In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that accidents and unintentional injuries came in third behind heart disease and cancer as the leading cause of death in the United States. Of the nearly 170,000 deaths that occurred that year due to accidental causes, motor vehicle accidents attributed to nearly a quarter of them. In addition to the thousands of lives they take, motor vehicle accidents cause even more injuries, especially those that involve tractor trailers.
Victims involved in tractor trailer accidents often experience more severe injuries, which can lead to significant financial loss. If the negligent acts of a truck driver caused the Tarrant County collision that resulted in your injuries or the loss of a loved one, a tractor trailer accident lawyer serving Arlington, TX can help you pursue financial recovery. Call D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™ today at (713) 850-8600 to discuss your case with our legal team.
Tractor Trailer Accidents Occur Frequently in Texas
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), more truck accidents occur in Texas than in any other state, leading California, the state that ranks second, by a substantial margin. Situated in Tarrant County between Fort Worth and Dallas, Arlington’s location makes drivers there vulnerable to tractor trailer traffic. In fact, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reported more than 2,000 large truck accidents in Tarrant County alone in 2018, putting the county in fourth place for the most commercial motor vehicle (CMV) collisions in the state behind Bexar County (San Antonio), Dallas County, and Harris County (Houston).
The trucking industry plays a major role in the Texas economy, and with over 66,000 trucking companies employing more than 185,000 drivers, it brings in an excess of $2.5 billion each year. However, between traffic congestion in major metropolitan areas and dangerous oilfield roads, large truck collisions take place frequently throughout the state, often leading to severe or fatal injuries. If you suffered injuries in a tractor trailer accident in Arlington, TX, a lawyer can help you seek financial recovery for your losses.
Reasons for Tractor Trailer Accidents in Texas
Many factors can contribute to tractor trailer accidents, but certain causes have a more prevalent role in their occurrences. The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) conducted a study on the primary reasons for large truck accidents in Texas. After evaluating data from approximately 2,800 collisions in 20 counties across the state, researchers found that most involved human error. They determined that reasonable measures, such as increased awareness and the use of technological solutions, could help prevent these accidents from occurring.
The study noted specific driver behaviors that can lead to accidents, which include:
- Failure to brake
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Using the wrong lane
- Speeding
Another critical factor, driver fatigue, applies in many truck accidents, particularly those that occur on oilfield roads. Unlike drivers for other industries, who can typically drive up to 11 hours consecutively without a break for rest, oilfield drivers can add their “waiting time,” which refers to the time during which they do not actively drive but must remain alert. In total, oilfield drivers can work 20 hours or more without a break.
If a truck driver caused the collision that led to your injuries or the loss of your loved one, an attorney can help you pursue financial recovery. Contact D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™ today at (713) 850-8600 to get started on your case.
A Tractor Trailer Accident Lawyer Serving Arlington, TX Can Help You Prove Liability in Your Case
In Texas, the person responsible for causing a tractor trailer accident must provide coverage for the victims’ injuries. Before you file a claim against the at-fault party, a lawyer can help you prove their responsibility for your collision.
The Legal Information Institute (LII) defines negligence as “a failure to behave with the level of care that someone of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same circumstances.” The driver’s actions must meet four specific criteria in order to establish negligence and prove liability in your case.
- Duty of care to protect you using reasonable measures
- Breach of duty due to a careless action or a failure to act
- Causation of your injuries or loss of your loved one as a result of their breach of duty
- Damages you incurred due to your injuries or loss of your loved one
A tractor trailer accident lawyer serving Arlington, TX can help you prove that the truck driver caused your collision and holds responsibility for your damages.
Fighting Back Against Insurance Company Schemes
In most cases, truck accident victims seek financial awards from the at-fault party’s insurance company. Unfortunately, despite the fact that liability coverage exists to help victims whose injuries occur at no fault of their own, insurance companies often hesitate to provide victims with sufficient recovery.
After an accident takes place, the insurance companies will launch their own investigations into the case to determine who caused it. Then, an adjuster from the liable driver’s insurance carrier will often contact the victims with an award amount right away. While this may seem convenient or generous, especially during such a difficult time, victims often find later that the amount they accepted did not sufficiently cover their injuries.
An insurance company may try to take advantage of you after your tractor trailer accident, but a lawyer can handle all communication with them on your behalf and negotiate with them for fair financial recovery. If they cannot reach an adequate settlement amount, they will take your case to trial to pursue a fair award amount for you.
Contact D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™ to Get Started on Your Case
The long-term physical, emotional, and financial distress caused by tractor trailer accidents often has a lasting impact on victims and their families, and attempting to navigate the legal system alone to pursue financial recovery may feel overwhelming. The lawyers at D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™ can help you establish liability, assess your damages, and pursue the financial awards you deserve. Contact us today at (713) 850-8600 to speak with our legal team about your case evaluation.
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