Rear-End Truck Accident Lawyer

Rear-end truck collisions occur when a truck strikes another vehicle from behind.

In an accident involving a passenger car and a heavier truck, the car’s driver and passengers are at greater risk for severe injury or death. If you or a loved one suffered injuries by a truck rear-ending your car, you could be entitled to compensation.

Anderson Injury Lawyers has decades of legal experience and recovered millions in settlements and verdicts from negligent truck drivers and other liable parties. A rear-end accident lawyer in Texas is ready to help you and your family.

Schedule a free consultation at 817-294-1900 or reach out online. There are no upfront costs, and you pay nothing unless you receive compensation.

Why Rear-End Truck Accidents Are More Dangerous

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear-end collisions account for approximately 29% of all traffic accidents with injuries.

Motorists and passengers are more likely to suffer severe injury or loss of life in a crash between a car and truck rear-end collision due to the difference in size.

Trucks Are Heavier, Longer, and Higher

This discrepancy in size and weight makes rear-end collisions with trucks more dangerous than accidents between passenger cars. According to the Information Institute of Highway Safety:

• Over 7% of rear-end crashes are fatal.
• Rear-end collisions comprise nearly 20% of deadly accidents.
• 82% of truck accident fatalities were occupants of the other vehicle

Truck vs. Car Weight

Tractor-trailer trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Even pickup trucks weigh more than a typical four-door sedan. A Chevy Silverado, for example, weighs 5,100 pounds. By comparison, the average passenger sedan or coupe weighs under 4,000 pounds.

Higher Point of Impact

Truck frames are higher from the ground. A heavy truck's front end strikes the front car's bumper and trunk, rear window, and even the vehicle's top in a rear-end collision. Depending on the speed at impact, a truck easily crushes a standard passenger car.

Trucks Need More Stopping Distance

Trucks need more distance to stop. A driver who fails to react quickly might not have enough space to stop without causing a rear-end collision. The greater the speed and the heavier the vehicle, the longer the stopping distance.

Common Causes of Rear-End Truck Accidents

In most accidents, the driver who rear-ended the front car is liable. Driver error is the leading cause of rear-end crashes. Specific acts of driver negligence include:

Distracted Truck Drivers

Driver inattention or distractions within the vehicle contributed to over 81,700 crashes statewide in 2020, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TDOT). Over 300 distracted driver accidents resulted in a loss of life.

Using a cell phone or mobile device while driving caused 3,453 accidents, with 53 fatalities.

Following Too Closely

Trucks need more distance to brake safely. When truck drivers follow too closely behind the front car, the result is often a rear-end accident. Improper following (tailgating) contributed to 17,192 accidents.

Driver Fatigue

Research shows that drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving. A sleepy driver has slower reaction and response times. Fatigue reduces a person's judgment and decision-making, especially in sudden or unexpected circumstances.

Speeding

The TDOT stated that driving at an unsafe speed contributed to 27,549 crashes. The faster you drive, the lesser the reaction time. When you combine speed with a distracted driver, the results can be lethal.

Negligence in a Rear-End Truck Accident

Although the vehicle driver that struck the front car is usually liable, you still need proof that they caused the crash. A careless driver rarely admits liability or wrongdoing. A lawyer helps establish fault so that you may pursue compensation.

Elements of Negligence

Texas has strict liability and negligence laws concerning personal injury cases. A truck accident attorney helps determine if your case meets these standards:

• Duty of Care: Establish that the driver owed you a duty of care to act (or not act) while driving.
• Breach of Care: Determine that the driver breached this duty of care, such as texting while driving.
• Cause in Fact: This breach of care caused your injuries (if they had not texted while driving, you would not be injured).
• Proximate Cause: A reasonable person would know that texting while driving will likely result in an accident and injury, making the driver responsible.
• Damages: This act of negligence and causation of injuries resulted in financial hardship.

Evidence of Liability in a Truck Rear-End Crash

Anderson Injury Lawyers has the resources, knowledge, and decades of experience to investigate rear-end truck accidents. We collect evidence, including photos of the accident, crash reports, and witness statements.

One of the most critical pieces of evidence in a truck accident is "electronic control modules" (ECMs) or "event data recorders" (EDRs). Most people know these devices as “black boxes,” containing a wealth of information after a crash.

Black Box Information to Support Your Case

Black boxes provide vital data that often support an injured person’s case. This information includes:

• Hard stop before or at the time of impact
• Truck’s speed before the crash
• Truck’s average speed in general (constantly driving over the speed limit)
• Whether there was a sudden deceleration or acceleration
• Deceleration or acceleration before impact
• Tire pressure
• Communication between the driver and motor carrier concerning the number of hours behind the wheel (a factor in fatigue)
• GPS location information (if the driver was off course)

We Pursue Max Compensation

Rear-end collisions involving trucks are among the most serious of traffic accidents. You could be entitled to compensation for medical care, property damage, lost wages, and other losses for a truck accident that was not your fault.

If you or someone you love was injured in a rear-end truck accident, our board-certified personal injury attorneys help you recover the compensation and justice you deserve.

You can contact Anderson Injury Lawyers online or call us at 817-294-1900 to schedule a free consultation.