Articles Posted in Trucking Accidents

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(March 10, 2022)

A tragic accident with an 18-wheeler took place at 12:30 A.M. this morning on I-37 in South Bexar County. The accident claimed the life of one individual and left the other in critical condition, as reported by KSAT News. The truck driver sustained no injuries; however, the impact pushed his vehicle into a nearby ditch. The other vehicle sustained significant damage, and the highway was closed temporarily to clear the debris. The cause of the accident has not yet been reported, nor have the names of the victims. 

A collision with an 18-wheeler often has tragic consequences. Due to the sheer size of the vehicles, even a collision at low speeds can result in severe damage and injury. Combine this size and strength with Texas highway speeds, and the result is devastating. Victims of commercial vehicle accidents often sustain major permanent injuries, such as brain damage and extreme disfiguration. Unfortunately, it is often the case that victims of a commercial vehicle accident tragically lose their lives, as in this case. The law office of Carabin Shaw has been representing victims of 18-wheeler accidents for nearly 30 years in San Antonio and the surrounding area. 

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A man was killed in a horrific three-car accident early Monday morning on the southwest side of San Antonio. The driver was allegedly heading southbound and lost control of his vehicle, causing him to collide with a passenger vehicle and the rig of an 18-wheeler heading northbound. The driver was immediately rushed to the hospital with significant injuries, including several broken bones and internal injuries but was pronounced dead hours later. The drivers of the other two vehicles were not seriously injured. Detectives are unclear what caused the driver to lose control. However, the crash happened right around the same time it began to rain, and they suspect that may have contributed. The accident occurred around 5 am on Monday, January 31, just off New Laredo Highway near Briggs Avenue. 

Roughly 3,000 people die on Texas roadways every year. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 4.9 billion total costs of motor vehicle fatalities in Texas every year, with 2.9 billion or 46% being young adults ages 20-34. Fatalities on Texas roadways are a severe problem that affects thousands of families every year. At our firm, we understand that these are people, not just another statistic. They were brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, and children whose families were left to mourn and grieve. Fortunately, the Law office of Carabin Shaw has the tools and resources needed to help.

Have you been injured, or has someone you love died in a motor vehicle accident in San Antonio?

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December 17, 2021 – A Colorado truck driver was sentenced to 110 years in prison for a crash that occurred on I-10 in April of 2019 which left 4 people dead. 26-year-old Texas native Rogel Aguilera Mederos pleaded for leniency and the Colorado judge refused, claiming the law prevent such an action. However, as of today, more than three million have signed a petition asking for clemency or commutation for time served from Colorado Governor Jared Polis.  

In April 2019, Rogel was driving down I-10 at 85mph during rush hour when his brakes failed, and he collided with dozens of stopped vehicles. The collision sparked a massive fire that shut I-10 down for roughly 24 hours, killing 4 people trapped by the flames. Among the victims was a 24-year-old named Miguel Angel. Rogel had previously failed to utilize one of the state’s runway truck ramps, which the prosecution focused heavily on during his trial. When asked why, he said that he was unaware that his brakes were out, and that he made efforts to prevent the accident. 

Auto Accidents happen every day, but when an 18-wheeler is involved the injuries and damage that occurs can be so much greater. It is important to be aware of your rights if you or someone you love is affected by an auto accident involving an 18-wheeler.  

https://www.carabinshaw.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-14-at-2.42.25-PM-1024x528.pngSept. 16, 2021:  HUFFMAN, Texas (KTRK) — The driver of an 18-wheeler died Wednesday, Sept. 8 in the morning when a Kanas City Southern train crashed into the big rig at a busy northeast Harris County railroad crossing. The crash happened just after 7 a.m. at FM 2100 and FM 1960.  Sheriff Ed Gonzalez confirmed that the driver of the semi-truck was killed in the incident.

Video from the crash showed the train stopped on the tracks.  Harris County sheriff’s deputies said the cab of the semi-truck was on the tracks when it was hit by the train, which then pushed it about 30 feet down the tracks.  Deputies said the truck was headed northbound on FM 2100 and the train was headed east on the tracks before the crash.

A man who works at a nearby gas station said he heard the collision and saw a fire ignite.  “I saw a big fire and heard a big noise. That’s it,” the witness said. “I saw the train go through the big fire. That’s all I saw.”

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Recently, one person was killed in a Texas truck accident in Smith County. While details about the accident are still sparse, according to a local news report, the accident occurred on FM 346. The driver of the truck survived the accident with serious injuries. However, an unidentified person was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident is still under investigation, and there is no indication whether criminal charges will be pursued.

Motor vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of preventable injury in Texas. In fact, according to the most recent data from the Texas Department of Transportation, there are more than 15,800 people injured and another 3,600 killed in Texas car accidents each year. Truck accidents are responsible for a significant portion of these collisions.

Although Texas does not have the highest population of all U.S. states, it does see the highest number of trucking accidents. In part, this is because of the large number of interstate highways spanning the state. However, there also seems to be a certain disregard of the state’s traffic laws and regulations among many Texas truck drivers. For example, the majority of Texas truck accidents are the result of entirely preventable driving behavior, such as distracted driving, drunk driving, and aggressive driving. There is also a portion of truck accidents caused by vehicle and equipment defects.

https://www.texasinjurylawyersblog.com/files/2021/02/Screen-Shot-2021-02-11-at-5.07.17-PM.pngThursday, February 11, 2021, DALLAS/Fort Worth:  Traffic crews and medics responded to several fatal car accidents overnight in North Texas as icy roads caused difficult driving conditions for people. At least eight deaths have been confirmed, officials said. 

Pileup crash on I-35W in Fort Worth

More than 75 vehicles were involved in a massive pileup crash Thursday morning on Interstate 35W in Fort Worth, including several 18-wheelers, officials said. A number of people were trapped hours after the crash happened around 6 a.m. 

https://www.texasinjurylawyersblog.com/files/2020/12/Screen-Shot-2020-12-22-at-12.55.37-PM.pngDecember 22, 2020: ELLIS COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) — Two family members were killed, and two others were injured after a tragic December 14 crash involving a passenger van and a semi tractor-trailer.

Officials with the Milford Police Department confirm two people in the van died and two others were injured — one serious, one minor — in the afternoon crash on Interstate-35E in south Ellis County.

It was around 5:30 p.m. when police were called out on a “two vehicle major accident”. Once there officials said they quickly realized they needed help and called in more than half-dozen agencies — including DPS, Italy Police and Fire, and Ellis County Sheriff’s deputies.

pexels-pixabay-263402-300x199Nov. 11, 2020, McCLAIN COUNTY, Oklahoma:  Investigators said a truck driver was driving distracted on Interstate 35 where he killed a woman and injured her husband. Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers responded to the crash on March 2, 2020, near mile marker 82 in McClain County.

A semi-truck driven by 58-year-old Johnny Spradlin was surrounded by other vehicles approaching a construction zone.  

Investigators said surrounding vehicles slowed down, but the 18-wheeler driver Spradlin did not. He crashed into a 2016 Chevy Traverse driven by 63-year-old Julia Kraus and her passenger husband around 9:30 a.m. Kraus was pronounced dead at the scene.   Kraus’ husband was injured in the crash but survived.  

https://www.texasinjurylawyersblog.com/files/2020/05/Screen-Shot-2020-05-26-at-1.22.28-PM.pngMay 23, 2020:  San Antonio, TEXAS–The crash happened around 5:30 a.m. Friday on Interstate 10 near the Dominion on the north side of San Antonio.  Justin Antwan Jackson, 29, the driver of the 18-wheeler, involved in the incident is now charged with failure to Stop and Render Aid after his truck rear-ended a red Ford Fiesta that was stalled on US I-10.  

The driver of the car, Donna Falkenberg, 46, was killed in the crash. She was pronounced dead at the scene.  San Antonio Police said she was not wearing a seat belt.

According to an arrest affidavit, Jackson was traveling southbound in the right-most lane when it neared the stalled Ford Fiesta, which had on its hazard lights.  Jackson told police that he tried to avoid another vehicle that appeared to be crossing into the lane next to him and did not see the Ford until the crash was unavoidable.

https://www.texasinjurylawyersblog.com/files/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-24-at-2.12.40-PM.pngWednesday, April 22, 2020, Houston:  Police report a driver was killed when he tried to pass an 18-wheeler that was reversing along a commercial street Wednesday in southeast Houston. The big rig was facing southbound in the northbound lane of Nunn Street near Lindbergh Street around 3 p.m. when its driver started driving in reverse, according to Houston police. At some point, the big rig driver started to drift into the southbound lane while still in reverse, according to police.

At the same time, a 34-year-old man driving a Cadillac DTS was southbound on Nunn and attempted to pass the truck on the right but clipped the back-right corner of the trailer, police said. Witnesses said the Cadillac driver appeared to be driving at a high speed when he struck the trailer.

The force of the crash ripped the roof off the Cadillac, which landed about 30 feet away from the car. Firefighters had to use special tools to pry the rest of the car open to pull the driver out.

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