Were you involved in a truck accident in Austin, Texas? Trucking companies must follow strict state and federal safety rules. If these regulations aren’t followed, it can be easier to establish liability and secure as much compensation as possible for your case.Â
McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you evaluate whether the other driver complied with the applicable trucking regulations. Our Texas truck accident attorneys have over 40 years of combined experience and have recovered more than $500 million for our clients to date. We’re just as confident in our ability to help you if you hire us for your case.
Contact our law office today at (512) 474-0222 to schedule a free consultation. We can give you some initial legal advice at that time.
At McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers, we prepare every case we take on as though it may reach the trial stage, which forces opposing parties to take our clients seriously and prevents them from offering a lowball settlement.
If you hire our Austin truck accident lawyers, we can:
Reach out to our law office in Austin, TX, today to schedule your free case review. Our Austin personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, so you do not pay attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Most large commercial trucks traveling through Texas are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These federal rules apply to interstate trucking operations and are designed to promote roadway safety.
Federal regulations address several key areas, including hours-of-service limits and vehicle maintenance requirements. For example, drivers are restricted to the number of hours they can drive without taking rest breaks. These limits are intended to reduce fatigue, a common cause of serious truck accidents.
Trucking companies must also inspect and maintain their vehicles on a regular basis. If they fail to do so, mechanical issues such as brake failures can occur and lead to severe crashes.
In addition to federal rules, trucking companies operating in Texas must comply with state-specific laws. The Texas Department of Public Safety enforces many of these regulations, particularly for trucks that operate primarily within state borders.
Texas laws cover matters such as weight limits and required permits, among others. In many situations, state law also adopts federal safety standards. This means a violation of federal regulations can constitute a violation of Texas law as well.
Both state and federal rules may apply to a single accident, so identifying which regulations were violated can be complicated. An experienced attorney can review the details of your case to determine how these rules apply.
When trucking companies or drivers ignore safety regulations, the risk of a serious collision increases. These violations are often uncovered during a thorough accident investigation.
Some common trucking regulation violations include:
Any of these violations can serve as important evidence in a personal injury claim. Showing that a company failed to follow required safety rules can help establish negligence.
If you were injured in a truck accident caused by regulatory violations, you may be entitled to recover damages under Texas law. The exact amount will depend on the severity of your injuries and the specific facts of your case.
Some of the economic and non-economic damages you can receive include:
In cases involving especially egregious conduct, punitive damages may also be available. These damages are meant to punish particularly dangerous behavior going forward.
Truck accident cases in Texas often involve many state and federal trucking regulations that can directly affect liability. Learning about how these rules apply to your crash is essential to building a successful claim, as is hiring an experienced Texas truck accident attorney.
McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers has over 40 years of combined experience and has recovered more than $500 million for our clients since our founding. Call us today to schedule a free consultation and get started with your case. We’ll do everything we can to help you make the most of your opportunity to take legal action.