Big Rig Truck Accidents in Dallas-Fort Worth

If you have been injured in a traffic collision involving an 18-wheeler truck, then it is important that you consult with an experienced auto accident injury lawyer. Mark Anderson has been helping truck crash victims across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex since 1991. In that time he has successfully handled many personal injuiry claims for compensation to recover damages related to medical expense, loss of income, as well as the very real pain and suffering experienced by individuals and families whose lives have been turned upside down by a big rig wreck.

Texas leads the nation in fatal big truck accidents. A large truck is any vehicle that weighs over 10,000 pounds. Every year in the U.S., thousands of motorists and truck drivers are killed and seriously injured by the negligence and often unlawful operation of large trucks. Large trucks represent approximately 3% of all registered vehicles that are being driven in the U.S., yet they contribute to over 25% of the fatalities due to multiple vehicle auto accidents.

What Causes A Big Rig Collision?
There are numerous causes of big truck accidents. Often the hours of service or the amount of time a driver spends operating the truck can lead to fatigue or drowsiness. The driver may also be intoxicated or under the influence of medication which could create a driver error situation.

• Driver errors include under rides (when a passenger car slides under a truck)

• No-zones or blind spots, squeeze plays (wide turns)
  

• Off track or going into another lane of traffic such as jackknifing (usually caused by driving too fast or to avoid something in the road)

• Roll-overs, or speeding

When the Big Rig Driver is At-Fault
Recently reported was a very serious and often unknown issue about the health of truck drivers with valid commercial licenses. A major cause of truck accidents is caused by truck drivers who are ill or have medical conditions and do not have the proper medical licenses or health clearance to operate their vehicles. The Transportation Department said 5,300 people died in crashes involving large commercial trucks in 2006. A federal safety study in 2007 found that the leading causes of serious crashes involving large trucks were from drivers who:

• fell asleep or blacked-out while driving due to fatigue or either a known or unknown medical disorder
• suffered a heart attack or seizure
• was physically impaired due to a previous injury or medical condition.

Health Issues In 18-Wheeler Drivers
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study revealed that 563,000 commercial truck drivers were determined to be eligible for full disability benefits because of health issues. Full disability does not necessarily mean a driver is unfit to operate a commercial vehicle, but investigators identified more than 1,000 drivers with vision, hearing or seizure disorders, which generally would prohibit a trucker from obtaining a valid commercial license. These drivers are still on the road today and pose a huge risk of causing a fatal truck accident.

Often employers of truck drivers fail to perform background checks which would easily reveal a “checkered” past of drug or alcohol usage which may indicate that the individual was unfit for the responsibilities of their driving position.

Advice to Reduce The Chances Of An Accident

• To help reduce the chance of an accident, try to stay out of a truck’s blind spot. A good indication to know you are visible to the truck driver is being able to see the driver from the truck’s side mirrors.
• Always maintain a safe distance from the rear of the truck and drive carefully during poor weather conditions. If you are ever in an accident, make sure everyone is ok and exchange information.
• Call 9-1-1 or the police to report the accident and never leave the scene of the accident. Double check your insurance coverage and report the accident to the insurance company.

Texas Personal Injury and Trucking attorney Mark Anderson and his experienced staff will examine the facts, evaluate your claim, determine which parties and insurance companies are responsible, and organize all of the details of preparing and presenting your accident case. We work on a contingent fee basis, which means we don't get paid one cent unless there is a successful recovery.

If you are in need an attorney because you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury as a result of a truck accident, please call us at 817-294-1900 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation.

Other articles you might be interested in:
What should I do if I was involved in a big truck accident?
What can a Fort Worth truck accident attorney do for me?
The Importance of a Police Accident Report in a Texas Truck Wreck Injury Case
Vicarious Liability: The Legal Responsibility of Employers
Making A Wrongful Death Claim on Behalf of Someone Who Has Died

One of the most common questions a new client has is “What is my case worth?”

The truth is that it is extremely difficult to estimate any injury claim's value until the injured party has ended medical treatment and is either well or as well as he or she is going to get. Only then can you truly put a figure on the damages that should be sought.

There is nothing worse than settling a claim too soon because once you settle, it's final. If your conditions worsen after prematurely accepting a settlement then you have no choice but to pay any additional medical bills yourself. Once your case settles, you cannot force the insurance company to also pay for your medical care in the future.