Liability in a Texas Truck Accident
David K. Wilson & Associates
September 17, 2019
In 2015, 3,852 people were killed in truck accidents across the United States, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. A fully-loaded big rig can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while a typical passenger vehicle weighs about 3,000 pounds. Due to the sheer size and weight discrepancy between large commercial trucks and passenger cars, passenger car occupants sustain the majority of the injuries in a truck accident.
When a truck accident occurs, police and emergency services are often called to the accident scene to assess the damage and lend emergency medical aid to victims. Arriving police officers will examine the accident scene and speak to eyewitnesses in an attempt to determine who is at fault. They will then put these notes and their findings in a detailed police report.
Unfortunately, these notes do not always convey the whole story of a truck accident. After a serious and catastrophic Texas truck accident, there may be multiple liable parties, including:
Each of these parties may share some of the liability for a truck accident. As such, establishing liability in a Texas truck accident can be difficult without the help of an experienced lawyer. Our Sherman truck accident lawyer can help you determine liability in a truck accident.
In order to establish liability, an extensive investigation must be performed. This may include examining the truck’s black box and electronic logging device. It may also include hiring accident reconstructionist experts to evaluate the crash scene to establish the cause of the accident.
It is possible that many parties can share liability in a Texas truck accident. Below is an example:
Example: A truck driver speeds down an exit ramp and loses control of his truck. He crashes into two cars. The initial investigation at the accident scene determines that the truck driver is 100% responsible for the accident and subsequence injuries. However, a more detailed investigation reveals that the truck’s brakes failed, and an improperly loaded truck made it even more difficult to control the vehicle. In this scenario, the truck driver, trucking company and the loading company may all share responsibility for the crash.
Sadly, many truck accidents are catastrophic and result in serious, long-term injuries. These injuries can result in a lifetime of pain and suffering, as well as permanent disability.
Truck accident victims need someone on their side from the very start to protect their rights to full compensation. Without a Sherman truck accident lawyer, insurance companies may try to offer you a lowball settlement that is only a fraction of what you need to recover. Never sign anything without first speaking to your attorney.
At David K. Wilson & Associates, Attorneys at Law, our Sherman truck accident lawyer knows that injured truck accident victims often face a long uphill road to recovery. That is why he fights so aggressively for his clients. He knows how to fight insurance companies and large trucking companies and win!
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