If you were injured in a crash with an 18-wheeler that wasn’t your fault, you might be entitled to compensation from the party that caused the crash. You’re probably getting big medical bills for treatment of your injuries, and if your injuries are keeping you off work, you’re likely worried about meeting your regular expenses, too. An experienced Houston 18-wheeler truck accident attorney can help you pursue compensation from the person or company that caused your injuries.
Whether they’re called “18-wheelers,” “big-rigs,” or “semi-trucks,” multi-axle over-the-road trucks play an essential role in the economy. Approximately two million 18-wheelers carry freight over 140 billion miles each year in the United States. Of 37,133 fatal accidents in a recent year, over 13 percent involved a large truck or bus.
A fully loaded 18-wheeler can weigh 80,000 pounds. They can neither stop on a dime nor are they easy to maneuver. A car typically weighs only 4,000 pounds. Whatever the type of collision, when an 18-wheeler collides with a passenger vehicle, the disparity in weight and force causes catastrophic damage and personal injury. Fatalities can also occur. When a vehicle collides with a large truck, 82 percent of fatalities are the occupants of the other vehicle. In a recent year, Texas led the nation in large truck accidents, with 580 fatalities.
If you have been injured in an accident with an 18-wheeler, or if a loved one lost their life in such an accident, the Houston truck accident attorneys of The DJF Law Firm, PLLC can help guide you through the process of an insurance claim and, if needed, a lawsuit, to help you hold the negligent parties accountable and move forward with your life.
Truck drivers must have specialized training and obtain a commercial driver’s license, which also requires them to pass periodic medical evaluations. The government has promulgated safety regulations designed to encourage safe truck operations. These regulations include limits on drive time, rest requirements, weight limits for trailers, and special rules for carrying hazardous materials.
Despite these safety measures, truck drivers are still human. They get distracted, tired, or even drive recklessly. And despite regulations, trucks are machines and still sometimes fail. A breakdown in the braking or steering systems, or even a tire blowout, can all cause devastating accidents.
Further, despite the safety regulations, some drivers and truck companies play fast and loose with the rules to push higher profits, threatening the safety of those sharing the roads with big trucks. Drivers or trucking companies can ignore hours of operation limits and rest requirements, overload trucks, forge logbooks, or otherwise flaunt safety laws.
While each accident has different variables (such as the number of vehicles involved, their speed, their weight, and the angles of the crash), some common types of injuries often accompany the traumatic force of an 18-wheeler accident. These can include:
Accidents with 18-wheelers can be more complicated than typical car crashes. You need an attorney like the Houston truck accident attorneys of The DJF Law Firm, PLLC, who understand these complications and can help you fight the trucking company and their insurance company for recovery. Truck accident cases differ from typical car accidents and can be particularly complex because:
Accidents with 18-wheelers can cause catastrophic injuries. Eighteen-wheeler accident injuries often result in more medical costs, more prolonged loss of earnings, and more intense and continuing pain and suffering. Some injuries will result in continued care, sometimes for life. These costs should be assessed by an experienced attorney.
Injuries from hazardous chemicals are also possible. Some 18-wheelers carry a cargo of dangerous or caustic liquid or gaseous chemicals, which can cause serious health complications, even if they are not immediately apparent. The medical issues in these types of cases can be far more complicated than in a slip-and-fall case. The attorneys of The DJF Law Firm, PLLC have the experience to understand your medical records and work with doctors and expert witnesses to build your case.
Also, layers of overlapping state and federal regulations govern the trucking industry. Trucks have height and weight limits that must be adhered to for the truck to operate safely on highways and pass under bridges and through tunnels. Drivers have maximum hours of operation and mandatory rest periods. Truckers must transport different types of cargo, such as hazardous chemicals, according to stricter safety requirements. You need an attorney who knows these rules and can identify when a negligent party has broken them.
Finally, it is not just the 18-wheeler driver who may be at fault. The trucking industry includes many players. The trucking company is responsible for ensuring its drivers follow regulations and operate safely. For example, a company must provide enough time for a driver to carry the load at the proper speed limits and with the appropriate rest breaks. Yet sometimes, companies ignore rules for the sake of profit.
Mechanics must ensure that truck repairs and maintenance are done to industry standards. Loaders are responsible for ensuring the truck is not overweight or over height and that they have properly secured the cargo. All these people share a responsibility to keep trucks safely operating on the roadways. If you are injured in an accident with an 18-wheeler, more than one party may be responsible, and we know how to hold the responsible parties accountable.
If a truck accident that wasn’t your fault injured you or caused someone you love to lose their life, we can help. Call our experienced Houston 18-wheeler accident attorneys of The DJF Law Firm, PLLC at 832-529-3476 to learn more about your options. You can also contact us online. We provide a free initial consultation where we can evaluate your claim and inform you of your rights and options.