Pascoe Law Firm
TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER
Principal office located in Friendswood, Texas.
Available to service League City, Webster, Pearland, Galveston, and the surrounding areas within Texas.
Truck Rollover Accident Lawyer
Large trucks are unable to accelerate or come to a stop quickly due to their size and weight, but sudden maneuvers are dangerous due to their higher center of gravity and can cause rollover accidents to occur. Negligent truck drivers who fail to consider the limitations of their trucks can roll their vehicles over by not preparing adequately for a turn, and the results are often catastrophic. Due to the size and mass of these vehicles, it is no surprise that these accidents inevitably carry with them catastrophic injuries for those victims who were unlucky enough to be in the truck’s path. Even though only about four percent of all trucking accidents involve a rollover event, more than 12 percent of all fatal truck accidents result from rollover events.
Statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for rollover truck accidents are alarming. According to the most recent statistics, about 327,000 crashes involving big rigs happen each year. Out of those numbers, about 15,000 commercial tractor-trailers experience a rollover event annually, averaging to about one rollover for every million miles of truck travel.
Analyzing the Data of Truck Rollover Accidents
The last major Crash Causation Study involving big trucks was carried out by the FMCSA in 2008, when the agency delved into detail regarding 239 crashes during which a truck rolled over. Most truck rollovers occur because the truck undergoes a maneuver that causes its weight to shift dramatically beyond what its center of gravity will accommodate. This could be for a myriad of reasons which include mechanical failure, human error or the influence of weather, substance abuse, distractions or fatigue. The following are the most common causes of Large Trucks:
- Speed – The in-depth analysis of that report revealed that almost half of the trucks in the study crashed from failing to adjust speed to curves in the road, the load carried by the truck, the mechanical condition of the truck’s brakes, the condition of the road surface and intersection conditions.
- Driver Inattention – The second major crash contributor involves the driver and specifically the driver’s attention. Simply being disengaged, dozing or falling asleep at the wheel and distraction can all lead to situations where a relatively minor change in the situation ultimately resulted in a rollover crash.
- Driver Error– The third major contributor to rollover crashes involves steering. Often a truck driver will over-steer to the point of rolling over, not steer well enough to stay in the lane, and over-correct their position on the road to the point the driver must counter-steer to stay on the road.
- Mechanical Failure– Truck drivers may find themselves unable to prevent an imminent rollover accident if they experience the sudden loss of steering or braking, or if one of their tires blows out at higher speeds.
- Cargo Issues – Large cargo carried by big rigs presents a frequent problem. When drivers fail to make note of their height, weight or security, truck drivers may be found liable if the inertia of their cargo causes the truck to rollover and injure other drivers. If a driver allows loading to take place before they are assigned and on duty to inspect the cargo, he or she may be found liable in the event of a rollover crash.
- Drugs or Alcohol– The choice to drive while under the influence of any substance can easily end another person’s life. Even over the counter medications such as allergy or cold medicine can impact a driver’s ability to operate machinery, so it is essential for drivers to understand how drugs affect their driving skills and choose not to drive if they are compromised.
Liability After A Rollover Truck Accident In Texas
A variety of persons or entities may be found liable for damages in the event of a rollover crash involving a commercial truck. These may include:
- The vehicle driver if the truck rollover accident occurred due to driver error
- The manufacturer or truck maintenance team if a mechanical item such as brakes or tires were defective or poorly maintained
- Cargo loading personnel if the cargo was not loaded properly
- Another driver if their behavior or driving caused the truck driver to lose control
- A municipality if the accident was caused by dangerous road hazards
Pascoe Law Firm
Friendswood, TX 77546
Phone: 713-829-4317
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