Houston’s String of Deadly Truck Accidents Continues

In August of 2015, we reported on a string of deadly truck accidents in the Houston area. Tragically, we continued to see more fatal truck accidents through the remainder of year. While this is something we have come to expect – there were 508 fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles in Texas in 2014, including 39 in Houston and Harris County – headlines reporting on fatal accidents still serve as sobering reminders of just how dangerous our local roads can be.

Recent Houston Truck Accidents

Fatal Accident Involving Tow Truck on Westheimer Road

Around 1:00 am on December 19, the driver of a Chevrolet Corvette was killed in an accident involving a tow truck.  The Corvette driver reportedly was attempting to make a U-turn on Westheimer Road when his vehicle was struck by the oncoming truck. Initial investigations failed to determine whether alcohol and speeding were factors in the collision.

Woman Narrowly Escapes Fiery 18-Wheeler Accident on East Freeway

In an accident that the victim was actually lucky enough to survive, a woman suffered significant third-degree burns after an 18-wheeler struck her vehicle on the East Freeway on December 15. News reports indicate that the woman’s vehicle was stalled near the Holland Exit Ramp in Houston and that the truck driver failed to notice the stalled vehicle before rear-ending it on the freeway. Eyewitnesses said that the selfless acts of a driver who rescued the woman from the burning vehicle likely saved her life.

The Statistics on Fatal Truck Accidents in Texas

Each year, hundreds of innocent victims die in accidents involving commercial trucks in Texas. Thousands more suffer serious – and in many cases life-changing – injuries. As we mentioned, there were more than 500 fatal truck accidents in Texas in 2014. This topped the 462 and 457 in 2012 and 2013, respectively. We are still waiting for the Texas Department of Transportation to publish accident totals for 2015. But, going off of national crash statistics, it, unfortunately, looks like 2015 could be a banner year for truck accidents in Texas.

Seeking Compensation for Fatal Truck Accidents

If you have lost a loved one in a truck accident, it is important to stand up for both you and your loved one’s legal rights. Under Texas law, family members can seek compensation both for their own losses (in what is known as a “wrongful death” claim) and for their loved one’s medical expenses and pain and suffering prior to death (known as a “survival action”). At Morrow & Sheppard LLP, we represent family members in wrongful death claims and survival actions statewide. To find out more, we invite you to schedule a free consultation with one of our truck accident lawyers.

Contact Morrow & Sheppard LLP about Your Texas Truck Accident

Morrow & Sheppard LLP is a personal injury and wrongful death law firm serving clients in the greater Houston area and throughout Texas. If you recently lost a loved one in an accident involving an 18-wheeler, tanker truck, tow truck, or other commercial vehicles, feel free to contact us to discuss your case today.