Houston Truck Accident Lawyers

Injured in an Accident Involving a Negligent Truck Driver in Houston, TX?

We share the road with large commercial trucks every day, and though they can be intimidating, we generally expect the drivers inside them to be responsible, well-trained operators. When things go wrong, the resulting collision can be fatal. Every year, truck accidents cause severe injuries and countless dollars in property damage. Even with responsible operators behind the wheel, trucks are susceptible to causing accidents with disastrous results.

Due to the enormous power of commercial trucks, truck accidents can have catastrophic consequences for all parties involved, and it can be challenging to know what to do when they happen. Even worse, truck accidents are often the result of multiple parties’ negligence, not just the driver’s. Accident victims should enlist the aid of an experienced truck accident lawyer who can provide them with valuable legal advice and representation.

Truck accidents are some of the most dangerous accidents on our roadways. Our Houston truck accident attorneys at Hilliard Law are adept at getting their clients the best possible compensation. If you've been injured in a commercial truck accident, we are ready to fight for you!

Request a free initial consultation with our Houston truck accident lawyer by calling (866) 927-3420 or filling out our online contact form today.

Federal Trucking Laws

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces regulations to improve the safety of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) and reduce truck accidents. Here’s an overview of key FMCSA regulations related to truck accidents:

• Hours of Service (HOS) Regulations: Truck drivers can drive a maximum of 11 hours after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty, with a 14-hour limit on total on-duty time. They must take a 30-minute break after driving for 8 hours and cannot exceed 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days.
• Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate: Truck drivers must use electronic logging devices (ELDs) to track their driving hours and ensure compliance with HOS rules. This prevents logbook falsification and helps reduce fatigued driving.
• Drug and Alcohol Testing: Commercial drivers must undergo drug and alcohol testing before employment, randomly during employment, and after accidents. A driver is considered in violation if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.04% or higher.
• Vehicle Maintenance & Inspections: Trucking companies must regularly inspect, repair, and maintain their vehicles to ensure safety. Drivers are required to complete pre-trip and post-trip inspections, with records kept for compliance.
• Driver Qualifications & Training: All truck drivers must have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and meet medical fitness standards. Employers must verify driver qualifications and provide necessary training before allowing them to operate a truck.
• Weight & Load Securement Rules: Trucks must adhere to legal weight limits and ensure cargo is properly secured to prevent shifting or falling. Improperly loaded or overweight trucks can cause accidents and lead to fines or penalties.
• Post-Accident Reporting & Investigation: Certain truck accidents must be reported to the FMCSA, especially those involving fatalities, injuries, or towed vehicles. Trucking companies are required to keep accident records for at least three years.
• Liability & Compliance Reviews: The FMCSA conducts safety audits and compliance checks on trucking companies to ensure they follow regulations. Companies with high crash rates or repeated violations may face fines or even be shut down.

Houston's Most Common Types of Truck Collisions

Highway conditions are not always predictable, and many factors exist that may lead to a commercial vehicle collision. On average, tractor-trailers are nearly 60 feet long and weigh 80,000 pounds when completely loaded. Additionally, because they frequently drive at highway speeds, trucks require 400 feet of stopping distance before coming to a complete stop.

Due to these large commercial vehicles’ size and weight, they are susceptible to experiencing the following types of collisions:

• Jackknife accidents
• Rear-end accidents
• Under-ride collisions
• Improperly loaded cargo
• Wide turn accidents
• Rollover accidents

On Texas highways and streets, a large commercial vehicle mishap can quickly turn dangerous for other drivers. Truck accidents come in many forms and have various causes, and fatal truck collisions frequently involve passenger vehicles.

What Are the Most Common Reasons for Houston Truck Accidents?

Numerous factors can be involved in the cause of a truck accident. For commercial trucks to function safely on the road, various components must be in good operating order. Dangerous driving behaviors are a frequent cause, but there could be more factors at play, such as actions taken before the truck even enters the road.

Truck drivers, trucking businesses, maintenance teams, and more must meticulously adhere to specific laws and standards to ensure that a vehicle is safe enough to be on the road.

If not, truck accidents may result from:

• Truck drivers who misuse drugs or alcohol and are thus impaired while operating their vehicle
• Lack of sufficient training and certification checks by trucking companies for their drivers
• Trucking companies pressuring drivers to travel longer than permitted by the Hours of Service, leading to driver fatigue
• Failure to do routine truck inspections and maintenance
• Maintenance companies failing to ensure that a truck meets road safety standards
• Tailgating other trucks or cars
• Passenger cars driving in trucks’ blind spots

Because of their size and weight, heavily loaded trucks have exceptionally intense collision power, making them significantly more likely to result in fatalities for drivers and passengers of smaller vehicles. There were 630 fatal crashes involving commercial motor vehicles in Texas in 2021. If you were involved in an 18-wheeler accident, contact our attorneys to legally represent you and fight for your justice.

How Do Truck Accidents Differ From Other Auto Accidents?

Truck accidents and other motor accidents share a lot of characteristics. However, truck accidents’ outcomes are frequently more severe and intricate. Commercial trucks are far more likely to seriously hurt accident victims and result in fatalities because of their size relative to other vehicles on the road.

Additionally, determining fault in incidents involving commercial trucks is more complicated.

Commercial vehicle collisions frequently involve many parties who may share the blame. Any of the following parties may be held accountable for a truck accident depending on how the accident occurred:

• The commercial vehicle operator
• The company in charge of the truck’s operations
• The truck driver’s employer
• The truck’s owner or lessee
• The cargo loaders
• The company responsible for the truck’s maintenance

Liability in these circumstances can be difficult to determine because so many parties are involved. As the plaintiff, you need to demonstrate specifics like how the driver’s activities contributed to the collision or how the employer disregarded safety rules.

How Is Liability Assessed in a Houston Truck Accident?

Accidents involving commercial vehicles are much more complicated than passenger cars since they may involve multiple parties. Further, in some cases, the injured plaintiff may also be held partially responsible for a truck accident.  However, if you are not the main party at fault, you may still be able to recover damages. If you decide to make a personal injury claim and the jury finds you to be less than 50% at fault, the amount of your award will be reduced by that amount if you prevail.

Contact an Experienced Houston Truck Accident Lawyer for Help Filing a Claim

Most truck accident victims lack the resources or the expertise needed to get the best settlement for their claim. You need competent legal representation to pursue fair compensation for your injuries successfully. For legal assistance with their truck accident claim, Houston residents should get in touch with a personal injury lawyer.

Hilliard Law has successfully represented Mexican and American clients since 1985. If we take your case, we will work on a contingent-fee basis, which means you don’t pay us unless we win.

Schedule a free consultation to find out more about what we can do for you by calling us at (866) 927-3420 or filling out our contact form.