Texas leads the nation in fatal truck accidents. That statement is true for several reasons, the main one being the size of Texas and the number of 18 wheelers traveling on its highways.
Most truck accidents involve fairly serious injuries or wrongful death due to the sheer size of a tractor-trailer compared to a passenger car.
The most common reason for Texas truck accidents is the careless driving on the part of the professional truck driver. Big rigs take much longer to stop than a passenger car. If the brakes on an 18 wheeler or not adjusted properly it can further compound the stopping problem. Additionally, sometimes truckers push it trying to get an extra mileage for economic reasons. Driver fatigue and driver hour violations are also common causes of Texas truck wrecks.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations specify the minimum level of safe performance of both trucking company and truck driver. It is these regulations that establish a duty on the part of the truck driver and trucking company. The State of Texas has adopted the federal regulations.
One factor that is critical in some truck accident cases is a prompt investigation of the accident. Trucking companies and their insurance carriers have quick response teams that get to the scene of an accident very quickly. Victims who do not retain experienced Texas truck accident lawyers are often disadvantaged from the very start of a truck accident case.
When selecting a Houston truck accident attorney look for a track record of success combined with the economic staying power to fight the large insurance company which will be defending the case. There is no substitute for experience in truck accident litigation.
