Top Five Causes of Midland 18-Wheeler Accidents

Accidents involving large commercial trucks happen every day in Midland—on freeways or busy streets, during the day or overnight. Knowing the top causes of these accidents can help when you’re driving on roads with large trucks, but sometimes accidents with 18 wheelers are unavoidable. Read on to learn the top causes of semi accidents and determine whether you need a Texas 18 wheeler accident lawyer to represent you after one of these wrecks.

1. Speeding and Insufficient Stopping Distance

If you are in an accident with an 18 wheeler, there’s a chance that its driver was speeding. Commercial trucks are large and heavy—they can weigh up to 80,000 pounds—and when drivers exceed speed limits, the consequences can be disastrous. Because of their immense size, these large trucks require more distance than the average passenger vehicle to stop safely. If you’ve been in a semitruck accident in Midland, a lawyer at Carabin Shaw can help you determine if speeding was a factor.

2. Improper Maintenance and Company Negligence

Like all vehicles, large commercial trucks require periodic maintenance to keep them safe for traveling the highways of Texas. Upkeep on 18 wheelers is paramount to their safety, and there are special rules and regulations for large trucks. Unfortunately, not all trucking companies follow the appropriate maintenance schedule, and this failure can cause wrecks. An attorney should investigate your commercial vehicle accident in Midland to determine whether you should file an 18 wheeler crash lawsuit. Our lawyers specialize in these cases and are ready to take on maintenance failures by large corporations.

3. Driver Fatigue and Failure to Adhere to Time Limits

If you’ve ever driven home after an exhausting day, you know how much fatigue can affect your ability to drive safely. That’s why there are laws that impose limits on scheduling for truckers. There are rules for how many consecutive hours a driver can be on the road, how often a driver must take a break, and how many consecutive hours a driver must be off the road between shifts. Midland truck injury lawyers are experts on these requirements for truck drivers, and they will know how to find out if a driver neglected these time constraints. A tired trucker is hazardous to Midland motorists, and calling 18 wheeler wreck lawyers is the first step in getting these drivers off the road when they’re too fatigued to work.

4. Driver Negligence

When a truck driver fails to follow traffic laws or take appropriate safety precautions while driving, he or she is putting other people on the road in danger. Driver negligence can include:

• Following too closely behind another vehicle
• Driving recklessly
• Distracted driving, such as driving while using a cell phone
• Running a red light
• Failing to turn on lights when driving at night

Driver negligence can cause serious accidents that lead to injuries and property damage to other drivers on the road. An 18-wheeler accident attorney in Midland can help you figure out if you should file a lawsuit after you’ve been in an accident with a large truck.

5. Driver Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs

It’s never acceptable to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but it’s especially dangerous for a driver of a large truck. Midland trucking accident lawyers are on your side if you’ve been in an accident where alcohol or drugs were involved.

Now that you know the top five causes of Midland 18-wheeler accidents contact a lawyer with Carabin Shaw today to get the settlement you deserve. You can reach our Midland attorneys at 432-620-0544 or call us toll-free at 800-862-1260.