Houston Astros Draft Pick Killed in Big Rig Accident

For Houston truck accident attorneys, any accident that ends in a fatality is tragic. But when the accident involves a high profile person is involved, the entire city is affected.

Early on Tuesday morning, Dustin Kellogg, a new Houston Astros draft pick was killed in a tragic collision with a big rig in Southwest Montgomery County, sending the Astros, and the city of Houston into shock and mourning.

The fatal accident happened at about 1:15 a.m. According to authorities Kellogg was driving his pickup truck northbound on the FM1314 at the intersection of Old Houston Road, when he apparently crossed several lanes of traffic and crashed head on into an 18-wheeler truck.

Kellogg was selected as a pitching prospect in the 34^th round of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft in June of this year. He was only 18 years old and had graduated in May from Caney Creek High School before being selected for the draft.

Kellogg was understandably thrilled after he was selected by the Astros. He told the Houston Chronicle, "It’s like a dream come true. You never expect to go to your hometown team. When you’re in Little League, you always dream of playing for your hometown team. I’ve always wanted to play for the Astros." He was also confident about what he could bring to the Astros: "I can bring them a right-handed arm that can throw hard as hell," he told them with a confident smile.

In a formal statement, the Astros said, "We are deeply saddened by the news of Dustin’s passing. Although he had only been an Astros player for a short time, we share the pain of his family," "Our prayers go out to Dustin’s loved ones." The Houston Astros General Manager and Scouting Director Bobby Heck added to the sentiment, "This is a very sad day for all of us. Dustin was a Texas kid, and he made his intentions very clear at our pre-draft workout that he wanted to pitch for his hometown Houston Astros. He was a great kid with high energy and a lot of confidence, and performed well for us after signing. This is a huge loss for everyone that knew him."

The big rig that Kellogg crashed into was carrying diesel fuel, of which several hundred gallons along with some oil leaked onto the FM1314. The authorities were forced to close the road for several hours while HazMat crews cleaned up and cleared the scene. The FM1314 was reopened at about 6:30 a.m., but the Kellogg family, the Astros and the city of Houston will remain in mourning for a long time.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck or other motor vehicle accident, call Houston truck accident attorney Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is an experienced Houston injury attorney with over 26 years of experience serving the Houston and South Texas communities. Call today or fill out an online contact form, and a member of The Stephens Law Firm staff will contact you within 24 hours to schedule your free consultation. Get in touch with Joe Stephens today to get the help and advice that you need.

15 Injured by MetroRail Accident in Downtown Houston

Houston truck accident attorneys know that when large trucks are involved in accidents, the potential for damage is usually exponentially higher. During the prime rush hour commuting period, a dump truck wreaked havoc in downtown Houston Tuesday morning.

At about 9 a.m. a dump truck which was heading west on Capitol at Main ran a red light, and subsequently hit a MetroRail train. The train was knocked off its track and the dump truck was inches away from crashing into a downtown eatery, Ziggy’s Bar & Grill.

The driver of the dump truck told police that he was blinded by a reflection, and didn’t see the stoplight turn red. As a result of the collision 15 people, including the truck driver and the MetroRail driver were taken to the nearby Ben Taub Hospital. None of the injured parties had severe or life threatening injuries.

A MetroRail passenger said the incident has deterred him from taking the rail service in the future. He was leaning up against a glass window when the accident suddenly happened, and he was thrown across the train. "I guarantee this is the last time I take this rail. I’d rather walk. I think it’s safer, really," he said.

The accident disrupted traffic and rail services in the downtown area for hours. At lunchtime, crews were still at the scene trying to get the train back onto the tracks. A replacement bus service was set up to service MetroRail passengers while the rail lines are being fixed.

Houston truck accident attorneys were disappointed by the reaction of some of the MetroRail passengers, that they may decline to use the city train in the future. People often take public transportation because they feel it is safer than driving, and statistically it is. Just because one accident occurs does not mean that the citizens of Houston should lose faith in the city’s public transportation system.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck accident and needs assistance, call Houston truck accident lawyer Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is an experienced, nationally recognized Houston injury attorney with 26 years of experience serving the Houston and South Texas communities. Call today or fill out an online contact form and a member of The Stephens Law Firm staff will contact you within 24 hours to schedule a free consultation. Get in touch with Joe Stephens today to get the help and advice that you need.

Woman Speaks Out Against Driving With Sleep Apnea After Fatal Crash

Houston car and truck accident attorneys know that DWI accidents are a nationwide concern. But many accidents each year are also caused by people falling asleep behind the wheel. Whether people who fall asleep while driving are just tired or have a sleeping disorder—this can be equally dangerous, although less frequent, than driving while under the influence of alcohol.

A New Braunfels woman is speaking out against people who drive when they have a sleeping disorder such, and trying to raise awareness as to how dangerous it can be.

John and Wanda Linsdsay were driving in a construction zone in May of 2010, when they were hit from behind by a fast moving 18-wheler truck. The Lindsays had come to a stop, as the construction sign dictated, but the semi-truck behind them didn’t slow or stop, and slammed into them when it was traveling at 65 miles per hour.

The impact of the crash sent both of the Lindsays to the hospital. Wanda ultimately survived, but John never recovered and died a few days after being admitted to the hospital.

“On Sunday morning, on Mother’s Day, the doctor that had been taking care of him came in and told me there was no further brain activity and that there was no chance he could ever be the man we knew before and he needed our permission to disconnect the machines,” Wanda said in a statement.

Wanda then began wondering how such an accident could have happened—for a professional driver to be speeding through a clearly marked construction zone struck Wanda as odd. “For a truck, a 30-ton truck, to enter a construction zone travelling at 65 mph with their cruise control on, was he either insane? Or was he asleep? I don’t think he was insane,” Wanda mused.

Wanda said she still hasn’t recovered emotionally from the loss the accident caused, but in the process has been wondering why and how this tragedy could’ve happened. Wanda and her lawyer, Jim Cole, did some more investigating and discovered that the driver who slammed into their car, causing the death of her husband and best friend, had recently been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea.

“There is an epidemic among truck drivers of sleep apnea,” said Cole. And Wanda is now working to raise awareness of sleep apnea, and how dangerous driving with this disease can be.

“It just did not have to happen, should not have happened and if we can do one thing in his (John Lindsay) memory to make his death less senseless, then that’s what we’ll do,” said Wanda.

Houston truck accident attorneys agree with Wanda Lindsay. Part of what makes drunk driving accidents so tragic and senseless is that they are entirely preventable—there is no need for them to ever happen. The same is true with falling asleep behind the wheel—if you are too tired to drive, you should not, and if you have a severe sleeping disorder beyond your control, it is putting people at risk each time you get behind the wheel to drive.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a motor vehicle, truck accident or thinks that you have grounds for a wrongful death case, call Houston injury attorney Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is a nationally recognized Houston injury lawyer with over 26 years of experience serving the Houston and South Texas communities. Call today or fill out an online contact form and a member of The Stephens Law Firm will be in touch within 24 hours to schedule your free consultation. Get in touch with Joe Stephens today to get the advice and help that you need.

Big Rig Crash Shuts Down Highway 290

Houston truck accident attorneys know how dangerous it can be when a large scale crash occurs on a major roadway: frequently other vehicles are caught up in the incident, because they are unable to get out of the way in time. This is particularly a hazard when a big-rig truck is involved. Big rigs cover much more area and have the potential to do much more damage when they crash than do other types of smaller motor vehicles.

Early Thursday morning an 18-wheeler truck crashed on Highway 290 at the Gessner exit. According to the Houston Police department, at about 2:15 a.m. the driver of the big rig fell asleep at the wheel, and crashed into a guard rail. The truck ricocheted off the guard rail and hit a concrete barrier, after which it burst into flames. The truck driver managed to jump out of the vehicle before it burst into flames, and he suffered no injuries. Because of the early morning hour, no other vehicles were involved in the accident.

The truck was traveling inbound on Highway 290 at the time of the crash, and as a result, all of the main inbound lanes were closed while the accident was cleared. It took crews several hours to clear the accident, and the inbound lanes of Highway 290 remained closed until about 8 a.m. This made the morning commute a bit heavy but fortunately there were no subsequent accidents or injuries as a result of the closed lanes.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck accident, call Houston truck accident lawyer Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is a Houston injury attorney who specializes in Houston truck accidents and has been serving the community for over 26 years. Call today, or fill out an online contact form and a member of The Stephens Law Firm will contact you within 24 hours to schedule your free consultation. Get in touch with Joe Stephens today to get the advice and help that you need.

18-Wheeler Crash Closes Ramp in West Houston

Houston truck accident attorneys know how dangerous a big rig accident can be, as well as disruptive to the flow of traffic. Accidents involving 18-wheeler trucks are much less frequent than are other motor vehicle accidents, but when they do occur, the effects can be far reaching.

On Thursday afternoon an exit ramp from the West Loop to the Katy Freeway was forced to be closed as the result of a big rig accident. An 18-wheeler unexpectedly overturned, scattering its cargo and debris across the freeway. According to authorities the accident occurred at about noon, on the West Loop southbound exit ramp to the Katy Freeway.

The eastbound lanes of the Freeway as well as the exit ramp was closed for several hours while crews cleaned up the debris from the accident. The cause of the accident is unknown, and fortunately no injuries or subsequent accidents as a result of the overturned truck were reported.

Houston truck accident attorneys are always concerned when a big-rig accident is reported, because frequently other vehicles are drawn into the collision just because of the sheer size of an 18-wheeler. It takes a big rig almost 4 times as long to stop as it does a car moving at the same speed, and because of the length of an 18 wheeler and limited turning radius, the big trucks are much more difficult to maneuver and control. Fortunately, in this case, neither the driver of the overturned truck was injured, nor were any other vehicles drawn into the accident.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a big-rig accident, call Houston truck accident lawyer Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is a Houston injury attorney with over 26 years of experience serving the Houston and South Texas communities. Joe Stephens is an exceptional attorney as well as an understanding human being, and will personally handle every aspect of your case on both a professional and a personal level. You may also fill out an online contact form and a member of The Stephens Law Firm staff will contact you within 24 hours to schedule your free consultation. Get in touch with Joe Stephens today to get the advice and help that you need.

Highway 105 Closed After Big-Rig Accident

Houston truck accident attorneys know how dangerous big-rig accidents can be—especially when they occur on a busy highway. A truck carrying hydrochloric acid crashed on highway 105 at Walden Road in Montgomery, Texas this afternoon, causing long delays and traffic backups.

The accident halted traffic in both the East and Westbound lanes. The lanes remained closed for several hours while police and other authorities tended to the accident, and cleanup crews secured the area and made sure there were no leaks before allowing traffic to proceed.

Hydrochloric acid can be a very dangerous substance, and despite the crash, the truck did not leak any of the acid onto the highway. But because hydrochloric acid is so corrosive and can be very hazardous, full precautions had to be taken. The truck did not hit any cars during the course of the incident, and while the truck driver did suffer some injuries as a result of the accident, the extent of his injuries are unknown at this time. Police are still investigating the cause of the crash, but highway 105 was re-opened at about 3 p.m., and traffic was once again moving smoothly.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck or motor vehicle accident, call Houston truck accident lawyer Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is a Houston injury attorney with over 26 years of experience serving the Houston and South Texas communities.

Joe Stephens understands what a difficult and confusing time being involved in a motor vehicle accident and subsequent legal case can be, and will personally tend to all of your questions, of both a professional and personal nature. You may also fill out at an online contact form and a member of The Stephens Law Firm will contact you within 24 hours to schedule your free consultation. Call Joe Stephens today to get the help and advice that you need.

I-10 Closed Due to Big Rig Accident

Houston truck accident attorneys know what havoc an 18-wheeler accident car wreak on local and area traffic, so we wanted to inform the public of a big-rig accident that is currently affecting traffic in the Columbus area on the westbound Interstate 10.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, all of the westbound lanes of the I-10 are closed due to an accident involving an 18-wheeler truck. According to local authorities, the truck ran off the freeway and crashed into nearby railroad tracks early this morning. The driver was critically injured, and the cause for the accident is currently unknown.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident, and the incident is still under investigation by local authorities. The westbound lanes of the freeway have been closed since 5 a.m., shortly after the accident took place. Traffic is slow in the eastbound lanes due to gapers, and traffic behind the I-10 closure is backed up for at least a mile. The westbound lanes are likely to remain closed for several more hours while the accident is cleared away and investigated.

Accidents involving big rigs often affect and involve other motor vehicles on the road, due to the length and sheer size of the 18-wheeler trucks. Often large trucks like this cannot help but involve other vehicles once they lose control of such a large truck. Houston truck accident attorneys are relieved that no other cars were involved in this incident and that no other injuries other than the drivers own have been reported as a result of this incident. The early morning hour at which the accident occurred may be the blessing that saved other cars from getting caught up in the incident—because the roads were not yet busy with morning commuters.

If you or someone you know has been injured as the result of a truck accident, call Houston truck accident attorney Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is a Houston injury attorney who has been serving the Houston and South Texas communities for over 26 years. Call Joe Stephens today to get the help and advice you need, or fill out a contact form online and a member of The Stephens Law Firm staff will contact you within 24 hours to schedule your free consultation.

Overturned Semi Closes Highway 59

Houston truck accident attorneys have been surprised by the number of big-rig accidents this week. Accidents involving 18-wheelers do happen from time to time, but it seems that there has been a sudden influx of accidents this week in the Houston area.

The third big-rig accident this week in the Houston area occurred Wednesday afternoon, and shut down the Southwest Freeway for at least 6 hours, halting traffic and making a general mess of the area.

An 18-wheeler unexpectedly overturned at about 10:30 a.m. in the southbound lane of the freeway, just past the I-45 exit. It is unclear what caused the driver to lose control of the truck, causing it to overturn, but it caused all lanes of the Southwest Freeway to be closed for about 6 hours. Luckily, there were no subsequent accidents or injuries as a result of the big-rig accident and closed freeway lanes.

Houston truck accident lawyers are relieved that despite the increase in big-rig accidents this week, there have been no fatalities and only one injury. When an 18-wheeler is involved in an accident, the possibility of causing subsequent accidents is great. Because of the sheer size and weight of a big rig (the average big rig is 70-80 feet long) the potential for ensnaring other vehicles into an accident is much higher than if a car or SUV loses control and overturns in the middle of a highway. In this case, despite traffic being unbearable for several hours while the overturned truck was removed, it is very fortunate that there were no subsequent accidents or injuries as a result of the big-rig accident.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck accident, call Houston truck accident attorney Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is a Houston injury attorney with over 26 years of experience service the Houston and South Texas communities. Joe Stephens will expertly handle every aspect of your case on both a personal and professional level. You may also fill out a contact form online and a member of The Stephens Law Firm staff will contact you within 24 hours to schedule your free consultation. Contact Joe Stephens today to get the help and advice that you need.

Driver Injured After Running Under 18-Wheeler

Houston truck accident lawyers know that accidents frequently happen in a merge situation. When two vehicles are merging into one lane, it is easy to get distracted and lost sight of other vehicles in your path.

Early this morning, a woman was critically injured after her car ran underneath the end of an 18-wheeler truck. The accident happened at about 2:30 a.m. on the I-10 eastbound feeder at Sawyer. According to Houston police, the big rig driver was approaching a red light at Sawyer just as the woman was exiting the vehicle.

She was driving a PT Cruiser, which slammed into the back of the big-rig and became wedged underneath the flatbed of the truck. She apparently did not see the truck approaching the red light and couldn’t stop in time.

The woman, whose identity has not yet been released was taken to the nearby Ben Taub hospital and reported to be in critical condition. It is unknown whether the woman was driving under the influence of alcohol, as is often the case in late night crashes, but initial reports seem to indicate that the woman just didn’t see the truck.

Houston truck accident attorneys would like to caution drivers to always use caution when driving- even late at night when you think there aren’t many vehicles on the road. Truck drivers particularly log late hours and are often on the road late at night. Accidents that involve cars running into trucks are particularly damaging to the cars and drivers of the cars because of the sheer size and weight of big-rig trucks. Always use caution when driving, even if you think the roads are empty—an unexpected vehicle can always appear, and if you are not prepared for it, critical circumstances can occur.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car or truck accident, call Houston truck accident lawyer Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is a Houston injury attorney who is also a Houston car accident attorney, with over 26 years of experience serving the South Texas community. He will expertly handle every aspect of your case on both a professional and a personal level. You may also fill out a contact form online and a member of The Stephens Law Firm will contact you within 24 hours to schedule your free consultation. Contact Joe Stephens today to get the advice and help you need.

Big Rig Accident Shuts Down I-45 at Airline

Houston truck accident attorneys have seen a lot of bizarre accidents over the years, but even they were surprised by the strange events that took place Tuesday on I-45 at Airline. All the lanes in both directions of the I-45 were shut down for hours as cleanup took place to remove a big-rig gravel truck and repair a damaged sign.

At about 5 p.m. on Tuesday evening, at the height of rush hour traffic, the trailer of a gravel dump truck became lodged and stuck on an overhead freeway sign. The driver of the truck said that the hydraulic lift must have been activated, and he didn’t realize it until the trailer collided with the freeway sign.

It took accident crews about 4 hours to remove the big-rig from the freeway, and it was hauled off at about 9 p.m. The I-45 however had to remain closed overnight since the exit sign that the gravel truck crashed into was damaged. The sign had to be removed because safety crews were concerned that the sign was in a precarious state after the crash, and had the potential to fall onto the freeway.

The entire structure that holds the freeway sign was expected to be removed overnight, and the freeway lanes were slated to be open Wednesday morning in time for rush hour traffic. The Truck Enforcement division of the Houston Police Department is investigating the incident and the gravel truck driver may be held responsible for the cost of the freeway repairs.

Houston truck accident lawyers are relieved that despite the mess this incident caused, that there were no injures. The incident caused hours-long traffic snares, which was frustrating to Houston drivers, but it is fortunate that despite the traffic delays, there were no subsequent accidents, and no one was hurt.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck accident, call Houston truck accident lawyer Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is an experienced Houston injury lawyer with over 26 years of service to the Houston and South Texas communities. You may also fill out a contact form online and a member of The Stephens Law Firm will contact you within 24 hours to schedule your free consultation. Call Joe Stephens today to get the help and advice that you need. 

18-Wheeler Crash Kills 2 In Walker County

Houston truck accident attorneys know that when a large truck or 18-wheelers are involved in an accident, the results are usually catastrophic and often fatal. Because of their enormous size and corresponding weight, if an 18-wheeler collides with a car, the car is often obliterated, causing devastating fatalities.

In Walker county on Wednesday, two people were killed in an accident involving an 18-wheeler truck. The accident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. on Interstate 45 South between Madisonville and Huntsville. The two people involved in the accident died at the scene, almost immediately. The Texas Department of Public Safety is still investigating the accident, and has released very little information about the incident.

There are some facts about 18-wheeler trucks that Houston truck accident attorneys think it is important to understand to be able to comprehend why accidents involving these trucks are usually so detrimental. The average weight of an 18-wheeler truck is 40 tons, or about 80,000 lbs, and this is without cargo. Depending on how much and what type of cargo the truck is hauling, the weight can increase greatly.

18-wheeler trucks are usually about 70-80 feet long, taking up much more space than an average car, truck or SUV. This means when an 18-wheeler is involved in an accident, it has the capacity to crash into several vehicles at once because of its length.

Because of their enormous weight, 18-wheelers take much longer to stop than an ordinary motor vehicle—about 40% longer than an average car or pickup truck. All of these factors combine to make accidents involving 18-wheelers much more dangerous than other motor vehicle accidents. When driving near an 18-wheeler, drivers are cautioned to keep these statistics in mind, and give the big rig drivers more space. This way, if an accident does occur or an 18-wheeler has to stop suddenly, it will have the time and the space to do so, helping to cut down on the risk of involving other vehicles on the road in an accident.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck or 18-wheeler accident, call Houston truck accident lawyer Joe Stephens today at 712.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is a Houston injury attorney with over 26 years of experience serving the Houston and South Texas communities. He will expertly handle every aspect of your case on both a professional and a personal level. Alternatively, fill out a contact form online and a member of The Stephens Law Firm staff will contact you within 24 hours to schedule your free consultation. Call Joe Stephens today to get the help and advice that you need.

Crash With Semi Leaves One Fatality, 6 Injured

Houston truck accident attorneys know that an accident involving a Semi, usually leads to serious injuries and often fatalities, because of the sheer size and force behind the weight of such a large truck. In San Antonio on Friday evening at about 6p.m., a woman was killed in a crash with a semi that ended in a fiery blaze.

The woman was carrying six passengers in the car with her when the wreck occurred. There were three children and three adults in the car when it somehow collided with a semi tractor-trailer on I-35 near the AT&T Parkway. The car crashed into the back of the semi truck and became stuck and wedged under the back of the vehicle, and then burst into flames.

Several onlookers and other people at the scene of the accident were able to extricate the six passengers from the blaze, but they were not able to save the driver because she was most closely wedged under the truck.

According to the truck driver, Ed Trammell, the car tried to maneuver between his truck and the guardrail at the side of the highway. Despite this testimony, police report that it is unclear which vehicle struck the other one.

Juan Trevino, a passerby who assisted with the rescue relayed his experience of the emotional event: "They were just jumping up and screaming, 'save my Mom, save my Mom! And the flames were burning her. We tried to put it out with fire extinguishers that we got from other vehicles and the store, but we couldn't do nothing else. Flames got out of control and that was it."

Trammel, the driver of the truck is in shock about the crash, and plans to give up driving a truck. "It kills me. I'll have nightmares for a month," he said. "I've never had an accident where it killed somebody. Been driving since '84 and always said if I have an accident that kills somebody I'm going to quit. And that's it.”

One of the passengers in the car, a teenager, was taken to a nearby hospital with minor neck injuries. The other survivors of the crash are expected to make a full recovery.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a Houston truck accident, call Houston truck accident attorney Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 today for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is an experienced Houston injury lawyer who will expertly handle every aspect of your case, on both a professional and personal level. You may also fill out a contact form online and a member of The Stephens Law Firm will contact you within 24 hours to set up your free consultation. Call today to get the advice and help that you need.

Agreement with Mexico Could Increase Risk of Houston Semi Accidents

A recent agreement between the United States and Mexico to allow long-haul truckers to operate between the two countries could increase the risk of Houston trucking accidents involving trucks and drivers from south of the border.

Houston semi accident attorneys understand the complexities involved in representing victims of serious and fatal trucking accidents. Multiple victims, out-of-state truck drivers, commercial insurance carriers and large commercial truck leasing and maintenance companies can all complicate claims. Add to that an endless series of state and federal regulations and it takes a Texas injury lawyer experienced in handling commercial trucking accident claims to look out for the well-being of you and your family.

Such complexities will only be exacerbated when an accident involves a Mexican driver or trucking company. And, while the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration insists Mexican operators will be subjected to the same safety regulations, the recent rash of serious and fatal bus crashes tells us all we need to know about the federal government's commitment to providing the kind of resources that would be necessary to ensure compliance. 

The new agreement will lift tariffs Mexico put in place two years ago. As a result, U.S. companies are expected to increase shipments.

“The agreements signed today are a win for roadway safety and they are a win for trade. By opening the door to long-haul trucking between the United States and Mexico, America’s third largest trading partner, we will create jobs and opportunity for our people and support economic development in both nations," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  "I thank President Calderon and Secretary Perez-Jacome for their leadership and for their partnership as we build a safer, more prosperous future for North America and the world.”

The previous cross-border trucking program was terminated in March 2009. As a result of meetings addressing safety and other concerns, the U.S. government says Mexican trucks must comply with all FMCSA standards and must use electronic monitoring to track hours-of-service compliance. Officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation are also charged with inspecting each trucker's log book. Drug testing samples will also be tested by U.S. labs. Drivers must also be tested on English language skills and the ability to read U.S. traffic signs. 

If you have been involved in an accident in the Houston area, contact The Stephens Law Firm for a free consultation to discuss your rights. You may also request your free copy of Attorney Stephens' books, the Texas Accident Bible, A Survivor's Legal Guide and Hiring the Right Attorney. Call today at 713-224-0000 or <a href="http://www.joestephenslaw.com/contact.html">contact us through this website</a>.

Tanker Accident Involving Houston Semi Illustrates Risk of Dangerous Loads

A Diboll trucking accident spilled hot asphalt across the road, leaving the trucker with a broken arm and a head injury, according to Channel 9 News. The driver reportedly rounded the corner too quickly, causing his load to shift. He lost control of the truck, which overturned in the parking lot of a Chevron Station.

Thankfully, no innocent bystanders were hurt in the accident. However, veteran Houston trucking accident lawyers understand that injuries caused by loose or dangerous loads are a common result of Texas trucking accidents.

The 29-year-old driver was hauling a load of asphalt ready mix. As much as 3,000 gallons of the substance leaked from the tanker, where it was being heated to a temperature of 300 degrees. The resulting mess had to be covered with dirt and allowed to harden before it could be removed from the road several days later. Clean-up crews were also concerned about the contamination of a nearby creek.

The driver was transporting the load from Shreveport to Houston at the time of the accident. The truck belongs to EHC Trucking in Houston. The driver could be cited for making an unsafe turn, following the completion of the investigation.

Tankers can be particularly dangerous, both because of instability caused by sloshing liquid and because of the hazardous nature of many liquid loads. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducted a study on cargo tank roll stability, which found 482 fatal cargo tank rollover accidents in a six-year period.

Driver error was responsible in about three-quarters of all cases. Fifteen percent of fatal accidents involved driver distraction -- fewer than 10 percent involved weather. Perhaps most alarming, only about 15 percent occurred on the freeway -- meaning many more occurred in more residential areas. Running off the edge of the road was the number one cause of tanker rollovers.

The report found simulators would better permit drivers to receive the training necessary to properly react to a tanker emergency. However, the training has not been broadly adopted because of the expense of simulators.

Katy Accident Lawyer Joe Stephens, a personal injury trial law specialist, offers free consultations to accident victims in the Houston area. You may also request your free copy of Attorney Stephens' books, the Texas Accident Bible, A Survivor's Legal Guide and Hiring the Right Attorney. Call today at 713-224-0000 or contact us through this website.

Big Rig Oil Spill Shuts Down Highway 290

Houston car accident lawyers know that highway oil spills can wreak havoc on traffic flow because they are so difficult to clean up. The slowed traffic due to something like an oil spill often leads to traffic accidents as well. Luckily, Tuesday’s vegetable oil spill on Highway 290 didn’t lead to any traffic accidents, but it did create quite a mess and severely slowed traffic.

The spill occurred near 34^th street in Northwest Houston at about 6 p.m. Vegetable oil leaked from an 18-wheeler truck, and according to the Texas Department of Transportation, the driver of the truck didn’t realize the vehicle was leaking. The spill caused a slippery mess on Highway 290 for about five hours while road crews cleaned up the spill.

Oil spills- even vegetable oil spills are difficult to clean up because, as we all know, oil and water don’t mix. In order to clean up spills more harsh and industrial cleaning agents are needed. Even missing the smallest bit of oil can lead to future traction problems on the roads, leading to accidents. This makes cleaning up oil spills is not only a difficult process, but a lengthy and time consuming one. Despite taking crews almost five hours to clean up the spill and get traffic moving again, there were no accidents or injuries as a result off the spill.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident or Houston truck accident, call Houston truck accident attorney Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is a seasoned Houston injury attorney with over 26 years of experience serving the South Texas community. Joe Stephens will expertly handle every aspect of your case on both a professional and a personal level. You may also fill out a contact form online and a member of The Stephens Law Firm will contact you within 24 hours to set up your free consultation. Call Joe Stephens today to get the advice and help that you need.

18- Wheeler Crash on Highway 290

Houston truck accident attorneys know that one 18-wheeler accident can be quite catastrophic and lead to much injury and traffic disruption. Two 18-wheelers colliding raises these stakes exponentially. Early on Friday morning, this is exactly what happened.

According to Houston officials, two 18-wheeler trucks carrying grain feed collided on Highway 290, causing the grain to spill across the highway. The two big-rigs were from the same company and driving in tandem from Abeline to the Houston Ship Channel to deposit their grain loads.

There was an earlier accident on the highway causing traffic to slow. During the slowed traffic, a white car that was driving directly in front of one of the 18-wheelers was forced to come to an abrupt stop due to the traffic crawl. The first 18-wheeler slammed on its brakes and tried to avoid hitting the halted vehicle in front of it, but wasn’t able to stop in time and crashed into the back of the white car.

The second 18-wheeler was also not able to come to a halt an crashed into the back of the first big rig. The impact of the two truck colliding caused their grain feed cargo to spill across the highway. As a result, the inbound lanes of Highway 290 at Mangum-Dacoma were shut down for several hours causing further traffic delays.

Big rig accidents are usually very dangerous because of the amount of space each truck takes up. Usually when one 18-wheeler accident occurs, other vehicles have trouble avoiding the wreckage and further accidents occur. In this instance, the only casualty was the grain feed. Because traffic was already moving slowly drivers were able to steer clear of the accident and no other accidents or injuries occurred as a result of the big rig accidents.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck accident or big-rig accident, call Houston truck accident attorney Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is a Houston injury attorney that has been serving the South Texas community for over 26 years and will handle every aspect of your case on both a professional and personal level. You may also fill out a contact form online and a member of The Stephens Law Firm will contact you within 24 hours to set up your free consultation. Contact Joe Stephens today to get the advice and help that you need.

Truckers Hauling Fireworks Exempted from Safety Regulations in Houston

If you are counting on the federal government to protect you from a Houston trucking accident, think again.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has suspended work-hour rules for truckers who are hauling fireworks this weekend! FIREWORKS! 

Three thousand commercial drivers hauling fireworks across the country are permitted to work longer than the 14-hour work days permitted truckers behind the wheel. The exemption was granted to 53 motor carrier operations on behalf of the American Pyrotechnics Association and runs from June 28 to July 8.

Our Houston trucking accident lawyers understand the high risk tired truckers pose to other motorists on the road. As we reported in March on our Houston Truck Accident Law Blog, 16.5 percent of all fatal accidents nationwide involve a fatigued driver; authorities believe the problem is particularly acute in the commercial driving industry.

Late last year, FMCSA proposed new hours-of-service regulations for the trucking industry, requiring at least 34 hours off before restarting a trucker's 60- or 70-hour workweek. Left open was whether drivers should be limited to 10 or 11 hours of drive time.

"A fatigued driver has no place behind the wheel of a large commercial truck," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We are committed to an hours-of-service rule that will help create an environment where commercial truck drivers are rested, alert and focused on safety while on the job."

Paper log books often make a mockery of the law anyway; forged log books have long permitted a driver to drive pretty much however much he wants. Safety advocates continue to push for data recorders similar to the black boxes used by airlines -- a standard the federal government has been particularly slow to adopt.

The feds are currently holding a listening tour on the proposed changes -- which also include expanding a driver's permitted work hours to 16 hours at least twice a week.

If you have been involved in an accident in the Houston area, contact The Stephens Law Firm for a free consultation to discuss your rights. You may also request your free copy of Attorney Stephens' books, the Texas Accident Bible, A Survivor's Legal Guide and Hiring the Right Attorney. Call today at 713-224-0000 or <a href="http://www.joestephenslaw.com/contact.html">contact us through this website</a>.