Texas Truck Accidents Attorney in Austin and Houston

If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, it is crucial that you seek legal counsel right away. A Texas truck accident lawyer from our firm can guide you through the legal process and determine which strategies can help you obtain the most positive results possible.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

There are numerous factors that can cause a trucking collision. Some of the most common causes of trucking accidents are:

• Aggressive Driving – Abrupt lane changes, speeding, impatient driving and tailgating are just a few examples. Unlike smaller vehicles, larger semi-trucks and 18 wheelers require more time to slow down and move around. Truck drivers must compensate for their larger vehicles by exercising greater caution than other drivers on the road.
• Driver Fatigue and Drowsy Driving – The United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration provides strict guidelines that regulate how much time a commercial truck driver can spend on the road. Unfortunately, many drivers and the companies they work for abuse these regulations to save time and money.
• Alcohol, Illegal Substances and Prescription Drugs– Drug and alcohol abuse among commercial truck drivers continues to be a major problem and cause of many deadly accidents. The most commonly abused substances include alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and amphetamines. Drivers often use amphetamines to stay awake longer and reach their destination sooner.
• Inexperienced Drivers
• Distracted driving – Truck drivers spend a great deal of time away from their family and friends. Their entire work day/night is spent behind the wheel. Many commercial drivers routinely use their cell phones to send text messages, make calls, and browse the internet while driving a truck that weighs in excess of 80,000 pounds.
• Improper maintenance – Companies and their drivers have a duty to routinely inspect their vehicles. These simple maintenance checks of brakes, tires, fluid leaks, and even wipers can make all the difference between a safe truck and a dangerous one. Truck brakes wear down and must be replaced.
• Loss of Control Due to Weather Conditions
• Failure to comply with signs and signals

Seek a Truck Accident Attorney for Significant Injuries

Many truck accident victims suffer the following injuries related to collisions with trucks:

• Fractures
• Back and neck injuries, including herniated discs
• Brain injuries
• Paralysis
• Internal injury to organs
• Joint injuries such as the knee, hip, and shoulder
• Fatalities

 

Texas Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims

There is a four-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Texas. Thus, an individual who is injured in a trucking accident has four years from the date of the accident to file a claim. Families of victims who wish to file wrongful death claims have a two year statute of limitations in most cases. This means that the family of a victim who died in a trucking accident has two years from the date of the victim’s death to file a claim.