17 vehicles were involved in deadly the I-35 crash
Five people were killed and eleven injured in a major, multi-vehicle collision on the evening of March 13th in Austin, Texas. According to NBC affiliate KXAN, one individual has been charged:
"Police sources confirmed with KXAN the person arrested was the driver of a semi-truck hauling for Amazon. The driver involved in this incident is not an Amazon employee. … The owner of ZBN Transport LLC said Friday afternoon there’s been no contact with its semi-truck driver."
(KXAN)
According to Austin police, the alleged driver has been charged with multiple counts of intoxication manslaughter.
Amazon, like many other large corporations, has chosen to expand its operations via an array of third-party contractors rather than relying solely upon employees. This provides the company with greater flexibility on pay and benefits, and may also seem like attractive way to reduce liability for accidents like the above.
However, many large corporations have discovered that merely declaring a worker to be an “independent contractor” does not necessarily make it so. In one notable example, a court of appeals in Oregon ruled that Domino’s Pizza, Inc. was directly responsible for an accident caused by one of their franchisee’s delivery drivers, and could not disclaim liability. A decade later, the Supreme Court of Ireland found the same.
Amazon has also faced legal scrutiny over its "Delivery Service Partner" program in the state of Georgia: "Jurors Thursday handed down a $16.2 million verdict at trial against Amazon Logistics and a service partner. ... Notably, jurors also concluded that Amazon exercised sufficient control over defendant Fly Fella Logistics to render the delivery giant liable."
(Courtroom View Network)
To be considered truly “independent”, a contractor should exercise significant control over his own schedule, and be able to make decisions over how and when to provide services. When a company policy guarantees a specific delivery timeframe, or denies digital app or marketplace access to a contractor based on number of jobs taken per week, they may risk having the supposedly “independent” contractor being considered an employee.
If you have been seriously injured by a commercial driver, or a contractor for a major corporation, the Texas 18-wheeler accident experts at Wham & Rogers, PLLC can help. Speak to an attorney today by calling (832) 592-1108 or leaving us a message on our
contact page.
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If you own a vehicle with keyless entry or a "push-to-start" ignition, you need to know about the relay attack.
Intersections and high center of gravity vehicles are associated with dangerous rollover crashes.
Can Parents be Held Liable for Their Child’s Negligence on an E-Bike?
When robot s rule the road, who's responsible for safety?
The crash at the intersection of Lake Woodlands and Grogans Mill knocked the wheels right off the Ford F-150.
On February 18, 2026, an accident involving a motorcycle and two other vehicles occurred on Aldine Westfield Road near Wood River Drive, Fox26 Houston reports. An off-duty officer was operating the motorcycle and was found unresponsive at the scene. Despite the efforts of EMS and firefighters, they were unable to save the deputy. The investigation into the crash is being handled by the Precinct 4 accident investigation team, and all lanes on Aldine Westfield Road were shut down due to the incident. The driver of the vehicle stayed on the scene and was not impaired at the time of the accident. It is not yet clear if the crash was related to the arrest of a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputy at the scene, who was charged with DWI.
February 12th, 2026, Houston: An 18-wheeler rollover on Southwest Freeway near Chimney Rock Road blocked multiple outbound lanes, leading to major delays for commuters, KHOU reports. The truck rolled onto its passenger side, crushing a pickup truck and dragging it approximately 100 yards. Fortunately, the pickup truck’s driver escaped unscathed, and there were no reported injuries. Fire officials also noted that the semi-truck did not lose its load during the incident. If you have been injured in a serious truck or 18-wheeler accident in Texas, please call Wham & Rogers for a free consultation at 832-592-1108 .
On February 5, 2026, a dramatic rescue unfolded on Highway 290 near Mason Road in Cypress, Texas, when a woman found herself trapped in her vehicle after a major two-vehicle crash. The crash caused significant delays, with two westbound main lanes on Highway 290 remaining closed. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office reported that when emergency services arrived at the scene, they discovered the woman wedged underneath a truck . This type of accident is called a Side Underride Crash , and car manufacturers face pressure to install additional safeguards. Thanks to the efforts of first responders, the woman was safely removed from her vehicle and taken to the hospital for further care. If you have been injured in a serious car accident in Houston, please call Wham & Rogers for a free consultation at 832-592-1108.
A new video released after a fatal crash in the Texas Panhandle shows a truck on US 87 crashing into four young women from the Houston area. The women had to reduce their speed due to a flat tire, and had turned the hazard lights on. Despite their precautions, an 18-wheeler transporting produce for the San Antonio-based grocery chain H-E-B collided with the Nissan Altima, tragically killing the driver and three passengers. Long hours, insufficient training and lax monitoring make commercial vehicle and big rig accidents all too common on Texas roadways.
On the afternoon of June 28th, a truck driver allegedly fell asleep while driving an 18-wheeler on I-20 east of Dallas , causing him to crash into four cars and three 18-wheelers. This accident resulted in five deaths and an unknown number of injuries. This crash caused I-20 to be closed for several hours on Saturday while the victims were treated and the vehicles were removed from the scene. The driver was arrested the next day after admitting to falling asleep while driving, and is facing five counts of manslaughter along with a count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. 18-wheeler accidents have become a near daily occurrence, putting many drivers at risk. It is important to obtain counsel immediately if you have been in a collision with an 18-wheeler to ensure evidence is preserved and the accident is investigated thoroughly. If you have been injured in a serious 18-wheeler or commercial vehicle accident in Texas, call Wham & Rogers at 832-592-1108 for a free consultation.
