Houston Construction Zone Truck Accident Lawyer
Key Takeaways
- Why are construction zone truck accidents dangerous?
Narrow lanes, sudden traffic changes, and reduced speeds make crashes involving large trucks more severe. - Who can be liable for a work zone truck crash?
Liability may include the truck driver, trucking company, construction company, cargo loaders, manufacturers, or other drivers. - Common causes of construction zone truck accidents:
Speeding, driver fatigue, distracted driving, improper lane changes, poor signage, and unsafe construction site conditions. - Why truck crashes cause serious injuries:
Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, increasing stopping distance and crash impact forces. - What compensation may be available?
Victims may recover damages for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term disability. - What laws apply in Texas work zones?
Truck drivers must follow reduced speed limits and “move over or slow down” laws designed to protect workers and motorists. - How a truck accident lawyer helps:
Attorneys investigate crashes, secure black box data, identify liable parties, negotiate with insurers, and litigate when necessary. - When should you contact a lawyer?
As soon as possible after a construction zone truck accident to preserve evidence and protect your claim.
Increased Risks of Truck Accidents in Construction Zones
Construction zones are everywhere in the Houston metro area, but oftentimes motorists pay less attention to them than they should. Construction zone accidents can cause severe injuries, and if a commercial truck is involved, the consequences can be catastrophic.
If you were injured in a crash with a truck in a construction zone in Houston or the surrounding areas, do not handle your claim by yourself. You need professional legal help from the truck accident attorneys for construction zone collisions at The Callahan Law Firm. We represent people in truck accident claims and have for over 30 years, and we know how to win. Let us put our resources and experience to work for you now.
Contact us today or call 24/7 at (713) 589-6227 for a free consultation to discuss your options for pursuing the compensation you deserve in a truck accident claim. Our office is conveniently located at 440 Louisiana St #2050, Houston, TX. Visit us!
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Why Construction Zone Truck Accidents Happen in Texas
Crashes in work zones are most commonly the result of human error.
For example, truck drivers may cause crashes because they were:
- Speeding
- Driving aggressively
- Driving while fatigued
- Driving while impaired
- Failing to merge early enough
- Ignoring signage
- Driving while distracted
- Ignoring blind spots
Sometimes, it is not just the truck driver who caused the accident. Construction companies that fail to mark upcoming construction zones, mark lane changes poorly, or make lanes too narrow could also be at fault. Other motorists may also play a role in collisions involving large trucks in construction zones.
How Large Trucks Increase the Severity of Work Zone Crashes
In a recent year, 40,170 people were injured in work zone accidents, and 898 were killed in fatal crashes, according to data from the National Safety Council. In Texas that year, 144 people who were either the driver or the passenger in a motor vehicle were killed in work zone accidents. Although these statistics do not break out whether the motor vehicles were passenger cars, motorcycles, commercial trucks, or other vehicle types, when an 18-wheeler or other commercial motor vehicle is involved in a work zone crash, the resulting injuries can be significantly worse.
A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Even at relatively low speeds, a large truck’s weight increases the force applied to other vehicles in a collision. But when the truck driver has not appropriately reduced speed before entering the work zone, the force is much greater.
A truck traveling at highway speeds requires a longer stopping distance, setting the stage for severe rear-end collisions when a truck driver fails to slow down appropriately for slowing or stopped traffic ahead in a highway work zone.
And when a commercial truck driver must take emergency action to prevent a construction zone collision, improperly loaded cargo has the potential to shift and cause the trailer to tip or the cargo to fall onto the road. When a big truck becomes unbalanced, the driver can lose control and crash into other vehicles and construction workers.
A jackknife accident is another dangerous scenario when a trucker slams on the brakes or swerves in a construction zone. Nearby vehicles can become trapped under the trailer in an underride truck accident following a jackknife.
Work Zone Driving Laws in Texas
All truckers in Texas must obey posted speed limit signs, according to Texas law. That is especially true in relation to work zone speed limit signs. Some work zones prohibit trucks from using the far left lane to help prevent congestion and issues with merging.
The Texas “move over or slow down” law requires truckers to move over by one lane or reduce their speed to 20 mph below the speed limit for that stretch of road when they approach certain utility vehicles on the roadside. Drivers who do not obey the “move over or slow down” law face tickets and fines. If a driver causes a crash that injures a construction worker, fines of up to $2,000 are possible.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires commercial trucks to be inspected before use to ensure that they are properly maintained and that brakes, tires, lights, and safety equipment function properly. The ultimate goal of this requirement is to make sure that trucks are in a safe condition when on public roadways.
Who May Be Liable in a Construction Zone Truck Accident?
Numerous parties could be responsible for causing or contributing to a construction zone truck accident.
Among them are the following examples:
- Truck driver – A truck driver who drives while fatigued, impaired, or distracted, or was otherwise negligent.
- Trucking company – Trucking companies are required to engage in safe hiring practices and to ensure their drivers have the requisite knowledge and skills to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle. In addition, a trucking company is considered to be a statutory employer of a truck driver who operates a vehicle under the trucking company’s U.S. DOT number. Under the law, an employer can be held vicariously liable for the negligence of one of its employees.
- Cargo loading company – Cargo that is improperly loaded on large commercial trucks can shift and cause the truck to become unbalanced. Improperly secured loads can fall off a trailer and onto a roadway or a nearby vehicle in a construction zone.
- Truck manufacturer – The company that designs, manufactures or sells a truck or one of its components could be held liable if a construction zone crash results from a defect in design or a defect in marketing such as a failure to warn.
- Construction company – The lead construction company and possibly other contractors could be held liable when their negligence causes or contributes to a crash, such as creating an unsafe condition at a construction site or highway work zone.
How a Houston Construction Zone Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you were injured in a truck crash in a construction work zone accident in Houston or elsewhere in the state of Texas, you need an experienced truck accident lawyer to handle your personal injury case. Let The Callahan Law Firm’s experienced personal injury attorneys take care of all the legal details for you.
Some of the steps we are prepared to take include the following:
- Investigate the crash including the crash scene and vehicles involved
- Gather critical evidence including “black box” electronic data from vehicles
- Identify all at-fault parties
- Obtain all relevant insurance information
- Assess the full value of your losses
- File a lawsuit when necessary and aggressively litigate your case
- Negotiate with the responsible parties and their insurers
- Take your case to court if no settlement can be reached
Speak With The Callahan Law Firm Today
When you need a construction zone truck crash lawyer, look no further than The Callahan Law Firm. We have successfully represented people for over 30 years in serious and catastrophic injury cases involving truck crashes. Let us put our experience and resources to work for you now.
Contact us online today or call our office 24/7 at (713) 589-6227 for a free consultation with an experienced truck accident attorney at our personal injury law firm.