on Interstate 35 in Dallas when their vehicle ended up under a rock-hauling 18-wheeler. The car was almost completely crushed under the tractor trailer. Cindy managed to escape without injuries, but Christian was trapped in the wrecked car for nearly 90 minutes. Emergency teams worked hard to extricate the man who was jammed under the big rig's wheel. Christian made a miraculous escape from the wreckage, but was left with severe injuries. He was treated in the hospital and has since been discharged. He faces extensive rehabilitation therapy and is presently unable to walk. Recovery has been extremely painful for Christian, his wife says. The couple has since filed a truck accident lawsuit against the 18-wheeler driver, who escaped without injuries, as well as the trucking company that operated the 18-wheeler.

The couple is now calling for lawmakers to enforce stricter restrictions on 18-wheeler driving regulations. According to them, the accident occurred when the truck merged into their lane. The Benitez' are demanding that 18-wheelers be required to stay in the right hand lane when driving. Currently, San Antonio, Houston, and Hudson are the only cities in Texas that have such restrictions on 18-wheelers. Trucks in Dallas have no such restrictions. Changing lanes without warning can be disastrous for an 18-wheeler and drivers around them. Because of their elevated position,18-wheeler drivers may not be able to see smaller passenger cars in their blind spot. That's why a truck driver at the helm of one of these large machines is required to make other motorists aware of his intentions of turning, slowing down, or changing lanes.

Truck Accident Claims

Both poor judgment and reckless driving by a truck driver can be cited as examples of driver's negligence, and both the driver and his trucking company can be named by a truck accident lawyer in a lawsuit resulting from such gross negligence.

If you have been injured in an 18-wheeler accident, contact an 18-wheeler accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free consultation.

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Two different pairs of 18-wheelers were involved in a multi-vehicle accident on a snow covered highway in Utah last week, near the border of Beaver County and Iron County. At least 7 people were hospitalized with injuries and one infant was reportedly killed in the crash.

According to reports, the pile-up was initiated after an 18-wheeler and a car collided. Moments later, another 18-wheeler headed in the same direction crashed into the rear of the first big rig. The accident led to a traffic block and several other accidents were reported. Soon after the initial pile-up, two other 18-wheelers jackknifed behind the vehicles that were already clogging Interstate 15. Utah Highway Patrol has confirmed that one infant was killed in the accident and 7 people were hospitalized with minor injuries.

A major disaster was averted by rescue crews after one of the 18-wheelers involved in the accident began leaking fuel. That truck contained 1,000 gallons of fuel, all of which had to be emptied from the truck before the highway could be reopened. According to Utah Highway Patrol officers, the roads were slick and slippery due to a snow storm earlier that day. Officers are pointing to this as the most likely cause for the accident.

18-wheeler drivers are required to drive, not only according to posted speed limits, but also taking into account the weather and traffic conditions on the road. Snow storms and heavy rains have lashed several parts of the country in recent weeks. These have left wet, slick roads in their wake and have made driving conditions more dangerous for motorists and for. For 18-wheelers, driving slowly and cautiously on slippery road surfaces is extremely important. These large vehicles are prone to jackknifing and, when they lose control on a slippery road, they create dangerous conditions for vehicles around them. During bad weather conditions normal speed limits for 18-wheelers should be ignored and drivers should slow down to ensure they retain control over their vehicles.

18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer

Filing claims for damages in a Utah truck accident or any 18-wheeler accident requires the expertise of a truck accident lawyer who can determine the amount of your claim and get you the resources you need.

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

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In Austin, Texas a truck driver accused of fleeing an accident after a motorcycle smashed into the back of his tractor-trailer faces an evidence-tampering charge after a chunk of the dead cyclists’ leg was found lodged near the bumper.

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