How Tired Truck Drivers Cause Accidents in Houston, TX
One common cause of traffic collisions is fatigued drivers, and the larger the vehicle, the more damage it can do. Tired truck drivers cause all manner of accidents, leading to serious injuries and even fatalities.
If you’ve been in a collision caused by a tired trucker in Houston, TX, Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers can help.
Our legal team is undefeated, having recovered some of the largest financial recoveries in state history. We know how to take on trucking companies and their insurers and win maximum compensation for our clients.
If you’ve been injured, contact our Houston truck accident attorneys at 888-603-3636 for a free case assessment to learn about your legal rights.
Table of Contents
- How Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers Can Help After a Semi-Truck Accident in Houston, TX
- Understanding Truck Accidents in Houston, TX
- Tired Truck Drivers: How They Can Cause Accidents
- Types of Damages Available After a Truck Accident in Texas
- Schedule a Free Case Consultation With Our Undefeated Houston Truck Accident Lawyers – Call 888-603-3636
How Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers Can Help After a Semi-Truck Accident in Houston, TX
At Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers, we’re here to offer assistance to those who’ve suffered injuries because of someone else’s negligent behavior. We’ll fight for your rights to help you get the compensation you need to pay for medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Our record-setting Houston truck accident lawyers provide a number of services, including:
- Assessing your claim
- Gathering evidence
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Taking your case to trial if necessary
Our team has recovered billions of dollars and some of the largest verdicts and settlements in the area for our clients. If you’ve been in a truck accident in Houston, Texas, turn to Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers.
Understanding Truck Accidents in Houston, TX
An average of 26,963 truck accidents occur in Texas each year, resulting in 629 serious injuries and 199 deaths. Texas leads the country in fatal trucking accidents.
Many actions can lead to truck accidents. Distracted driving is a serious concern all around the country, and it’s no different in Texas. One in six accidents in the state is a result of a driver not paying attention to the road. Taking your eyes or your attention off the road, even for an instant, can be dangerous. This is even more true for someone driving a truck.
Safety violations are another concern, with many truckers skipping safety inspections and even exceeding driving hours.
Speeding can be another serious issue for truck drivers. The truck’s size plays a significant role in the stopping distance the driver will need when braking. If they’re speeding, they’ll have a much harder time reacting to changing road conditions, leading to potentially serious accidents.
However, the most dangerous behavior that a truck driver can engage in is driving while they’re tired. It’s one of the top 10 causes of trucking accidents.
Tired Truck Drivers: How They Can Cause Accidents
A driver who’s tired will have slower reaction times, which can make it impossible for them to make quick decisions if hazards appear on the road. They’ll also be more likely to lose control of the truck. This lack of control can lead to swaying between lanes, accelerating without realizing it, and even drifting off the road.
Tired driving often leads the driver to fall asleep at the wheel. Even if this lasts for an instant, it can lead to a chain of reactions that puts everyone on the road at risk. Many times, truck drivers overcorrect when they jerk awake, which could cause the truck to tip over.
Truck drivers can experience fatigue for many reasons, including driving during naturally “drowsy hours.” If they take medications that cause drowsiness or if they have a drink before getting behind the wheel, they’re more likely to battle fatigue.
By law, truck drivers can’t exceed a certain number of hours of driving. However, this regulation doesn’t mean they don’t sometimes drive more than they are legally allowed. A driver who’s behind schedule or overworked might make the wrong choice and get on the road when they’re tired.
Types of Damages Available After a Truck Accident in Texas
If you’ve been in an accident that a truck driver caused, you could be able to get compensation for the losses you’ve suffered. Texas is an at-fault state, which means that the person who caused the accident is responsible for paying your damages.
You have the chance to claim economic damages. They include medical expenses like hospital bills, medication costs, ongoing medical care, and lost wages. If you’ve suffered injuries that have led to disabilities that won’t allow you to work, you can also claim future wages.
In Texas, you also have the chance to claim non-economic damages. These damages are not as easily quantifiable and include pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Although rare, punitive damages may be available, as well, in instances when the truck driver’s behavior was particularly egregious.
Schedule a Free Case Consultation With Our Undefeated Houston Truck Accident Lawyers – Call 888-603-3636
Truck accidents can be very serious, leading to significant injuries. This means dealing with medical bills. You shouldn’t have to experience financial strife after being in an accident that you didn’t cause.
At Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers, we offer help to those who are suffering in Houston, Texas, as a result of a negligent truck driver. Contact our Houston personal injury lawyers today to schedule a free consultation.