Accident on 8018 Wheeler Accidents on the Rise in Texas
According to Tx Dot, in 2014 there were 508 fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles, including 18 wheelers, killing 588 Texans statewide. But that only tells half the story, there 1,155 accidents that caused debilitating injuries to over 1,500 Texans statewide. There were over 3,100 confirmed injury accidents injuring over 4,600 Texans and up to over 11,000 more that are unconfirmed.
The numbers are simply staggering. Texas is a very large state, with thousands of miles of highways and roads. With Texas’ strong economy and high population, accidents between commercial vehicles and standard vehicles are bound to happen.
The trucking industry is large and powerful. Some profit-driven trucking companies place unfair demands on their drivers. Most truck drivers are only paid for moving a product from one location to another. This financial incentive for truckers encourages truckers to engage in negligent and dangerous behaviors on the road. Driver fatigue, driving at excessive speed, using dangerous drugs to stay awake at night while driving and failing to adjust their speed for adverse weather conditions, or a combination of things listed above, can become incredibly dangerous for other driver’s on the road.
Competition is also fierce within the industry. They may delay necessary vehicle inspections, refuse to replace worn or defective parts and pressure their drivers to drive more than the safe number of hours per day. All of these practices have an enormous economic and non-economic toll on society, causing thousands of deaths and millions of dollars in damages each year.
Trucking Accidents are Often Cause by a Combination of Commercial Driver Negligence and Trucking Company Negligence:
Examples of Driver Negligence:
Types of driver negligence include:
- Driver fatigue
- Unsafe driving in adverse weather conditions
- Distracted driving.
- Aggressive Driving
- Drug or Alcohol Use
- Excessive speed, especially in adverse weather conditions
- Failure to follow state and federal regulations
Examples of Trucking Company Negligence
Accidents involving a commercial truck can also be the fault of the trucking company. Examples include:
- Poor maintenance of the vehicles
- Inadequate vehicle inspections
- Unreasonable deadlines
- Improperly loaded/overweight trucks
- Failure to follow state and federal regulations
Third Party Negligence
Sometimes trucking accidents are caused by a third party whose negligence might not initially be apparent. These are third party technicians who performed work on the trucks negligently, or the more likely case, another driver on the road caused the initial accident, but the truck driver’s negligence still played a role.
Experience Matters
Experience matters in trucking cases. There are unique laws and regulations designed specifically to protect motorists from the negligence of truck drivers and trucking companies. Those laws are complex and require specialized knowledge and experience. Because of this, you need the right type of attorney representing you.
Trucking Companies Fight Dirty and Will Spend Money to Avoid Liability
Trucking lawsuits can be expensive, time-consuming and challenging. Many trucking companies and their insurers are well-funded and are willing to fight tooth and nail to avoid liability for their negligence. Because they face enormous potential damages, companies involved in 18-wheeler accidents and their insurance companies will do almost anything to avoid being held legally responsible.
Trucking companies will also contact accidents accident victims and trick them into taking a low-ball offer, hoping to resolve the claim before they can speak with an attorney. They do this to keep the victims from finding out the real value of their claims.
Call the Personal Injury Experts at Guest and Gray:
Because the law is complicated, the costs are high, and the amount of money at stake, the last thing you want to do is entrust your case with an attorney who does not understand the process, and the industry. You want an attorney who can see your case through to the end.
Let the knowledgeable and experienced attorneys at Guest and Gray fight for your rights against the powerful trucking companies. Their goal is to give you the least possible amount for your injuries. Often times, they will attempt to settle with you quickly to avoid costly litigation. Don’t let the trucking company take the easy way out. Call Guest and Gray Today!
