Vehicle Problems May Have Caused the 18-Wheeler Wreck

Commerce Trucking Accident Lawyers

In 2007, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a report that looked at the causes of trucking accidents in the U.S. Investigators looked at a sample of 963 crashes from among the 120,000 U.S. trucking accidents that occurred from 2001 through 2003.

Truck driver error was the most common factor in the sample of trucking accidents. Environmental factors accounted for 3% of truck wrecks. Vehicle problems were the critical factor causing 10% of truck crashes.

That may seem like a small amount but if you were one of the thousands of people seriously injured, or your loved one was one of the people killed in an 18-wheeler wreck caused by a defective part or poor vehicle maintenance, this could be key to financial recovery in your personal injury or wrongful death case.

Three vehicle-related problems were identified as critical factors causing trucking accidents:

  • Brake problems – 29% of accidents
  • Tire problems – 2.5% of accidents
  • Cargo shifted – 4% of accidents

Investigating Texas 17 Wheeler Wrecks

One reason it’s so important to identify a vehicle problem after an accident is that you may be able to get money compensation from more than one source. Truck accidents often cause catastrophic injuries – with huge medical bills – so your Commerce trucking accident lawyers may need to look everywhere to find you compensation. For example:

  • Improper loaded or overloaded trucks could result in cargo breaking free, in brake failure or tire failure because of the stress on equipment. Who was responsible for loading the truck?
  • Poor truck maintenance could result in brake failure or tire blowouts. Whose job is it to ensure the truck is maintained properly – the independent trucker or an employer who owns the truck?
  • Mechanical defects could result in a tire blowout that causes a truck to veer into another lane, or a cargo strap snapping or a clasp failure that allows cargo to fall off the truck to hit a car behind it.

That’s when investigative skills and expert resources come into play. When you hire Roper & White, Attorneys at Law, we immediately get to work investigating your case.

  • We subpoena trucking company maintenance records
  • Our investigator checks the weigh in stations along the route where the truck had to check in
  • Our experts examine the wrecked vehicles for evidence of mechanical defects or failures

Contact a Sulphur Springs Trucking Accident Attorney You Can Trust

If you have endured the devastating loss a loved one in a trucking accident, the personal injury lawyers at Roper & White are here to help. We work hard to ensure you receive fair compensation and the responsible party is held accountable. Call 903-270-1281 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.