Were Any of These the Cause of Your 18 Wheeler Accident in Texas?

There are few things more terrifying than a car crash, and especially if it occurs with an 18 wheeler. Across the United States, and especially in San Angelo, Texas, there are thousands of big rig accidents every year, and, because semi trucks are so large (up to 80,000 pounds!), they can cause devastating damage to other cars and drivers on the road—in fact, nearly five thousand people died in large truck accidents in 2018. And unfortunately, there are a few common causes that come up time and again in these types of accidents, and they are usually grounds for a lawsuit. In this article, we’re going to look at some of these.

If you’ve been in a Texas trucking collision recently, you may already be looking for a San Angelo accident attorney, and with good reason. The San Angelo 18 wheeler accident attorneys at Carabin Shaw want to know, were any of these the cause of your 18 wheeler accident in Texas? Because if they were, we might be able to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Sometimes, trucking companies cut corners when checking their equipment and gear. If the brakes on a truck fail, it may be because the manufacturer made a faulty part, or the trucking company did not inspect their fleet properly. An experienced attorney will very likely be able to hold the trucking company liable for your injuries, in this case.

Unfortunately, driving a truck is a very demanding job, with a lot of mental strain and long hours. Sometimes, drivers have to make deadlines, and they may drive while fatigued, or worse, impaired or under the influence of drugs and alcohol. If the driver exceeded the legal limit of daily driving hours because of company pressure or to meet a deadline, you will probably be able to sue for damages. If the truck driver in your accident was driving while intoxicated, contact a lawyer right away.

When truck drivers don’t pay attention (for example, by texting while driving), don’t drive safely (for example, by speeding), or don’t follow rules of the road, like using a turn signal, or checking for blind spots, accidents can happen. An attorney will often be able to hold the driver liable for the accident in this case.

This may seem obvious at first blush, but driving in bad weather, or on bad roads—especially icy roads—requires a much higher level of attention and alertness than everyday driving.

A common reason for 18 wheeler accidents is a malfunction within the vehicle itself, very often with the tires. If tire failure caused your accident, contact a lawyer as soon as possible.

Every accident is different, of course, and there are hundreds of different reasons why an 18 wheeler might crash. However, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has analyzed thousands of large truck crashes in the 21^st century and found the following top 10 factors:

• Problems with brakes
• Interruption in the traffic flow; for example, due to traffic and congestion, or an earlier crash
• Use of prescription drug
• Speeding, or traveling too fast for current road and weather conditions
• Unfamiliarity with the roadway
• Problems on the road
• The truck was required to stop before the crash; for example, due to a crosswalk, or a traffic control device
• Usage of over-the-counter drugs
• Inadequate surveillance
• Fatigue

So, were any of these the cause of your 18 wheeler accident in Texas? If they were, the San Angelo 18 wheeler accident attorneys at Carabin Shaw want to help you get the compensation you deserve.

We’ve been helping accident victims like you for over two decades and have recovered over $500 million for our satisfied clients. So if you’ve been in a Texas trucking collision recently, call our San Angelo, Texas office today at 432-620-0544. Our San Angelo accident attorneys are standing by to provide a free, no obligation consultation — you have nothing to lose.