What Are The Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Texas?

While many types of truck accidents occur in Texas, most collisions share similar causes. Negligent truck drivers, vehicle failures, bad weather, and other factors contribute to these collisions — and unfortunately, other road users pay the price. According to the National Safety Council, 72 percent of injuries in large truck accidents in a recent year were sustained by the occupants of passenger vehicles, not the truck driver.
If you’ve been involved in a truck crash in the Lone Star State, the cause of the accident will affect who you can hold financially responsible for your injuries and property damage. Since 1991, the Law Offices of Troy A. Brookover has provided comprehensive legal support to injury victims in San Antonio, Bexar County, and throughout Southern Texas. Firm founder Troy Brookover is Board-Certified as a specialist in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction that demonstrates his extensive knowledge and dedication to high-quality legal representation.
Call or contact us today for a free consultation with a Texas truck accident lawyer.

What Causes Truck Accidents in Texas?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)’s landmark Large Truck Crash Causation Study identified three general categories of critical reasons for commercial truck accidents:

• Driver error ‒ Drifting out of travel lanes, driving too fast for conditions, following too closely, driving while fatigued, impairment, and overcorrections
• Vehicle problems ‒ Cargo shifts, system failures, tire blowouts, and brake failure
• Environmental issues ‒ Poor road conditions, traffic congestion, and roadway problems

By far, the study identified driver error as the most common reason for truck crashes. Some of the most common examples of driver error we see include:

• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Distracted driving
• Running traffic controls
• Failing to yield
• Making unsafe lane changes
• Reckless driving
• Driver fatigue
• Driving under the influence

How the Cause of Your Crash Affects Your Claim in Texas

Identifying the cause of the crash helps you determine who can be held liable for it. The trucking industry includes numerous parties, and any of them could be responsible for a commercial vehicle accident, depending on the circumstances. In some cases, more than one party is responsible, providing truck accident victims with several potential sources of compensation for their injuries.
Consider this example: Joe from San Antonio was lawfully driving down Culebra Road with a green light when a semi-truck waiting to turn left onto General McMullen Drive turned in front of him. The truck driver misjudged the timing of the turn, striking Joe’s vehicle and seriously injuring him. In this situation, the truck driver might be liable for negligent driving, and the trucking company might be liable for the driver’s negligence if the driver was acting within the scope of their employment. The truck company could also face separate claims if an investigation revealed negligent hiring or training.
Other potentially liable parties in truck accident cases include:

• The truck’s owner
• Third-party cargo loaders
• Maintenance providers
• Truck parts manufacturers
• Freight brokers
• A government entity
• Other drivers

An experienced truck accident lawyer in Texas can identify each at-fault party to pursue maximum compensation in your case.

Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Now let’s take a closer look at some of the specific factors that commonly lead to truck accidents in Texas.

Reckless Driving

Texas law defines reckless driving as operating a vehicle in “willful or wanton disregard” for another person’s safety or property. Examples include:

• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Illegal maneuvers

These behaviors are especially dangerous for commercial truck drivers because large trucks require more time and distance to slow down or maneuver safely.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is taking one’s eyes, hands, or attention away from safely operating a large commercial truck. Common distractions include texting, using a GPS, eating, adjusting vehicle controls, or interacting with dispatch equipment. Even a brief distraction can prevent a truck driver from noticing changing road conditions or other hazards in time to avoid a collision. Federal safety regulations prohibit truck drivers from texting and using handheld mobile devices like cell phones while driving.

Blind Spots

Commercial trucks have large blind spots called “No Zones” around the front, rear, and sides of the vehicle, making it difficult for truck drivers to see nearby motorists. Accidents can occur when a truck driver changes lanes, merges, or turns without first checking to see whether another vehicle is traveling in one of these areas. Truck drivers must use proper precautions when maneuvering to reduce the risk of a dangerous blind-spot collision.

Fatigued Driving

Fatigue can impair a truck driver’s reaction time, judgment, and ability to remain alert behind the wheel. Federal hours-of-service rules limit how long most commercial truck drivers may drive and require specified rest periods to help reduce fatigue-related crashes.

Poor Road Conditions

Poor road conditions can contribute to Texas truck accidents by making it harder for drivers to maintain control when roads are wet, obstructed by debris, or damaged. Common roadway issues include:

• Potholes
• Uneven pavement
• Inadequate signage
• Poorly managed construction zones
• Standing water

Drivers should adjust their behavior to account for hazardous road conditions. That said, and depending on the circumstances, responsibility for a crash may extend beyond the truck driver to a government entity, contractor, or other party responsible for maintaining a reasonably safe roadway.

The Evidence That Proves Each Cause

The following types of evidence may help establish each cause discussed above:

• Reckless driving – Dashcam or traffic-camera footage, witness statements, event data recorder (“black box”) information, GPS and telematics data, traffic citations, police reports, and records showing prior unsafe driving behavior
• Distracted driving – Cell phone records, text and call logs, in-cab camera footage, dispatch communications, electronic logging or onboard system data, eyewitness testimony, and evidence concerning the driver’s use of GPS or other electronic devices around the time of the crash
• Blind spots – Dashcam and in-cab camera footage, photographs of vehicle positions and damage, witness statements, mirror and safety-system inspection records, accident reconstruction evidence, and data from blind-spot monitoring or other onboard safety technology
• Fatigued driving – Electronic logging device (ELD) records, hours-of-service logs, fuel and toll receipts, dispatch records, bills of lading, driver schedules, and witness testimony
• Negligent road maintenance – Photographs and video of the crash scene, police reports, witness statements, maintenance and inspection records, prior complaints about the hazardous condition, construction records, work orders, and evidence showing how long the road defect existed

Truck accidents often result in serious injuries, which drives up the value of a truck accident claim. Obtaining compensation can be essential for victims as they recover, but insurance payouts don’t come easily. An experienced truck accident attorney must gather evidence to prove the cause of the wreck and establish liability for the insurance company.

Contact a Texas Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Have you been hurt in a truck accident in Texas? Standing up to insurance adjusters and demanding fair compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering is a complex undertaking. At the Law Offices of Troy A. Brookover, we can handle every aspect of your case from start to finish.
There’s no legal fee unless we win your case, so you have nothing to lose. Call or contact our law firm today for a free consultation.