While every motor vehicle accident is unique, certain traits are shared among crash types. Truck accidents involving 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers have unique elements that make them different from standard car accidents in Texas. Understanding these differences can help you adequately prepare for an accident claim in Laredo as an injured crash victim.
Manner of Collision
Large trucks crash in unique ways compared to passenger vehicles. A truck accident could take the form of a jackknife accident, underride or override accident, truck rollover, wide-turn accident, blind-spot accident, or lost load accident, where cargo shifts or falls from the truck. These unique types of accidents do not occur in typical motor vehicle collisions.
Crash Causes
Truck accident causes can also differ from car accidents. Truck drivers are often pressured by employers to drive for long hours and exceed their hours-of-service restrictions, increasing the risk of drowsy driving accidents. Poorly trained or unqualified truck drivers who do not have commercial driver’s licenses are also a crash risk.
Other issues may have to do with the truck itself. Commercial trucks must be properly maintained and regularly inspected to ensure they are safe and roadworthy. Inadequate maintenance can lead to dangerous situations, such as tire blowouts. Finally, overloaded or poorly loaded trucks run the risk of cargo-related accidents.
Severity of Damage
A semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds – 20 times more than the average passenger car. The immense size and weight of a commercial truck means greater force of impact in a traffic accident. The occupants of the smaller car are more likely to sustain severe, catastrophic or fatal injuries.
Type of Adversary
A standard car accident case involves just two motor vehicle drivers. This makes for a relatively simple insurance process, where the injured victim files a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. In a truck accident, on the other hand, there are multiple parties involved, including the trucking company, cargo company and truck manufacturer.
Your adversary or defendant in a truck accident case could be a powerful corporation that has the resources to send investigators to the scene almost immediately. This puts pressure on you to get your own investigator on the scene to preserve evidence. The size and interest of the adversary in a truck accident case make it even more important to hire a personal injury lawyer in Laredo for help.
Federal Regulations
Large trucks fall under the rule of federal law. Unlike standard motor vehicle drivers, truck drivers are subject to special regulations under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Determining if there was a breach or violation of federal law can help you prove a truck accident claim.
Crash Evidence
When building a Laredo truck accident injury case, unique types of evidence may be available compared to a typical car accident case. Examples include the truck’s black box, event data recorders, driver logs, the driver’s qualifications and driving record, the driver’s medical history, trucking company compliance history, truck inspection reports, cell phone records, and truck maintenance records.
How to Protect Yourself During a Truck Accident Claim in Texas
Handling a truck accident case yourself in Texas can lead to a difficult and overwhelming legal process with the possibility of getting taken advantage of by a powerful adversary. The most effective way to protect your rights is by hiring an experienced Laredo distracted driving accident lawyer.
A lawyer will guide you through all of the unique elements of your claim to put you in the best possible position for making a fair financial recovery. To arrange a free consultation with a truck accident lawyer near you, contact Gonzalez Druker Law Firm.