Interstate 45 is a busy highway that runs between Galveston and Dallas in Texas, forming a critical artery for commercial trucks and other vehicles. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the state’s deadliest roadways, with 105 fatalities occurring in 97 crashes in a single recent year.
The high number of truck accidents and other collisions on I-45 makes it one of the most dangerous roadways in the country, as well as in Texas, according to traffic experts. Contact our proven truck accident attorney in Baytown for a free consultation today.
What Types of Truck Accidents Happen on I-45 In Texas?
Trucks loom dangerously over smaller vehicles, outweighing them by as much as 76,000 pounds when fully loaded. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), about 70% of truck accident injuries occur to the drivers and passengers in other vehicles, not to the truck driver. The most common types of truck accidents in Texas include the following:
- Rear-end collisions
- Sideswipes
- T-bone accidents
- Rollovers
- Wide-turn accidents
- Jackknife accidents (the trailer slides out of alignment with the truck, pushes it forward and sideways, and causes a crash in the shape of a partly opened jackknife)
- Underride accidents (a car and truck collide, and the car wedges underneath the trailer)
- Override accidents (a truck drives up and over a car during a collision)
Finally, commercial truck accidents also cause multi-vehicle pileups on fast-moving highways such as I-45 in Texas, as other drivers aren’t able to stop in time to avoid additional collisions after an initial accident.
What Causes Most I-45 Truck Accidents?
There are many separate entities involved in putting a properly loaded, well-maintained truck on roads like Texas’s I-45 and ensuring that a qualified, alert driver operates the truck.
Unfortunately, it only takes one party’s negligence, corner-cutting, or failure to adhere to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations to cause a serious truck accident. The most common causes of truck accidents on I-45 and elsewhere include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drowsy driving
- Unsafe lane changes
- Tailgating
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Improper passing
- Tire blowouts
- Improper merging
- Mechanical failures or inadequate truck maintenance
- Unbalanced or improperly secured cargo
- Impaired driving
Less commonly, other entities unrelated to the trucking industry cause or contribute to Texas truck accidents. For example, sometimes negligent road construction crews working on I-45 leave dangerous debris or obstructions that cause accidents.
What Makes a Truck Accident Claim Uniquely Complex?
Texas is a fault-based accident state, requiring injury victims to prove another party’s negligence and liability to recover compensation for damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A trucking company’s insurer can shift liability for the accident to the injury victim by asserting that they are more than 51% at fault for the accident.
A successful compensation claim after an I-45 truck accident in Texas requires substantial evidence of liability. Common liable parties in truck accident cases include the following:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- A negligent truck maintenance company
- A negligent freight loading company
- The manufacturer of a defective tire, part, or equipment
- A third-party, such as a road construction or maintenance agency
A skilled La Porte car accident attorney pursues all avenues for compensation by filing claims against all liable parties.
How Can a Texas Truck Accident Attorney Help?
A Texas truck accident claim is a challenging legal process. The serious nature of truck accident injuries often means substantial damages. An injury victim deserves skilled, assertive legal representation throughout every step of their compensation claim.
Call Linebaugh, Dority & Associates today for experienced legal representation to maximize your chances of a favorable result recovering the full compensation available to you.