Trailer Truck Accident Lawyer
The Role of a Trailer Truck Accident Lawyer Tx in Your Recovery
While 18-wheeler accidents are far less common than passenger car crashes, the share that result in serious injuries or fatalities is much higher, because of the sheer size of a tractor-trailer – up to 80,000 pounds – which makes a collision devastating even at low speeds. Nationally, large-truck crashes caused over 5,300 deaths and more than 161,000 injuries in a recent year, according to the National Safety Council and FMCSA.
Our trailer truck accident lawyers have been helping Texas families get maximum compensation after a collision with a semi-truck for over two decades. Texas leads the nation in fatal 18-wheeler crashes – nearly twice as many as the next-highest state – with roughly 600 fatal truck crashes and thousands more injury crashes each year. Travis County alone has recorded 17 deaths and nearly 600 injury crashes involving commercial vehicles in the most recent year of published TxDOT crash statistics.
FEDERAL REGULATION OF TRUCKING COMPANIES
Trucking companies (“Motor Carriers”) are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, adopted in Texas, which set the baseline conduct for drivers and carriers – covering driving in adverse conditions, maintenance requirements, legal driving hours, and driver qualifications.
Frequently Violated 18-Wheeler Trucking Regulations
1. Log Book and Hours of Service Violations
Tractor-trailer drivers must log the hours they’re behind the wheel, on duty for their employer, driving between destinations, and on rest breaks – all legally limited. Logbook falsification is one of the most serious and overlooked violations in the industry: when drivers record inaccurate hours, it lets them exceed legal driving limits and puts fatigued operators behind the wheel of massive commercial vehicles. Some trucking companies make this worse with bonuses or incentives that pressure drivers to skip rest breaks or stretch hours – driver fatigue reduces alertness, slows reaction time, and dramatically increases the chance of a crash.
2. Commercial Driving Rules
Drivers must be proficient in safely maneuvering, backing, and parking the big rig, performing pre- and post-trip inspections, and following special rules for hazardous material transport.
Types of Truck Accidents We Accept
For over 20 years, our trailer truck accident lawyers have been helping people after a serious truck wreck, including:
- 18-Wheeler accidents
- Tanker truck crashes
- Garbage truck accidents
- FedEx truck accidents
- UPS truck accidents
- Bus Accidents
- Uber and Lyft wrecks
- Dump truck accidents
- Commercial vehicle accidents
Types of Injuries in 18-Wheeler Truck Accidents
Collisions with 18-wheelers often cause catastrophic injuries due to the sheer size and weight of these vehicles: traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage including paralysis, neck and back injuries, severe burns or disfigurement, broken or crushed bones, amputations, internal organ damage, and wrongful death. These injuries often require multiple surgeries, extended hospital stays, and long-term rehabilitation – and the financial toll, especially when a victim can no longer work, can be overwhelming. That’s why having an experienced truck accident attorney fighting for full compensation is critical.
COMMON CAUSES OF AUSTIN TRUCK ACCIDENTS
Most tractor-trailer accidents come down to driver error: following too close, not keeping a proper lookout, failing to yield the right-of-way, missing a vehicle in a blind spot, speeding for conditions, driving fatigued or while disqualified, or operating a dangerous vehicle. Trucking companies can share legal responsibility with their drivers, and can be independently liable for failing to hire qualified drivers, failing to implement safety policies, or failing to properly maintain the truck, trailer, tires, or brakes.
A jackknife accident – where the trailer swings out at a sharp angle to the cab – is one of the most dangerous causes of multi-vehicle highway pileups. See our guide to jackknife truck accidents for how they happen and what to do if you’re injured in one.
What You Should Do if You’re Injured in a Commercial Motor Vehicle Accident
1. Talk to the investigating officer
If you can speak with the officer investigating the crash, make sure you tell them your side of the story – your only chance may be at the hospital. Truck drivers are protective of their commercial license and often deny responsibility, and their company may dispatch its own lawyers to gather favorable evidence before you’ve even left the scene. The officer’s factual observations – the scene, debris, road markings, witness information, weather – are often admissible even where the officer’s opinions are not. GPS data and airbag control modules also record speed, location, braking, and steering, and can confirm what happened or rule out false claims.
2. Take photographs
Photograph the accident scene, the vehicles, the resting position of the truck and your vehicle, and any skid marks or impact points.
3. Identify witnesses
Independent witnesses are often the most powerful evidence. Don’t rely on the investigating officer to record their contact information – officers are usually more focused on scene safety than documenting witnesses.
4. Record statements by the driver
If the truck driver says anything about how the accident happened – even something as simple as “I didn’t see you, I’m sorry” – record it on video or write it down as soon as possible.
5. Get the necessary medical treatment
Follow your physician’s instructions to the letter and don’t skip appointments. Emergency rooms treat emergencies only, so expect a referral to a specialist or your primary care physician for follow-up care.
What Damages Can Truck Accident Victims Recover?
Texas law allows victims of a commercial vehicle crash to pursue medical expenses (current and future), lost income and diminished future earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, and out-of-pocket costs like transportation to appointments or home modifications. Careful documentation of expenses, treatments, and communications helps ensure you receive the full compensation you’re entitled to.
Austin Highways Where Truck Accidents Happen Frequently
Common locations for 18-wheeler accidents near Austin include US 290, I-10, US 281, and I-35.
Talk to a Trailer Truck Accident Lawyer
We take appointments and offer home and hospital consultations. While each case is unique, our trucking litigation experience spans over two decades – you don’t want an attorney learning on the job in your case, so we recommend you thoroughly research the attorney you’re considering.
Don’t let the insurance company handle your claim on its own terms. Adjusters often contact injured people quickly after a crash to build rapport and suggest they don’t need an attorney – and phrases like “we accept responsibility” don’t mean you’ll be paid fairly. Insurance companies are trying to pay as little as possible on every claim, and will pay you ten cents on the dollar if you let them. The only way to maximize your compensation is to hire an experienced trailer truck accident lawyer for your case. Contact us today.