While all motor vehicle accidents are stressful and inconvenient, collisions with commercial trucks can be especially traumatizing. Tractor-trailer collisions are among the most severe types of wrecks, leaving motorists with life-threatening or fatal injuries. The massive size and weight of trucks can make these crashes especially dangerous.

Therefore, federal and state laws and regulations require truckers and the companies that employ them to a higher standard of care. When you are hurt in a crash with a negligent truck driver, a dedicated personal injury attorney could help you collect fair compensation to cover your damages. Call an experienced McAllen truck accident lawyer for help with a case.

What Laws Are Truckers Required to Follow?

The massive size and weight of trucks can make these crashes especially dangerous.
Common types of commercial truck accidents include:

To help prevent these crashes, truck drivers must follow strict safety regulations. Hours of service are the maximum allowable time that tractor-trailer drivers can stay behind the wheel during a shift. The regulations also establish the number and length of breaks semi operators must take to comply with commercial trucking laws. While some exceptions to these rules exist, truckers must adhere to specific requirements under the Texas Administrative Code § 4.12,

Abiding by these regulations, truckers cannot drive for more than 10 hours without resting and must take a break for at least 30 minutes after driving for eight hours. A hardworking lawyer in McAllen could investigate a tractor-trailer collision to determine if the driver complied with safety rules and regulations. A legal representative could also request a truck operator’s driving log to find evidence of liability.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Crash?

Determining liability in a commercial truck accident claim is often more complicated than in a typical car wreck. Multiple parties may share responsibility for causing a collision, and identifying all liable parties is critical to pursuing full compensation for an injured victim’s losses.

The Driver

In many cases, the truck driver may be liable for negligent conduct such as distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence, or violating federal hours-of-service regulations.

Trucking Companies

Liability frequently extends beyond the individual driver. Trucking companies can be held accountable when they fail to properly hire, train, supervise, or monitor their drivers. 

Employers

Employers may also be responsible for accidents caused by drivers acting within the scope of their employment.

Cargo Loading Company

Other parties could contribute to a serious truck collision as well. A cargo loading company may be liable if improperly secured or overloaded cargo causes a truck to shift, tip over, or lose control.

Maintenance Contractors and Manufacturers

Maintenance contractors may bear responsibility when poor inspections or repairs lead to mechanical failures. In some situations, a manufacturer can be held liable if a defective truck component, such as faulty brakes or tires, contributes to a crash.

A thorough investigation is often necessary to determine who caused the accident and whether multiple parties share fault. A skilled McAllen lawyer from our firm could review driver logs, maintenance records, electronic data, and other evidence to identify all potentially liable parties and pursue the compensation an injured truck accident victim deserves.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Commercial truck accidents can occur for many reasons, but many crashes are preventable and result from negligence. Because tractor-trailers are significantly larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, even a minor mistake can have devastating consequences.

Driver Fatigue

Driver fatigue remains one of the leading causes of truck accidents. Long hours behind the wheel can impair reaction time, judgment, and concentration. Although federal regulations limit driving hours, some truck operators or companies fail to comply with these requirements.

Improper Cargo Loading

Improper cargo loading is another common factor. Unbalanced, unsecured, or overloaded cargo can affect a truck’s stability and increase the risk of rollovers, jackknife accidents, and loss-of-control collisions.

Equipment Failure

Equipment failures can also contribute to serious crashes. Defective brakes, tire blowouts, steering problems, and inadequate maintenance may prevent a truck from operating safely on the road.

Speeding

Speeding is particularly dangerous for commercial trucks because their increased size and weight require longer stopping distances. Excessive speed can make it difficult for drivers to avoid hazards or react to sudden traffic changes.

Inadequate Training

Finally, inadequate training can place everyone on the road at risk. Truck drivers must possess specialized skills to safely operate large commercial vehicles. When companies fail to provide proper instruction or hire unqualified drivers, the likelihood of a serious accident increases significantly.

A semi-truck accident lawyer in McAllen could investigate your accident to determine the cause and identify any liable parties.

Speaking With Insurance Agencies After a Truck Crash

Truckers and the companies they work for have insurance agencies and attorneys in their corner, fighting to prove they did not cause a crash. Furthermore, insurance companies working for trucking businesses commonly reach out to the other involved drivers after a crash to get their account of what happened during the wreck. However, while these insurance adjusters might appear helpful, it is usually a bad idea to speak with them; it is their job to try to minimize the settlement for damages. In many cases, insurance adjusters will record an individual’s statement and use a plaintiff’s comments against them to prove they share liability for a collision.

A knowledgeable McAllen attorney could handle all communication and negotiations on an injured semi crash victim’s behalf and fight for a fair settlement amount. If legal representatives cannot reach a fair settlement agreement, they can take a case to civil court.

Damages in Truck Accident Claims

While there is no definitive settlement an injured person can collect after a semi accident, attorneys in McAllen can measure a victim’s losses to determine an appropriate award amount. Because victims of truck collisions typically suffer severe injuries and property damages, compensation is usually significant. A settlement could cover the following expenses:

  • Medical care, including future healthcare costs
  • Lost pay and future earning potential
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Losing the enjoyment of life
  • Permanent disability

Courts often break awards into economic damages, which cover out-of-pocket costs, and non-economic damages, which reimburse plaintiffs for non-monetary losses.

Schedule a Consultation With a Seasoned Truck Accident Attorney in McAllen

Truck drivers have a challenging job and are held to a higher standard of care. Therefore, courts hold them financially accountable when their negligent behavior causes collisions.

A capable McAllen truck accident lawyer could help navigate the civil claims process and advocate on your behalf. Call today to schedule a good time to meet and begin working on your case this week.