Texas 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer

We Investigate the 18-Wheeler Crash

If you or a loved one were in a crash with a large semi-truck, you can’t treat the situation like a typical car crash. A lot more is at stake. Semi-trucks, including 18-wheelers, must follow state and federal regulations. For example, truck drivers need a special license and can only drive a certain number of hours at a time.

Our experienced Texas 18-wheeler attorneys look for any truck regulation violations in your case. We thoroughly investigate the crash, including hiring experts to calculate and recreate what happened.

In truck accident cases, the parties involved might not be prominent. We figure out every person and business that matters to your claim. We find out who owned the cargo and loaded it. We find out who provided maintenance and repairs for the truck. We look into the trucker’s driving record and the motor carrier’s history of accidents and violations.

All of this research is to identify who caused the crash, and more importantly, who is liable. You won’t always go after the truck driver. Pinpointing legal responsibility for your injuries or loss is critical to your claim. But it’s hard to do on your own. You’re better off hiring an attorney experienced with 18-wheeler accidents to do this legwork for you.

We Calculate Your Damages

You want to get the most from your claim. On the one hand, it’s about holding the at-fault party responsible and getting justice. On the other hand, it’s practical. You have bills to pay. If you’ve been catastrophically injured or lost the breadwinner of your family, you need to replace the future income you’ve lost.

To maximize compensation in your 18-wheeler accident claim, an attorney should calculate your damages. Trying to determine the value of your claim yourself could lead you to under or over-estimating your damages. The former means you might accept a low settlement, while the latter means settlement negotiations could fail.

At Begum Law Group Injury Lawyers, we have years of experience in 18-wheeler accidents and serious truck accident injuries. We work closely with you, and sometimes experts, to calculate how much your claim is worth. That allows us to go into negotiations with a clear objective.

Hire the Representation You Deserve

Right now, you’re either recovering from serious injuries or mourning the loss of a loved one. Or, you could be doing both. When you hire a truck accident law firm, you need someone you can trust. Someone that will treat you like a whole person who needs support and guidance during this process.

At Begum Law Group Injury Lawyers, we don’t take on every case. We limit our caseload so we can give each of our clients our full attention. You will receive personalized, one-on-one attention; we’ll return your calls quickly and answer every question. You can trust us to fight for you.

We Know How To Get Results

Figuring out what happened and the value of your damage is preparation. The next step is recovering compensation through an insurance settlement or court verdict. This is the step that requires a knowledgeable, skilled, and aggressive litigator.

Our 18-wheeler accident attorneys in Texas know what it takes to win. We know our way through the Texas court system and how to take full advantage of the discovery. We know how to build a strong case that’s hard for an insurer or court to deny. That’s how we’ve won million and multimillion-dollar results after 18-wheeler crashes.

Don’t hesitate to ask us how we’ve handled similar cases and the results we’ve achieved during your free consultation.

What Is an 18-Wheeler?

A commercial vehicle hauls cargo or people for compensation. But what most people think of when they hear “commercial vehicle” is a semi-truck or an 18-wheeler. An 18-wheeler is a tractor-trailer combination. These can range in size, with the smallest having only 10 wheels. But most have 18 wheels, thus the descriptive name.

The reason for so many wheels is the size and weight of the rig. A semi can have a gross weight of up to 80,000 pounds. That weight is usually spread across 70 feet, five axles, and 18 wheels. Smaller tractor-trailers have fewer axles and fewer wheels because they weigh less.

These vehicles are challenging to operate safely, so operators must have a Commercial Driver’s License. Depending on the truck’s specifics, the operator might also need one or more endorsements on their license.

Compared to traditional family cars, 18-wheelers need up to 50% more distance to stop. Truckers have to be on the lookout for hazards constantly. Failing to notice danger and engage the brakes right away could lead to a severe crash. These trucks also have huge turning radiuses, which increases the risk of wide-turn accidents.

18-Wheeler Accident Statistics

Commercial truck statistics don’t say how many wheels the vehicle had. Instead, they go by weight or vehicle configuration. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, trucks weighing over 26,001 pounds were in 3,645 fatal accidents in 2018. These large commercial trucks were part of 45,321 injury crashes and another 86,191 towaway crashes. Trucks weighing between 10,001 and 26,000 pounds were in 1,209 fatal crashes, 14,512 injury crashes, and 24,886 towaway crashes.

In 2018 – the most recent year for data – 4,136 people died in large truck crashes , and 3,042 of those deaths involved a tractor-trailer. The number of deaths in 2018 was 31% higher than the number of people killed in large truck accidents in 2009. Every year, most of those who die in commercial truck accidents are occupants of another passenger vehicle.

Types of 18-Wheeler Accidents

Most truck collisions fit into one of the following categories:

Rollover

Rollover accidents may occur when a truck is overloaded or improperly loaded. The shifting weight can cause the truck to tip over, possibly crushing other vehicles. Rollovers can also happen when a driver brakes too quickly or swerves and loses control.

Jackknife

Jackknife collisions have the potential to cause devastating damage. They happen when a driver brakes too quickly and the trailer swings out from the tractor. They form a 90-degree angle, and the driver loses control. These crashes often shut down entire highways.

Head-on

Head-on crashes often lead to fatal injuries for those in the other vehicle. These may occur when the other driver passes on the left and doesn’t get back to their lane in time, or either driver crosses the median.

Rear-end

Rear-end crashes can be minor between passenger vehicles, but they often lead to serious injuries when an 18-wheeler is involved. This may occur when a truck driver is inattentive to the road, another driver cuts them off and brakes too quickly, or the truck’s brakes malfunction.

Underride

An underride accident happens when a driver does not stop in time and ends up wedged under the back of a tractor-trailer. Their vehicle gets dragged along, and those in the vehicle often suffer serious or fatal injuries.

Truck Accident Causes

Some of the most common causes of truck crashes include:

• Distracted driving
• Fatigued driving
• Driving while impaired
• Inexperienced driving
• Inadequate training
• Poor road conditions
• Malfunctioning truck components

Who’s Liable for an 18-Wheeler Accident?

Before pursuing compensation for an 18-wheeler accident in Texas, you must figure out who is liable for your injuries. In a large truck collision, there are several possible liable parties. They are:

• The driver. A driver who drives too fast for conditions, drives recklessly, or drives while impaired may be liable for any damage they cause.
• The employer. Companies are responsible for vetting their drivers and ensuring that they can be trusted with a large truck. They may be held liable if they miss or overlook a red flag. They may also be liable if they push drivers to ignore regulations. They may do this by telling drivers to skip breaks, to drive more than permitted, or asking them to falsify documentation.
• The manufacturer. Trucks with improper parts or malfunctioning components can cause fatal accidents. If an investigation finds that a defective part caused the crash, the manufacturer could be liable.