Trucking accidents result in thousands of catastrophic and devastating injuries and deaths each year in the United States.
Semi-truck drivers and the trucking companies they work for have a duty to operate these big rig trucks in a safe and responsible manner. Unsafe driving, oversized loads and various other treacherous practices put the public and the truck operators in danger. In 1999, an estimated 1,027,000 people were involved in 451,000 large truck related crashes.
Of those, 5,362 people were killed and 142,000 people injured; a third suffering severe brain damage or loss of a limb. This equals more than sixteen truck-related injuries an hour, and more than fourteen truck-related deaths a day. Trucks with a gross vehicle weight of greater than 10,000 pounds accounted for the majority of accidents, deaths, and injuries. Such trucks were involved in 412,000 crashes, which resulted in 4,831 deaths and 127,000 injuries.
Texas Accident Help Center - Truck Accident Lawsuit Investigation
In every semi truck accident injury or death case, immediate attention must be taken to preserving and documenting the scene of the accident and the different vehicles in question. Our lawyer typically would hire a private investigator and accident reconstruction engineer to go to the scene of the truck accident and gather the evidence needed in the trial of this matter. This would include locating the vehicles and photographing each of them and to check for any truck equipment defects or maintenance issues that may have contributed to the accident as well. Additionally, interviewing the police officers, EMS medical personnel, wrecker drivers and any witnesses to the accident is essential.
Texas Accident Help Center - Truck Accident Causes
In a car - truck accident there may be a multitude of reasons that the truck accident occurred in the first place.
Some of the most common causes of trucking accidents include:
- Lack of Training on the part of the truck driver;
- Overloaded Trucks;
- Oversized Trucks;
- Poorly maintained brakes on the trucks;
- Driving in conditions of poor visibility due to smoke fog, snow or rain;
- Truck driver inexperience;
- Fatigued, sleepy or tired driver driving too long and too many hours without rest;
- Speeding over the limit or driving at speeds or beyond the road and weather conditions;
- Running off the road;
- Failure to yield the right of way;
- Aggressive driving behavior;
- Truck drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol while driving;
- Driving the truck in bad weather conditions;
- Dangerous or reckless truck driver with a long record of wrecks and accidents;
- Unsafe safety systems, reflectors, lights and other warning devices and
- Failure of truck to have installed an underide protection underguard.
Dealing with Trucking Companies or their Insurance Carriers after an Accident
Remember you are NOT negotiating on level ground when dealing with a trucking company after a wreck. Accident claims resulting from truck accidents is a normal daily operation. Most trucking companies are highly skilled at auto truck accident investigation and claims practice. These adjusters represent the truck company, not you. Do not give them any type statements or sign any releases for medical records or employment records. Often the medical release allows the adjuster to talk to the doctors without you or anyone being present.
Truck companies have accident investigators that are on call and dispatched to the scene of the crash as soon as the trucking company learns there has been an accident. Further while the families of the accident victims are tending to medical and hospital care and funeral arraignments, the trucking company is investigating the accident and setting up their defense. This is why the victims big truck accidents need to also have a team of investigators on their side, fighting for their rights.
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