A bizarre 18-wheeler accident along the North Freeway claimed the life of a motorist yesterday afternoon and sent his 11-year-old son to the hospital.
Southbound 18-Wheeler Lost 2 Tires When Tandem Axel Broke
The August 4th crash occurred just after 1:30 p.m., in the 20700 block of the North Freeway near Louetta.
According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the semi-truck was headed south when a tandem axel broke and sent two of its tires into the air. One of the tires ended up in the northbound lanes of the highway, where it struck a passenger vehicle head-on.
The 32-year-old driver of that vehicle died at the scene. His 11-year-old son was a passenger in the car and was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators to Review Truck Maintenance Records
“It’s not real right now,” the victim’s wife later told ABC 13. “It’s not real.”
In addition to his wife and son, the victim also leaves behind four daughters.
The outbound I-45 North Freeway was blocked for several hours as deputies and crews cleared the scene. That portion of the highway was finally removed around 5:30 p.m.
So far, no charges have been filed against the 18-wheeler driver, but the investigation into the accident is ongoing. According to Gonzalez, the truck’s maintenance records will be reviewed to determine if any negligence in maintenance might have contributed to the tragedy.
Vehicle-Related Issues a Frequent Cause of Truck & 18-Wheeler Accidents
In 2018, vehicle-related issues contributed to about 6% of the fatal truck accidents in the United States.
Federal regulations mandate that commercial trucking companies regularly inspect their trucks to ensure they’re always in good repair. They’re also required to keep records of maintenance and inspections. If you or someone you love were injured or tragically killed in a truck or 18-wheeler accident, the ability to access those records could mean the difference between receiving maximum compensation for all of your injuries and losses and walking away with nothing.
Having successfully represented thousands of truck and 18-wheeler accident victims, it’s unfortunately been our experience that the trucking company will never voluntarily turn over maintenance records or other documentation proving they and its driver were at fault. Faced with a potentially large – and possibly record-breaking – verdict or settlement, the company is far more likely “lose” or even destroy vital evidence.
To counter these tactics, truck accident victims and their survivors must hire an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer – one who’s successfully taken on the largest trucking companies in the world- with the resources to bring in top accident reconstruction and medical experts and conduct a complete crash investigation.
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Our Undefeated Houston 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers have won Billions – including the Largest Accident Settlement in Texas – for crash victims and families against the biggest trucking companies in the world and consistently recover record-breaking verdicts and settlements on their behalf.
If you have legal questions regarding the tragic 18-wheeler accident along the North Freeway on August 4th or any other trucking-related crash, our Texas Truck Accident Lawyers are ready to help. Call 1-888-603-3636, use our website’s “chat now” option, or click here to fill out our confidential contact form.
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