Semis cover the roads in Texas, and meeting a large truck can mean large consequences for you. The medical costs and property damage that comes from colliding with a semi-truck can be debilitating. But you may not have to shoulder that burden alone if someone else was to blame for the wreck.
Large trucks played a role in over 100,000 crash-related injuries in 2017, the most recent year of reporting. This can quickly amount to out of control expenses from hospitalizations, ongoing treatment, lost wages and more. If another party was to blame for the accident, you could get help, but it’s not always obvious to know where to look.
Accidental overlook
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has a slew of rules that aim to cut back on accidents:
- Truck driver: Operators could be to blame for a number of reasons that get most any driver in trouble, though the stakes are higher and the margins thinner when in control of a semi-truck. Distracted driving, reckless actions and impairment can all lead to a driver being responsible for an accident.
- Hauling company: The FMCSA requires trucking companies to line up with many rules to keep roads safe. They might be at fault if they didn’t perform their due diligence in hiring, haven’t kept up with maintenance or made a driver run more hours than federal law allows.
- Distribution center: There are very clear guidelines to what loaders can put into a truck, and how they should position and secure the load. Falling short of these standards can make a large truck nearly impossible to control, or result in goods putting others in harm’s way. Improper weight distribution, loose bandings and improper tiedown methods can all lead to serious danger.
Understanding all the ways someone else may have contributed to your accident can help you know where to look for negligence. Make sure you get the financial help you need by knowing where to start.