On September 26, 2023, an adult and a teen were killed—with another teen in critical condition—following a serious crash with a tractor-trailer on the northbound lane of I-35 and mile marker 41 near the La Salle County. The catastrophe occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety preliminary reports, the commercial truck driver collided with a Ford pickup truck, which caused the Ford to tip and roll over. The Ford rolled over several times, causing severe injuries to the occupants.
The La Salle Sheriff’s Office first investigated the crash, but as is often the case in fatal crashes on Texas highways, TxDPS and Texas State Troopers took over the investigation. Reporting indicates that there was an active construction zone near the crash site, where there had been heavy traffic gathering. Apparently, the crash may have been caused when the tractor-trailer driver slowed down suddenly to adjust for oncoming traffic, which prompted action from the Ford pickup.
In the State of Texas, commercial truck drivers are under an elevated duty of care to drive responsibly to not endanger others who also are on the roadway. According to the “SMITH System,” an industry standard that sets the bar for what is reasonable conduct for commercial truck drivers, commercial drivers are always to be scanning for distant congestion and plan for a way out.
If you or a loved one have been injured by a collision with a tractor-trailer, it is important that you act expediently to protect your legal rights and prospective remedies against the guilty party. The first step in protecting your rights is to hire an attorney who can explain your rights and options as it relates to your case. Abraham Watkins Nichols Agosto Aziz & Stogner is the oldest Plaintiff’s firm in Texas, made up of attorneys with superior skill, experience, and knowledge to aid you in pursuing your case. Call us today at 713-222-7211 or 1-800-870-9584 for your free consultation.