One moment, you were driving as you do on any ordinary day, and the next, your world turned upside down as an 80,000-pound semi-truck slammed into your vehicle. Now you're facing mounting medical bills, unable to work, and wondering who should be held accountable for your injuries.
Truck accidents in Texas differ significantly from typical car crashes because multiple parties could share responsibility for the accident. A Texas truck accident lawyer can investigate your case thoroughly to identify all potentially liable parties and fight for the fair recovery you deserve.
The Bonneau Law Firm believes in pursuing justice guided by faith and compassion. For over twenty years, Hunt Bonneau has stood beside injured Texans during their darkest moments, providing legal representation and the moral support needed during challenging times. Hunt understands that seeking accountability isn't just about compensation—it's about restoring order and upholding values of responsibility that benefit our entire community.
Possible Defendants in Your Texas Truck Accident Case
When building your truck accident claim, several parties might bear responsibility for your injuries, including:
1. Truck Drivers
Truck drivers often bear primary responsibility when their negligent actions cause accidents. Driver fatigue from exceeding federal hours-of-service regulations frequently contributes to crashes. Additionally, distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, and improper training all constitute forms of driver negligence that can establish liability.
2. Trucking Companies
Trucking companies may be liable under several legal theories. The principle of vicarious liability holds companies responsible for their employees' actions occurring within the scope of employment. Direct negligence applies when companies fail to screen, train, or supervise drivers properly.
3. Vehicle Maintenance Providers
Vehicle maintenance providers bear responsibility for ensuring trucks operate safely. Brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering malfunctions are often caused by inadequate maintenance. Companies performing improper repairs or skipping required inspections may be liable when mechanical failures cause accidents.
4. Cargo Loading Companies
Cargo loading companies play a crucial role in road safety. Improperly loaded cargo can shift during transport, causing trucks to jackknife or roll over. Overloaded trucks require longer stopping distances and handle poorly. When cargo loaders fail to secure loads according to industry standards, they share responsibility for resulting accidents.
5. Truck Manufacturers
Vehicle and truck parts manufacturers may be liable under product liability laws if defective components contributed to your accident. A truck or truck part may be defective because of design flaws, manufacturing defects, or inadequate safety warnings. These claims often require expert testimony to demonstrate how the defect caused or worsened the accident.
6. Government Entities
Government entities responsible for road design and maintenance sometimes contribute to truck accidents. Dangerous road conditions, inadequate signage, or poorly designed intersections can create hazards for large commercial vehicles. Claims against government entities follow special procedures with shorter filing deadlines.
7. Third-Party Contractors
Third-party contractors often perform essential functions in the trucking industry. For example, brokers connecting shippers with carriers, logistics companies coordinating shipments, and leasing companies providing equipment may all share liability if they are negligent.
Critical Evidence for Establishing Truck Accident Liability
It’s essential to find out why your truck accident occurred so you can seek damages from the proper defendants. To prove your case in court, you will need evidence, such as:
- Electronic logging devices (ELDs). ELDs record crucial data about a truck's operation, including hours driven, speed, braking patterns, and rest periods. These federally mandated devices help establish whether the driver violated hours-of-service regulations or operated the vehicle unsafely.
- Driver employment records. These records may contain essential information about a truck driver's background, including driving history, medical certifications, drug testing results, and training records. This evidence may help establish whether the trucking company properly vetted its drivers according to federal requirements.
- Maintenance records. Maintenance records document all services performed on the commercial vehicle. Gaps in required maintenance or evidence of known mechanical issues can establish negligence. Your attorney will look for shortcuts in maintenance schedules or failures to address reported mechanical problems.
- Post-accident drug and alcohol testing. These test results provide critical evidence about a driver's condition at the time of the crash. Federal regulations require timely testing after accidents meeting specific criteria. Delays in testing or failure to conduct required tests can indicate attempts to conceal impairment.
- Cargo documentation. Cargo documentation may include bills of lading, weight tickets, and loading manifests that detail what was being transported and how it was secured. These documents help establish whether the cargo was loaded correctly and whether weight restrictions were followed.
- Communication records. Communication between drivers and dispatchers often reveals pressure to meet unrealistic schedules or awareness of safety issues. Text messages, emails, and phone records may contain evidence of company policies that encouraged unsafe driving practices.
Credible evidence will help you seek damages against the defendant(s) who caused your accident. Without evidence, your case may be dismissed.
Why to Find the Right Truck Accident Defendant(s)
If you bring a case against a person or company who did not cause your truck crash, the court will likely dismiss your case, and you won’t recover damages. However, if you identify the right defendant(s) and you have evidence to prove your case against the parties who caused the truck crash, you may recover damages that include, but are not limited to, past, current, and future:
- Medical costs
- Lost income
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
The Bonneau Firm will speak up for you and fight for your full and fair recovery.