Between the ports off the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican-American border, Texas has a great deal of American, Mexican, and Canadian trucks driving through the state to reach their final destination. A semi-truck in the U.S. can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. With a vehicle so large and heavy, it’s clear why the average car or SUV is no match against it during a collision. A truck accident can cause major damages to the passenger vehicle, driver, and passengers, leading to immediate expenses and a long, painful recovery. In some cases, 18 wheeler accidents result in death. With overwhelming consequences on the line, speak to a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible who will fight for you and your loved one’s best interests and help you on the road to recovery.
What Causes Semi Truck Accidents?
Dense urban areas like San Antonio are accident prone because of the traffic and high number of cars on the roads. The presence of large vehicles like semis further exacerbates the problem. Even with regulations for truckers and trucking companies in place, semi-trucks are regularly involved in accidents. Understanding the cause of your semi-truck accident may be crucial to your injury claim.
Determining fault is another crucial step in your truck accident injury case. Poor driving conditions like heavy rain or ice on the roads can be a contributing cause of the accident. The vehicle may be the cause of an accident if its brakes were malfunctioning or another mechanical failure occurs. In other cases, the trucking company may be at fault for exceeding its truck loads, utilizing over sized trucks, and / or not ensuring their drivers are licensed and have completed required training. The truck driver may be found at fault if they were tired, speeding, driving recklessly, driving aggressively, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and / or lack proper driving experience.
How Our Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help
Even if any of the previously discussed causes contributed or not to your accident, we may still be able to help. Investigating the circumstances of your 18 wheeler accident is critical to finding the truth in your case and discovering whether you are entitled to certain compensation(s). Depending on the circumstances, responding agencies like the police / sheriff department will usually conduct a cursory investigation. Insurance companies may also perform their own investigations; however, their methods for collecting evidence may aim to defend themselves against a personal injury or wrongful death claim. It is important to have someone representing you or your loved one(s) also perform an investigation with your best interests in mind. Hiring a truck accident attorney as soon as possible may help them to better help you by collecting their own evidence and independently interviewing witnesses.
