Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and sometimes more when they’re overloaded. This makes them a significant danger to other motor vehicles on the road, especially when they are operated unsafely. One particularly unsafe situation is when a truck driver is too tired or fatigued to be behind the wheel. Accidents caused by fatigued drivers can lead to serious injuries, significant property damage, and even death.
Our experienced truck wreck attorneys are ready to discuss how we might move your case forward. Our team can investigate the accident to prove liability, argue a case in court, or negotiate for a payout with the involved insurance companies. After fatigued truck driver accidents in Waco, secure the compensation you deserve.
Commercial trucks are bound by all the same laws as the other drivers and motor vehicles on the road. Additionally, there are laws that apply specifically to the operation of a truck. An experienced attorney can explain all applicable laws for a fatigued truck driver crash.
Texas Transportation Code § 545.401 explicitly prohibits drivers from operating their vehicles while fatigued. Additionally, T.T.C. § 545.413 mandates commercial drivers to follow hours of service regulations, limiting how many consecutive hours they may work without rest. Also, T.T.C. § 545.404 requires them to keep an accurate and up-to-date log of the hours they work.
Violation of any law could imply liability in a related injury action. Of course, in a case involving an accident with a commercial truck, several parties could be liable. The driver themselves could be liable if they were personally negligent—perhaps by lying about how much sleep they got in order to work more hours. Alternatively, the company could be liable if it required the driver to work too many hours or failed to perform a background check before hiring them.
A faulty part or motor vehicle could also lead to liability on behalf of the manufacturer, and if poor road conditions played a factor, the local municipality or government agency tasked with maintaining the roads could be held liable, too. A skilled Waco attorney can investigate the tired truck driver accident to determine who is at fault and, therefore, liable for damages.
A person does not have a second chance to recover once a judgment is issued or a settlement is signed. Securing the compensation a person needs for all of their losses is important. One of our lawyers in Waco can investigate the accident and hold a fatigued trucker responsible.
A lawyer can review photo and video evidence, scrutinize the police report and witness statements, conduct new interviews, consult with experts, recreate the accident, research applicable laws, and more. Defense counsel and insurance representatives will have done their research and have their own data; an injured person is at a distinct disadvantage without the help of a legal team.
Being hit by a fatigued truck driver can cause lots of problems in your life – from lost wages to property damages and medical bills. You need support as you try to recover what you are owed.
Retain a lawyer and get help getting what you are owed for the harm you have suffered. Call us today, and take step one toward getting your life back on track after fatigued truck driver accidents in Waco.