Truck accidents on Fort Worth highways can result from driver mistakes, vehicle problems, unsafe trucking practices, or difficult road conditions. Busy routes such as I-35W, I-20, I-30, and I-820 regularly carry commercial trucks alongside passenger vehicles.

Because commercial trucks are much larger and heavier than most vehicles, crashes can cause serious injuries. Determining what caused the accident can also help establish who may be responsible for the resulting damages.

What Are Common Causes of Fort Worth Truck Accidents?

Many different factors can contribute to a commercial truck crash. Common causes include:

  • Driver fatigue
  • Speeding
  • Distracted driving
  • Following too closely
  • Unsafe lane changes
  • Inadequate driver training
  • Improperly secured or overloaded cargo
  • Brake or tire failures
  • Poor truck maintenance
  • Dangerous weather or road conditions

Sometimes, several factors contribute to the same accident.

Trial Tribe Injury Lawyers has recovered over $40 million for clients. Our attorneys can investigate the circumstances surrounding a truck crash to determine which factors may have contributed to the

Can Following Too Closely Cause a Truck Accident?

Yes. Large commercial trucks need significant space to slow down and stop safely. Following another vehicle too closely can leave a truck driver without enough time or distance to avoid a collision.

Texas Transportation Code § 545.062 requires drivers to maintain an assured clear distance based on factors such as speed, traffic, and highway conditions. The statute also specifically requires trucks following other trucks outside business or residential districts to leave sufficient space between the vehicles when conditions permit.

A violation of these requirements may become important evidence when investigating why a rear-end or multi-vehicle truck crash occurred.

How Can Driver Fatigue Lead to a Crash?

Fatigue can reduce a truck driver’s concentration, reaction time, and judgment. Long hours behind the wheel can make it harder to respond quickly when traffic suddenly slows or another hazard appears.

Evidence such as electronic logging records, delivery schedules, and fuel receipts may help determine how long a driver had been working before a crash.

How Can Speeding Contribute to a Truck Accident?

Speeding can make a truck accident more likely and increase the severity of a collision. Because commercial trucks are large and heavy, they generally need more distance to slow down or stop. A driver traveling too fast may be unable to react in time to congestion, construction, changing weather, or a sudden traffic slowdown.

Even when a truck is traveling below the posted speed limit, driving too fast for current road or traffic conditions may contribute to a crash. Evidence such as electronic vehicle data, dash camera footage, and witness statements may help determine how fast the truck was traveling before impact.

Can Cargo or Maintenance Problems Cause Truck Accidents?

Yes. Improperly loaded cargo can shift during transportation, affecting the truck’s balance and handling. Overloaded trucks may also be more difficult to stop.

Mechanical problems can create similar dangers. Worn tires, defective brakes, steering problems, and other equipment failures may cause a driver to lose control.

Depending on the circumstances, the trucking company, loading company, maintenance provider, or parts manufacturer could potentially share responsibility.

Who Can Be Responsible for a Fort Worth Truck Accident?

Liability depends on what caused the crash. Potentially responsible parties may include the truck driver, trucking company, cargo loader, maintenance provider, manufacturer, or another motorist.

Texas also follows a proportionate responsibility system. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001, an injured person generally cannot recover damages if their percentage of responsibility is greater than 50%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Evidence Can Help Prove the Cause of a Truck Accident?

Police reports, photos, witness statements, electronic logging records, maintenance records, and truck data may help determine what caused a crash.

What If More Than One Party Caused the Accident?

Multiple parties can share responsibility for a truck accident, including the driver, trucking company, maintenance provider, cargo loader, or another motorist.

How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Texas?

Texas generally gives injured people two years to file a personal injury lawsuit under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003.

Contact a Fort Worth Truck Accident Lawyer at Trial Tribe Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation

Truck accidents can involve driver negligence, unsafe company practices, cargo problems, or mechanical failures. Identifying the cause is an important step toward determining who may be financially responsible.

If you were injured in a commercial truck accident in Fort Worth, TX, Trial Tribe Injury Lawyers can help you understand your legal rights and options. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

We are proud to serve clients throughout Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and the surrounding communities in Texas.

Trial Tribe Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth
4528 W Vickery Blvd #202, Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 400-5000
Available 24/7

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