18 Wheeler & Trucking Accidents
Trucking accidents comprise some of the most serious motor vehicle accidents mainly because of the relative size of the vehicles involved. Texas ranked in the top five states for the most trucking accident fatalities in the United States. An 18 wheeler truck can weigh more than 80,000 pounds and be 75 feet in length. It is no wonder that truck drivers are required to carry specialized commercial driver’s licenses in order to operate a truck on our public roadways.
If you have been injured in an accident involving a truck or 18 wheeler, a police report is almost always completed. That is because a truck driver is held to a higher standard when operating a truck than a typical operator of a passenger car. In addition to investigating the accident, your lawyer will also investigate the history of the truck driver. That investigation would include a review of the driver’s travel log, sleep records, previous drug testing, prior accidents and traffic citations. Most likely, an accident reconstruction would also be necessary. This information is critical in establishing the liability of the driver and the driver’s employer.
