18 Wheeler Truck Accidents
Truck Accidents in Texas
Because Texas is a liability insurance state, you can sue the truck driver or trucking company responsible for causing the accident. Your attorney will need to prove that the driver’s or company’s irresponsible behavior led to the accident. Examples of negligent behavior could include:
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Speeding
- Unsafe driving for road conditions
- Driving while fatigued
- Distracted driving such as cell phone use, texting or eating
- Demanding drivers meet unrealistic delivery deadlines
- Failing to perform necessary vehicle inspections to ensure vehicle safety
- Not providing necessary truck maintenance (new tires, part replacements, etc.)
- Violating hours of service by expecting drivers to drive longer than the law allows
How 18 Wheeler Accidents Differ
from Other Traffic Accidents
Due to the size and momentum of an 18-wheeler, impacts are more forceful than when two passenger cars crash. Therefore, the chances for serious injury and death are much greater during 18-wheeler wrecks.
In addition, state governments and the federal government highly regulate the trucking industry. Drivers must pass drug tests and conform to strict schedules to ensure they are not driving while fatigued. Regulations also apply to different truck sizes, and trucks are subject to regular inspections and maintenance.
In fact, most commercial trucking companies equip trucks with black boxes to keep track of the driver’s logged driving hours. A black box is an onboard recording device. Some black boxes record speed, distance traveled between destinations and erratic driving.
Often, truck accident lawyers can obtain black box information to use as evidence for proving fault in a case.
Types of Injury Cases We Handle
Personal Injury
Personal injury happens when someone fails to be responsible, and their negligence or reckless actions lead to harm.
18 Wheeler Accidents
18-wheeler truck accidents involving semi-truck tractors and trailers often result in life-threatening injuries or the death of a loved one.
Car Wrecks
Every year close to 500,000 car wrecks take place in Texas, which occur at the rate of one crash every one hour and 57 seconds. (TXDOT 2021 statistics)
Rural Road Accidents
Did you know that the majority of accidents in Texas and throughout the United States take place on rural roads and highways?
Hwy 80, 30 & 20 Accidents
Car wrecks are common in Texas where Farm-to-Market (FM) roadways intersect with other highways, such as HWY 20, 30 and 80.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit
In a wrongful death lawsuit, family members sue another person or persons who knowingly or negligently caused the death of their loved one.
Reasons to Contact A Lawyer
Right Away about
18 Wheeler Accidents in Texas
The sooner an attorney can get access to a black box and other evidence, the less chance there is that evidence will disappear. A company may only keep recorded evidence for a certain length of time. Eye-witnesses may become difficult to locate.
Another reason to contact an accident lawyer is that deadlines exist for filing lawsuits. If you miss the deadline, you could lose your right to sue for damages. The deadline is called a statute of limitations. You have up to two years from the date of a truck accident to sue for damages. If your loved one died as a result of a truck accident, you have two years from the date of their death to file a lawsuit.
Your Local Texas Injury Attorney
Contact Us
Tell Us About Your Injury
205 E. US Hwy 80, Ste. 105
Forney, Texas 75126