Pasadena, TX Truck Accident Lawyers

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end truck accidents are among the most common and dangerous crashes in Pasadena, especially on high-traffic roads like Highway 225 and Beltway 8. Due to their massive size, fully loaded commercial trucks require significantly more distance to stop compared to passenger vehicles.

When truck drivers fail to brake in time due to speeding, distracted driving, or fatigue, they can slam into the back of smaller cars. Given the sheer weight of an 18-wheeler, these crashes often cause severe whiplash, spinal injuries, or even fatalities.

• Common on Highway 225 and Beltway 8 due to high traffic
• Trucks need 40% more stopping distance than cars
• Causes severe whiplash, spinal injuries, and fatalities
• Usually due to speeding, distraction, or driver fatigue

Jackknife Accidents

Jackknife accidents occur when a truck's trailer swings out at a sharp angle, resembling a folding pocket knife. This generally happens when truck drivers brake too suddenly, particularly on wet or slick roads in Pasadena, such as during heavy storms near Fairmont Parkway or Red Bluff Road.

When a trailer swings out of control, it can block multiple lanes, leading to multi-vehicle pile ups and severe injuries. Jackknife accidents are especially hazardous on Pasadena’s congested freeways, where limited space makes avoiding collisions nearly impossible.

• Trailer swings out at a sharp angle, blocking lanes
• Typically caused by sudden braking or wet roads 
• High risk on congested highways with limited escape routes
• Can lead to massive multi-vehicle pileups

Rollover Accidents

Rollover truck accidents happen when a truck tips over onto its side or roof, often due to high speeds, sharp turns, or improperly loaded cargo. Pasadena’s industrial zones see frequent truck traffic carrying heavy freight, and if loads are unbalanced or exceed weight limits, rollovers become more likely.

This type of accident is particularly dangerous on exit ramps along the Sam Houston Tollway, where sudden turns at high speeds can cause a truck to overturn, crushing nearby vehicles and blocking entire roadways.

• Occurs when trucks tip over due to speed or cargo imbalance
• Common near industrial areas and sharp exit ramps
• Can crush vehicles and block major roadways
• Usually linked to overloaded or improperly secured cargo

T-Bone Collisions

T-bone crashes, also called side-impact collisions, happen when a truck crashes into the side of another vehicle at a perpendicular angle. These accidents are common at busy Pasadena intersections like

Spencer Highway and Preston Road, where truck drivers may run red lights or fail to yield. 
Because the sides of passenger vehicles provide less protection than the front or rear, occupants in these crashes may suffer severe injuries, including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and internal bleeding.

• Happens at busy intersections like Spencer Hwy & Preston Rd
• Typically due to running red lights or failing to yield
• Side impact causes severe injuries like TBIs and fractures
• Passenger vehicles have less protection in side crashes

Underride Accidents

Underride accidents occur when a smaller vehicle gets trapped beneath the rear or side of a tractor-trailer. These crashes are among the deadliest because the roof of the car can be crushed, resulting in catastrophic injuries or fatalities.

Pasadena’s highways, where high-speed trucking routes intersect with local roads, are particularly prone to underride accidents. While federal regulations require trucks to have underride guards, defective or missing guards can lead to devastating consequences for passenger vehicles.

• Car slides under a truck, leading to catastrophic injuries
• Deadliest type of truck crash due to roof crushing
• Common on Pasadena highways with high-speed trucking
• Poor or missing underride guards increase fatality risk

Head-On Collisions

Head-on truck crashes are some of the most severe accidents, often resulting in fatalities. These occur when a truck crosses the center line or drives the wrong way due to driver fatigue, intoxication, or distraction.

Roads like Red Bluff Road and Pasadena Boulevard see frequent truck traffic, and a single miscalculation can lead to a deadly head-on collision. Given the weight disparity between an 18-wheeler and a passenger car, these crashes almost always result in severe injuries or death for the occupants of the smaller vehicle.

• Some of the most deadly truck accidents in Pasadena
• Often caused by driver fatigue, distraction, or intoxication
• High risk on two-lane roads like Red Bluff Rd
• Smaller vehicles take the brunt of the impact

Blind Spot Accidents

Trucks have large blind spots on all four sides, often called "no-zones," where smaller vehicles can disappear from a truck driver's view. When truck drivers fail to check these blind spots before changing lanes or merging, serious collisions can occur.

Pasadena’s busy highways, such as I-45 and the Pasadena Freeway, see heavy commercial traffic, making blind spot accidents a significant risk. Motorists who linger in a truck’s no-zone may be sideswiped or forced off the road.

• Trucks have large blind spots on all four sides
• Common on I-45 and Pasadena Freeway with heavy traffic
• Passenger vehicles can get sideswiped or forced off the road
• Drivers must avoid lingering in a truck’s no-zone

Wide Turn Accidents

Trucks require extra space to make turns, particularly right turns. When truck drivers misjudge a turn or fail to check for nearby vehicles, they can crush cars caught in their path. Pasadena’s commercial and industrial areas, such as Richey Street and Southmore Avenue, frequently see wide turn accidents where trucks swing too wide, hitting pedestrians, cyclists, or other vehicles.

• Trucks need extra space, especially for right turns
• Generally occur in busy commercial areas like Southmore Ave
• Pedestrians, cyclists, and cars can be caught in the turn
• Driver miscalculations lead to serious collisions

Lost Load Accidents

Improperly secured cargo can lead to lost load accidents, where freight falls off a truck and creates dangerous road hazards. Pasadena’s port-related trucking activity means a variety of heavy cargo is transported through the city daily.

If cargo loaders fail to secure items correctly, debris can spill onto major routes like Highway 146, causing serious multi-vehicle crashes. These accidents can also occur if a truck carrying hazardous materials experiences a load shift, increasing the risk of explosions or toxic exposure.

• Cargo falls off due to improper securing or shifting loads
• High risk in Pasadena’s port and industrial trucking routes
• Can cause multi-vehicle crashes or road hazards
• Hazardous materials may spill, creating toxic exposure risks

Multi-Vehicle Pileups

Given the significant trucking presence in Pasadena’s industrial and port regions, multi-vehicle pileups involving commercial trucks are a major concern. These chain-reaction crashes often begin with a single truck colliding with one vehicle, leading to a domino effect as more cars become involved.

Pasadena’s high-traffic zones, such as the intersections of Fairmont Parkway and Beltway 8, are prime locations for these dangerous collisions. In these cases, victims may face complex legal battles involving multiple parties, including truck drivers, trucking companies, and other negligent motorists.

• Chain-reaction crashes involving trucks and multiple cars
• Common at high-traffic spots like Fairmont Pkwy & Beltway 8
• Can involve numerous liable parties, complicating claims
• Severe injuries due to multiple impacts and flying debris