Bad Weather Truck Accidents in Colleyville
Bad weather causes plenty of traffic accidents. But the consequences can be far more serious when one of the vehicles involved is a commercial truck. Commercial trucks weigh up to 80,000 pounds—and potentially more if overloaded. Additionally, they are typically 72 feet long, 8.5 feet wide, and 13.5 feet tall, giants compared to most other vehicles on the road. Getting into an accident with one of these trucks can lead to substantial property damage, serious injury, and even death.
Anyone involved in bad weather truck accidents in Colleyville should contact an experienced lawyer for a free consultation. A seasoned tractor-trailer collision attorney could help by investigating the accident to determine liability, negotiating for a payout with the insurance company, or taking a case to court. However, the best course of action will depend on your specific goals and the circumstances of your case.
Texas Law Related to Bad Weather Truck Accidents
Per Texas Transportation Code § 545.351, drivers are required to operate their vehicles at a reasonable and prudent speed under the circumstances. This means that truck drivers—whose driving speed is also regulated by state law—must slow down when bad weather necessitates. This does not always happen, though; commercial shipping companies usually race to get cargo from one place to another.
A truck driver who drives too fast in inclement weather, causes an accident, and is found to have violated this law would be liable in a resulting personal injury case.
Similarly, TTC § 545.401 states that drivers must use their headlights when visibility is reduced due to weather conditions. A truck driver who violates this law and causes a collision would be presumed liable, too. An experienced Colleyville bad weather truck accident attorney could advise on the full range of applicable laws based on the facts of a case.
Investigating a Bad Weather Crash
One of the ways a Colleyville bad weather 18-wheeler crash lawyer could help is by investigating an accident to prove liability. This could involve:
- Recreating the accident
- Consulting with experts
- Analyzing medical records
- Researching applicable laws
- Reviewing photo and video evidence
- Scrutinizing the police report and witness statements
This is a laborious process, often necessitating specific legal knowledge. The investigation can be crucial to a successful case, especially a bad weather truck accident case, where there could be numerous liable parties, such as:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The truck manufacturer
- The truck parts manufacturer
The more potential defendants, the more potential avenues for recovery.
Comparative Negligence and Determining Liability
Texas is a comparative negligence state, meaning that a plaintiff can recover damages so long as they are not more than 50 percent at fault for the wreck. Their damages are to be reduced by an equivalent percentage. This rule incentivizes opposing counsel and insurance representatives to blame victims in order to reduce their client’s or company’s overall liability.
A dedicated Colleyville bad weather semi-truck crash attorney could handle opposing counsel and insurance representatives on an injured person’s behalf, avoiding pitfalls such as lowball settlement offers or an injured person making a statement against their best interests.
Call a Colleyville Bad Weather Truck Accident Lawyer Today
Contact our firm today for a free consultation. We have experience winning compensation for those involved in bad weather truck accidents in Colleyville. Do not make the mistake of trying to deal with the legal and insurance systems on your own.
There is too much at stake not to take your case seriously and get quality representation. Schedule a free case review with a seasoned legal professional at our firm to discuss your rights and recovery options.