Trucking Accidents

Whether they are referred to as large trucks, big rigs, 18-wheelers, or tractor-trailers, they constitute a very high percentage of traffic crashes and deaths on the road. The legal definition of a “large truck” is any truck whose vehicle weight is over 10,000 pounds. Because of their immense size, crashes involving large trucks more often result in serious injury and death than crashes only involving cars. Approximately 10% of persons injured in a large truck crash will die. Federal and state regulations govern the trucking industry and cover specific areas such as equipment safety and driver work hours. Poor equipment and driver fatigue are frequent causes of crashes, and careful study of trucking company records and driver log books by an expert attorney may be necessary to determine if negligence has occurred.

Often, the fault lies with the trucking company. To lower expenditures and increase profit, some trucking operations have been known to cut safety measures and drivers’ wages, resulting in unsafe rigs operated by overworked truckers. Drug use among long-haul truck drivers is on the rise, as the need to stay awake increases. Falsification of logs by the driver is another result, as it allows them to stay on the road despite defective brakes, worn tires, and overweight or unbalanced loads.

The terrible consequence of these actions is that innocent motorists and pedestrians are injured in semi truck accidents. We have handled these cases in the past and we know how to handle them properly: by consulting with trucking industry safety experts across Texas, reconstructing the accident step by step, checking driver log books and company records, and evaluating the vehicle’s condition. We are dedicated to assuring that people injured in semi truck accidents are appropriately compensated for their injuries.

If you believe you may have a large truck injury case, contact us today for more information.