Semi-Truck Crash Closes NB I-35 for Hours in Round Rock
Recently, the northbound lanes of I-35 were closed for several hours after a crash involving a semi-truck. The blockage lasted from mid-morning to early afternoon, and while no injuries were reported, many accidents involving semi-trucks can yield very serious injuries. If you have been injured in an accident with an 18-wheeler, you need an attorney who is experienced in this type of case to help you try and recover for the harm you have suffered.
Causes and Effects
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)’s statistics show that the total number of fatal crashes involving large trucks has steadily increased between 2009 and 2017, though the most recent available totals are still lower than the 20-year high from 2005 (over 5,200 fatal wrecks). The total number from 2017 was 4,889, but it should be emphasized that these are only the fatal wrecks that have been reported to law enforcement, and it is not uncommon for rural accidents to go unreported in some states.
There are several reasons for this statistical trend, but much of it can be explained by the tendency of semi-truck drivers to push the proverbial envelope – while the FMCSA propagates regulations for truck drivers, such as the number of hours one should drive or the number of miles one can go without maintenance, time is money. Very often a trucking company will try and compel their employees to drive longer hours or otherwise bend the rules so as to make more deliveries at a quicker pace. Lack of sleep or maintenance are both major factors in the likelihood of a truck causing a wreck.
Establishing Liability
Truck accidents are, most often, a very large vehicle colliding with a much smaller vehicle, and causing serious damage and injury. The sheer mass and speed involved means that medical bills for a driver injured in a truck crash can be quite high, and if you can show that the crash happened as a result of the trucker’s negligence, you have the right to try and seek compensation from them – or in some cases, from their employer. In some rare cases, truck companies can be held liable for the negligent actions of their employees, which can be an advantage in court.
If you are able to show that the truck driver’s actions were the direct cause of the harm you suffered and that their actions constituted a breach of the duty of care owed by every motorist on the road, you may be able to recover for lost wages and other expenses, in addition to your medical bills. Keep in mind that if you are ruled to be more than 50 percent responsible for your own injuries, you are barred from any recovery – however, you can still possibly recover if your percentage of fault is less than 50 percent.
Contact a New Braunfels Truck Crash Attorney Today
While the lanes of NB I-35 were reopened quickly enough, all involved were lucky that no serious injuries resulted from the crash. If you have been unlucky enough to be injured in an accident involving a semi-truck, you need a dedicated attorney on your side who understands these cases and will fight hard for your rights. The skilled New Braunfels semi-truck accident attorneys at the Bettersworth Law Firm are ready to try and assist you. Call our office today at 888-392-0039 to schedule a free consultation.
Source:
https://cms8.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts-2017
