Rollover truck accidents can be among the most serious kinds of crashes on the road. When trucks rolls over, they can roll over onto passenger vehicles, crushing them. Because of the sheer weight and size of trucks, these accidents can result in serious injury and often death. Many rollover truck accidents are highly preventable. When truck drivers obey the rules of the road, when they slow down, and when they properly load their vehicles, the risk of truck rollover is reduced.
According to the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, speeding is the biggest contributing factor in rollover crashes. In 45% of the rollover crashes studied, speed was the primary factor leading to the accident. Driver behavior, inexperience, lack of training, or negligence was therefore a major factor in many rollover truck accidents. When truck companies or drivers make mistakes and these mistakes lead to accidents, victims who are hurt as a result may have the right to seek damages for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The Cooper Law Firm are truck accident lawyers in Texas who can help you and your family seek a recovery for your losses following a truck accident. Our attorneys can evaluate your crash, identify the factors leading to your accident, and fight negligent parties or insurance companies to help you get the settlement you may deserve. You may only have a limited amount of time to make a claim under the law. The Cooper Law Firm are truck accident lawyers who can help you navigate the sometimes-complicated claims process.
Causes of Truck Rollover Crashes in Texas
While speed is the major cause of most truck rollover crashes in Texas, ancillary factors can also play a role. Speed combined with a failure to negotiate certain situations properly can lead to rollover accidents. These factors can include:
- Taking turns too sharply. When trucks take turns too sharply, the top-heaviness of a truck can result in a truck rollover crash.
- Overloaded trucks, improperly loaded trucks, or even underloaded trucks can be at greater risk of suffering a rollover. Truck companies and shippers have a responsibility to follow the law when it comes to loading trucks and should be properly trained in best practices to prevent accidents.
- Vehicle maintenance. Truck drivers and companies have a responsibility to properly maintain their vehicles. When truck companies and drivers fail to properly maintain their vehicles, brakes can fail, accidents can happen, and trucks can be more prone to rollover accidents.
- Drowsy driving. Truck drivers must abide by Federal hours of service laws, which limit how long the truck driver can continuously drive before taking a break. When truck drivers don’t get adequate rest or sleep, they might not be able to brake appropriately or in time. This can result in vehicle rollover accidents. Drowsy driving can impair a driver just as badly as drunk driving can impair a driver. When accidents occur, a truck accident lawyer like the Cooper Law Firm in Texas can evaluate the driver’s rest history, the truck’s shipping schedules, and other factors to determine whether the truck driver violated the law.
- Drunk driving or drugged driving. When truck drivers take certain types of medications for medical conditions or when they take drugs to stay awake, they can imperil others on the road. Police reports and drug testing can determine whether a driver’s inebriation resulted in an accident.
- Distracted driving. When truck drivers are focused on their cell phones rather than on the road, accidents can happen. Unfortunately, cell phones are ubiquitous and can be very difficult to resist. Truck companies should have strict no tolerance policies for cell phone use, but sometimes drivers may use cell phones for mapping purposes or to make phone calls to family. If a truck driver’s cell phone use resulted in a rollover crash, victims may be entitled to seek damages. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 90% of rollover accidents occurred in routine driving situations. Drivers may have been so comfortable with road conditions that they may have been distracted when an accident took place.
These are just some of the factors that can lead to truck rollover crashes. If you or a loved one has been hurt in this type of accident, you may only have a limited amount of time to make a claim. Contact the Cooper Law Firm, personal injury lawyers in Texas today to learn more and to protect your rights.
Seek Justice Following a Rollover Crash in Texas
Rollover crashes can lead to serious injuries and loss of life. If your family has been impacted by the negligent actions of a truck driver in Texas, you may have the right to seek damages for your losses. The Cooper Law Firm are truck accident lawyers in Texas who may be able to help you with your claim. Contact us today to learn more.
