Truck Accident Statistics
In 2021, Texas had the highest number of fatal truck accidents in any state: 462. This number is roughly 50 percent more than the second-highest state, California, a state with a higher population than Texas. In the last five years, more than 3,000 fatalities have occurred in Texas due to truck accidents. What’s more, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration determined that in 55 percent of crashes between a car and a truck, the most significant failure was on the part of the large truck.
If you were in an accident with a tractor-trailer, or you have a family member who was fatally injured in a truck accident, hiring an attorney with experience to handle your personal injury case is crucial. Willie D. Powells has successfully sued drivers, trucking companies, and their insurers after fatal truck accidents. If you have lost a loved one due to a fatal trucking accident, call Willie D. Powells at (281) 881-2457 for a free consultation to discuss your case.
Willie and his experienced legal team know what common causes to look for when they investigate a truck crash. Sometimes faulty equipment or a poorly balanced load can contribute to the crash, but the human error on the part of the truck driver is more typically the root cause.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Houston
The most frequent errors that lead to truck accidents with other passenger vehicles include:
- Not allowing enough space between the car and the truck — Trucks can carry as much as 70,000 pounds of cargo, and it takes a significant amount of time and space for the truck tires to bring the truck to a stop.
- Going too fast for the road conditions, weather, and traffic — Speeding is a lot more than driving over the speed limit, especially for a loaded truck. Willie D. Powells III will carefully inspect the crash site, get as much information as possible about the road and traffic at the time of the accident, measure skid marks and gather other evidence to get a clear picture of what happened in the accident.
- Failure to follow laws and regulations regarding construction zones — Trucks must obey restrictions written into state law about how to drive safely through a construction zone. Failure to do so, especially if a crash with another vehicle ensues, can increase the liability of the trucker and the trucking company.
- Recklessness driving — Impatience, being late or rushed, and overconfidence in one’s driving skills can dramatically affect the safety of the truck driver and others on the road. Truck drivers should make conservative choices while driving to avoid endangering others on the road.
- Fatigued driving — There are strict regulations about how many hours truckers can drive per day. However, drivers make money according to how long they spend behind the wheel. Trucking companies also must meet strict delivery and pick-up schedules. Even if the driver is tired, the tension to keep driving can lead to unsafe situations.
- Distracted driving — Texting, checking email, phone conversations with family members and friends, and communicating with the boss all eat away at a truck driver’s attention. Drivers should always maintain their focus and concentration.
- Drunk driving — Drunk driving is unsafe no matter what vehicle a person is driving. However, drunk driving while behind the wheel of a truck can lead to devastating effects.
Willie D. Powells III and his staff methodically investigate every one of these errors and more to build a case against the truck driver and trucking company. Our experience with truck accidents means we can often find evidence that others have missed.
What Compensations Can Be Received by Filing for A Wrongful Death Truck Accident?
Building a good case will help you fight for compensation to cover medical care, property damage, and pain and suffering. Medical damages can include hospital expenses, rehabilitation, and physical therapy. Aside from medical costs, you may also be awarded damages for loss of income and future income, if applicable due to disability. Damages for mental health and emotional harm may also be awarded.
An accident involving a loaded truck and a car too frequently results in the death of someone in the car. In that case, the spouse, parents, and children may file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages related to the accident. Damages that could possibly be recovered include:
- Funeral expenses
- Medical costs due to the accident
- Loss of the deceased person’s companionship, comfort, and guidance
- Emotional damage and sorrow
- Lost wages and financial contributions such as medical insurance
- Punitive damages for the truck driver
The loss of a close relative is devastating. In this circumstance, you should be able to focus on recovering from the loss of a loved one, not fighting in court for your case. A wrongful death lawsuit requires communicating with the family to explain everything that is going on legally but also to listen to family members who are going through unimaginable hardship and support them emotionally. This is really the heart of Willie D. Powells law practice: expertise and empathy.
Why Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?
Hiring a Houston truck accident lawyer may improve your chance of getting a better settlement. We can help determine damages from the accident, including all medical, emotional, and property damages. We are careful to retain and collate all evidence and use it to carefully determine the trucker and trucking company’s liability. We are also familiar with Texas’s personal injury law. We know all about trucking regulations and rules, both state and federal, relevant to the crash.
Willie D. Powells will do everything he can to get you the settlement you deserve, as well as help you get the emotional support you need to get through this tragedy. Call us at (281) 881-2457 or visit us online for a free consultation about your truck accident case.