Captain Jamie “Bull” Graham

McKinney Fire Captain James “Bull” Graham Dies After Off-Duty Crash

Photo Courtesy of McKinney Fire Department

Officials announced on Thursday that McKinney fire captain James “Bull” Graham passed away after an off-duty vehicle crash that occurred earlier this week. Graham had been on life support with family by his side after the accident. He had been with the McKinney Fire Department for over 24 years and was a member of Texas Task Force 2, which provides assistance during urban search and rescue efforts. Graham also worked as an instructor at the Collin College Fire Academy. He is survived by his wife and three adult sons.

News of Captain James “Bull” Graham’s tragic accident sparked an outpouring of support from his friends, family, and colleagues. The McKinney Fire Department has stated that the captain was off duty at the time of the crash, which occurred on Wednesday afternoon near Highway 360 and Power House Street, east of Highway 75. His pickup truck reportedly collided with an 18-wheeler, leaving him with life-threatening injuries. Graham was put on life support, with his wife and three adult sons by his side at the hospital.

Graham was a beloved figure within the McKinney Fire Department, having served with the department since 1999 and rising to the rank of captain seven years ago. He was known as a leader within the department’s Special Operations group, and he played an instrumental role in extrication training efforts across the nation. He was also a member of Texas Task Force 2, which specializes in urban search and rescue situations.

The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, and further details have not been released at this time. The McKinney Fire Department has stated that it will release further updates as they become available.

Rollover Truck Accident Near Seagraves, TX Kills 5

Rollover Truck Accident

A rollover accident involving a Dodge pickup truck and a GMC pickup truck near Seagraves, Texas has killed five people. The victims were identified as Luis Valenzuela, 26, of Sherman, Texas; Isabel Garcia-De La Cerda, 35, of Sherman, Texas; Romulo Molina, 39, of Sherman, Texas; Juan Carlos Enriquez Mendoza, 31, of Mexico and David Dominguez-Juarez, of Mexico. Ramero Aguilar, a passenger in the Dodge, was hospitalized. Ramon Aguilar, the driver of the Dodge pickup, fled the scene but was later found by troopers and taken to a hospital.

The Dodge appears to have struck the GMC from behind, causing the two vehicles to flip and come to rest in the roadside ditch. Authorities are saying that alcohol may be a factor, but are not ready to confirm at this time.

Trucking Company Sued for $100,000 | Experienced truck accident lawyers

A trucking company has been sued in Jefferson County over an incident involving a car accident. The lawsuit alleges that the driver and the transport company are responsible for the wreck, according to reporting on SETexasRecord.com.

The lawsuit seeks $100,000 for the medical expenses, disfigurement, pain and other hardships that the plaintiff suffered due to the accident, according to the reporting. There is no information given on how the accident occurred or where it occurred in the article. The list of reasons why the victim is seeking compensation, however, is useful in understanding the dangers of collisions with semis. Read More

Things to Watch Out for if You’re Suing a Trucking Company

It should come as no surprise to anyone that companies can sometimes be dishonest. If you’re involved in a wreck involving a semi-truck, you might find yourself in a situation where you’re being deceived in a way that’s designed to keep you from exercising your full legal rights and going after the company in court. Here are some things that you definitely have to watch out for. If the trucking company that caused the wreck you were involved with tries them, be sure to contact an 18-wheeler accident attorney right away.

Not Keeping Evidence

In the worst case scenarios, trucking companies will go to great lengths—even ones that cross over into being illegal—to protect themselves from being sued. This may include taking actions such as destroying the logs for the driver involved in the accident or forging new logs. This is harder to do now that there’s technology that keeps track of trucks, where they’re going and when they’re moving, but it’s still something that a company might try to do to ruin your claim.

Having an attorney who understands just how far a trucking company will go to reduce the chances that they’ll lose a lawsuit is imperative if you want to maximize your chances of winning. An attorney who has experience dealing with these claims will notice when something seems off about the evidence they’re given or about anything else, for that matter, and that can make all the difference in whether you walk away with a jury award or with no compensation for the accident you were involved in.

Taking a Statement

In the legal world, there’s nothing quite as innocuous sounding or as potentially detrimental to your winning a claim than making a statement. There’s a reason that people who are accused of crimes—smart, innocent people—refuse to make statements without an attorney present. Making a statement in an official setting, even if you’re just relating the events as you remember them, can get you in a lot of trouble or ruin your chances of ever winning a lawsuit.

Remember that the description of any event can change dramatically depending upon how the person narrating the event is questioned about it. Trucking companies that want someone to take your statement will generally want to herd you into answering the questions in a certain way, which may give them the edge legally.

 

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Trucking Lawsuit Filed Over Servicing

Not everyone who files a lawsuit over an accident involving a semi truck does so because they were injured by a semi driver on the highways. In fact, some of the people who file these lawsuits are semi operators themselves.

A case recently detailed in the Southeast Texas Record details that a semi truck driver is suing a company that services the vehicles over an incident that involved his wife being dragged by the truck. According to the report, the truck had a problem with slipping into gear. The truck was serviced but, after being serviced, the problems continued and, upon consulting with the mechanics, the owner was told that the problems had been fixed. After the incident, his wife ended up being dragged behind the truck after it slipped into gear. Read More

18-wheeler Accident Attorney Sues Trucking Company Over Death

A lawsuit was filed by an 18-wheeler accident attorney and the widow of a man who died as the result of a semi truck running a red light and striking a passenger vehicle head on. The lawsuit was filed in San Francisco over a 2011 incident. The truck allegedly ran a red light and veered into oncoming traffic to avoid a car that was in the intersection legally. As it did, it struck the victim’s Chevy Blazer head on, tipped over and killed the victim instantly.

This is only one example of how deadly semi trucks can be. While many of the claims filed against trucking companies are for property and personal injury, many of them are also, sadly, lawsuits filed over wrongful deaths. Read More

Getting Help After a Truck Accident

The aftermath of a truck accident can be devastating. Quite often, it involves the death of a family member simply because of the vehicles involved in the wreck. Sometimes, you’ll be offered a settlement by the trucking company in exchange for not suing them, sometimes not. Either way, you should get a lawyer for several different reasons.

Negligence Is not Always Obvious

When people are involved in car accidents, the only thing on their mind is fear, and this is entirely understandable. This also leads to a situation where they tend not to remember what happened during the accident. An attorney has the investigative skills to look back at what happened and to piece everything together. This includes being able to determine whether or not the trucking company was negligent in some regard and it may mean the difference between winning and losing a lawsuit. Read More

Truck Accident Kills Motorcyclist

It should come as no surprise to anyone that motorcyclists are at greater danger when they are on the highways that are most other motorists. The smaller vehicles that they ride, the fact that they have no roll cage around them and the fact that these vehicles can be difficult to see for other drivers all make motorcycles risky. In Sun Diego, a motorcyclist recently lost his life on the 405 freeway during a collision with a truck. Read More

Investigating Semi Truck Wrecks

Accidents involving semi trucks can be complex. In addition to the fact that the wreck itself has to be investigated, there are other factors that come into play. Trucking companies and the drivers that work for them have to adhere to strict standards regarding working conditions, the amount of time that drivers spend on the road and other factors. These have to be investigated, as well as physical evidence of the crash, to determine what happened and how it happened. Read More

After an 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer Advice

Jeff RasanskyIf you are in a truck accident, it is important that you do everything you can to document the events surrounding the truck accident. Jeff Rasansky, managing partner at the Rasansky Law Firm and Truck Accident Attorney gives critical advice to people who have been involved in semi truck accidents.  If you have been injured in an 18 wheeler truck accident contact an attorney for a free case investigation and consultation.  Let us help you get the compensation needed to continue life after a truck collision.

Follow these tips if possible:

  • Make observations at the scene, and do not move debris.
  • Take photos with a digital camera or your cell phone.
  • Get relevant eyewitness accounts, paying attention to the language and phrases they use, including the words “slammed into,” “plowed,” “speeding,” and more general accounts of the event.
  • Take down ALL contact information – other drivers and parties to the truck accident, witnesses, police and emergency personnel, and anyone else on the scene.
  • Write down exactly what happened while it is still fresh in your mind.
  • Note where you are, the weather, road conditions, traffic level, time of day, and how the accident occurred.
  • Contact your insurance company and notify them of the accident.
  • Contact an experienced truck accident lawyer for a review of your legal rights, responsibilities, and potential compensation for your case.

A car accident with a large truck is a serious matter and a unique and complex area of personal injury law. It is essential to consult an experienced truck accident lawyer to review your case and advocate for you against the trucking company. Do not attempt to negotiate with the trucking company yourself. Trucking companies are notorious for minimizing claims and will attempt to strong-arm you out of your legal rights and rightful compensation for your injuries. Contact the Rasansky Law Firm to speak with our truck accident lawyers about how we can help if you’ve been injured in a truck accident.

We demand strict professional standards. Our Dallas-based attorneys are among the finest truck accident lawyers and have resolved many multi-million dollar personal injury cases. We are passionate about our role as advocates and treat our clients with complete respect and compassion. We are committed to utilizing all available legal advantages and tactics to successfully resolve your personal injury claim.