Wrongful Death Lawsuits Arising from 18 Wheeler Wrecks
February 16, 2017
In Texas, a person is liable for damages for causing an injury that leads to an individual’s death if it was caused by the person’s wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness, or default. In other words, if a person’s negligence causes the wrongful death of another, that person is liable for actual damages. Truck wrecks, for example, are often caused by negligence from the driver, the trucking company, or both parties. Shockingly, 10% of all fatal truck wrecks occur in Texas.
Drug use, speeding, driver unfamiliarity with the area, over-the-counter medicine, forgetting the basics, driver fatigue, illegal driving maneuvers, distracted driving, aggressive driving, and poor evasive action were the top ten causes of truck wrecks according to a study performed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. All of the top ten causes of truck wrecks are preventable by the driver of the truck if they follow the laws they know or should know. An ordinary person follows the law and this breach of ordinary care is what turns an accident into negligence. If truck companies knowingly allow unqualified drivers behind the wheel, they may be liable too.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration determined that 55% of the time, the truck had the critical failure which led to the crash. It further determined that the truck driver was responsible for the wreck 87% of the time. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, State and Federal Department of Transportations, and other agencies implement laws and regulations which are to be followed. When trucks disregard these laws, they needlessly put the public in danger. When trucks disregard these laws, they can negligently cause the death of an innocent person.
If you or a loved have been involved in a truck wreck and has suffered injuries as a result of the negligence of another person, please contact us immediately. The attorneys at the Amaro Law Firm have successfully handled complex truck wreck cases, including wrongful death cases. The majority of truck wrecks are preventable, but when a truck disregards the safety rules, they needlessly jeopardize the safety of the public. Contact us today for a free consultation.