Any victim injured in an accident involving a semi-tractor-trailer, cargo van, or commercial vehicle can file a claim or lawsuit, seeking financial recovery from every party responsible for the incident. Successfully resolving your case requires abiding by Texas tort laws when filing a claim with the insurance company or presenting a case in front of a judge and jury. The rules involving compensation cases are complex. Injured victims can submit a claim for compensation or file a lawsuit against every responsible party and take their case to court or negotiate an out of court settlement.

A victim of a truck accident can file a claim for compensation to ensure they receive the financial recovery they deserve. The resolution of the case can ensure he or she recovers:

• Hospital bills, medical costs, and expenses of rehab and therapies
• Lost income due to missed work: Loss of earnings from a permanent or temporary disability (past, current, and future)
• Car rental while your vehicle is under repair
• Permanent or temporary loss of your vehicle
• Emotional anguish and mental stress
• Pain and suffering

Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that truck accidents in the United States often involve:

• Driving Impaired – Truckers must avoid consuming alcohol or taking illegal drugs, including stimulants, which can create a dangerous scenario for those sharing the road.
• Aggressive Behavior – Any aggressive behavior by a motorist involved in a collision could kill, injure, or maim innocent victims, including passengers and other drivers.
• Not Accounting for Air Turbulence – The crosswinds on a freeway can affect a semi-tractor and trailer, causing the vehicle to swerve into other lanes, resulting in a deadly crash.
• Driving Drowsy – Maintaining tight schedules often means the trucker must drive for hours on end, which can lead to fatigue and drowsy driving.
• Staying in the Right Lane – When the trucker needs to turn right, they need a wide area to avoid running over the curb or crashing into a telephone/light pole.
• Failing to Judge a Commercial Truck’s Approaching Speed – Changing lanes and pulling a front of a fast-approaching commercial vehicle could be catastrophic and lead to a preventable death or severe injury.
• Driving Distracted – The trucker should never use their mobile phone, send text messages, or read their email while operating their commercial vehicle. Distracted driving could lead to severe harm or death.

Many times, the semi-truck driver has the accident due to erratic movements or because they were driving distracted or while fatigued. In these cases, both the trucking company and the truck driver should be held legally responsible for the crash and pay all associated costs and expenses that led to the wrongful death or severe injury.