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Causes of Truck Accidents in Houston, Texas

Serving the Injured Across the United States. Offices in Texas & Louisiana.

One of the most crucial questions that must be answered in the aftermath of a truck accident is what caused the collision. Unlike other types of motor vehicle accidents, it can be less clear as to what led up to a truck collision. In many cases, several factors may be to blame. The responsible party or parties involved in an accident can only be held liable if the causes of a trucking collision are properly identified and connected with the offending party or the extenuating circumstances that led to them. Retaining a personal injury lawyer who can investigate your case and identify the causes that led to it will be crucial in your case. When you turn to our team at Arnold & Itkin, you can have confidence that your case will be in the hands of a legal professional who understands the regulations and precedents that affect commercial truck accidents.

Why Do Truck Accidents Occur?

The large size and weight of commercial trucks can make catastrophic results more likely should an accident occur. However, this is not the only factor to consider when examining the damaging effects of these types of accidents. More likely than not, a dangerous combination of circumstances led to the truck accident you were involved in; it is up to your attorney to assess the situation and determine what those circumstances were. Looking at the statistics of truck accidents and the number of serious injuries and fatalities they have caused is troubling. However, finding out the factors that lead to truck accidents is much easier said than done. There are many different causes to consider. One example is driver negligence, which might take the form of fatigued driving, distracted driving, failure to note blind spot deficiencies, and so on.

But human error is only one of a long list of factors that may have been involved. Other possible causes include:

  • Adverse weather conditions
  • An overloaded trailer
  • Inadequate maintenance of vehicle products
  • Defective equipment
  • A company's failure to fire drivers with habitual drug and alcohol abuse problems

Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents

The FMCSA conducted a study into the most common causes of truck accidents.

The most common causes listed in the report were:

  • Driver fatigue
  • Aggressive driving
  • Speeding
  • Distracted driving
  • Drug or alcohol use
  • Improperly loaded cargo
  • Defective truck equipment
  • Inexperienced and inadequately trained drivers
  • Unsafe lane changing
  • Failure to maintain proper distance

FMCSA's Study on Truck Accident Causes

The FMCSA study also broke down the common causes of truck accidents by percentage.

  • 13% of the accidents were caused at least in part by driver fatigue.
  • Nearly a quarter of all accidents involved a speeding truck.
  • Prescription and over-the-counter drugs were involved in 18% of the accidents.
  • While distracted driving was only found to cause 8% of the accidents at the time of the FMCSA study, that number has been growing in recent years as smartphones and other technology gadgets provide unneeded distractions inside the cab of the truck.
  • Negligent driving, such as failing to maintain a proper distance between other cars, was responsible for 7% of truck accidents.
  • Over a quarter of the truck drivers involved in an accident were found to have traces of drugs or alcohol in their system.

What Can I Do After an Accident?

There are so many causes that it is nearly impossible to fully prevent them. However, this is not to say that action cannot be taken help improve safety in the truck industry. For example, while adverse weather conditions cannot be controlled, drivers can be advised not to drive in dangerous conditions. While drunk drivers on the road cannot be avoided, trucker can be held to standards that prevent them from drinking on the job. While there is always a possibility for product malfunction, trucking laws can ensure that adequate testing and maintenance curb the problem.

Our Houston Truck Accident Attorneys Are Ready to Help

Pursuing your truck accident case in court may seem daunting—but don’t worry! You are not alone. With the help of an attorney at Arnold & Itkin, you can feel the weight of this burden lifted off of your shoulders. Our team understands the complex nature of truck accidents. We know how these matters should be addressed when brought to court. Even out-of-court settlements can benefit from our services, as we know the investigative procedures and legal steps that need to take place in order to produce a successful outcome to your case.

Although many causes exist when it comes to truck accidents, it is not impossible to take legal action. Our law firm is here to help. Call Arnold & Itkin today at (888) 493-1629.

Case Results

Check Out Our Victories

  • $12Million Massive Settlement Obtained for Truck Driver Arnold & Itkin is proud to announce that our firm has secured a $12 million settlement on behalf a truck driver who was crushed by his own cargo—which then led directly to a stroke. The driver, who was 56 years old at the time, now requires costly around-the-clock care to carry out basic tasks. The defendants argued that the stroke was his fault—but Cory Itkin was able to counter their arguments enough to compel them to settle. Our client has received everything he needs for a stable future.
  • $10Million Settlement Won for Family Against Negligent Trucking Company Attorneys Kurt Arnold, Caj Boatright, and Ces Tavares represented a family who had lost their father in a tragic 18-wheeler accident. He was driving home when a trucker made a dangerous maneuver and caused a massive collision. The trucking company ultimately settled for $10 million.
  • $10Million Settlement Obtained for Family Affected by Fatal Vehicle Accident Our firm represented the family of two people who were killed after their vehicle was hit by an 18-wheeler running a red light. We were successful in reaching an eight figure settlement on their behalf.
  • $3.2Million Settlement Reached for Injured Husband & Wife Attorney Cory Itkin represented a husband and wife who were injured after being hit by two semi-trucks. The wife sustained back injures while the husband was knocked unconscious; he needed several surgeries. Our firm was successful in reaching a settlement of $3.2 million for the couple.
  • $2.1Million Settlement Obtained for Truck Accident Victim Arnold & Itkin LLP secured a multimillion-dollar settlement for a man who suffered severe neck and back injuries in a truck accident. Our firm aggressively pursued the case until the defendant settled with our client days before trial.
  • $2Million Large Settlement Obtained for Grieving Family Arnold & Itkin is proud to have secured a massive settlement for a family who lost their loved one due to the negligence and reckless action of a commercial vehicle driver. Our work will allow our clients to live in financial stability while they grieve and heal from this tragedy.
  • $1.6Million Large Settlement Reached for Victim of Severe Truck Accident Truck accident attorneys at Arnold & Itkin secured a sizable settlement for a client who was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler on the highway. Her injuries required multiple surgeries, but the defendants refused to take responsibility. Her $1.6 million settlement will get her the medical care and financial support she needs.
  • $1.5Million Big Rig Accident Victim Received Jury Verdict Arnold & Itkin LLP obtained a $1.5 million verdict on behalf of a client who suffered a torn meniscus when he was bumped by a tractor trailer. We are especially pleased with this result because the defendants accepted no responsibility for the injury and only offered to settle for $5000.
  • $1.5Million Jury Verdict Ruled in Favor of Longshoreman Arnold & Itkin obtained a $1.55 million verdict on behalf of a client who was seriously injured when a yard mule driver collided with the pickup truck in which he was standing. The defendants only offered to settle for $35,000 while denying the existence of an injury at all.
  • $1.49Million Settlement for Man Struck by a Truck Our firm helped represent a client who was severely injured after he was struck by a truck. We helped recover $1.49 million on his behalf.
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