Types of Houston Truck Accidents

Accidents involving the American trucking industry often result in serious bodily injuries. Semi-tractor trailers and big rigs cause deaths on U.S. highways in addition to traumatic injuries and property damage. Whether on interstate highways or rural roads in the heartland, trucks cause millions of dollars in damages each year. And that includes damages to pedestrians and bicyclists, not just motor vehicles.

Observers recognize three truck accident categories: death, personal injuries, and property damage. Insurance companies pay a hefty portion of the financial impact of trucking accidents, and the people who suffer serious physical injuries also suffer financial instability and life-changing events.

The best plan of action includes hiring a personal injury attorney who is familiar with all types of Houston truck accidents.

What Causes Houston Truck Accidents?

Semi-trailer truck accidents have many causes. The most common include, but are not limited to:

• Failure to maintain vehicle function and maintenance
• Failure to abide by federal motor vehicle carrier regulations
• Driver is overtired
• Bad weather
• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Shifting cargo
• Nighttime driving

Injured persons deserve someone to help them fight to hold trucking companies liable when injuries leave them struggling to recover their health and cope with financial instability from loss of income.

Typical Injuries From all Types of Truck Accidents

When average-size motor vehicles collide with 18-wheeler trucks, bad results happen for the drivers and passengers. People suffer broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spine injuries, burns, and neck injuries. Paraplegia and quadriplegia are not uncommon, and wrongful death is also a possibility.

The types of Houston truck accidents involving average-size cars may affect the extent of property damage and physical injuries. All types, however, cause life-altering disruptions for the driver, the passengers, and their families.

How to Prove Liability Against a Party

The federal law that regulates the trucking industry is complex and requires a skilled lawyer with experience in this area of the law. Even if the federal rules and regulations are followed, the driver, the owners, and the manufacturer may face accusations of negligence in the design, maintenance, and driving activities.

Drivers on the road have a right to expect semi-truck drivers to maintain safe distances between their trucks and other vehicles on the road. Passenger car drivers must respect the “blind spot” that is in every semi-truck mirror and take care to stay visible to the semi-truck driver.  Plenty of variables impact a semi-truck’s road trip. Violation of any combination may result in a catastrophic accident for the smaller cars sharing the road with them.

What To Do When Involved in Truck Accidents

The following is a list of the steps you should take in the event of a collision: Get medical attention even if you do not think you are injured; report the accident to the police; record the contact information for all people involved in the accident and any witnesses; take pictures of the damage to the vehicles, injuries, and any street signs or traffic lights; don’t forget to call your insurance company to apprise them of the accident; above all, call a lawyer to help you fight for your rights.

Call a Houston Attorney After Any Type of Truck Crash

An experienced lawyer will investigate the circumstances, interview witnesses, review medical records, and preserve evidence. Contact us for a free consultation today. Our Houston lawyers stand ready to help you after any type of truck accident.