There are thousands of truck accidents reported in Texas every year. Understanding why and how these accidents happen matters, especially if you find yourself on the wrong end of a collision with a tractor-trailer, semi-truck, or big rig. Knowing the cause is the first step in determining liability and helping you recover compensation from a negligent truck driver, trucking service, manufacturer, or other party.
An experienced Austin truck accident attorney can help by investigating your 18-wheeler crash, acting quickly to preserve key evidence, and bringing in experts to provide insight into more technical and complex aspects of these types of cases.
While there are many possible causes, these are the ones our truck accident lawyers see most often at Dow Law Firm.
Fatigued Driving
There’s a reason why truck drivers are required to pass a physical, be in general good health, and limit their hours on the road. Driving a truck is hard work, and it requires a certain level of stamina, strength, and focus. The more time a truck driver spends behind the wheel, the harder it becomes for them to react to changes in traffic, make split-second decisions, pay attention, follow the speed limit, and stay awake at the wheel.
Research suggests that fatigued driving is nearly as dangerous as drunk driving. One study found that the effects of being awake for 18 hours on reaction time, vigilance, and hand-eye coordination were roughly the same as having a blood alcohol concentration of .05 percent. Staying awake for 20 hours was equivalent to having a BAC of .08 percent, while staying awake for an entire day was roughly the same as having a BAC of .1 percent.
It’s why the FMCSA has strict hours of service regulations that cap the amount of time a driver can spend behind the wheel and on duty. If you were injured in a crash caused by an exhausted driver, a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer in Austin can help you hold both the driver and their employer accountable for violating these safety rules.
Speeding
Trucks are larger and heavier than other vehicles on the road. They’re notoriously more difficult to maneuver. The faster a truck is driven, the longer it’ll take to come to a complete stop when a driver hits the brakes, and the more likely it is that the driver can lose control of the vehicle, potentially leading to a rollover or jackknife accident.
Unfortunately, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that “speeding of any kind” is the most “frequent driver-related factor” in accidents involving large trucks. In fact, an estimated 23 percent of the nation’s large truck accidents are caused by speeding drivers.
Distracted Driving
The less time a truck driver focuses on the road and operating their commercial vehicle, the greater the risk of a collision. It would appear that a lot of truck drivers are distracted at the wheel, as FMCSA crash data indicates that distracted driving is a factor in about 71 percent of all large truck accidents annually.
Truck drivers are often distracted when they:
- Text or talk on the phone
- Eat or drink
- Adjust their vehicle GPS
- Change the radio or music
- Read delivery orders
The FMCSA has strict rules in place to reduce the likelihood that truck drivers will be distracted at the wheel, including a ban on hand-held devices while a truck is in operation. A skilled truck accident attorney knows how to subpoena cell phone records and electronic logging devices to help prove driver distraction.
Mechanical Problems
Tire blowouts, brake failure, electric system malfunctions, broken lights and turning signals, steering defects, and other mechanical problems contribute to nearly one out of every 10 truck accidents across the country every year.
Many times, mechanical issues are problems that could have, and should have, been identified before a large truck was ever operated on a Texas highway. Truck drivers are required, by law, to inspect their vehicles regularly. Under 49 CFR § 396.13, truck drivers have to conduct a thorough pre-trip inspection before driving to check for possible issues that could render their truck unfit for transportation.
Pre-trip inspections mandate reviews of:
- Lights and reflectors
- The engine compartment
- Steering and suspension
- Tires and wheels
- Windshield wipers
- The horn
- Rear-view mirrors
- Coupling devices
- Emergency equipment
- Brakes
If a defect should have been caught during a pre-trip inspection, an experienced truck accident lawyer can help show that the driver and/or trucking company are on the hook for the resulting damages.
Drug and Alcohol Use
Truck drivers are explicitly prohibited from operating a commercial vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. They’re also required to submit to regular and/or random drug testing to ensure that they’re complying with FMCSA requirements. Not all drivers comply, and others find a way to skirt detection. The result: serious truck accidents in which innocent people are injured and/or killed.
According to federal crash data, driver impairment contributes to about 4 percent of fatal truck accidents annually.
Cargo Shifts
If cargo loaded onto a tractor-trailer or large truck shifts during transit, it can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle and lead to a jackknife, rollover, or another type of truck accident. Cargo that’s not secured properly can also escape from the vehicle or trailer and fall onto the road surface, thereby contributing to a serious unsecured cargo truck accident in a different way.
While the FMCSA has very specific regulations concerning cargo loading, balancing, and securement, cargo shifts are still a prominent cause of truck accidents in the United States, accounting for about 4 percent of serious collisions annually.
Don’t Hesitate to Call Our Truck Accident Lawyers After a Serious Accident in Texas
Figuring out why a truck accident happened isn’t necessarily easy, especially when the trucking company and insurance carrier act quickly to clean up the scene, repair vehicles, and erase critical evidence. However, establishing the cause is fundamental to a successful truck accident lawsuit.
At Dow Law Firm, our top-rated Austin truck accident attorneys have extensive experience litigating complex, high-value truck accident cases for clients just like you.
Our truck accident lawyers know whether state and federal trucking regulations apply to your investigation and the evidence that is most beneficial during the early stages of your case. We know how to push back when the trucking company tries to take over and force you into accepting way less than what your truck accident lawsuit is worth.
Don’t hesitate to contact our truck accident attorneys in Austin at (512) 240-9951 after a Texas truck accident. Your first consultation is free.