18-Wheeler Accidents
El Paso Truck Accident Attorneys
Seeking Compensation for 18-Wheeler Accidents in Texas
Anyone who gets behind the wheel has a responsibility to take reasonable precautions to prevent accidents, but this is especially true in the case of truck drivers. Commercial trucks such as 18-wheelers can legally weight up to 80,000 pounds – as much as 40 times more than a passenger automobile – and are therefore capable of causing devastating damage and catastrophic injuries in an accident.
Truckers who cause crashes due to some type of careless or reckless behavior can – and should – be held responsible for any injuries or losses sustained by victims. The same is true of trucking companies that send out drivers who are poorly trained, or which fail to perform the necessary inspections and maintenance on their vehicles in order to ensure that they are properly loaded and safe to operate.
Common Types of 18-Wheeler Accidents
- Blowout Accidents
- Runaway Truck Accidents
- Distracted Driver Accidents
- Sideswipe Accidents
- Jackknife Accidents
- Tired Driver Accidents
- Rear-End Truck Accidents
- Underride Accidents
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Because truck crashes are often devastating, resulting in serious injuries and fatalities, the government heavily regulates the trucking industry. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has numerous rules and regulations that strictly monitor hours and service, maintenance, cargo loading, drug testing, insurance coverage, and licensing.
According to an FMSCA study, the most critical reasons that truck drivers cause accidents include:
- Non-performance. Physical impairment for any reason, such as a heart attack, seizure, or falling asleep.
- Recognition. Inattentive or distracted driving that result in a failure to observe.
- Decision. Poor judgment, such as following other vehicles too closely, driving too fast for road conditions, or miscalculating other drivers’ vehicle speed.
- Performance. Poor control, such as overcompensation, panicking, or bad direction.
The FMCSA also listed these causes for truck accidents, which are in descending order of the most frequent occurrences:
- Brake problems
- Traffic flow interruption (traffic congestion, previous crash)
- Prescription drug use
- Traveling too fast for conditions
- Unfamiliarity with roadway
- Roadway problems
- Required to stop before crash (traffic signal, crosswalk)
- Over-the-counter drug use
- Inadequate surveillance
- Fatigue
If you are seriously injured in a truck crash, an El Paso trucking accident lawyer can investigate for causes, identify sources of compensation, and hold liable parties accountable. At Farah Law, our attorneys have an in-depth knowledge of trucking regulations and have successfully handled truck accident cases for more than 20 years.
Determining Liability After a Truck Accident
Unlike a car accident, the driver of the truck that caused an accident is not always the one held responsible for damages. Often an investigation is launched to determine what party or parties can be held liable. More often than not an investigation will find the trucking company liable as they are often caught encouraging their drivers to break trucking regulations in order to help save their company time and money.
There are scenarios where a trucker can be held liable for an accident. These scenarios include if a driver owns their own truck or if the accident was a direct result of their own negligence, such as drinking while driving. It’s even possible for the truck manufacturer to be held responsible for your injuries if an accident was caused by a manufacturing defect. Whatever the cause of your accident, our firm has the skill and knowledge to identify the appropriate party and fight to recover the maximum amount in compensation you deserve.
Common Areas for Truck Accidents in El Paso
El Paso sees a high volume of interstate and local truck traffic, given the fact that one of the nation's most important highways, I-10, passes through the city. Other highways, such as the Patriot Freeway, and the I-110 connector, which brings traffic across the border with Mexico, as well as U.S. Highway 180, see considerable numbers of semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles on a daily basis.
Farah Law Can Help You Fight for Compensation!
You can come to Farah Law for help from our team of El Paso trucking accident lawyers whether you were injured in a rear-end collision with a semi-truck; a jackknife, rollover or underride accident; or an incident in which an improperly secured load fell from the trailer. We have won millions of dollars for our clients, and our attorneys have nearly 30 years of experience.
Depending on the circumstances, we may be able to help you claim compensation by filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim against the trucker or the trucking company; in either scenario, we are ready to fight for you.
Contact our El Paso trucking accident attorneys now to learn about your legal options and how much your claim may be worth!
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