Negligence

Corpus Christi Negligent Truck Driver Attorneys

Easily avoidable accidents are often caused by the failure of other drivers to follow traffic laws and drive with care. When these reckless drivers are behind the wheel of a truck, there are even greater dangers to the safety of the general public. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a large truck, you may be owed thousands of dollars in damages or insurance payouts. Contact the experienced Corpus Christi truck accident lawyers of Brunkenhoefer, P.C. Injury Attorneys at 361-888-8808 to learn more about what you may be owed and what legal options may be available to you.

Why You Need an Attorney

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by the negligent actions of a truck driver, you need a legal team that has experience, compassion, and a proven track record of successful verdicts and settlements. Recovering from an accident is a difficult process, which may involve lengthy medical treatment. At the same time, it is important to begin collecting evidence as soon as possible after an accident. In order to properly defend your legal rights, you may need to gather witnesses, collect police reports or records, find experts, or request other information from the truck driver or trucking company. All of this takes a significant amount of time and organization, but having a legal team that will advocate for your legal rights and handles all the paperwork means you can spend more time healing and get back to normal.

In addition, the insurance agents and company representatives for truck drivers and their employers will not have your best interest in mind. In fact, they will only focus on settling your matter as quickly and cheaply as possible. This makes the claims process more stressful, and you may feel pressured to accept a deal that does not provide you with the compensation that you truly deserve. Hiring an attorney will allow you to better understand what all of your legal options are after a truck driver’s negligence causes an accident.

Common Causes of Truck Driver Negligence

Negligence on the part of a truck driver may have more serious consequences that negligence by drivers of smaller motor vehicles. The size and weight of large trucks and 18-wheelers, their potentially hazardous cargo, and the major blind spots make the operation of trucks much more dangerous. Certain truck driver behaviors may create further dangers and contribute to the number of truck accidents that occur every year.

• Distracted Driving: Taking your eyes off the road for just a few seconds can lead to disastrous consequences. Truck drivers that allow themselves to be distracted by their hand-held electronic devices may place other drivers and pedestrians in grave danger. In 2015 alone, over 300,000 individuals were injured in crashes as a result of distracted driving. Common causes of truck driver distraction, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, may include:
  • Texting or emailing
  • Eating or drinking
  • Watching outdoor events or large billboards
  • Using the radio or other dispatch devices
  • Writing or filling out work logs and reports
• Reckless or Aggressive Driving: Many truck drivers are under pressure to travel long distances quickly. Unfortunately, this may lead to aggressive driving that places you or your loved one at risk. Reckless driving may involve tailgating, failing to use turn signals, or being inefficient at evading treacherous road conditions. A truck driver that speeds despite existing road conditions, or fails to carefully monitor changing road condition, may also be negligent.
• Failure to Maintain Records: Truck drivers are typically required to maintain logs of certain activities. Failure to monitor the number of hours worked, miles traveled, or condition of their truck may constitute negligence. Our attorneys will help you gather the evidence needed to determine whether a failure to maintain records contributed to your accident.

These are just a few of the many ways truck drivers may be found negligent in the case of an accident, so get into contact with us regardless of the circumstances surrounding your accident.

Legal Regulation of Truck Drivers

A number of state and federal laws exist in order to encourage individuals to drive carefully. These laws range from regulations that require you to wear a seatbelt to those that prohibit the use of hand-held electronics or texting while driving. All drivers are required to follow these laws in order to create safer road conditions for both drivers and pedestrians.

Truck drivers and trucking companies often have stricter laws to follow than the typical motor vehicle owner or driver. Many truck drivers are subject rules and guidelines provided by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and other applicable federal laws. Drivers of large commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate commerce are subject to safety regulations by the U.S. Department of Transportation as well. When truck drivers and trucking companies fail to follow these laws and safety guidelines, they may be legally liable.

Our attorneys have experience figuring out which laws may apply in accidents involving large trucks and smaller vehicles, and we will help explain how these laws may impact your case. Since 1992, the trial attorneys at Brunkenhoefer, P.C. Injury Attorneys, have been helping clients navigate the legal system and obtain the compensation they deserve.

Contact the Experienced Attorneys at Brunkenhoefer, P.C. Injury Attorneys

All it takes is a short moment of truck driver distraction or other negligent behavior to cause a life-altering accident that impacts you or a loved one. The attorneys at Brunkenhoefer, P.C. Injury Attorneys have years of experience helping plaintiffs injured by truck driver negligence, and we have the ability to investigate your case and help you get justice.

Although hiring a lawyer may be a difficult decision to make, we are ready to assist you throughout the legal process and want to make your recovery less stressful. Contact a member of our legal team at 361-888-8808 to discuss your case. Your first consultation is free, and you will only pay us if we win your case. Schedule your free consultation by phone or online today, and let us fight for you.