18 Wheeler Truck Accidents
Truck accidents accounted for 3,380 fatalities and 74,000 people injured in the United States in 2009. 296,000 large trucks (gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds) were involved in traffic crashes according the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Texas has one of the best systems of interstates and highways. A map of the United States Interstate System reveals why there are a large number of 18 wheeler trucks on the roads of Texas. Unfortunately, trucks on the roads ultimately lead to truck accidents, injuries and deaths and the need for an experienced Texas truck accident Lawyer.
Truck drivers have a difficult job. They are subject to a number of laws and regulations. Even though there are regulations concerning hours of service, truck drivers drive for long hours – and must be completely attentive the entire time. If a truck driver daydreams, texts or simply fails to keep their eyes on the road, they can quickly cause an accident. Many truck accidents are catastrophic.
Although most 18 wheeler truck drivers do not understand physics formulas and calculations, they must respect the laws of physics if they are to avoid accidents. You do not need to understand Albert Einstein’s mass-energy equivalence equation (E = mc2) to realize that an 80,000 pound mass traveling at a speed of 55 to 75 mph is a huge amount of potentially destructive energy that must be controlled by the driver.
Federal Motor Carrier Rules and Regulations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) provide rules and regulations that Federal Motors Carriers must follow. The Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook provides driver license testing information for drivers who wish to have a Texas commercial driver license (CDL). Thankfully, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) and the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) now restrict the use of hand-held mobile telephones by drivers of commercial motor vehicles. There are many rules and regulations which, if followed, will help avoid truck accidents.
Truck Accident Evidence
Every truck accident is different, but there is important evidence that should be collected after any trucking accident. The regulations require the drivers to keep logs which can be examined. The truck and its maintenance records are important evidence. Some trucks may be equipped with GPS and other transmitters that allow the home base to locate the truck and monitor the speeds of the truck. There should be fuel receipts that can be used to retrace the route taken, and may help determine the hours worked and speeds driven by the driver. If documented soon after the accident, the scene will have clues as to what happened. In more serious accidents, the highway patrol will often document the scene and perform an accident reconstruction. Eyewitnesses can be extremely important evidence. There are many other types of evidence that may be important. The trucking companies know this and start collecting evidence immediately. For this reason, it is important to hire a lawyer with whom you are comfortable as soon as possible after an accident.
You may also refer to our posts, Truck Accident Lawyer, Documenting Personal Injury Damages and Motor Vehicle Crash, Now What?.
Experienced Texas Truck Accident Attorney
We have experience with truck accidents, and if you have been seriously injured or have lost a loved one in an accident and need a Texas truck accident attorney, please do not hesitate to give East Texas Attorney, Chris Jones, Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Law, a call at 903-236-4990 for a free initial consultation or send us a message at Contact Us.
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