The roadways and highways of Texas are among the most dangerous when it comes to fatal truck accidents in the United States. What’s sad, most of the fatalities recorded involve passengers of smaller vehicles. Even so, other road users such as pedestrians and motorcyclists may also be at serious risk. The sheer size and weight of commercial trucks increase the likelihood of sustaining life-threatening injuries and death.
If you or your loved one suffered a catastrophic injury in a truck accident, someone is likely at fault for the accident. The best way to establish negligence is to let a qualified and experienced Katy fatal truck accident lawyer investigate your case. With the help of accident reconstruction experts, our skilled wrongful death attorneys can help recreate the accident scene based on the existing facts. By doing so, we open a pathway through which you stand a chance to recover damages for your injuries and losses.
The National Highway Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that at least 4,761 lives are lost every year to fatal truck accidents in the U.S. Out of these numbers, only 18% involve truck occupants. The majority of those who suffer severe harm or die are passengers of smaller vehicles as well as other road users. Additionally, out of all vehicular crashes reported, at least 11% involved commercial trucks. From these statistics, you can project that this problem will continue to rise each year.
A fatal truck accident can occur due to several reasons, some of which are human errors. Truck operators have a legal duty of care to other road users. But not all of them obey this rule. They engage in reckless behaviors that endanger their safety as well as that of others. Some of the common ways truck drivers cause crashes include:
Following an accident, you may not realize what went wrong on the part of the driver since you were not in the cab. But an experienced lawyer, who has handled fatal truck wreck cases before, understands what may have transpired. Therefore, you should not burden yourself trying to determine the facts surrounding the trucking company for your case. An attorney can do that for you.
It’s not surprising to hear many victims blame truck drivers for their injuries. While it’s true that a majority of them are negligent, not all fatal tractor-trailer accidents result from errors exclusively on the part of the operator. The truck needs to pass through many checks before it finally gets to be put on the road with the driver. There is the truck owner, trucking company, truck maintenance companies, road construction, and maintenance companies as well as other road users who may contribute to the truck accident.
Any form of negligence on their part could make them accountable. For example, you may sue road construction companies for poor road designs, truck owners for poor maintenance, and trucking companies for negligent driver hiring and overloading. Common forms of negligence include:
A seasoned Katy lawyer can help you determine liability based on the facts around your truck accident wrongful death case.
Unlike average motor vehicle crashes, fatal truck accidents result in serious complications and death. This means a ballooned financial burden for victims and their loved ones. Depending on the injuries and damages suffered, a compassionate fatal truck crash attorney can secure maximum compensation for losses such as:
Determining the actual value of your claim is dependent on how well you document your losses. You should keep all records related to your injuries and avail them to your attorney.
At Lone Star Injury Attorneys, we represent families whose loved ones have been wrongfully killed in road crashes. If your spouse, parent, or child was involved in a fatal truck wreck, don’t hesitate to talk to us. Our caring Katy fatal truck accident lawyers are ready to bring you the closure you desperately need to move on with the next chapter of life. Call us today for a free consultation.
