More information is being released about the potential benefits of autonomous vehicles. There is a lot of talk about how this technology will revolutionize commercial transportation. It should be expected that this will become a reality sooner rather than later.
For the time being, local and interstate commercial truck traffic is still powered by human drivers. Sadly, we all know that human error is unavoidable. Due to the sheer size and weight of these vehicles, they frequently cause catastrophic injuries. Thousands are killed annually in crashes involving semi-trucks each year. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, nearly 16% of these fatalities involve those traveling in passenger cars. Semi-truck accidents in Houston can result in a lifetime of impairment or even death.
Survivors of serious trucking accidents are often left in a daze and unsure of what to do next. Fortunately, you aren’t alone. The team of personal injury lawyers in Houston at West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD is here to make sure that the negligent trucker or transportation company responsible for your accident is held accountable.
You Need a Thorough Investigation Into Your 18-Wheeler Accident
Outsiders to the trucking industry are usually unconcerned about state and federal laws until they or a loved one is involved in a major collision with a commercial vehicle. If this happens, it’s important to examine the circumstances of the accident to see if a breach of a federal or state trucking law played a role.
A detailed accident investigation began right away. To safeguard their own financial interests, the trucking company will almost certainly deploy attorneys and investigators to the scene. The police department or highway patrol may or may not perform a thorough accident reconstruction depending on the severity of the injuries. In many cases, it is the responsibility of a skilled personal injury attorney to guarantee that a trained accident reconstructionist arrives on the scene to perform a thorough investigation and safeguard the victim’s interests.
Your Attorney Will Review Key Trucking Regulations
A Houston trucking accident lawyer will carefully analyze the following major commercial transportation rules to see if any infractions may have contributed to the crash:
- Required Breaks. Long-haul trucking companies are infamous for incentivizing their drivers to beat the clock by establishing compensation systems that push them to travel as many miles and as rapidly as possible. Meanwhile, federal laws impose a restriction on the length of hours a commercial driver may work without taking a break. It is necessary to keep accurate travel logs. Our law office has discovered false, incorrect, and incomplete records related to time on duty after carefully inspecting truck drivers’ logbooks. In catastrophic personal injury claims, proof of violations is usually crucial evidence in demonstrating carelessness and gross negligence of drivers and transportation companies.
- Commercial Driver‘s Licenses. Large-truck drivers must be adequately trained and licensed. The presence of a CDL does not necessarily imply that the driver is legally licensed, according to a recent report on the fraudulent issuing of CDLs. A truck driver who does not have a valid CDL can obviously have a substantial influence on the result of a personal injury case.
- Maximum Weight Limits. It’s unsafe to overload an 18-wheeler or other commercial truck. Loading these vehicles incorrectly can be just as dangerous. The overall weight of the cargo that a commercial truck can transport is determined by the size and kind of the load. Trucking firms frequently breach the law when it comes to the freight they transport.
- Quality Control and Maintenance. Both the manufacture and repair of commercial vehicles are regulated by state and federal governments. The highly sophisticated air brake systems on these vehicles, for example, must be tested on a regular basis. The lawyers at West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD know how to collect the data needed to evaluate if an 18-wheeler or other commercial vehicle involved in a collision was properly maintained.
Truck Accident Attorneys in West Loop
Trucking companies that seek to safeguard their own priorities will vigorously defend any personal injury claim. It is essential to enlist the help of savvy truck accident attorneys in Houston like those at West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD who are familiar with the strategies used by these companies and their lawyers to defend claims, hide or destroy evidence, and otherwise reduce the amount they are forced to pay out.
Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD, and Nader Rabie, JD have years of combined experience working for the rights of Houston injury victims, and we are here to fight for you.
Contact West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD today at (713) 840-7200 if you or a loved one has been unfairly injured by the negligence of a truck driver or trucking company.
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