In the early morning of October 4, 2023, at approximately 5:30 a.m., a 52-year-old man from Buffalo, Texas, driving a 1997 Chevrolet pickup was killed in a fatal crash with a commercial tractor-trailer that had jack-knifed and blocked northeast lanes of traffic on Highway 79 near Oakwood, Texas. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety preliminary reports, the commercial truck driver was traveling southwest at an unsafe speed on a wet roadway, which caused or contributed to the tractor-trailer’s jackknife. The pickup truck collided with the jackknifed rig, which caused catastrophic damage to the pickup truck. The driver of the pickup was pronounced deceased on the scene by Leon County Justice of the Peace.
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. This is especially so with wet road conditions.
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 a free consultation.