Truck Accident Attorneys in Austin & Houston, TX
Our firm represents individuals and the families of individuals who have been seriously injured or killed in Texas trucking accidents. These accidents, which involve large, over-the-road tractor trailers (also known as “18-wheelers”) are generally the most deadly we see.
Trucking accident statistics are frightening: Every year, 500,000 large trucks, or “semis,” are involved in accidents on our roads. In fact, 1 out of every 8 people killed in a traffic accident in the United States is killed in an accident involving a truck.
Truck accident litigation involves claims against negligent truck drivers and the trucking companies who hire them. Under the law of Texas and most states, a driver of a large truck is considered to have an even greater standard of care than other drivers, because of the injuries that their large trucks can cause. Collisions caused by a truck’s failure, faulty inspection and upkeep, or a truck driver’s negligence can lead to the most catastrophic injuries on U.S. roadways.
Truck drivers repeatedly break federal laws by driving:
- While fatigued
- In excess of the amount of hours they are allowed to drive
- With oversized trucks
- With overloaded trucks
- With improper maintenance
- With an inability to see at night
There are three reasons why truck accidents are so dangerous: size, speed and driver fatigue. A fully loaded truck is a huge piece of machinery. When you put something that heavy on the road at speeds topping 60 miles an hour, you get a monster that can run over anything in its path. If you add the growing problem of driver fatigue and truck drivers’ being under constant pressure to move cargo – there can be deadly consequences. A recent study revealed that 20 percent of long-haul truck drivers reported they had fallen asleep at the wheel during the last 30-day period. It’s no wonder that people are killed when one in five drivers admit to falling asleep, leaving these giants with no one at the wheel. If you have been a victim in a Truck Accident in Houston or Austin call us today