Who Can Be Held Liable in a Crystal City 18 Wheeler Accident

Although Crystal City, Texas is a small town, it still sees its fair share of semi truck traffic. And as anyone who has shared the roads with these vehicles can imagine, a trucking accident in Crystal City is often a catastrophic and life-changing event.

Since 18 wheelers are so much larger and heavier than standard passenger vehicles, much more destruction and devastation can take place when the two collide, especially to the driver and passengers of the smaller car. And since an 18 wheeler is a commercial vehicle, there are often a lot of complexities from a legal perspective as well, as there may be various third parties who may be responsible for the accident. If you’ve been injured recently and are wondering who can be held liable in a Crystal City 18 wheeler accident, the experienced attorneys at Carabin Shaw want to help.

In order to help figure out who can be held liable in a Crystal City 18 wheeler accident, your lawyer must learn about the details and circumstances of your accident. This will include gaining access to police reports, eyewitness testimony, medical records, and any photographic or video evidence available. Then, your Crystal City 18 wheeler accident attorneys will attempt to determine who is at fault.

Generally speaking, there are typically several parties involved in a semi truck accident:

• The truck driver: This person is responsible for any negligence while driving, such as not following traffic laws, failing to signal while changing lanes, speeding, or driving while distracted (such as driving while texting), and of course, driving while intoxicated.
• The trucking company: There are very strict and specific rules governing how long truck drivers are allowed to operate their vehicles without taking a break, and how many hours per day they can drive. This is to ensure that drivers are not driving while fatigued, which can sometimes be as dangerous as driving while impaired. However, if trucking companies pressure their drivers to violate this limit, or not log hours in order to make a delivery, they may be held liable in the case of an accident. In addition, commercial vehicles are required to have regular, standard maintenance. If the trucking company did not have their 18 wheeler serviced because they wanted to save money by cutting corners, your Crystal City accidents attorneys can also find them at fault for this.
• The packing company: If the materials in the truck were not packed properly and this caused your accident, then your Crystal City accident attorneys may attempt to hold the packing company responsible.
• Parts manufacturers: If the accident was caused by a faulty part—for example, a malfunctioning brake—then the parts manufacturers can also be held responsible.
• Truck inspection professionals: As noted above, trucks are required to be serviced regularly. If it is found that those who inspected the truck were negligent, they too may be held liable for your accident.

If you’ve been involved in a semi truck accident, you may be confused as to what to do next. There are so many people and entities involved in the situation that it may seem overwhelming, especially when all of their insurance companies and teams of lawyers get involved. Luckily, the experienced Crystal City 18 wheeler accident attorneys at Carabin Shaw are here to help you navigate this complex legal situation, so you can focus on recovering and getting back on your feet.

The lawyers at Carabin Shaw have been helping Texas accident victims for over twenty years, and have won over $1 billion for our clients. We offer everyone a free, no obligation consultation by phone. Call our Crystal City, Texas office today at 210-222-2288 to speak with an experienced attorney who will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.