Fayette County, TX — October 7, 2024, 33-year-old Keith Hartle was injured in a truck accident on State Highway 71 in Fayette County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 5:50 a.m. on Texas 71 near South Kirtley Road. Preliminary investigation suggests a Peterbilt semi-truck was towing a trailer south on Kirtley when the driver turned left onto the eastbound highway. Officers allege the truck driver failed to yield to thru-traffic before turning, and the tractor-trailer entered the path of Hartle’s eastbound Jeep Cherokee. Hartle tried to steer into another lane but was unable to avoid the semi-trailer. After the impact the Jeep spun out and came to a stop.
Keith Hartle suffered serious injuries in the crash. The truck driver was unhurt.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
As always it’s best to keep an open mind until only evidence can tell the whole story, but typically accidents like this happen because a truck driver screwed up. People may think that since the trucker allegedly failed to yield, he his employer would have little choice but to accept responsibility for the victim’s injuries. However, without concrete proof to back that assertion up, there could still be “wiggle room” that might unjustly shift the blame.
In a similar case I handled not long ago, for example, a truck once turned across highway lanes and triggered a deadly accident. The authorities even came out and said the truck driver failed to yield the right-of-way, but his employer disputed their findings. They actually blamed the victim, claiming she was speeding and not wearing her seat belt. I’ve seen that kind or argument time and again through hundreds of commercial vehicle wrecks, so we were prepared with our own independent investigations.
Our evidence included a detailed reconstruction of the crash scene, which clearly showed the victim couldn’t have been speeding leading up to the collision—her car’s speedometer even froze on impact, a common feature that too often goes overlooked by police investigators. We also interviewed several emergency responders who worked to get the victim out of the wreckage, and all agreed they had to cut through the victim’s seatbelt to get her out of the car. With both their main arguments deflated, the trucking company eventually agreed to take responsibility and help the victim.
I wish I could say that case was unique, but the reality is truck accidents usually require that kind of effort to ensure there’s accountability for the harm done to the victims. Authorities might eventually file charges or citations, but their investigations don’t always seek the kind of evidence crash victims need. That’s why getting answers after a truck wreck often requires independent efforts as well. That’s one of the best ways to make sure nothing crucial slips through the cracks.
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