Causes of Truck Accidents

Practice Areas Truck Accidents Causes of Truck Accidents

An Experienced Alvin Truck Accident Lawyer Establishes Liability to Recover Compensation

The National Safety Council reports that the rate at which trucks on the road are involved in collisions resulting in injuries and deaths has increased dramatically over the past decade. Overall, death involvement rates for trucks have increased by 40%. And their statistics also show that truck accidents in Texas cause far more deaths than in any other state.

Understanding the causes of truck accidents can help you avoid accidents to a certain extent. But many times, despite your best efforts at safety and prevention, you may become the victim of a truck collision. When that happens, having the ability to determine and prove the causes of the accident can make all the difference between receiving full compensation for your injuries and being forced to shoulder the burden entirely on your own.

At DeKeyzer Law, we understand truck accident liability at a level few firms in Texas can match. We built our reputation on our ability to successfully recover compensation for victims of commercial truck accidents in complex and contentious cases. When you need a truck accident lawyer to gain justice for your losses and resources for your future, you can count on Holland and Meagan DeKeyzer to fight for your rights effectively and compassionately. Unlike the mega-law firms, we can provide you with personalized attention throughout your legal journey. We are not trying to see how many cases we can process each month. Instead, we focus on obtaining the maximum compensation for each individual client.

Investigating to Determine the Cause of a Truck Accident

Trucks are longer and heavier than passenger vehicles, making them more challenging to operate safely. When a truck collides with a lighter passenger vehicle, the smaller vehicle can be crushed, leading to serious and often fatal injuries. However, regardless of the severity of the accident victims’ injuries, they still require extensive evidence to establish liability; otherwise, they will not be able to recover the compensation they are entitled to for their losses. It can be next-to-impossible to engage in an intense investigation while dealing with physical and emotional injuries caused by the accident. For that reason, it is helpful to begin working with an experienced Alvin truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after the crash.

We can investigate the causes of the collision and collect evidence early on when it is strongest. As time passes, evidence becomes less valuable and harder to find. For instance, details surrounding the scene of the accident will change, so it is essential to take detailed photographs as soon as possible. The memories of witnesses become less reliable over time, so it is crucial to locate and interview them promptly. Footage from traffic cameras may be recorded over regularly, so we would want to take prompt action to preserve the images.

While we conduct investigations, we can also handle questions from insurance companies. This allows you to focus on healing and recovery in peace.

Often, investigations by a lawyer reveal that multiple factors combined to cause the accident. This means that more than one party may be held legally responsible. Having multiple defendants makes the case far more complicated, but it also provides potential additional resources for compensation, which can be a beneficial situation for our clients.

Causes Point to Liability

When our investigations reveal the cause or causes of a truck accident, we can identify the parties who may be charged with legal liability and required to provide compensation. But the issues are rarely simple. For instance, if it appears that a truck drifted out of the travel lane on the highway because the driver was distracted by a conversation on the two-way radio, the driver would clearly share in the blame, but the driver might not be the only party at fault. If the driver’s employer contacts the driver and insists on speaking with them immediately, without giving the driver the opportunity to pull off the highway, then the employer may also be at fault.

Some of the most common causes we have encountered in our practice include:

• Driver fatigue. This could be due to poor time management on the part of the truck driver, but it could also be triggered by unrealistic schedule demands from the driver’s employer.
• Improperly loaded cargo. If the company that loaded cargo onto the truck did not balance the load correctly, it can cause the truck to overturn when going around a bend or corner. If the load is not secured properly, it can shift in transit, causing the truck to move in unexpected ways.
• Aggressive or reckless driving. Driving too fast for conditions, changing lanes too quickly, tailgating, and other aggressive driving practices are common causes of truck accidents in Texas. If the driver’s employer was aware of these unsafe practices and failed to address them, the employer could potentially be liable as well as the driver.
• Distracted driving. The Texas Department of Transportation reports that inattentive driving remains a significant contributor to all types of motor vehicle crashes in our state, including truck accidents.
• Poor maintenance. If the owner of the truck or the company responsible for maintenance and repairs had not conducted adequate inspections or performed proper repairs, then parts of the truck could have malfunctioned, triggering the accident.
• Impaired driving. Professional truck drivers are often responsible enough to avoid driving while drunk or under the influence of illegal drugs, but even lawful substances such as over-the-counter cold medicine can impair the ability to think and react quickly enough for safe driving.
• Inadequate training or supervision. If a trucking company is in a hurry to take on more business, it may send out drivers who have not been properly trained or who have exhibited problems that should be monitored and corrected.

There are many additional factors that can contribute to a truck accident, and sometimes these factors are caused by individuals who are not even present at the scene of the collision. For example, a driver who passed through several minutes earlier may have dropped something on the road, making the surface slick or causing a tire puncture, which could lead to loss of control. The team at DeKeyzer Law knows how to thoroughly investigate every potential cause, enabling us to work toward the best possible recovery.

A Truck Accident Lawyer at DeKeyzer Law Works to Establish the Accountability of Those Who Caused the Accident

Determining the cause or causes of a truck accident and uncovering evidence to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions is a critical task if you want to recover compensation for your injuries. And it is a task that cannot be put off.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a truck accident, contact an experienced lawyer at DeKeyzer Law now for a free consultation to learn how we can help. Simply call 713-904-4004 or contact us online to begin your journey toward recovery.