Pasadena drivers are accustomed to sharing the road with large commercial trucks, but many are unaware of the true danger they can cause when something goes wrong. Truck accidents are some of the most catastrophic collisions on Texas roadways. Due to their massive size and weight, the impact of an 18-wheeler crashing into an ordinary vehicle typically destroys the car and causes severe injury to its occupants. Recovery from a truck accident can take months or years, or even cause permanent disability. Without compensation, victims of these accidents end up paying hundreds of thousands for medical care and damages.
Getting help from an experienced truck accident attorney is crucial if you’ve been injured in a truck wreck. We understand how common causes of truck accidents in Pasadena are related to proving fault and getting compensation. A skilled legal team will investigate your accident and gather evidence to prove the cause of the crash and seek compensation from the liable party.
The Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents
When a truck crash occurs, most people do not have time to think of the cause. Yet, truck accidents frequently happen because of someone’s negligence. The most common causes of truck accidents include the following.
- Driver Fatigue: Due to long working hours and stressful conditions
- Distracted Driving: Including phone use, adjusting GPS, eating, drinking, and environmental distractions
- Speeding or Reckless Driving: Usually related to tight deadlines or inexperience
- Equipment Failure: Any mechanical failure that impacts the truck’s operation
- Improper Cargo Loading: Makes cargo susceptible to shifting
- Inexperienced Drivers: Caused by poor training or negligent hiring
Determining the underlying cause of the accident is the first step in identifying who is at fault. An experienced attorney will use several types of evidence to determine and prove causation.
What is the Connection Between Cause and Liability?
Truck drivers and the companies that employ them have a duty of care to ensure trucks aren’t a danger to people on the roads. Drivers undergo specialized training to learn the requirements of maneuvering large heavy vehicles and stopping them safely. Actions that conflict with this training are usually an act of negligence. For example, speeding or failure to observe a safe stopping distance is negligent behavior.
In some cases, the cause of the accident is related to another individual or entity’s negligence. For instance, overloading a truck or improper loading is a common cause of jackknife crashes and rollover accidents. Such incidents can be the result of employee negligence or inadequate training. Even equipment malfunctions are often caused by negligence since they are typically related to improper maintenance or poor manufacturing.
The underlying cause of a truck accident reveals who is at fault for causing the accident. The at-fault individual or entity is responsible for paying for damages related to the accident.
Contact a Pasadena Lawyer Regardless of the Cause of Your Injuries in a Truck Accident
Some of the most common causes of truck accidents in Pasadena are related to driver negligence. If you have been injured in a truck accident caused by driver negligence, you are entitled to compensation to cover your medical costs, damage to your vehicle, and other damages. However, proving liability in a truck accident can be challenging. Large truck companies partner with experienced lawyers and insurance adjusters who work to ensure these organizations do not lose money or tarnish their reputation. They achieve this by denying liability and offering low settlements that fail to cover the full scope of damages.
Do not leave your future to chance after a truck accident. The personal injury lawyers at Schechter Shaffer & Harris help crash victims prove negligence and negotiate a fair settlement for medical costs and other damages related to the accident. Contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation.
