Lancaster, TX Truck Accident Attorney

On the roads and highways in Lancaster, drivers share space with large commercial trucks that transport goods across Texas and throughout the country. These massive vehicles can cause serious harm to others when truck drivers act dangerously or when the proper safety standards are not met. The devastating force involved in collisions between commercial trucks and smaller vehicles can result in catastrophic injuries, extensive property damage, or wrongful death.

Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. provides legal help for people who have been injured in commercial truck wrecks in Lancaster. Our attorney understands the regulations and transportation laws that may need to be addressed in these cases. He can conduct investigations and take steps to uncover the causes of accidents and identify all responsible parties. He will work to obtain maximum compensation that will address the full extent of a person's injuries and financial losses while holding truck drivers, trucking companies, or other parties responsible.

Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents

With his understanding of why truck accidents occur, our lawyer can build strong cases and take steps to recover compensation for injury victims. These collisions may involve simple mistakes by truck drivers as well as violations of safety regulations by companies. Some of the factors that can lead to truck wrecks include:

Mechanical Failures and Inadequate Maintenance

Commercial trucks must be kept in safe operating condition when they are driven on public roads. Regular inspections should be performed to identify potential mechanical issues that will need to be addressed. Mechanical failures cause many truck accidents each year. Brake system failures can be especially dangerous, because these systems are needed to ensure that large and heavy trucks can slow down and stop safely. When companies do not perform maintenance, use substandard parts, or allow vehicles to remain in service after discovering mechanical issues, catastrophic accidents can result.

Tire blowouts at highway speeds can cause truck drivers to lose control, leading to jackknife accidents, rollovers, or collisions with other vehicles. Worn tires or improper inflation can lead to blowouts. Steering system malfunctions, lighting failures that make trucks difficult to see at night, and defective coupling devices that cause trailers to detach can also cause accidents.

Our attorney will take steps to obtain maintenance records and inspection reports to determine whether mechanical failures played a role in a truck wreck. In cases involving inadequate maintenance, trucking companies or maintenance providers may be held liable.

Improperly Loaded or Secured Cargo

Cargo loading can affect the stability and handling of a truck and the distance needed to slow down or stop. Cargo should be properly distributed and secured in place, and a truck should be within the acceptable weight limits. Overloaded trucks will take longer to stop, and they can place excessive stress on brakes, tires, and other components. Unevenly distributed weight can cause trucks to roll over during turns or lane changes.

Unsecured cargo can increase the risks of truck accidents. A shifting load can destabilize a truck, causing the driver to lose control. Cargo that falls from a truck may create hazards for other vehicles. When items fall onto a highway, they may cause multi-vehicle accidents. Our lawyer can review loading procedures, bills of lading, and load securement methods to determine whether cargo loading companies, shippers, or trucking companies may share responsibility for an accident caused by improperly loaded cargo.

Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service Violations

Truck driver fatigue is one of the most common safety problems in the trucking industry. Fatigued driving can lead to impaired judgment, slower reaction times, and other issues, including situations where truck drivers may fall asleep at the wheel. To help prevent fatigue, federal hours of service regulations limit how many hours truck drivers can drive before taking rest breaks.

Despite these regulations, some trucking companies pressure drivers to continue driving even when they are tired or drowsy. Companies may encourage drivers to falsify logbooks or use electronic logging devices improperly. Drivers may also work multiple jobs, or they may fail to use rest periods to receive enough sleep. Our attorney will review logs and other information to identify hours of service violations or other issues that led to fatigue and show that a truck driver or trucking company may be held liable for a truck wreck.

Intoxicated or Impaired Driving

Commercial drivers must follow stricter standards regarding alcohol and drug use than people who drive passenger vehicles. The legal limit for blood alcohol concentration for commercial drivers is 0.04 percent, which is half the limit for non-commercial drivers in most states. Drivers are also prohibited from using controlled substances, and trucking companies are required to use random drug testing to ensure that drivers are not driving while under the influence of drugs.

When truck drivers operate their vehicles while they are intoxicated or impaired, they endanger everyone on the road. Impairment may be caused by the use of alcohol, stimulants such as cocaine or meth, prescription drugs such as opioid painkillers, or other substances. Trucking companies that fail to conduct the required drug testing or that knowingly employ drivers who have histories of substance abuse may be held liable for accidents caused by intoxicated truck drivers.

Traffic Violations and Reckless Driving

Commercial truck drivers must obey all traffic laws while also complying with other safety standards. Common traffic violations that can lead to truck accidents include:

• Speeding: Trucks require more distance to stop than passenger vehicles, and it is crucial for truck drivers to obey speed limits. Truck drivers who speed will be more likely to lose control and cause accidents.
• Following Too Closely: Commercial trucks cannot stop as quickly as cars, and greater following distances will be required. Tailgating may prevent a truck driver from stopping safely if traffic slows down suddenly.
• Unsafe Lane Changes: Trucks have large blind spots on all sides. Drivers who change lanes without checking to make sure the road is clear may collide with vehicles they cannot see.
• Distracted Driving: Some truck drivers may check text messages on their phones, make calls, use radios, eat and drink while driving, or engage in other distracting activities that may prevent them from avoiding collisions.