Laredo 18 Wheeler Truck Accidents
As you well know the number of 18 wheeler trucks on our roads and
highways here in Laredo as well as across Texas is out of control. And
when 18-wheeler trucks and passenger vehicles collide the results are
seldom minor and in most cases cause devastating personal injuries
and/or wrongful deaths. If you have suffered a personal injury or a
tragic loss as a result of a collision with a semi tractor trailer, you
and your family may be entitled to damages. The awardable damages can
include the cost of medical expenses, burial costs, mental anguish, pain
and suffering, lost wages, bodily impairment, future damages, future
cost and property damage to your vehicle or personal property. In some
cases punitive damages are available.
This website provides information on 18-wheeler trucking
accidents, issues that can arise on trucking cases and the types of
damages you and/or your family may be entitled. The Law Offices of
Carabin & Shaw, with offices in Laredo and San Antonio and across Texas
have represented victims and the families of victims in trucking
accidents since 1992. Our Law Firm have been involved in some of the
largest trucking cases recorded in the last 10 years.
If you need advice on a trucking accident or just have questions as to
your options call us day or night, we are available 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. For your convenience, we offer free initial
consultations, without obligation. Call us at 1-800-862-1260.
Truck Accidents Overview
Highway Safety is an issue of highest concern to us all.
The lawyers at Carabin & Shaw have the experience you need for cases
involving trucking safety and trucking accidents. Semi truck and
eighteen wheeler accidents present unique issues not necessarily
associated with a typical motor vehicle accident. These differences
include:
Tractor maintenance
Trailer maintenance
Trucking Records and Logs
Greater likelihood of serious injuries or deaths
Negligent hiring and supervision claims
Negligent maintenance claims
Unique insurance coverage issues
Governmental regulations
Federal regulations
State regulations
Drug testing
With the explosion of trucks here in Laredo and our
Texas Highways, accidents between vehicles and semi-trailer trucks are
on the rise. Truck accidents often occur when trucks are traveling in an
unsafe manner or are loaded in an unsafe manner, causing catastrophic
injuries and wrongful deaths. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
was formed in the early 1980s in an effort to curb the unacceptable
number of fatal truck accidents occurring on highways in Texas and
across the Nation. Laws were enacted to prohibit truck drivers
from having more than one license. By 1992, truck drivers were required
to meet minimum national standards in order to operate a tractor
trailer. Once a driver met these standards, he can be issued a
Commercial Driver's License (CDL). Today, to help reduce fatal
Texas semi truck accidents, each truck driver is required to be licensed
in his or her State of principal residence. Additionally driving record
must be kept in a centralized computer for access by each state. The new
laws also required each state to adopt uniform testing standards for
commercial drivers prior to being licensed. A CDL is required to operate
the following vehicles:
any combination of vehicles with a gross combination
weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the GVWR of the
vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds;
any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more
persons, including the driver; and any vehicle required by federal
regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
However, the following vehicle operators are NOT
required to obtain a CDL:
farm equipment operators;
vehicles used to transport farm products, equipment or supplies to and
from a farm;
vehicles used within 150 air miles of a farm;
vehicles not used in operations of a contract carrier; and
firefighting equipment operators, military vehicle operators, and
recreational vehicle operators, if the vehicle is primarily used for
personal use.
For certain vehicles, special endorsements are required. There are five
possible CDL endorsements and one restriction, which requires testing.
1. double/triple tractor trailers
2. passenger vehicles
3. tank vehicles
4. semi trucks carrying hazardous materials
5. combination tank and hazardous materials
6. vehicles with air brakes
Causes of Semi Truck Accidents
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act (FMCSA), considered
the driving force behind the regulation of the trucking industry to
reduce truck accidents, covers issues such as driver qualifications,
emergency equipment, safe loading, alcohol and drug usage and a number
of other factors. Some of the most common causes of trucking accidents
include:
Driver inexperience
Fatigue
Speeding
Running off the road
Failure to yield the right of way
Aggressive driving behavior
Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
Dangerous or reckless driving
Mechanical failure
Lack of training
Overloaded trucks
Oversized trucks
Brake failure/defect
Poor driving conditions
If you are injured or you or your family has suffered a
loss in a trucking accident, do not turn
to the defendants insurance company for help. The insurance company
will attempt to settle your claim as quickly as possible before you have
a chance to consult an experienced trucking accident attorney. You
should never sign documents or agree to a settlement without first
consulting an experienced Texas truck accident lawyer. We will
aggressively protect your rights if you have been injured in a trucking
accident.
We understand the unique legal and practical problems associated with 18
wheeler accidents and other truck crashes and have experience dealing
with the issues that arise in such cases. Our goals include protecting
the individual where litigation is necessary, but also providing
resources to help educate the public when injuries are caused by the
negligence or carelessness of trucking companies, in hopes of increasing
road safety. Contact us today for further information. We offer free
initial consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, which means
that there is no attorney fees unless we successfully resolve your case
and recover a monetary recovery for you and your family.
For immediate assistance, day or night, call us toll-free at
1-800-862-1260 Laredo Office 956-726-6222 or San Antonio 210-222-2288.
