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Semi trucks and other large vehicles are capable of causing catastrophic damage during accidents with passenger cars. When victims are left seriously injured, our lawyers can help them seek the compensation they deserve.
Multiple parties, such as the truck driver and their employer, could share liability for truck accident injuries. To get compensation from any liable parties, victims must prove they sustained injuries during collisions. This requires ample medical evidence, including records from paramedics who arrived on the scene and records from hospitals or other providers. At the beginning of your case, our attorneys can estimate your anticipated recovery timeline based on factors such as the accident’s complexity and the opposing side’s willingness to settle. We can help you navigate settlement talks, use expert statements to speed up negotiations, and identify poor offers so you only agree to a settlement that properly compensates you.
Get a free case review from The Queenan Law Firm, P.C. by calling our truck accident lawyers today at (817) 476-1797.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Abilene, TX
Truck accidents can have devastating consequences, resulting in severe injuries and even fatalities. In Abilene, truck accidents are unfortunately not uncommon. That is why our truck accident lawyers are standing by to help you when disaster strikes. It is essential to understand the biggest causes of these accidents as the cause of the accident will tie directly to liability. The following are some of the primary factors that contribute to truck accidents in Abilene:
Driver Fatigue
Driver fatigue is one of the major contributing factors to truck accidents in Abilene. Because of the long hours on the road, demanding schedules, and a lack of adequate rest breaks, truck drivers can easily become fatigued. This can impair their ability to react quickly and stay focused while operating their vehicles.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has put regulations in place to limit the number of consecutive hours a truck driver can operate without taking breaks. However, despite these regulations, driver fatigue remains a significant cause of accidents in Abilene. Both trucking companies and drivers must prioritize safety by ensuring that drivers receive enough rest breaks and are not overworked.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
Truck accidents in Abilene are often a result of speeding and reckless driving, which can have catastrophic consequences for the drivers and others on the road. Truck drivers who fail to observe speed limits and engage in aggressive driving pose a significant risk to other drivers.
Trucks are much larger and heavier than other vehicles, so they need more time and distance to stop. Truck drivers exceeding the speed limit or driving recklessly increase the likelihood of causing accidents. This is particularly dangerous because of the size and weight of trucks, which can cause devastating damage and result in serious injuries or fatalities. Truck drivers must exercise caution and follow the rules of the road to prevent accidents.
Improperly Secured Cargo
Improperly secured cargo is a major safety concern for commercial trucks on the road. Cargo that is not properly loaded, balanced, or secured can shift during transit, leading to a loss of control or instability of the truck.
This can result in serious accidents such as rollovers, jackknifes, or cargo spills, which can pose a significant risk to other motorists on the road. To avoid such hazardous situations, truck drivers and logistics companies must ensure that cargo is adequately secured, balanced, and loaded according to safety regulations. This includes using appropriate restraints, such as straps, chains, and tie-downs, to prevent cargo from shifting or falling during transit.
Road Design and Infrastructure Issues
Certain areas in Abilene might have road design and infrastructure issues that increase the likelihood of truck accidents. Congested intersections, inadequate signage, poor road maintenance, and construction zones can create hazards for truck drivers. These cases can be complex because a government agency is typically responsible for maintaining roads and infrastructure.
Roads, Intersections, and Highways in Abilene, TX Where Truck Accidents Often Occur
Like any other city, Abilene has certain roads, intersections, and highways where truck accidents are more likely to occur. Understanding these locations can help you be prepared for the dangers they contain. The following are some key areas in Abilene where truck accidents are more common:
I-20 and I-35 Interchange
The interchange of Interstate 20 and Interstate 35 in Abilene is a bustling traffic hub that plays a vital role in transporting goods and services. These interstates serve as critical transportation routes for commercial trucks traveling through the city and beyond, facilitating regional trade and commerce.
However, the high volume of truck traffic in this area also poses significant safety risks, as the likelihood of accidents increases because of various factors such as congestion, frequent lane changes, and merging. These factors, combined with the size and weight of commercial trucks, make it crucial for drivers to exercise caution to avoid accidents and ensure a safe and efficient flow of traffic.
US Route 277 and US Route 83
Abilene is crisscrossed by two major highways, US Route 277 and US Route 83, both of which witness a high volume of truck traffic. As a result, these highways are potential hotspots for accidents. The interplay between trucks and other vehicles on these busy roads can be particularly hazardous if drivers fail to exercise caution and follow traffic laws.
Business Loop 20
Business Loop 20, also referred to as Winters Freeway, is a significant roadway in Abilene that is known to be prone to truck accidents. The area has a significant volume of truck traffic owing to its proximity to commercial and industrial zones, which leads to heavy congestion and increased risk of accidents.
Therefore, it is crucial for drivers to maintain safe speeds and keep a reasonable distance from trucks to avoid collisions. Lack of attention, carelessness, or negligence on the part of truck drivers can easily lead to severe accidents and injuries on this stretch of the road.
Other High-Traffic Intersections
Abilene has several other intersections that are notorious for having high truck accident rates. The primary reason is the heavy traffic volume and complex traffic patterns that make it challenging for truck drivers to maneuver through them. For instance, the intersection of Ambler Avenue and Treadaway Boulevard is known to be a challenging intersection because of its multiple lanes, turns, and congested conditions.
Similarly, the intersection of South 1st Street and Butternut Street and the intersection of North Judge Ely Boulevard and Pine Street are also notorious for their complex traffic patterns and high truck accident rates. These intersections pose a significant risk to truck drivers, who have to navigate through them while dealing with heavy traffic, limited visibility, and other road hazards.
Investigating Liability for Truck Accidents in Abilene, TX
When commercial truck accidents happen, the driver’s employer often shares liability for the victim’s damages. This could increase the potential compensation available for victims, as trucking companies might offer higher settlements to avoid trials.
Vicarious liability is a legal principle that makes employers somewhat responsible for the actions of their employees. When a driver operates a commercial truck, they are performing their job responsibilities. If they were to get into an accident while operating within the scope of their employment, their employer would share financial responsibility for the victim’s damages. Injured victims would typically file claims against trucking companies in these situations, as settlements from these companies could be larger than settlements from individual drivers.
Trucking companies can be liable for accidents in other ways, such as if they are directly negligent by failing to inspect commercial trucks or background check drivers for their qualifications. For example, if a commercial semi truck stalled out on the highway, resulting in a multi-vehicle accident, the trucking company would be liable if it owned the truck and was responsible for its maintenance. Trucking companies are not liable if truckers are independent contractors and own the vehicles themselves.
While truck drivers are often at fault for accidents, they are sometimes forced to react by negligent passenger car drivers. When investigating collisions, our truck accident lawyers can work with crash reconstruction experts to review the evidence and determine which driver initiated the crash, whether it was the truck operator or another passenger car driver.
Proving Truck Accident Injuries in Abilene, TX
Because truck accidents are often very serious, paramedics typically arrive at scenes and give victims on-site medical attention. Our lawyers can obtain these immediate records after the accident, confirming you were injured during the specific collision in question. This is necessary to prove the element of causation, which must be established in every personal injury claim.
To further prove and solidify that they have sustained injuries, victims must get all necessary subsequent treatments after being discharged from the hospital. For example, you might be referred to a specialist by emergency room doctors to address a specific injury, like a head injury. Deviating from your treatment plan could lead to gaps in medical records, which the defendant might point to as an indication that your injuries are not so serious or do not require compensation.
While you focus on getting the appropriate medical care to recover physically, our lawyers can obtain records and copies of bills from providers. Intentionally organizing this information throughout your claim is crucial, as otherwise, victims might forget to request compensation for specific treatments, prescriptions, surgeries, or other care. Your financial recovery is directly based on proof of economic damages, which is why carefully monitoring losses from treatment is so important.
Having ample evidence proving your injuries helps you recover compensation for more than just medical damages. For example, when medical records and statements from medical experts confirm a victim’s injuries are too serious to return to work, they can recover compensation for lost wages. Furthermore, records detailing the arduous treatment victims have had to receive for severe or debilitating injuries can convince juries to compensate victims for pain and suffering.
Estimating the Length of Your Abilene, TX Truck Accident Case
While the anticipated length of claims might deter some victims from seeking compensation, our attorneys can estimate your recovery timeline and use the appropriate tactics to speed up settlement negotiations so you get damages sooner.
In the early stages of your case, our lawyers can gauge the opposing side’s willingness to settle. Defendants rarely want to go to trial for truck accident cases, as juries could find them liable for huge amounts. If settlement negotiations do not progress quickly enough, simply indicating you are ready to go to court might convince the defendant to increase their offers to a suitable amount that fairly compensates you without having to go to court, saving time and resources.
We can address particularly complex cases by involving accident reconstruction experts, who may speed up settlement negotiations by presenting their findings. Experts can review photos and evidence from crash sites to conclude the negligent driver’s direction and speed of travel, which are important factors in determining liability for truck accidents.
While wanting compensation quickly is normal, especially when victims are dealing with overwhelming medical damages or missed wages, accepting the first settlement offer is typically inadvisable. Generally, first offers from defendants are low, and they might try to disguise them as fair by offering them as lump sum proposals. We can assess these offers and confirm their ability to fully compensate victims before advising them to accept.
Call Our Lawyers in Abilene, TX to Discuss Your Truck Accident Case Today
Call our truck accident lawyers for a free case analysis from The Queenan Law Firm, P.C. at (817) 476-1797.