Motorists in Travis County deal with many challenges in their daily commute—heavy traffic, distracted drivers, un-signaled lane changes, and construction among them. For many drivers, one of these difficulties is sharing the road with large trucks, which are more intimidating than ever on congested city roadways. These commercial trucks pose a threat to many drivers on the road and may cause an accident that requires the assistance of the Austin truck accident lawyer at Carabin Shaw.
Large Truck Accidents: What are the Numbers?
The statistics surrounding large truck accidents are harrowing in themselves. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA), a division of the United States Department of Transportation, there were roughly 475,000 police-reported crashes involving large trucks in 2016 alone. During the previous year, there were approximately 4,000 deaths related to trucking accidents and the majority of these fatalities were drivers in standard passenger vehicles. This information is unsurprising because, as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports, most large trucks are 20 to 30 times heavier than the average car. These numbers confirm the obvious: a semi-truck is capable of tearing through a sedan and causing serious injuries and even loss of life.
Like drivers anywhere else, Austin drivers are subject to these dangers. In fact, recent data from the Texas Department of Transportation shows that there were no deathless days on Texas roadways in 2016. Carabin Shaw’s truck accident lawyer(s) in Austin have experience handling cases involving commercial trucks and will advocate for your needs as you move forward with your case.
Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents
While the consequences of semi-truck accidents are normally disastrous no matter what, understanding what led to an 18-wheeler collision can helpour truck accident lawyer(s) piece together a solid case that ensures you receive the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to. Some of these causes include:
Driver Fatigue:
Though most commercial truck drivers are as responsible as possible, grueling schedules, irregular sleep, and extreme pressure to meet delivery deadlines can lead to unsafe driving. While the Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCA) requires all truckers to log their hours and stop driving after reaching an established maximum, some drivers falsify these logs in favor of increasing their productivity.
Poor Maintenance:
Our truck accident lawyer serving Austin knows that commercial trucks are complex vehicles that require a lot of maintenance to run safely. The cab, trailer, tires, and hydraulic brakes need to be inspected and serviced regularly. If they are not, the risk of serious injury for semi-truck drivers and passenger vehicle drivers increases.
Overweight or Imbalanced Cargo:
Truckers are responsible for the correct loading of their vehicles, which helps secure their safety and the safety of other drivers on the road. An overweight load can cause other systems, namely the brakes, on the truck to malfunction. A load shift or loss of load can cause the truck to swing or roll
The Austin trucking injury lawyers with Carabin Shaw are aware of these causes and will use this knowledge to help build your case.
Determining Fault in a Trucking Accident
Because the causes of semi-truck accidents are so varied, determining who is at fault by yourself can be confusing. A Carabin Shaw lawyer can help you figure out who should be held liable in a trucking accident. These at-fault parties might be:
Truck Drivers:
Driver error is the foremost cause of all motor vehicle accidents, and commercial vehicle operators are no exception. Negligent behavior from truck drivers includes noncompliance with federal weight regulations, impaired driving, speeding, and failure to yield. If a trucker fails to uphold the reasonable-person standard—which requires a person to act with care, prudence, and good judgment to preserve the safety of others—he or she may be liable.
Trucking Companies:
Companies have an obligation to hire responsible drivers, maintain their trucks, and follow other federal regulations. When they fail to do so, truck injury attorneys in Austin can use the legal precedent respondeat superior to hold the company accountable for the actions of its the workers.
Manufacturers:
Because semi-trucks have many working parts, proper engineering and assembly are crucial to safety. If a trucking accident is the result of defective vehicle design, manufacture, or testing, the manufacturer may owe you damages.
