El Paso Truck Accident Attorney

Truck Accident Lawyer Fighting for Victims in El Paso, TX

Western Texas and southeast New Mexico are home to some major highways, including I-10, I-20, and I-25. These high-traffic transportation routes are constantly full of semi-trailer trucks, and due to the region's open space, many of these vehicles travel at a high rate of speed. This means that collisions involving big rig trucks can be incredibly dangerous and are likely to cause serious injuries to the drivers and passengers in other vehicles.

If you have been injured in a truck crash that occurred because of the negligence of a truck driver or their employer, let Attorney James Kennedy help you get the compensation you deserve. Attorney Kennedy knows how devastating semi-truck wrecks can be, and he can provide you with the legal representation you need during a difficult time. Attorney James Kennedy is Board Certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and he fights for justice for clients in Texas,  New Mexico, and Arizona. With more than 25 years of experience, James Kennedy is prepared to fight to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Understanding the factors involved in truck wrecks can be a complex matter. Big rig trucks are massive vehicles with many components, and there are numerous potential points of failure. Because they are involved in commercial enterprises, multiple parties may play a role in these cases, and determining who was responsible will require a detailed examination of the circumstances surrounding an accident. Attorney Kennedy can perform a comprehensive investigation into a truck accident, determining exactly what happened and who was responsible. He can identify the different forms of negligence that may have played a role in a collision, and he will work to ensure that the negligent parties will be held liable for a victim's damages.

Common Types of Semi-Truck Wrecks

Big rig truck wrecks can take a variety of forms, and all of them are dangerous. Some common types of truck accidents include:

• Rollover accidents - A truck that rolls over can crush other vehicles, and it is likely to cause obstacles in the road, which can be very dangerous on highways with high speed limits. These accidents may occur when a driver loses control, such as when they attempt to negotiate sharp curves at high speeds. Mechanical problems such as tire blowouts may also cause a truck to turn over. A truck that has been overloaded may become top-heavy, making it more likely to roll over in situations where truck drivers would typically have been able to maintain control.
• Head-on collisions - If a truck travels into the opposite lane and strikes another vehicle head-on, the size, weight, and speed of the truck make it likely that the impact will result in severe or fatal injuries. These accidents may occur if a truck driver falls asleep at the wheel or is distracted by a cell phone, radio, or electronic logging device.
• Rear-end collisions - A truck that strikes another vehicle from behind is likely to cause injuries to occupants of that vehicle, and additional injuries may result if the vehicle is pushed into one or more other cars. Truck drivers may lose control and collide with other vehicles from behind if they fail to ensure that they had enough distance to slow down and stop when necessary. Distracted driving may be a factor in rear-end truck accidents, or other issues may affect a driver's ability to react in time to vehicles that have slowed down or stopped in front of them.
• Jacknife collisions - Semi-trailer trucks that skid out of control can cause the cab of the vehicle to face in a different direction than the trailer. This can lead to obstructions in the road that can result in pileup crashes. Truck drivers may lose control when negotiating curves on roads or highways, especially if they are distracted or speeding. Failure to account for weather conditions such as heavy rain or snow and ice can also lead to jackknife accidents.

Causes of Big Rig Crashes

Commercial truck drivers are required to abide by strict regulations intended to protect the safety of people in the vehicles around them. Unfortunately, the desire to deliver cargo as quickly as possible may lead drivers and trucking companies to bend these rules or commit outright violations in the name of profit. Truck drivers or others involved in the trucking industry may also cause injuries by acting negligently and carelessly. Some common reasons semi-truck wrecks occur include:

• Speeding and reckless driving - Truckers will often exceed speed limits, and they may also violate the laws by driving aggressively, including tailgating, making illegal lane changes, merging incorrectly, or failing to respect other vehicles' right of way. Because of the dangers presented by large, heavy trucks, drivers are required to take extra care to protect the safety of others. Reduced speed limits will apply in many situations to help ensure that truck drivers will act safely and maintain control of their vehicles. When they violate traffic laws, truck drivers are more likely to make dangerous mistakes that could cause them to lose control, collide with other vehicles, and cause people to suffer serious injuries.
• Driver fatigue - Truck drivers are only allowed to drive for a certain number of hours at a time, and they are required to get a certain amount of sleep between shifts. However, trucking companies often encourage drivers to push their limits, resulting in drowsy driving, which can drastically affect a truck driver's reaction time and ability to avoid a collision. Truck drivers may also experience fatigue due to health issues such as sleep apnea that affect their ability to receive quality sleep. Drivers who are overly tired are more likely to make mistakes, since they will be less likely to notice important details, and they may take longer to respond to changing conditions on the road. Fatigue can become especially dangerous if it causes a driver to fall asleep at the wheel. Truck drivers may nod off or experience microsleeps, and this may lead them to stray out of their lane into oncoming traffic and cause head-on collisions. They may also run their trucks off the road, leading to jackknife or rollover accidents.
• DWI - Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs is dangerous in any vehicle, but it can be deadly in a big rig. The legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC) is lower for truck drivers, and they cannot drive commercial vehicles if they have a BAC of .04 percent or more. Alcohol can impair a truck driver's vision, coordination, reaction time, and judgment, causing them to lose control of their truck. Truckers may also use illegal drugs or other stimulants in an attempt to combat fatigue, and these drugs are likely to impair their ability to properly operate their vehicle. Truck drivers who struggle with substance abuse are likely to put themselves and others at risk. Trucking companies should take steps to address these issues and ensure that their drivers act safely at all times.
• Improperly loaded trucks - If a truck is overloaded, or if cargo is not properly secured, this can make a truck difficult to control and affect a driver's ability to drive safely. If cargo is not distributed correctly, a truck may not be properly balanced, and it may be more likely to roll over or limit a driver's ability to maintain control. Loose cargo may sometimes shift if it has not been secured correctly, throwing off the balance of a truck. Cargo may also fall from a truck if it is not properly secured or if components such as straps or chains are defective. Falling cargo can severely damage other vehicles and injure their occupants. Items may also land in the middle of roads, blocking traffic or creating obstacles that can lead to accidents.
• Equipment failure - Tractor-trailer trucks have a large number of complex systems, and the failure of parts such as brakes, tires, engines, or trailer couplings can cause serious wrecks. These parts may fail because they were not properly inspected or maintained, or because of manufacturing defects. Understanding the potential points of failure on a truck requires a detailed knowledge of different components. Investigations performed following truck accidents can identify issues that played a role in causing accidents and determine who was responsible for failing to ensure that a truck was safe.
• Dangerous roads - Truck wrecks can occur because roads or highways are damaged or because intersections or interchanges were designed in a way that did not properly protect the safety of all types of vehicles. Government agencies responsible for maintaining safe roads may be liable for truck accidents that occurred due to dangerous roads or intersections. Truck drivers may also be liable for their failure to account for conditions that required extra precautions, such as speeding through construction zones. A truck driver's failure to drive safely during dangerous weather conditions may also need to be addressed. A driver may be held responsible for driving too fast during heavy storms or on roads that were wet or icy. Trucking companies may also be liable for failing to provide drivers with the proper training to ensure that they would be able to drive safely in potentially dangerous conditions.

Contact an El Paso Truck Wreck Lawyer

James Kennedy is a tough, family-oriented lawyer who is ready to help you pursue compensation for injuries suffered in a semi-truck wreck. Contact my office today by calling 915-544-5200 to schedule a free consultation. I can provide legal help to victims of truck crashes in the Permian Basin, including El Paso County, Odessa County, and Ector County, Texas, as well as areas surrounding Carlsbad, and Las Cruces, New Mexico. Se Habla Español.