The shipment of freight is vital to interstate commerce and a healthy Texas economy, so federal regulations govern trucking companies and freight shippers. The regulations administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration cover everything from hours of service and operation for drivers to insurance requirements for trucking companies; from inspection requirements to load limits for tractor trailers and semi trucks. The regulations are designed for the safe handling and shipment of all types of freight and hazardous materials. When a tractor-trailer accident occurs on a Texas highway, it frequently involves a violation of one or more truck safety regulations. But that is not always obvious except to a knowledgeable Texas truck lawyer.
If you have been seriously injured in an accident caused by a tractor trailer or semi truck, it’s important to talk to an experienced truck accident attorney who understands the trucking industry and trucking regulations. When truck drivers or trucking companies violate safety regulations and cause an accident, they should be held accountable for their negligence and the injuries they cause. If you or a loved one has been injured in an 18-wheeler accident, you may have legal rights to seek compensation for your injuries. The experienced tractor-trailer accident lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP have taken on some of the largest trucking companies in the nation to help injured clients. We’d like to know how we can help you.
For a free consultation, contact a truck accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP today by calling (866) 222-2606 or by using our online contact form. We represent tractor-trailer accident victims across Texas, including Houston, Harris County, San Antonio and Fort Worth. We’ll put our truck accident experience to work aggressively for you.
Truck drivers are entrusted with a lot of responsibility to guide 80,000 pounds of freight at 70 miles an hour down a busy highway or congested city street. For that reason, trucking companies are required, as part of the hiring process, to screen prospective drivers by reviewing their driving safety inspections and crash reports. They’re also supposed to administer drug and alcohol tests to applicants and maintain an ongoing workplace testing program for alcohol and controlled substances. Some companies fail to do this, allowing drunk or impaired drivers to operate a big rig and cause a serious injury accident.
Most commercial truck drivers are well-trained, hard-working professionals, but some act irresponsibly and disregard rules and regulations. In the eyes of the law, these drivers may be negligent if they cause an accident involving property damage or personal injury. Truck drivers must be satisfied that all truck safety equipment -- including service brakes, lights, tires, parking brake, steering, coupling devices and rear-vision mirrors -- is in good working order before they start a trip. They must keep track of different posted speed limits, special truck speed limits and rules of the road as they drive from town to town and state to state and track their miles and hours in daily logs.
For the safety of the motoring public and the driver, commercial truck drivers are limited in the number of hours per day and per week that they may operate a semi truck. These limits, known as hours-of-service requirements, are meant to help prevent tractor-trailer accidents, injuries and fatalities due to truck driver fatigue. The rules prescribe on-duty hours and rest periods for drivers. Some drivers violate hours-of-service limits and drive until they are dangerously fatigued, causing an accident.
Trucking companies are required to have substantial liability insurance. The required minimum amounts of insurance coverage range from $750,000 for a tractor trailer up to $5 million for a truck carrying hazardous materials. This insurance is to compensate victims of 18-wheeler accidents and their families.
At Arnold & Itkin, we understand trucking regulations and know how to use them to advantage to hold negligent truck drivers and trucking companies accountable and help innocent victims of truck accidents.
The Texas law firm of Arnold & Itkin LLP, based in Houston, represents victims of truck accidents across Texas, including Houston, Harris County, San Antonio and Fort Worth. We are skilled trial lawyers and aggressive advocates for victims of tractor trailer collisions and semi accidents. We have successfully handled cases involving speeding, driver error, aggressive driving, negligent maintenance and issues of corporate responsibility in commercial vehicle accidents of all types. We have stood up to some of the largest trucking companies in the United States on behalf of our clients. We have obtained many successful verdicts and settlements for truck accident victims and their families, including multi-million dollar recoveries. We secured more than $100 million on behalf of clients in 2009.
We’re prepared to stand up to trucking companies to secure a fair settlement that recognizes the severity of your injuries and the disruption to your family. We have extensive experience handling commercial motor vehicle accidents and a track record of success to prove it. Contact an experienced truck accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free consultation by calling (866) 222-2606 or by using our online contact form.
