What If a Truck Hit Me Because of Bad Weather?

In the event of inclement weather, many things can go wrong on the road. Visibility diminishes, roads become more slippery, and other drivers usually slow down. If proper precautions are not taken, it is much easier to get into an accident during these conditions. Certain factors will determine if the truck driver was acting negligently during bad weather.

Dangerous Negligent Behavior During Bad Weather

• Speeding: During inclement weather, speeding is considered more negligent than it is on a clear day. It is especially important for cars to be at, or below the speeding limit in a severe storm. Speeding is one of the leading causes of accidents, but it can be hard to prove. Lufkin truck accident attorneys pair with accident reconstruction specialists who use calculations to prove how fast a truck was going at the time of the accident.                
• Not using headlights: With darkened skies, it is assumed that drivers should drive with their headlights on. Did the truck that hit you have its lights on?
• Improper tires: Truck tires that are not properly inflated or are too worn out can easily lead to accidents. Other issues with the truck can arise from lack of inspections and failure to meet regulations for trucks and trucking practices.

The Trucking Industry May Try to Discredit Your Claim

Trucking companies are used to dealing with the consequences of semi-truck crashes on a regular basis. Truckers often get overworked and may be asked to work illegal long hours from their employers, causing trucker fatigue, which can be very dangerous for the other drivers on the road. Other rules truckers need to follow include weight limits, properly securing cargo, and inspecting the truck for mechanical issues. Even if a trucking company or their insurance company is compliant with your accident claim, they will likely try to offer the smallest amount of coverage possible, which will not cover the extent of the damages to your vehicle and any resulting medical expenses.

How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help Me Fight Back?

• Accident reconstruction specialists: These technical experts use knowledge of physics and mechanics to recreate accident scenarios, and can determine the speed drivers were traveling and other important details of an accident.
• Insider knowledge: Lufkin truck accident lawyer Mike Love used to own a trucking company before he became a lawyer. This gives him insider knowledge into how trucking companies can cut regulatory corners to make more profits, putting drivers on the road in jeopardy.

What Are the Most Common Reasons for Truck Crashes?

Truck accidents are incredibly destructive for victims and their families. When these large vehicles are stocked at maximum capacity, they can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Fully-stocked semis cause unimaginable damage even when travelling at low speeds. If someone is hit by a semi truck, fatal or catastrophic injuries are very likely.It is crucial for commercial carriers and truckers to make public safety a priority. As our truck accident attorneys know from experience, the trucking industry may put profits before public safety. There are many causes of truck accidents, but the following five examples are among the most common.

1. Fatigued driving: There are several reasons why truck drivers may become fatigued and crash their vehicles. Truckers who ignore federal or state hours-of-service rules are much more likely to crash. Health conditions such as sleep apnea and diabetes may also cause fatigue and raise the risk of an accident. Truck drivers taking over-the-counter medications like Benadryl or melatonin (a hormone used as a sleep aide) are also much more likely to fall asleep behind the wheel.
2. Speeding: Truckers driving over the posted speed limits have less room to stop, and are much more likely to tip over while making sharp turns. Speeding makes it more difficult for drivers to avoid obstacles in the road or surprise traffic jams. There are many instances where speeding truckers failed to see traffic stopped ahead and slammed into multiple vehicles.
3. Poor maintenance practices: Commercial carriers and drivers with poor maintenance practices are more likely to crash. For example, failing to maintain tires or airbrakes. Poor tire maintenance raises the risk of blowout accidents. Bad tires make it more difficult for trucks to grip the road, and increases the risk of rollover accidents. Truckers driving with bad air brakes cannot come to a stop while travelling downhill.
4. Loose loads: When truck drivers fail to properly tie down loads, they can shed debris that may hit other drivers. These are often the more “horrific” truck crashes you hear about on the evening news. Large or small objects fall off trucks, bounce off the roadway and into the windshields of other drivers. In the worst-case scenarios, these objects hit and kill motorists.
5. Drugs or alcohol: Truckers under the influence of drugs or alcohol are many times more dangerous than your average impaired driver. This is why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict guidelines on drug and alcohol testing.

Hit by A Semi Truck? You May Have Legal Options

All of these causes have a common theme. They are all preventable. Our law firm has seen from experience how trucking companies put profits before the safety of others. They may be careless during the hiring process, or neglect to perform routine maintenance. In other cases, they may hire unqualified or reckless drivers. It is important for people injured in these accidents to know they may have legal options.The Texas truck accident attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC can help people injured in truck crashes hold negligent commercial carriers accountable.