Truck Driver Hurt in 18-Wheeler Accident in Marshall

A log truck driver was left injured in an accident involving two commercial trucks near Marshall last week.

According to news reports, the log truck was on highway 143 headed towards Marshall, when another truck tried to cross the highway.   The log truck driver tried to warn the other trucker by honking and braking, but failed to get the attention of other trucker. The second 18-wheeler crashed into the log truck, sending it into a ditch off the roadway. The log truck driver was pinned beneath the steering wheel.  Witnesses at the scene were able to extricate him from the truck quickly. He was taken to the hospital for treatment of facial lacerations and leg injuries.

Truck Drivers can be Accident Victims Too

Whenever we discuss truck accidents, it's also important to understand that many times victims of these accidents are truckers themselves. Truck drivers may suffer injuries in accidents that are caused not by their own negligence or reckless driving, but because of the

• Negligence of other motorists or truck drivers,
• Negligence of the trucking company in maintaining the truck
• Negligence of county and state agencies in maintaining highways

A trucker also has the right to benefits in case of injuries in an accident. His eligibility for Workers' Compensation damages will depend on whether he is an employed trucker or a contractor, as well as the applicable Texas Workers' Compensation laws.  Injured truckers may also be able to file injury claims against motorists or other truckers responsible for the accident.

Not surprisingly, it can be hard for a truck driver to recover his rightful damages in an accident. The typical perception, however faulty, is that these accidents are caused by the truckers themselves, and lawyers for the motorist or the other trucking company involved in the crash, will do anything they can to prove that the accident was caused by the victim's own negligence.

An injured truck driver will need to consult with an experienced Texas truck accident lawyer to determine his best options for compensation.

The Texas truck accident attorneys at Schechter Shaffer McElwee & Harris represent injured victims of commercial truck, 18-wheeler and tractor trailer accidents in the Houston area, and around the state of Texas.