Those who drive large trucks should be generally aware that their vehicle:
- Is generally more difficult to control than smaller vehicles
- Weighs far more than smaller passenger vehicles
- Cannot stop as quickly as smaller, lighter vehicles
- May cause significant personal and property damage if it becomes involved in a collision with another vehicle or person
Considering that truckers must undergo training and education in order to drive a commercial vehicle, they may be responsible for engaging in actions that put others at risk. If you or your loved one suffered an injury or died because of a trucker-involved accident, a Fort Worth truck accident lawyer can help you with information about compensation.
Call our team at Loncar Lyon Jenkins today at 800-777-7777 for a free consultation.
Trucks Present a True Danger to Pedestrians and Motorists
A careless trucker could pose a significant threat to your health if you are:
- A motorist on the same road as the trucker
- A motorcyclist on the same road as the trucker
- A passenger in a vehicle or on a motorcycle sharing the road with the trucker
- A pedestrian on ground that is nearby a roadway occupied by the trucker
The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) notes that truckers are required to acquire a commercial driver’s license (CDL). This requirement may be intended to:
- Improve the overall state of highways from a safety perspective
- Ensure that those who operate large trucks are qualified to do so
- Remove those who are not qualified to be driving large trucks from behind the wheel
While these are worthwhile precautions to take, statistics indicate that requiring a truck driver to have a commercial driver’s license is no guarantee that they will act in a safe manner, at least not consistently. And when truck drivers are unsafe or involved in accidents, they typically are not the ones who pay the price.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 72% of those who died in accidents involving trucks in 2017 were not in the truck, but in other vehicles. Only 18% of those who died were in the large truck involved in a given accident.
These statistics indicate how important it is for truck drivers to operate their vehicles in a cautious manner every time they drive.
You are at Risk When Truck Drivers Act Erratically
If you or your loved one were injured in an accident caused by a trucker, then you may understand the risks that arise when truckers do not abide by the rules and safe practices of the road. Several behaviors not only by a trucker, but by others, could have resulted in your injuries or a loved one’s death.
Such behaviors by a trucker may include:
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Being willfully distracted while driving, which could include actions such as texting and driving or adjusting a truck’s entertainment system while driving
- Driving without proper safety equipment such as functioning headlights or taillights
- Driving while under the influence of drugs which, according to Reuters, is a threat that may be particularly prevalent among commercial truckers
- Driving while legally intoxicated
It is not only truckers who may be somehow responsible for your injuries, or the death of your loved one. A trucker may be employed by one or more companies, and they may be at fault if:
- They did not thoroughly vet the driver that caused your accident for the proper skillset, past driving-related violations, or other potential red flags
- They did not maintain their trucks or trailers in a roadworthy condition
- They did not ensure that drivers were regularly tested for drugs or adequately monitored for alcohol use
- They did not implement a culture of safety, which includes strictly enforcing drive time limits
Additional parties may be responsible for covering your losses depending on the circumstances that led to your injuries. A Fort Worth truck accident lawyer could help you determine liability and provide additional services, including leading your lawsuit from start to finish.
Call our team at Loncar Lyon Jenkins today at 800-777-7777 to learn more about how a lawyer may assist you.
For a free legal consultation with a truck accidents lawyer serving Fort Worth, call 800-777-7777
A Lawyer Can Help You Pursue Any Compensation That You Are Due
Texas Civil Statutes Title 2 Chapter 33 states that, so long as your responsibility for an accident does not exceed 50%, then you may be able to collect compensation. If a truck driver was responsible for your accident, then they may be liable for more than 50%—possibly a significantly higher percentage—of responsibility for the accident and your resulting losses.
A lawyer will argue the point that defendants named in your case are responsible for the majority of the blame for your accident, if not the entirety of the blame. In the course of making this case, your lawyer may:
- File your lawsuit in the appropriate court
- Collect and organize evidence that suggests the defendants in your case are guilty of negligence
- Document and calculate the damages that you have sustained, ultimately asking the court to award you compensation for those damages
- Negotiating a settlement that may prevent a trial
- Arguing your case at trial if need be
- Defending your rights
Your lawyer’s goal may be to secure you the greatest amount of compensation that they can. Some forms of compensation you could be eligible to collect may include:
- Healthcare costs stemming from your truck accident
- Pain and suffering that you have endured because of the accident and the injuries it caused you to sustain
- Income you have lost while recovering from your injuries
- Any permanent disability you have suffered
- Any losses related to the death of a loved one if you plan to bring a wrongful death lawsuit
You may be able to collect damages in addition to those above if the details of your case warrant it.
Fort Worth Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-777-7777
Call the Team at Loncar Lyon Jenkins Today
Loncar Lyon Jenkins will fight for the compensation that you or your loved one deserve based on the negligence of a truck driver or anybody else who added to your losses.
Call our team at Loncar Lyon Jenkins today at 800-777-7777 to find out more about the services that a Fort Worth truck accident lawyer can provide.
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