Dump trucks are an essential part of modern society for moving debris. These dump trucks can be dangerous to drive and are a nuisance to everyone else on the road. Baumgartner Law Firm is here to help Houston residents who have been injured in accidents involving dump trucks pursue justice and fair compensation from those responsible for their misfortune.
Get on with your life and let our Houston dump truck accident attorney handle the legal matters involved in the truck collision. Get in touch with us right away for a free consultation to find out how we can help you construct a solid case and aggressively pursue the outcomes you require.
Common Causes of Dump Truck Crashes
Accidents involving dump trucks often include a combination of human and mechanical failures. A few of the most typical explanations are:
- Trucks that are overloaded
Loss of control accidents is more likely when a dump truck’s stability is compromised by an excessive or inappropriate load of loose materials. Accidents can be caused when loose materials fall from a truck and either collide with other vehicles or block the road.
- Carelessness on the road in general
Accidents involving dump trucks are common due in large part to careless driving on the part of the truck’s operator, who often disregards traffic signals and fails to stop at red lights.
- Lack of truck inspections and maintenance
Mechanical problems like malfunctioning brakes can lead drivers to lose control of their dump trucks and cause accidents if they are not properly inspected or maintained by drivers, truck owners, or service centers.
- Distractions for Drivers
Accidents involving dump trucks are substantially more common when the driver is preoccupied with a text, phone conversation, or other distractions like eating or drinking.
- Impaired driving
Drunk or drugged truck drivers increase the likelihood of accidents because of impairments such as impaired depth perception, slowed response time, and other problems.
- Fatigued driving
The CDC reports that driving while fatigued is just as risky as driving while under the influence of alcohol. Dump truck drivers who haven’t had enough sleep are more prone to nod off while driving, which can have disastrous consequences.
- Faulty truck components
Accidents involving dump trucks can occur when truck components fail, including tires, brakes, and steering systems. When incidents involving dump trucks are caused by faulty truck parts, the makers may be held liable for the damages sustained by victims.
Injuries Caused By Dump Truck Accidents
Because of the vast size and weight disparity between dump trucks and passenger cars, those in the latter are frequently seriously hurt in collisions involving the former. Among the most typical traumas sustained in dump truck accidents are:
- Traumatic brain injuries and head injuries (TBI)
- Fractures of the skull, jaw, and teeth
- Permanent deformity and bruising of the face
- fractured, shattered, or dislocated bones
- Back sprains
- Burns caused by coming into touch with flame, or toxic substances
- Internal bleeding and wounds
- Bruises, sprains, and tears of the soft tissues
- Injury to the neck
- Damage to the spinal cord and partial or complete paralysis
Proving Liability For A Dump Truck Collision
After a collision involving a dump truck, the following pieces of evidence may be used by personal injury attorneys to establish fault:
- Employment and training procedures, as well as any relevant company records pertaining to dump truck drivers
- Documentation of dump truck servicing, including inspections, maintenance, and repairs
- Timetables, shifts, and communication protocols for drivers of garbage trucks
- Documentation pertaining to the employment, driving, and education of dump truck drivers
- Preliminary accident site photos and video
- Evidence gleaned from toxicological tests and other sources included in police accident reports
- A compilation of eyewitness accounts of the crashed dump truck
- Witnesses from fields like accident reconstruction
Parties That May Be Liable in A Dump Truck Crash
A dump truck accident victim can seek financial restitution from anyone whose carelessness played a role in causing the collision. A dump truck accident could be the fault of any of the following:
- The driver of the dump truck
In most cases involving accidents involving dump trucks, the driver is at least somewhat to blame. If the dump truck driver was inattentive, drunk, or broke the law at the time of the accident, they could be held responsible.
- Employer of the driver
When an employee operating a dump truck is negligent, the company may be held vicariously liable. If an employer knowingly employs an incompetent driver or actively encourages dangerous driving behaviors, then the employer may be held responsible for any resulting harm.
- Owners and loaders of cargo
If an accident occurs because of improperly loaded or secured cargo, the loading business may be held liable.
- Those who work on trucks as mechanics
If a trucking company or technician fails to conduct a thorough inspection of the vehicle for potentially hazardous flaws or fails to resolve or fix any such flaws, they may be held accountable for any resulting accidents involving a dump truck.
- Manufacturers of truck components
There may be culpability for the manufacturer of a faulty truck part if its failure causes a dump truck accident. Manufacturers can be held accountable for defective products if their carelessness contributed to the product’s design, production, assembly, or sale.
Contact Our Dump Truck Accident Lawyers for Help Getting Compensation
In the event of a non-fault-related dump truck accident, the Houston personal injury lawyers at Baumgartner Law Firm are here to assist you in obtaining the full and fair compensation to which you are entitled. Consultation and case evaluation are provided at no cost to you. To get started immediately, please contact us.
