Low Overpass Rips Top Off 18-Wheeler

Houston truck accident attorneys know that driving a big-rig takes training and talent. But despite the training that truckers have to go through, regular  miscalculations in turns and distances resulting in accidents still occur.

An 18-wheeler cattle hauler in San Antonio was too high to go through an underpass, but proceeded to anyway and got stuck. The incident occurred Monday afternoon on St. Mary’s street near Brackenridge High School. Once it was stuck, the truck had no choice but to continue through the underpass, ripping the top of the tuck off and peeling it back like a can of cat food. The height of the underpass was clearly posted as 12’3”, but the driver either didn’t know the height of his truck, or simply misjudged the distance.

While a wedged truck is not an altogether uncommon occurrence, one carrying livestock is less common and can be disorienting and dangerous for the animals. Luckily none of the cows were injured, and despite the damage to the big rig, there were no injuries. A jammed truck often inhibits traffic flow and causes back-up on the road, which can throw a city into disarray for a few hours, but in this case the disruption was minimal and there were no injuries or subsequent accidents.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck accident, call Houston truck accident lawyer Joe Stephens today at 712.224.0000 for advice and a free consultation. No matter the size of the accident or the situation, Joe Stephens is an expert Houston truck accident attorney with over 26 years of experience practicing law in the Houston area. He will professionally handle your case on an official, as well as personal 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 set up a free consultation.

Houston Charter Bus Accidents a Summer Danger

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is pushing the government to lift a restriction permitting en route bus inspections. Bus accidents in Houston and elsewhere continue to make the news following several horrific accidents that have revealed substandard emphasis on safety, particularly among low-fare carriers.

Our Houston bus accident lawyers know the number of tour bus riders peaks during the summer travel season. And, in today's economy, finding a deal is important for many looking to maximize a summer getaway while minimizing costs. However, we urge you to check the safety record of your carrier -- even taking a look at the age and condition of the buses before making a trip can help reduce your chances of being involved in an accident.

Congressional testimony revealed this issue after the feds enacted the rule prohibiting en route inspections.

“It has removed a critical tool designed to immediately identify driver and mechanical safety issues, hampering enforcement’s efforts,” said CVSA’s Vice President David Palmer. “We are firm believers that many more lives could be saved and injuries avoided if en route roadside inspections were once again permitted to allow states to conduct these inspections when and where necessary.”

Bus accidents can be devastating. As we reported earlier this month on our Houston Truck Accident Law Blog, 23 passengers from Del Rio were injured in an accident with a semi while on the way to Disney World.

Additionally, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is concerned about the exemption of inner-city bus carriers from hours-of-service regulations meant to protect passengers and other motorists from fatigued commercial drivers.

“If Congress chooses to once again enable en route bus inspections, CVSA will commit to assisting the states and FMCSA by immediately conducting enroute bus inspections, as well as continuing strike forces and other enforcement activities throughout the country,” said Palmer. “We believe this is the most appropriate and effective response to immediately impact bus safety.”

Bus safety has been in the news since a horrific bus accident in Manhattan killed 14 people in March. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration quickly conducted an enforcement blitz in an attempt to appear proactive. Unfortunately, many safety advocates say the government has done too little for too long when it comes to ensuring the safety of passengers on charter buses.

"Safety is our number one priority," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We will continue to use every resource at our disposal to shut down unsafe passenger bus companies that place motorists at risk and remove drivers from our roads who put passengers in harm's way."

In 17 days, the government conducted 3,000 inspections and put about 300 passenger buses out of service. In other words, 1 in 10 buses had safety issues so dire they were not permitted to remain on the road.

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. A Personal Injury Trial Law Specialist through the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1993, Attorney Stephens has won multiple verdicts over $1 million and is a Million Dollar Advocates Member. Call today at 713-224-0000 or contact us through this website.

Enforcement Blitz Aims to Reduce Risk of Houston Trucking Accidents

Texas authorities participated in an enforcement blitz this month sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, which aimed to reduce the risk of trucking accidents in Houston and elsewhere. Enforcement emphasis was on Hours of Service Violations, according to Land Line Magazine. More than one-fourth of all trucks inspected in Texas were taken out of service for serious safety violations.

Our Houston Personal Injury Lawyers have written before about the dangers of fatigued truckers on the road. Authorities check trucker log books in an effort to ensure that they are complying with daily driving limits and other regulations. Unfortunately, it's not always a sure bet, regardless of what the log books say; the feds continue to push the use of data recorders -- similar to what's in airplanes -- to help improve safety and prevent logbook fraud.

The 72-hour enforcement blitz is billed as the largest in the world -- with an average of 14 trucks inspected each minute from Canada to Mexico. The blitz included 10,000 certified inspectors at 1,500 locations across North America. Last year, more than 65,000 inspections occurred in the United States. And, while the pass rate was 95.6 percent, that still means 1 in 20 trucks failed safety inspection.

“Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) inspectors work diligently every day to ensure that the commercial vehicles using our highways do so as safely as possible,” said Stephen A. Keppler, executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. “While a significant majority of vehicle operators are highly responsible, conscientious, and safe; a few in the minority are less so. CMV inspectors provide a vital service to check driver and vehicle safety fitness to help keep our roads safe and clear from preventable crashes, backups, and a needless loss of lives.”

The program estimates the inspections have saved 234 lives and prevented more than 4,000 injuries since its inception in 1988. This year's inspections were expanded to include moving companies, carriers of household goods and rental trucks.

“Expanding this year’s Roadcheck to include household goods movers, along with trucks and buses, reflects our strong commitment to stepping up commercial vehicle safety enforcement and saving lives on our nation’s roadways,” said Anne S. Ferro, administrator for FMCSA. “We want every commercial motor carrier and driver to embrace safety as their number one priority. Roadcheck drives home this lifesaving message.”

The Texas Department of Public Safety reports nearly 8,000 checks were conducted in Texas and more than 1 in 4 commercial rigs (26.5 percent) were placed out of service because of safety violations. Serious safety violations included issues with brakes, tires, lights and unsafe loads. A total of 212 drivers were also placed out of service for violations ranging from hours-of-service violations to driving with suspended or cancelled commercial driver's licenses.

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. Houston Injury Attorney Joe Stephens has nearly three decades of experience representing personal injury and wrongful death cases. A Personal Injury Trial Law Specialist through the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1993, Attorney Stephens has won multiple verdicts over $1 million and is a Million Dollar Advocates Member. He is also the author of The Texas Accident Bible, A Survivor's Legal Guide, and Hiring the Right Injury Lawyer.

Call today at 713-224-0000 or contact us through this website.

Teens Gather to Increase Awareness of Fatal Trucking Accidents in Houston and Elsewhere

Teen drivers from the nation's capital recently teamed up to raise awareness about the dangers of driving near large trucks.  Teens vowed to stay out of their blind spots and to leave them plenty of room on our roadways.  They also signed a “No Texting Promise” in an attempt to reduce the number of fatal trucking accidents in Texas and elsewhere throughout our country.

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Organizations for Youth Safety and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance put on this demonstration for the teens and spoke to area students about the importance of practicing safe driving habits when traveling near these big trucks.

Our Houston truck accident lawyers realize that there is a large number of trucks that navigate our roads every day.  It is with safe and defensive driving habits that we can all help to decrease the number of fatal accidents involving trucks. This awareness is especially important to teens as summer starts, increasing their chances of being involved in an accident.

“We want everyone to be safe, but as newer drivers, teens must adhere to a few simple rules,” said Anne Ferro, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “They are: buckle up, don’t drink and drive; don’t speed, don’t text or use your phone, and steer clear of a truck’s blind spots.”

The latest data from U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System shows that the deadliest days of the year for teens ages 15 to 19 are from May to August. During these four months, nearly twice as many teens die on the roads each day as compared to the rest of the year.

It takes a tractor-trailer roughly twice the distance to stop as it does a passenger vehicle.  Tractor-trailers also have large blind spots, or “No Zones,” that motorist must avoid.

Teens were invited to this demonstration because those ages 16 to 24 are most likely to be involved in a deadly traffic accident in the U.S.  Between 2005 and 2009, roughly 4,000 people in this age group were killed in traffic accidents involving large trucks.

"Prom, graduation, and summer are fantastic times for youth to celebrate and enjoy. However, with these fun times come unfortunate tragedies,” said Sandy Spavone, president of the National Organizations for Youth Safety. “Through education, enforcement, and legislation lives can be saved and injuries prevented."


Driving awareness shouldn't only pertain to our nation's teens.  All motorists, of all ages, should practice safe driving habits while sharing the road with these large vehicles as accidents involving these big rigs can have deadly consequences.

“Do not expect that having a driver's license is a right that comes without responsibility or risk,” said Steve Keppler, executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. “Be accountable for your actions, spread the word to your friends and parents, and help create a culture of safety. Most importantly, take the driving task seriously. You never know the impact you can have that ultimately could save your life or someone else's." 

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident with a tractor trailer, call Houston car accident attorney Joe Stephens today at 713-224-0000 for a free consultation.

Bus of Texas Teens Collides With Semi in Alabama

Houston truck accident lawyers know how devastating an accident involving an 18-wheeler or other large truck can be. But the effects are even greater when two large vehicles collide. The sheer size and mass of large vehicles raises the stakes exponentially if there is an accident. If one of the large-scale vehicles is carrying passengers, the effects of the accident are even more ruinous.

Early Monday morning, a charter bus full of Texas teenagers collided with an overturned tractor-trailer rig outside Mobile, Alabama. The bus was carrying 50 people, 48 students and two chaperones. The bus was from Del Rio, Texas and the group of students was heading to Orlando, Florida for a trip to Disney World. Luckily there were no fatalities. One passenger was listed in serious condition and according to Alabama state troopers, 22 others were injured.

At about 12:30 a.m. on highway I-10, an 18-wheeler truck overturned, blocking part of the freeway. Greg Eubanks, the Alabama State Trooper in charge of the investigation and spokesman said about the accident, “the bus (driver) just didn’t see it. The road was dark and the apparently the bus driver didn’t see the overturned big-rig in time to avoid crashing into it. “The truck flipped so quickly, the bus couldn’t avoid it” Kelt Cooper, superintendent of the San Filipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District said. A second bus that was also carrying a group of students, managed to avoid the crash.

“This is a big shaker. The whole town is praying for these students” Cooper went on to say. The most severe injury involved lung and liver damage, but the other injuries were minor. The student with the serious injury was taken to a nearby hospital while the others were taken to a nearby motel to recover and plan their next move. The students were on a non-school sponsored trip, that was mostly paid for by the students parents, who chartered the busses.

It is very lucky that there were no fatalities and not more serious injuries. Sometimes accidents are unavoidable, but especially when you are a driver responsible for the lives of a large number of people in your vehicle, you must be cautious and aware at all times. A late, dark night is not necessarily a place where one would expect to come across an overturned semi—but accidents can and do happen anytime and anyplace, so it is vital to be always be aware when you are driving.

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 has practiced law in south Texas for over 26 years and is an experienced trial lawyer. 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 set up your appointment for a free consultation. Call Joe Stephens today to get the help and advice you need.

Fatal Big Rig Accident Shuts Down Highway 59

Houston truck accident attorneys know how dangerous it can be when a big-rig crashes. Given the sheer size of the vehicles, other cars and trucks often get involved in the fray when an 18-wheeler loses control of his vehicle. And depending on the cargo the big-rig is carrying, this can add another layer of danger to an already hazardous situation.

In Sugar Land, at about 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday June 7^th, a big-rig driver lost control of his vehicle and overturned on Highway 59. The truck was carrying diesel fuel, and over 8,000 gallons of fuel were spilled when the truck crashed. The driver of the big-rig was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, and his identity has not yet been released.

The southbound lanes of Highway 59 at the intersection of Grand Parkway/Highway 99 were closed during rush hour, and remained closed for most of the day while the accident was contained. The fuel spilled onto highway 59, and also onto the feeder road below the intersection of the accident, at one point forcing all of the feeder lanes to close. Once the feeder lanes were closed traffic was diverted through and HEB parking lot, to keep at least some traffic flowing.

The spilled fuel also began seeping into the sewer system, which delayed the cleanup, slowing traffic, and making the effort more difficult for environmental teams. At 4 p.m. the Texas Department of Transportation and environmental crews were still working to clear the accident and the ensuing spill, and estimated that it would be several more hours before the accident and the spillage were cleared.

Big rig accidents are relatively infrequent in compared to car accidents and other motor vehicle accidents, but when they do occur the effects can be devastating. Luckily, no other vehicles were involved in the accident, and there were no injuries save for the fatality of the truck driver.

Big rig 18-wheeler tucks are fairly common on freeways. Truck drivers often have to cover great distances, and highways are the fastest way to do so. Truck drivers are usually extremely experienced, but it is still a good idea to take precautions and give way when you do encounter a truck on the road. Especially in heavy traffic, remember that it takes longer for an 18-wheeler to slow or stop because of its vast weight, so drive considerately and do not unexpectedly veer in front of or cut off a big-rig. Getting ahead of the truck is not worth the risk that it won’t be able to stop in time and avoid hitting you.

If your or someone you know has been injured in a Houston truck accident, call experienced Houston personal injury attorney Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens has over 26 years of experience practicing law in South Texas and is an accomplished Houston truck accident lawyer. Joe 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 staff will contact you within 24 hours to set up your free consultation. Call today to get the help and advice that you need.

Deadly Trucking Accidents have NTSB Pushing Stricter Regulations

A tractor-trailer truck that was cruising a highway in Oklahoma approached about a dozen stopped cars and trucks.  They were stopped because of a fender-bender.  Instead of slowing down and approaching with caution, the 40,000-pound truck plowed through the congestion at roughly 70 mph.  The truck ran over three cars, dragging them under its wheels.  The truck also slammed through several other vehicles before finally coming to a stop.  In all, ten people were killed by the semi truck, according to the Associated Press.  Instigators believe that the driver of that truck only slept for about five hours prior to his 10 hour journey.

Because of this accident, and a recently string of other serious trucking accidents, the NTSB conducted a two-day forum in an attempt to gain safety perspectives from safety experts, federal regulators and the truck and bus industries to see what is currently being done to prevent these deadly truck accidents in Texas and elsewhere.

Our Houston trucking accident lawyers have seen the increase in deadly and tragic trucking accident in the past few months and continue to wonder why previous safety recommendations have yet to be enacted.  Some of these proposed regulations are even decades old.  It is clear that something needs to be done to help preserve the safety of motorists when traveling near these large trucks.

While many say trucking regulations have come a long way and have prevented a substantial number of fatalities, there is no denying that more work needs to be done.

"From an economic standpoint, it would do a great deal of harm to this industry and wouldn't improve safety," said Dave Osiecki, senior vice president at the American Trucking Associations.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were nearly 3,500 fatalities because of traffic accidents that involved large trucks last year.  Another 74,000 people were injured in these types of accidents.  It is estimated that in the United States in 2009, roughly 296,000 large trucks (with the gross vehicle weight rater of more than 10,000 pounds) were involved in traffic accidents.  In 2009, Texas witnessed nearly 300 trucks in fatal traffic accidents.  Many experts believe that these numbers will only increase as the economy continues to recover.

"Even if you don't necessarily have more crashes, when there is a crash, there is more damage," said Henry Jasny, general counsel for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

The Obama administration has stepped in an attempt to toughen truck regulations.  The government proposed that these trucks come equipped with devices to record the number of hours that a driver spends behind the wheel.  Current recording systems are simply paper systems and allow records to be easily falsified.  Since about a third of commercial motor vehicle accidents are due to fatigue, these electronic recording systems would help to keep sleepy drivers from behind the wheel.  The administration would like to even take it a step farther by limiting the number of hours that a driver can spend behind the wheel.  Currently, drivers are allowed 11 driving hours and the administration would like it reduced to 10.  The proposal would also enforce mandatory rest breaks.  Drivers would be limited to an overall work day of 14 hours and would be required to have more rest between shifts.  The government would also like to limit their work week to 60 hours.


"We must remind ourselves that each data point in these statistics represents a family member that will never come home to loved ones," NTSB member Robert Sumwalt said.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident in Houston or any of the surrounding areas, contact the Truck Accident Attorneys at The Stephens Law Firm at (713) 224-0000.