Texting and Driving Truck Accidents in Texas City

Texting while driving dramatically raises a motorist’s risk of causing a serious traffic accident—and if that driver is operating a tractor-trailer weighing tens of thousands of pounds, the harm they could cause through an ensuing crash increases exponentially. Despite this behavior being illegal under both Texas state law and federal trucking law, though, a significant number of long-haul truckers choose to distract themselves with their phones behind the wheel.

Texting and driving truck accidents in Texas City can serve as strong grounds for civil litigation, but that does not mean filing a personal injury suit and recovering fair financial compensation after a wreck like this is always easy. In fact, without the support of a seasoned truck accident lawyer, you may have serious trouble getting paid what you deserve for the harm you have suffered by no fault of your own.

Proving That a Truck Driver Was Texting Behind the Wheel

Not only is it illegal for commercial truck drivers to read or write electronic text messages while their truck is in motion, but it is also illegal under federal law for them to do anything at all with a handheld electronic communications device while driving unless they have the device mounted on their dashboard or windshield and are using it in hands-free mode. Because of that, any truck driver who causes an accident in Texas City because they were texting and driving has violated the “duty of care” they have to act lawfully and responsibly on the road, which means they could be legally liable for any harm caused by that wreck based on their legal “negligence.”

It is worth noting, though, that police officers do not always issue citations for texting while driving to truck drivers who cause wrecks in this way, nor is it always easy to prove specifically that a truck driver was texting at the exact moment a crash occurred. Fortunately, it is not always necessary to prove that specific fact either—for instance, a trucker who runs a red light and T-bones someone in an interaction would likely be considered negligent regardless of whether they ran the light because they were texting or for some other reason.

Are Trucking Companies Liable for Their Employees’ Negligence?

It is important to mention as well that individual truckers are rarely the only people who hold civil liability for texting while driving truck wrecks in Texas City. In many situations, a texting truck driver’s employer can also be held liable for the wreck under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, which a qualified legal professional can go into more detail about as needed.

It may also be possible to file suit against a trucking company after a crash like this based on their own negligent behavior. This might be a prudent course of action if the truck driver who caused the crash had been cited for texting and driving several times in the past but was still allowed to keep their job and put other people at risk as a result.

Let Our Texas City Attorneys Help With a Texting and Driving Truck Accident Lawsuit

Any traffic collision involving a semi-truck can have life-altering repercussions for just about everyone involved, most of whom likely did nothing at all to cause the wreck to happen. Fortunately, if you can prove that the truck driver who hit you was texting behind the wheel, you may be able to demand compensation from them and their employer for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.

You have help available with your legal proceedings from a capable and compassionate truck accident lawyer. Call today to discuss your options following a texting and driving truck accident in Texas City.