Arlington, Texas Truck Accident Attorney

Lawyer for Injuries in Collisions With Commercial Trucks in Arlington

There are many busy roads in and around Arlington, Texas, including Interstate 20, Interstate 30, and Highway 360. When driving on these roads, people may need to navigate heavy traffic, and they are likely to encounter multiple types of vehicles, including large commercial trucks. People will often do their best to drive safely, but even when following all traffic laws and trying to avoid dangerous situations, a person may become involved in an accident through no fault of their own.

While collisions with any vehicle can be dangerous, truck wrecks can be especially devastating. The damage that takes place in these collisions can be severe, and the injuries suffered by a driver or passengers can be life-threatening. Determining how to proceed after a truck accident is not always easy, since multiple parties may have been involved. Injury victims may find it difficult to focus on recovering when they are also experiencing financial problems and other serious concerns.

Legal help can be crucial for people who are dealing with the aftermath of truck accidents. At the Law Office of J. Gregory Marks, we work with people who have been injured in accidents involving 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, delivery trucks, and other large commercial vehicles. Our attorney has the experience needed to investigate these incidents, find out why a truck wreck happened, gather evidence that may be used to prove liability, negotiate with insurance companies, and obtain financial compensation that will fully address the injuries and damages that have occurred.

Why Truck Accidents Can Be So Dangerous

A tractor-trailer that has been loaded with cargo may weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. This is many times larger than a car, pickup truck, SUV, or other passenger vehicle. Collisions between large trucks and other vehicles will result in the smaller vehicle absorbing a massive amount of force. A driver or any passengers may suffer severe injuries when their vehicle is struck by a truck's cab or trailer. These may include:

• Traumatic brain injuries when a person's head is struck during an impact
• Broken bones and crush injuries, which can occur when a vehicle is pinned beneath a trailer or trapped between a truck and another object
• Amputations, which may occur because of severe damage to limbs or other body parts
• Spinal cord damage due to the force of impact, which can result in paralysis in multiple parts of the body
• Internal injuries, including organ damage and blood loss, due to severe lacerations or puncture wounds

Rear-End Truck Accidents

Because of a truck's size, it can crush the passenger compartment of a smaller vehicle or push it into other traffic when it collides with it from the rear. Factors that may lead to rear-end accidents involving trucks may include:

Driver Fatigue

Truck drivers will travel long distances and remain on the road for hours at a time. They can become exhausted as they work demanding schedules, and they may experience drowsiness and fatigue. When driver fatigue becomes an issue for truck drivers, they may try to continue driving, even when it is unsafe to do so. This can increase the risk of a rear-end accident, since a truck driver may experience delays in their reaction times, or they may not notice when traffic slows down ahead of them.

Brake Failure

To ensure that they can operate safely, commercial trucks need regular maintenance. The parts in a truck's braking systems may not work correctly if maintenance has not been performed. When brakes are worn, or when air brake lines are faulty, a truck driver may have no way to stop in time to avoid a rear-end crash.

Speeding

At higher speeds, trucks will take much longer to stop. When a truck driver violates speed limits, they will be limiting the amount of time they have to react when other vehicles slow down. A sudden change in traffic, a stoplight that turns red, or a vehicle that slows down to make a turn could lead to a rear-end collision when a truck driver is unable to stop in time.

Rollover and Jackknife Accidents

A rollover accident can occur when a truck driver tries to take a curve at the wrong speed or when they engage in other types of dangerous maneuvers. Because commercial trucks have a high center of gravity, they are more likely to turn over when drivers make abrupt steering corrections. In a rollover, a truck may land on top of other vehicles, or it may block the road in a way that is impossible for other drivers to avoid.

Jackknife accidents can also occur when truck drivers lose control, and they can cause trailers to move out of control and cross multiple lanes of traffic. A truck driver may brake too hard, or they could lose control when navigating curves or highway entrance and exit ramps. Jackknifing can also occur due to brake malfunctions that cause the wheels on a trailer to lock up and skid.

Sideswipe and Underride Accidents

A truck driver who does not pay attention to traffic around them may cause dangerous accidents that can severely damage other vehicles. Large trucks have blind spots along both sides, and a truck driver will need to make sure these areas are clear before they change lanes. When they fail to do so, they can sideswipe other vehicles. Because of the height and weight of a truck's trailer, a sideswipe collision can push a smaller vehicle off the road, into a barrier, or into oncoming traffic.

Underride accidents may also occur when a truck's trailer collides with a smaller vehicle due to sideswiping or during an unsafe turn. While safety features like airbags and the frame of a vehicle are designed to protect a driver and passengers from the injuries that can occur in a collision, they may provide no protection against a trailer, which can completely destroy a vehicle's passenger compartment and inflict severe or fatal injuries.

Contact Our Arlington, TX Truck Accident Attorney

When people are involved in accidents with 18-wheelers and other commercial trucks, they can suffer severe injuries, which may lead to permanent disabilities or other ongoing health issues. At the Law Office of J. Gregory Marks, our attorney knows how to demonstrate that truck accidents were caused by truck driver negligence or unsafe practices by trucking companies, cargo loaders, maintenance companies, or parts manufacturers. He will fight to secure compensation for truck accident victims so that they can make a full recovery. Contact our Arlington truck wreck lawyer at 214-427-4417 to arrange a free consultation today.