A truck driver pleaded guilty after an I-20 wreck in Kaufman County killed five people, according to KLTV. Reports suggest he fell asleep at the wheel. That one fact raises a hard question for anyone hurt in a similar crash: who is liable in a truck accident like this?
The driver is the obvious answer, since he sat behind the wheel and caused the impact. Texas law often looks further, though, at the company that hired him and set his schedule.
If a truck hurt you or someone in your family, you need to know each party that might owe you compensation. Missing one can cost you the recovery you deserve.
The Driver May Not Be the Only Party at Fault
Distracted and drowsy drivers fill Texas roads. You see it at green lights, where drivers stare down at their phones instead of the signal. Commercial drivers do it too.
In one case our firm handled, an 18-wheeler driver ate a fast-food burger instead of watching the road and slammed into the van ahead of him. In another, a driver with an untreated medical condition lost touch with reality several times a shift and struck the car in front of her, leaving the man inside with serious injuries.
These drivers share fault for the harm they cause. Naming them, though, answers only half the question.
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The Trucking Company Can Be Held Liable Too
A trucking company owes the public more than a set of keys. Before a driver ever starts a route, the company should run a background check and test his driving on a real road test. Bad habits behind a passenger car do not disappear behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler.
Many companies skip these steps. Some skip the road test for a new hire. Others fail to screen for past speeding tickets or a DUI history. Some skip drug and alcohol testing, even after a crash.
A company that puts an unfit driver on the road can share liability when someone gets hurt. Texas calls this negligent hiring and supervision.
Federal Safety Rules Help Decide Who Is at Fault
Federal law limits how long a trucker can drive. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets hours-of-service rules that cap driving time and require rest breaks. A trucker may drive no more than 11 hours in a shift and must take at least 10 hours off before starting again. A driver who ignores those limits, or a company that pressures him to, breaks a clear duty of care.
Fatigue slows reaction time as much as alcohol does. Both the driver and the employer can answer for a fatigue-related wreck. Our Fatigued Driver Truck Accident Lawyer in Houston team digs into log books and scheduling records to prove those violations.
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A Truck Accident Lawyer Uncovers the Full Story
The headline in a truck wreck names the driver. The full story sits in the company’s records. A skilled Truck Accident Lawyer in Houston knows which documents to demand:
- Driver logs and hours-of-service records
- Hiring and training files
- Vehicle maintenance history
- Telematics data that tracks speed and hard braking
Companies often hold this data and act on none of it. Our attorneys have found records showing a driver sped day after day for months while managers looked away. That evidence turns a simple driver-error case into a claim against the corporation that let it happen. The same records can show a missed drug test or a driver kept on the road after prior crashes.
A crash that takes a life raises the stakes. A Fatal Truck Accident Lawyer in Houston can pursue a wrongful death claim for the family and hold each negligent party to account.
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Talk to a Texas Truck Accident Attorney Today
You should not have to untangle corporate records while you heal. Lone Star Injury Attorneys handles trucking cases across Texas and knows how to find fault beyond the driver. Our firm secured a $2,475,000 settlement in Galvan v. Red Bull for a client rear-ended by a commercial driver whose company had data showing he sped day after day and skipped required training.
Contact Lone Star Injury Attorneys for a free consultation, and let our team review your case.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts.
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