Earlier this month in Plano a semi-truck caught fire and exploded, shutting down the Central Expressway for several hours. The 18 wheeler driver somehow crossed over the median and crashed into an overpass support beam. According to a report by the Dallas Morning News, the semi-truck accident occurred shortly after 6:30 in the morning. The truck was carrying bags of dirt. What could have caused this collision?
The driver freed himself from the wreckage just in time to avoid the explosion caused by the rupturing of the semi-truck’s fuel tank. Police have cited the driver of the truck for the failure to control the truck’s speed. It’s truly lucky that noone was hurt. The driver was ticketed on charges of failure to control speed as well has having no permit to operate the truck or the required proof of insurance. It’s the driver’s worst nightmare, isn’t it?
Liability in Speeding Truck Accidents
Semi-truck drivers and the companies they work for can be held liable for the injuries they cause by the negligent operation of their vehicle. This is accomplished by the accident victim bringing a suit based on the legal theories of negligence, negligence per se (as a matter of law), negligent entrustment, negligent hiring, negligent supervision, and negligent retention.
A claim of negligence asserts that the truck driver’s negligent operation of the vehicle caused the plaintiff’s injuries. It may sound simple, but the trucking company (and their insurance company and their attorneys) are usually not willing to pay a reasonable amount to compensate the innocent driver’s damages without a fight.
Speeding Semi-Trucks
Despite their large size and cumbersome profile, 18 wheeler drivers often operate their truck at excessive rates of speed. This can lead to a serious or fatal truck accident when the driver loses control of the vehicle or cannot stop in time to avoid slowed or stopped traffic.
Speeding citations are fairly common citations for truck drivers. They are based on the rule that the speed limit is only a maximum speed, given perfect conditions. If the conditions of the road and vehicle dictate that a driver travel at a slower speed, he must do so.
Another Major Cause of Truck Collisions Involves Cargo Weight And Loading
Many 18 wheeler truck wrecks are caused by improperly loaded or overloaded cargos. These tractor-trailers violate federal and state law because they require longer braking distances and can cause brake failures, blown tires, and shattered axles. And improperly loaded trucks can cause load shifting which makes them more likely to lock up, jack knife or tip over. Cargo can fall onto the roadway or on top of another vehicle. When an improperly loaded or overloaded truck is the cause of an accident, a trucking accident attorney will have to prove that this was the cause of the accident and that the shipper, company, driver, or some other entity is liable.
Having an experienced attorney on your side throughout the recovery process may make the difference between walking away with a substantial cash award and nothing at all.
Have You Been Injured in a Fort Worth Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been the victim of a Dallas or Fort Worth truck accident, you should seek the experienced counsel of a dedicated Fort Worth truck accident attorney. Attorney Bill Berenson has 34 years of experience filing suit on behalf of injured Texans and helping them get the money they deserve. Along with his skilled legal team, Attorney Berenson will do everything he can to ensure that you get exactly what it is that you are entitled to. Click here, or call 817-885-8000 to schedule a free first consultation today.
Related Posts:
18 Wheeler Truck Crashes into McDonald’s, Injuring Seven, May 2, 2014.
SUV Crashes into 18 Wheeler Parked on Side of I-30, Killing One, April 17, 2014.