18 Wheeler Accident Investigations and Causes:
The Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex is one of the largest trucking areas in the State of Texas. Thousands of trucking companies are based out of Dallas and Fort Worth. Millions of trucks travel through the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex area of Texas. A small percentage of these trucks do not follow the laws enacted to protect you on the road. There are many causes for a trucking accident. Many of these truck wrecks could have been avoided by exercising reasonable care. We have found that in many cases the negligence of the trucking company, truck driver or both is responsible for injuries caused as a result of an 18 wheeler accident.
We understand that trucking companies have large insurance companies that are paid to protect them even when they have acted negligently in an accident. We also understand that if you have been injured in an accident with an 18 wheeler you are going to need a lawyer who can act quickly to maximize any personal injury damages you may be entitled to. We are truck accident lawyers you can depend on to work hard for the best possible monetary result.
Investigating the 18 Wheeler Accident in Dallas, Texas:
Investigating the accident as nearly as possibly after the wreck occurs is so crucial to the case that it cannot be stated enough. We can guarantee that the insurance companies that represent the commercial trucking company are at the scene of the accident within hours of the 18 wheeler wreck. This is why you need to seriously consider calling an attorney as soon as you can after the accident happens. Some of the evidence that we accumulate during the investigative part of a case is listed below:
Photographs: If an attorney is not hired immediately after the accident, it is near impossible to take pictures of the scene to preserve this evidence for trial. However, the insurance companies will have this type of evidence for sure. Many insurance companies will keep two separate files for photographs. One file is for property damage and the other for the bodily injury file. If you don’t compel the insurance company to provide you with both sets of pictures you could lose out on valuable information.
Witness Statements: Many times insurance companies will try to keep witness statements from you as well. We fight to insure that these statements are provided and reviewed for any information that is detrimental to the trucking company.
Driver’s Logs: This information shows the actual hours of service that the driver has performed to determine if a federal violation has occurred and the truck wreck was attributable to driver fatigue.
Employment Records: These files show the track record of an employee for negligent entrustment claims when a truck driver should not have been authorized to drive a vehicle due to past incidents of reckless or negligent behavior that led to the 18 wheeler accident in Texas.
Causes for 18 wheeler/trucking accidents in Dallas, Texas:
The cause of the 18 wheeler accident is one of the most crucial aspects of your case. In order to recover any damages associated with the trucking accident, you must be able to prove that the accident itself was caused by the negligence of the truck driver, the trucking company or both. If you are not able to prove this element of your case, you have already lost. That is why causation is so fundamental in the beginning and why it is important to call an 18 wheeler accident lawyer/attorney immediately after the wreck. Some of the causes of 18 wheeler accidents are:
· Driving under the influence of alcohol
· Driving under the influence of drugs
· Failure to maintain a single lane
· Carrying loads that exceed the legal weight limits
· Carrying loads that exceed the legal size limits
· Driving with defective equipment
· Driving without adequate rest as indicated by their log book
· Speeding Excessively