2015 Has Been a Dangerous Year for Truck and Bus Accidents in Texas

When it comes to the consequences of an accident, buses, semi-trucks, and tractor-trailers are some of the most dangerous vehicles on the road. These vehicles are extremely heavy and difficult to maneuver, and when a driver has a lapse in concentration or loses control, the results can be disastrous for drivers, passengers, and other motorists. Sadly, but perhaps unsurprisingly, many of these accidents are fatal.

Deadly Truck and Bus Accidents in 2015

Already in 2015, we have seen numerous fatal truck and bus accidents on Texas’s roadways. Just two weeks into the new year, two corrections officers and eight inmates died when a prison bus slid off of an icy overpass and collided with a train. In February, a fatal crash on the southbound President George Bush Turnpike in Carrollton claimed the life of a driver who lost control when one truck jack-knifed and another attempted an evasive maneuver to avoid it.

Two months later, five people died when an 18-wheeler “plowed through several vehicles” that had pulled over on the shoulder of Interstate 30 near Forth Worth. Twelve other people were injured in the accident, two of whom filed suit against the trucking company. Their lawyers alleged that the company had provided the driver with inadequate training on how to avoid collisions.

In June, another fatal bus accident claimed two more lives and left roughly 30 passengers with injuries. The accident occurred on I-10 near Weimar, about 90 miles west of Houston. According to news reports, the bus driver wasn’t paying attention and rear-ended a big rig that had slowed in a construction zone. The driver of the bus suffered fatal injuries, as did a passenger who was ejected from the bus with the force of the collision.

Finally, a truck accident in July claimed the life of a man whose car got wedged under a jack-knifed tractor-trailer. The truck driver indicated to the investigating officers that he hit his brakes after feeling an impact on his trailer, causing the jackknife. The victim, 61-year-old Michael Hill, was pronounced dead at the scene on I-35 northeast of San Antonio.

These are just a sampling of the many fatal accidents that have happened in the Houston area and throughout Texas this year.

What to Do if You are Injured in a Truck or Bus Accident in Texas?

If you are injured in an accident involving a bus or commercial truck, the first and most important thing you need to do is go to the hospital. Even if you think you feel fine, you may have internal injuries that require immediate medical attention. Due to the forces involved, truck and bus accidents often result in neck, back, and other serious injuries.

As soon as you are able, you should also speak with a truck or bus accident lawyer about your case. You need to meet certain deadlines in order to file a lawsuit, and your lawyer will need to gather evidence in order to pursue a claim for compensation on your behalf. Your lawyer will also be able to help you seek appropriate medical care and take any other steps necessary to preserve your claim.

Contact the Houston Bus Accident Lawyers at Morrow & Sheppard LLP

The Houston truck accident attorneys at Morrow & Sheppard LLP have helped numerous clients obtain just compensation for accident-related injuries. If you have been seriously injured or lost a family member in a truck or bus accident, we can help you fight for the largest possible settlement or verdict for your losses. To schedule a free consultation about your case, call our Houston law offices at (800) 489-2216 or contact us online today.