Austin Truck Accident Attorney


Thousands of semi-trucks transport consumer goods and other items across the country on a daily basis. The large size and weight of these vehicles create a serious hazard for others that share the road with them. Many trucks weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds, compared to an average weight of 3,000 pounds for a car. This disparity can lead to disastrous consequences in the event of a truck accident. Often, injuries sustained in an 18-wheeler collision can be life-altering, and potentially fatal. In the event a loved one has been killed in a truck accident, reach out to our wrongful death attorneys in Austin.

When facing the burdens associated with mounting medical bills and lost wages as you recover, it is important to have an experienced truck accident attorney on your side who can make sure your rights are protected. This is the best way to ensure you and your family stay afloat financially as you deal with this difficult time in your lives.

Why Choose Our Austin Truck Accident Lawyers at Shaw Cowart?

Shaw Cowart’s accident attorneys in Austin have been helping truck accident victims in the Austin, Texas area recover the compensation they deserve for nearly 30 years. We’ve seen firsthand the devastation these collisions can cause to the victims and their families, and we are committed to aggressively pursuing your case in order to maximize the value of your compensation.

You can learn about your legal rights and options by speaking with our experienced truck accident lawyers in person. Please call 512-499-8900 today to schedule a complimentary consultation. You can also fill out the form in our contact page, and our staff will help you set up your meeting! Our seasoned attorneys Ethan L. Shaw and John P. Cowart serve clients in the Austin, Texas area.

Truck Accidents in Austin Are A Complex Area of Law

Austin truck accident lawyer Truck accident cases are often much more complicated than other types of motor vehicle accident claims. There are numerous state and federal trucking regulations that govern the operation of large commercial trucks, and these laws will significantly impact your claim. It’s important to work with a truck accident lawyer who has intimate knowledge of all state and federal laws that apply to your case.

Proving liability in a truck accident claim is also much more complicated than in a car accident case. If you have been in a car accident, call our Austin car accident lawyers today. There are many parties that may potentially be liable for your injuries, including the:

  • Truck driver
  • Trucking company
  • Truck manufacturer
  • The driver of a third vehicle that caused the collision

In the event that a truck accident caused you serious injuries, reach out to our personal injury attorneys in Austin today.

In some cases, more than one of these parties may be liable for your injuries. Your attorney must be able to determine the appropriate parties to hold accountable in your truck accident claim. With decades of experience handling these complex cases, the truck accident lawyers at Shaw Cowart LLP have the background necessary to help you hold all negligent parties accountable for your damages.

The Importance Of Federal Trucking Regulations

The federal government establishes regulations for the trucking industry to ensure the safety of truck drivers and other motorists on the road. These regulations are established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and they apply to all members of the trucking industry, including trucking companies, truck drivers, and manufacturers of trucks.

Truck drivers are required to:

  • Be at least 21 years of age and speak fluent English
  • Possess a valid commercial driver license (CDL)
  • Pass a physical exam every two years
  • Refrain from using drugs or alcohol while on duty, including any prescription drugs that affect their ability to safely operate a commercial vehicle

Trucking companies must:

  • Verify drivers’ records and check their references before hiring
  • Review drivers’ records every year
  • Conduct regular mechanical inspections and make repairs before allowing a truck to embark on a long trip
  • Maintain accurate records of all inspections and repairs to vehicles

Additionally, trucks are prohibited from carrying more than 20,000 pounds per axle or exceeding the maximum allowable gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 80,000 pounds.

Hours of Service Violations and Truck Accidents

Truck driver fatigue occurs when too many hours are spent behind the wheel, and it is one of the most common factors associated with truck accidents in Austin. To minimize this risk, the FMCSA has established rules that lay out strict limits on the hours that truck drivers are allowed to work:

Austin truck accident attorney

  • Truck drivers may not drive more than 11 hours in a single day
  • The total duration of a driver’s shift, including time, spent not behind the wheel, may not exceed 14 hours
  • Truck drivers are required to take at least 10 hours off between shifts
  • When trucking companies don’t operate their vehicles 7 days a week, truck drivers cannot exceed a maximum of 60 hours on duty during a 7-day time period (60 hour/7-day rule)
  • When trucking companies operate their vehicles 7 days a week, drivers cannot exceed 70 hours on duty during an 8-day time period (70 hour/8-day rule)
  • Truck drivers must maintain an accurate log of time spent on duty and behind the wheel

When a driver is drowsy from exceeding the maximum allowable hours on the road or failing to obtain the minimum number of required rest hours, he or she is more likely to fall asleep at the wheel, drift into the next lane, cross over the center line or collide with another vehicle. Fatigue also impedes a truck driver’s ability to accurately judge and respond to surrounding situations.

Unfortunately, it’s common for trucking companies to push their drivers beyond these FMCSA hours of service regulations in the name of profit, and this negligence can be tragic for truck accident victims. Even in the absence of direct instruction to ignore the regulations, truckers may feel implicitly pressured to do so in order to meet unreasonable delivery deadlines

Collecting Evidence In An Austin Truck Driving Accident Case

Our Austin truck accident attorneys rely on a wide range of forensic evidence to prove negligence when inadequate rest is a factor in a trucking accident. We evaluate truck driver logs to determine whether your injuries may have been the result of hours of service violations.

In situations where the truck driver’s log book doesn’t indicate any blatant hours of service violations, our attorneys will dig deeper in order to detect indirect evidence that these laws have been violated. This may include uncovering discrepancies between the log book and other important truck driver documents, including:

  • Fuel receipts
  • Toll tickets
  • Times on bills of lading and other load identification documents
  • Point-to-point mileage distance
  • Scale tickets

This in-depth investigation can often uncover evidence of hours of service violations that may not be noticed by less experienced attorneys.

Causes of Truck Accidents in Austin

While factors beyond our control such as hazardous weather conditions or poorly marked roads contribute to some semi-truck accidents that occur in the Austin area, the vast majority of 18-wheeler accidents are caused by negligence on the part of the truck driver, trucking company, or truck manufacturer. Sadly, many of the devastating injuries caused by these collisions could have easily been prevented if truck drivers and trucking companies took greater care to ensure the safety of others sharing the road.

Some common causes of truck accidents include:

  • Improperly maintained trucks
  • Insufficient truck driver training
  • Aggressive or reckless driving by a truck driver
  • Unrealistic schedules that require truck drivers to exceed the hours of service limitations established under federal and state laws
  • Truck driver fatigue
  • Drug and alcohol use by truck driver while on the road
  • Unbalanced truck loads
  • Overloaded trucks
  • Distracted driving, particularly involving the use of cell phones behind the wheel

If you believe you were in an accident with an intoxicated driver, please call our drunk driving accident lawyers in Austin today!

 

Call Our Austin Truck Accident Attorneys Today

Please contact Shaw Cowart LLP or call 512-499-8900 today to schedule your FREE case consultation today. Our truck accident lawyers in Austin will be ready to serve you. We serve clients in the Austin, Texas area.