Houston, Texas Truck Accidents Caused By Poor Maintenance & Defective Equipment
Most fatal truck accidents occur in rural areas, so it is not surprising that Texas (and California) leads the nation in the number of fatal truck accidents that occur each year. More than 400 people are killed every year in trucking crashes in Texas.
More than 8,000 people were injured in Texas truck accidents in 2008. That sad statistic translates into 8,000 lives forever changed by serious injuries such as brain damage, spinal cord injury, compound fractures, and disfiguring burns. What makes these numbers tragic is that the majority of these accidents were avoidable.
Why It's Important to Know the Cause of a Truck Accident
There are many different causes for trucking accidents. Driver error, speeding, fatigue and negligence play a role in many crashes. But poor truck maintenance and trucking equipment failure due to defects can also play a part in causing or contributing to crashes. In cases of trucks carrying hazardous materials (like oil tankers), containment problems can also cause serious injury.
Because truck accident injuries are so often catastrophic and disabling, the cost of medical treatment, rehabilitation services, equipment, and possibly lifetime care can be extremely high. If poor maintenance or defective equipment played a role in causing the accident, the injured person may have more options and sources for financial recovery. That money can go a long way toward making life easier for the injured person and his or her family.
Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys Fighting for Full and Fair Compensation
At the Houston law office of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend, we have been fighting for the rights of truck accident victims since 1951. Our Board-certified personal injury lawyers work tirelessly to investigate each truck crash case. We identify all possible sources of financial recovery so our clients get the money they need. Contact our Houston law office for a free initial consultation with an attorney.
The Effects of Poor Truck Maintenance and Defective Truck Equipment
Trucking companies are required to keep maintenance logs and to ensure that interstate semis and local commercial vehicles are operating properly. Poor maintenance can contribute to brake failure, steering failure, tire failure, and problems with the safe transport of freight.
Operating a truck that is overweight or overloaded, or one in which the cargo is improperly balanced or poorly restrained can put even more strain on weakened equipment. For example, a truck that is overweight may experience brake failure trying to slow down suddenly. A weak or defective restraint can break, allowing the load to fall on cars next to the truck or behind it.
At Abraham Watkins, our team is trained to recognize the difference between poorly maintained trucks and defective equipment. Though regular maintenance may be performed and precautions may be taken, defective equipment will sabotage many safety efforts. We understand how to thoroughly investigate situations looking for common, yet often missed, indicators of:
- Brake failure
- Improper balance and overload
- Steering equipment malfunction
Whether the problem is defective tires faulty under-ride bars, faulty gears in cement trucks, or faulty restraints on logging trucks, our thorough investigation will uncover the facts.
Contact Us
Though you may be grieving loss of loved ones or recovering from significant injury, it is important to get legal representation as soon as possible to protect your rights. Talk with an experienced personal injury attorney by calling 713-222-7211 or 1-800-870-9584 or contacting us online. We offer a no-cost, no-obligation initial consultation. You will only pay attorney fees if we are successful in obtaining compensation for you.
Learn More About 18 Wheeler Accidents
To learn more about 18 wheeler and commercial trucking accidents, visit the following pages:
