Who Can be Sued After a Trucking Accident in Austin

Drivers in Travis County and Austin encounter many frustrations in their daily commute. For many drivers, one of these annoyances might be sharing the road with large trucks. While semi-trucks are intimidating in even the best circumstances, they are more imposing than ever on congested city roadways and the extensive construction projects on I-35. These trucks, however, do not only slow traffic— they pose a threat to all drivers on the road. When threat turns into an accident, victims often find themselves asking, “who can be sued after a trucking accident in Austin?”

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA), a division of the United States Department of Transportation, there were approximately 475,000 police-reported crashes involving large trucks in 2016 alone. These accidents are especially harrowing because, as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports, most semi-trucks weigh 20-30 times as much as the average passenger vehicle.

Austin drivers are not immune to these dangers. In fact, the most recent data from the Texas Department of Transportation indicate that there were no deathless days on Texas roadways in 2016. If you have been involved in an Austin 18-wheeler accident, we encourage you to contact our team of lawyers at Carabin Shaw. We can help you determine who can be sued after a trucking accident in Austin and seek appropriate compensation for your injuries.

Because the causes of semi-truck accidents in Austin are so varied, it may be difficult to determine who is at fault by yourself. Our attorneys at Carabin Shaw have relevant, up-to-date information to help you ascertain which parties should be held liable in your injury lawsuit. Some of the common at-fault parties in trucking accidents are:

• Truck drivers: Driver error is the leading cause of all motor vehicle accidents, and commercial truck drivers are not an exception. Negligent behavior from truck drivers includes speeding, noncompliance with federal weight regulations, impaired driving, and failure to yield. Insufficient training may also count as negligent behavior on the part of the driver. In other words, a driver may be at fault if he or she fails to uphold the reasonable-person standard in personal injury law, which requires a person to act with care, prudence, and good judgment to preserve the safety of others.
• Trucking companies: The legal precedent of respondeat superior holds a given party, like a company, liable for the actions of its agents (in this case, the workers). Additionally, commercial trucking companies have a responsibility to hire well-trained drivers, maintain their trucks and equipment, and follow other federal regulations.
• Vehicle manufacturers: Because semi-trucks are large and complex machines with 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, you may be able to sue the manufacturer of parts or the vehicle itself for damages.

Because there are more parties that may be liable in a semi-truck accident, it is important to reach out to an attorney to assist you with your claim. Even if the at-fault party is undisputed, proper legal counsel will help you recover the maximum settlement that you deserve.

If you are still unsure about who can be sued after a trucking accident in Austin, we encourage you to explore our auto accident resources and contact a lawyer at Carabin Shaw. We will support you in filing a claim on behalf of either yourself or a loved one, and we will fight tirelessly to ensure that you receive compensation for your injuries. Your initial consultation is always free, and we won’t charge you unless we win your case.

Your pain should not be without consequence. Allow us to help you pursue justice. Call an Austin attorney at Carabin Shaw toll-free at 800-862-1260.