When pursuing fair injury compensation after a truck collision, proving that the truck driver’s negligence caused the accident is crucial. Having a Texas lawyer on your side establishes liability by helping gather evidence and demonstrating negligence.

Thoroughly Documenting the Accident Scene

Photograph accident damage from multiple angles, including wide shots and close-ups illustrating vehicle positions, debris fields, and any skid marks or road evidence. Capture weather, lighting, and road conditions at the time. Photos provide evidence that would be hard to argue.

Do not forget to take photos of your injuries sustained immediately at the scene, if possible, as this documents their direct connection to the crash. Of course, this should be done only if it is not an emergency, as you should seek medical care before anything.

When a commercial semi-truck driver causes a serious accident because of falling asleep behind the wheel or drowsy driving, injured victims may wonder, "Can I hold the trucking company liable?" Under certain conditions, the trucking carrier may share responsibility. Here is how Texas law approaches accidents caused by drowsy truckers and how an attorney can help.

Negligent Hiring and Training

If a trucking company hired a driver they knew or should have known was unqualified or unsafe, they may be liable for negligent hiring. Failing to adequately train drivers on compliance with sleep regulations could constitute negligence as well. Plaintiffs should gather driving history and training records. Look for any red flags like sleep disorders or past drowsiness issues that should have been caught.

Encouraging Overwork

Trucking companies that encourage or demand overwork through unrealistic delivery timetables can also be deemed negligent. Evidence of dispatch logs, bonus incentives for faster driving, and undue pressure to meet routes could help prove negligence claims. A culture of pushing drivers beyond safe limits suggests negligence.

Texas is known for its vast highways and bustling trucking industry, so it is no stranger to 18-wheeler accidents. These colossal vehicles, while vital for transporting goods across the state and beyond, can also pose significant risks to other road users.  

Suffering injuries in an 18-wheeler accident can be a harrowing experience, leaving victims with physical, emotional, and financial burdens. If you are injured in an 18-wheeler accident, seeking the right attorney to litigate your case is critical to ensure justice and fair compensation.

Preparing for Trial

While many personal injury cases, including those involving 18-wheeler accidents, are settled out of court, your attorney will prepare your case as if you were going to trial. This approach demonstrates a strong commitment to securing the best possible outcome for you. If negotiations do not yield satisfactory results, your attorney will be ready to present your case effectively in front of a judge and jury.

The Lone Star State has 90,000 miles of public highways enabling the trucking industry to play a vital role in the state’s economy. Unfortunately, 117,300 large trucks were involved in accidents in 2021 resulting in injuries. That is a 12 percent increase from 2020 and 63 percent of those accidents occurred during the day. With so many people caught up in traffic, accidents with an 18-wheeler are bound to happen. At Alford & Clark Injury Attorneys, we understand that the effects of a serious injury quickly put a family at risk of financial ruin.

Causes of Truck Accidents

To establish liability for your injuries and damages, it is important to look for evidence that a trucking company may try to hide. Often truck drivers and trucking companies are to blame for the following reasons:

• Driver fatigue may have led the truck driver to violate regulations dictating the number of hours they should drive even though they may have felt drowsy.

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The number of fatal truck accidents is the highest in the state of Texas. In 2020, commercial truck crashes led to nearly 600 deaths. Texas accounts for nearly 13 percent of all fatal trucking accidents in the United States. Driving a commercial truck is not the same as driving a passenger car. These trucks carry a massive amount of weight and extensive training is needed to maneuver such vehicles. It is the responsibility of trucking companies to ensure not only that their fleet is safe to drive but that the drivers are fit for the job. If this is not the case, the trucking company could potentially be held liable for any accidents and injuries they cause.

Negligent Hiring

The practice of hiring commercial truck drivers is a big responsibility. Drivers must demonstrate they have a history of safe driving and are medically able to operate these massive vehicles. Failing to exercise reasonable care to hire a qualified and experienced truck driver should be penalized. Commercial truck drivers may seem qualified on paper but more needs to be done to ensure everyone is safe on the road. Truck driver candidates may have a commercial driver’s license or CDL and they may have carried loads of cargo for several companies. However, employers who are in a rush to get more drivers on the road may be deemed guilty of the following negligent hiring practices:

• Hiring a driver with a history of unsafe driving

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