Accidentes de camiones

Texas no es ajeno a la industria del transporte por carretera, con su gran cantidad de carreteras y su posición central en el país, por lo que muy a menudo se transita en la ruta de un camionero. Lamentablemente, eso pone a los tejanos en mayor riesgo de ser víctimas de un accidente de camión. Cualquier accidente de vehículo conlleva la posibilidad de ocasionar lesiones graves, pero los camiones pesados aumentan sustancialmente el riesgo para todas las partes involucradas cuando colisionan con otros conductores en la carretera. En 2017, Según la Administración Nacional de Seguridad del Tráfico en las Carreteras (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA), el nueve por ciento de todas las muertes por accidentes de tráfico involucraron camiones grandes. Además, el 72 por ciento de los muertos eran ocupantes de los otros vehículos involucrados en una colisión con un camión.


Con enormes cantidades de fuerza detrás de ellos, los camiones grandes pueden dañar gravemente los vehículos más pequeños en caso de colisión. Las cargas pesadas también aumentan la cantidad de tiempo necesario para frenar y reaccionar ante situaciones en la carretera. El impacto potencialmente mortal de los vehículos diésel de gran plataforma hace que sea esencial que las empresas y los conductores ejerzan un mayor cuidado en la carretera.

The negligence that causes and/or contributes to trucking accidents can be the same as in regular car accidents. For example, truck drivers can cause accidents due to speeding, ignoring road signs, operating their vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or engaging in distracted driving, like texting. However, trucking as an industry is heavily regulated and when those laws are ignored, it can lead to serious accidents.

Responsabilidades de la industria de camiones

En primer lugar, las empresas de camiones a menudo no verifican los registros de conducción de sus empleados, lo que los lleva a contratar conductores inseguros. En segundo lugar, se requiere una capacitación adecuada para todos los conductores de camiones, pero a veces no es tan rigurosa como se necesita, ya que las empresas están ansiosas por tener la mayor cantidad posible de conductores en la carretera. De manera similar, existen pautas estrictas sobre cuántas horas puede conducir un conductor cada día y cuántos días puede conducir sin descansar. Lamentablemente, en la economía actual, las empresas de camiones están estableciendo plazos estrictos y rápidos y, para cumplir con ellos, los conductores de camiones se sienten presionados a ignorar las regulaciones federales sobre horas de servicio. Si bien ignorar las regulaciones puede ayudar a los camioneros a completar sus trabajos más rápidamente, los pone en riesgo al conducir fatigados. Cuando los conductores de camiones deciden conducir mientras se sienten fatigados, ponen a todos en riesgo.

Los problemas con los camiones en sí pueden causar un accidente de camiones. Las fallas de los equipos son un problema común que contribuye a los accidentes en la carretera. A medida que los camiones acumulan miles de millas en un corto período de tiempo, sus piezas pueden desgastarse rápidamente. Si no se mantienen con cuidado, una pieza puede fallar durante el tránsito y provocar un accidente. Las fallas más comunes que experimentan los camiones grandes están relacionadas con los frenos, los neumáticos, la transmisión y las luces. Además, es posible que la carga en sí no esté bien asegurada o que el camión se sobrecargue, lo que podría hacer que se vuelque o se salga. La velocidad con la que opera la industria significa que cosas como el mantenimiento y garantizar que las cargas estén bien aseguradas, lamentablemente, a menudo se quedan en el camino.

A collision involving a large truck can cause devastating injuries, particularly for the occupants of other vehicles involved in the accident. Victims face a wide range of potential harm, ranging from lacerations to paralysis or even death. The medical bills resulting from these injuries can place a heavy financial burden on the shoulders of victims and their families, as medical bills, medications, and the costs of treatment can quickly accumulate. While trucking companies are legally required to carry insurance for truck accidents, they generally look to settle them quickly and for little payout. Victims may not know where to turn and be intimidated by the thought of trying to get compensation from a major trucking company. An experienced personal injury trial attorney examines each case to determine negligence and to find a way to hold the responsible party or parties accountable.


Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents

How do truck accident claims work?

Filing a claim for a truck accident is a bit more complicated than filing a claim for a car accident. You will want to be compensated for your injuries, but instead of one party being involved, there may be multiple people and businesses that can be held liable for your damages. Truck accident claims are a multi-step process that involve:

  • Gathering comprehensive evidence to prove negligence and identify a liable party or parties for your damages
  • Investigating the direct cause of the truck accident
  • Filing your claim with the relevant party’s or parties’ insurance company or companies
  • Negotiating with the insurance carrier or carriers for fair compensation
  • If a settlement cannot be reached, filing a lawsuit to recover maximum financial compensation for your injuries and other losses

Some claimants are able to obtain a fair settlement from the insurance company; however, insurance carriers rarely want to pay the full amount you are due. They do not have your best interests in mind and will try to pay as little as possible for your damages. Having a reputable and experienced truck accident attorney by your side to negotiate your claim and represent your side of the story will help ensure you receive an appropriate amount of compensation to allow for a full recovery from the truck accident.

Who is liable in a truck accident?

Unlike a passenger vehicle accident in which the driver of the vehicle that hit you is the at fault party, a truck accident usually involves multiple liable parties. The actions of the truck driver may be what directly caused the accident, but the trucking company may share in the blame for the crash. While the truck driver may have been driving recklessly or while intoxicated, the trucking company may have neglected to enforce the strict trucking industry standards of operation for their drivers and vehicles. If a trucking company put pressure on a driver to work longer hours than are legally allowed, forcing them to stay awake all through the night and day, that fatigued driver could easily cause an accident resulting in devastating injuries. A trucking company or another third party involved may have misloaded or unevenly loaded a truck before shipping cargo, causing the truck to tip over. Because the driver is never the only one to blame and is the least likely to have insurance and/or assets from which an injury victim can recover compensation for their damages, our team of trucking accident attorneys will thoroughly investigate all potentially liable parties to pay you for your damages.

What are the most common causes of truck accidents?

Truck accidents are caused in a variety of ways, all of which can be incredibly dangerous if not fatal. The truck driver may have been breaking traffic laws by speeding, driving while distracted, driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, or running stop signs and red lights. These reckless behaviors quickly cause serious accidents. If a truck driver is driving while extremely fatigued, they may fall asleep behind the wheel, lose control of their truck, and cause a collision.

Other common causes of trucking accidents include:

  • Tire blowouts
  • Uneven loads
  • Lost cargo
  • Improper or inadequate truck maintenance
  • Tailgating
  • Blind spot accidents
  • Hazardous weather
Where do most truck accidents happen?

Most drivers might think that the majority of truck accidents happen inside city limits where there is a lot of traffic. This is not the case, though, as truck drivers usually reduce their speed and pay much more attention to the road when they are inside the city. The increase in traffic means the truck driver must be much more aware of their surroundings to avoid an accident. Speed limits are also usually lower inside the city, even when on the highway. With more hazards on the road in larger metropolitan areas, truck drivers are forced to be safer drivers.

The majority of truck accidents happen on highways in rural areas that have fewer obvious hazards and less traffic. The false sense of safety a truck driver may feel out on the open highway, away from the city and dense traffic, can quickly lead to speeding, paying less attention to the drivers around their truck, temptation to drive while distracted by a cell phone or GPS device, or feeling comfortable enough to eat a snack. All of these actions can cause devastating truck accidents.

What are common truck accident injuries?

Truck accident injuries are often incredibly severe and can be life-threatening if not fatal. Trucks are much larger than passenger vehicles and can cause incredible amounts of physical damage. Some common injuries suffered during a trucking accident include:

  • Broken bones
  • Internal bleeding
  • Internal organ damage
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Contusions
  • Impalement
  • Laceraciones
  • Burns
  • Crushing injuries
  • Paralysis
  • Death

These physical injuries, if not fatal, can take months to years to recover from, if a full recovery is even possible. They may leave a crash victim permanently disabled or disfigured and unable to return to work resulting in lost wages and financial support. The cost of medical bills to recover from a truck accident can be astronomical. This does not even include the possible mental anguish and post-traumatic stress resulting from the crash that may require years of therapy. This is why it is essential to have an experienced team of truck accident attorneys working with you to take on the stress of seeking compensation for your injuries while you focus on recovery.

Abogados especializados en accidentes de camiones

If you’ve been injured during a truck accident, you may have grounds to seek out compensation that will cover the cost of your damages. As experienced Houston truck accident lawyers, Adame Garza LLP has helped scores of individuals hurt in collisions with large trucks, and we can carefully analyze your situation to determine how we can help you. Call us today for a free consultation to discuss your case.

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