Fort Worth, TX Truck Accident Lawyer

Attorney for Accidents Involving 18-Wheelers and Commercial Trucks in Fort Worth

Accidents involving 18-wheelers and other large trucks in Fort Worth, Texas can result in catastrophic injuries, extensive property damage, and significant financial challenges for victims. These collisions often cause far more severe injuries than typical car accidents, including spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and other issues that can lead to long-term or permanent disabilities.

Victims of truck accidents may need to address a variety of complex legal issues, which can make their situation even more difficult as they work to recover from their injuries. Fortunately, help is available. A skilled lawyer can provide the legal help needed to navigate these cases successfully and make sure victims will be fully compensated for their medical costs, lost income, and other damages.

Truck accidents are rarely caused by a single factor. Multiple parties may share responsibility, including truck drivers, trucking companies, vehicle manufacturers, and government entities. The attorney at The Meza Law Firm, PLLC can investigate every detail of a truck wreck to ensure all responsible parties will be held accountable for the harm a victim has suffered.

Common Types of Truck Accidents

Truck collisions can occur in many ways, and multiple parties may share responsibility. Our lawyer can help address truck wrecks such as:

• Rear-End Accidents: When a truck driver fails to maintain a safe following distance, misjudges the distance needed to come to a complete stop, or fails to slow down in time due to distractions, they can seriously damage another vehicle when colliding with it from behind. The massive weight of commercial trucks increases the likelihood of severe injuries in these crashes.
• Jackknife Accidents: A truck driver may lose control, and their trailer may swing out to the side, forming an acute angle with the cab. This may lead a truck to collide with other vehicles or block the road, making it impossible for other drivers to avoid a crash. These accidents may occur on slippery roads, during sudden braking, or when cargo is improperly loaded.
• Rollover Accidents: Trucks may turn over when drivers make sharp turns at high speeds or when a load is unbalanced. Rollovers can result in extensive vehicle damage and serious injuries for people in other vehicles when a truck or trailer lands on top of another vehicle or when an overturned truck blocks the road.
• Dropped Cargo Accidents: Improperly secured cargo can fall from trucks onto highways, striking vehicles and causing severe collisions. These accidents are particularly dangerous for drivers traveling behind trucks, and in some cases, falling cargo can result in multi-vehicle pileups.
• Side-Impact and Head-On Collisions: Trucks may collide with other vehicles from the side when drivers run red lights or stop signs. Head-on truck accidents may occur if a truck driver strays into oncoming traffic due to distractions or after falling asleep. 18-wheelers can cause catastrophic damage in these collisions due to their size and momentum.

Causes of Truck Accidents

Truck wrecks can occur for a variety of reasons, and they may involve a combination of driver error, mechanical failure, and regulatory violations. Common causes include:

• Driver Fatigue: When truck drivers spend long shifts on the road and do not get enough rest, the risk of accidents increases significantly. Federal regulations limit the number of hours that truck drivers can spend driving, but some drivers may violate these rules to try to complete trips more quickly.
• Distracted or Impaired Driving: Texting, use of cell phones or radios, and eating and drinking behind the wheel can make a truck driver more likely to lose control. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is especially dangerous for truck drivers, since their vision and coordination will be affected, making it harder to avoid accidents.
• Speeding and Reckless Driving: Excessive speed, unsafe lane changes, and aggressive maneuvers are common violations that can lead to truck crashes.
• Mechanical Failures: Defective brakes, tire blowouts, or engine problems can lead truck drivers to lose control and prevent them from avoiding collisions.
• Improperly Loaded or Secured Cargo: Shifting or unsecured cargo can destabilize a truck, leading to jackknife accidents or rollover accidents. Unsecured cargo that falls from a truck can injure other drivers.
• Weather and Road Conditions: Slippery roads, construction zones, and poor road maintenance can increase the risks of truck accidents. Truck drivers who fail to account for these conditions may be responsible for causing truck wrecks.

Liability in Truck Accidents

Determining the parties who may be held responsible for a truck accident can be a complex matter. In many cases, multiple parties may share responsibility. The attorney at The Meza Law Firm, PLLC will investigate truck wrecks to identify all liable parties. This can help ensure that victims will receive full compensation. Potentially responsible parties may include:

• Truck Drivers: Commercial vehicle operators may be liable for negligence, including speeding, distracted driving, or driving while drowsy or fatigued.
• Trucking Companies: Employers can be held responsible for hiring unqualified drivers, failing to monitor hours of service, or failing to perform the proper vehicle maintenance.
• Manufacturers: Defective truck components, such as brakes or tires, may be responsible for causing truck accidents, and product manufacturers may be held responsible.
• Cargo Loaders or Shippers: Improper loading or securing of cargo can lead to accidents. Parties who did not follow the proper loading procedures may be held responsible for a victim's damages.
• Government Entities: Poorly maintained roads or other issues that make roads or intersections dangerous can contribute to accidents. Local or state agencies may be held liable for their failure to ensure that roads are safe.

Contact Our Fort Worth, Texas Truck Accident Attorney

Truck wrecks can result in devastating injuries. The Meza Law Firm, PLLC can provide the legal help needed to address injuries that occurred in a collision involving an 18-wheeler or large commercial truck. Contact our Fort Worth truck wreck lawyer at 817-732-6392 and arrange a free consultation.