Texas leads the country in the number of truck accidents. The primary reason for this is the oil fields in the state. The capital of Texas, Austin, is one city where a lot of truck accidents occur.
I-35 in Austin is a hotspot for truck accidents. Truck accident victims usually suffer severe losses. They can recover these losses by filing a claim with the help of a truck accident lawyer in Austin.
Who is Responsible for Truck Accidents?
For some reason, truck drivers have a bad reputation. When a truck accident happens, people automatically assume it is the truck driver’s fault.
However, this is not true. Truck drivers are not always responsible for accidents. In most cases, the trucking company is the reason behind truck accidents.
Trucking companies can sometimes be so focused on making a profit that they may follow unethical practices.
Trucking companies hold liability for truck accidents due to the following behaviors:
- Pressure on drivers
- Inadequate training
- Negligent hiring
- Poor truck maintenance
- Cutting costs on safety measures
Pressure on Drivers
Trucking companies may force their drivers to engage in unethical behaviors like violating the hours of service rules.
Hours of service is a set of rules that govern the working hours of truck drivers. Every truck driver should strictly follow these rules. Violating this rule is the reason for sleep-deprived driving.
Trucking companies could set unrealistic goals for drivers. Truck drivers could then have to violate the hours of service and overspeed to achieve these goals.
Inadequate Training
These companies could want to get as many people as they can on the road as soon as possible. To do this, they send them on trips without proper training. Trucking companies should offer proper training to all drivers before sending them on a job.
That is the only way to keep the drivers, the cargo, and other road users safe. But many trucking companies prioritize moving more goods over safety and training.
Negligent Hiring
Trucking companies are responsible for hiring quality drivers. Not everyone is skilled enough to drive a truck. Trucks are complicated vehicles. Trucking companies should either hire experienced drivers or offer proper training.
It is also important to do a background check before hiring a driver. It is not good to hire drug addicts as truck drivers. So conducting a thorough background check is important.
Poor Truck Maintenance
Trucks should be in perfect condition at all times. Trucking companies should perform routine maintenance checks. By performing routine checks, they can eliminate any defects in the truck.
But greedy trucking companies don’t do regular maintenance since it is time-consuming. They would rather send a truck with defects than maintain it properly.
Cutting Costs on Safety Measures
Again, trucking companies could value profit over safety. Trucking companies should invest in anti-collision systems and other safety equipment. Safety equipment like a hard hat can be the difference between life and death.
However, investing in safety equipment would cost the trucking company money. So, of course, they won’t do that.
What the Victim Should Do
Truck accident victims should not let this go. They must take action against negligent trucking companies to deter them from engaging in such behaviors.
They should file a truck accident claim with the help of experienced lawyers as soon as possible. These lawyers are experts in securing fair compensation for victims. They will negotiate with the insurance company and obtain fair compensation.
Final Thoughts
Trucking companies will continue to breach their duty of care until someone takes action. Truck accident victims can punish negligent parties by filing a lawsuit. A truck accident victim must make the trucking company pay for the losses.
If you have been a victim of a truck accident, hire a lawyer and file a claim. It is the right thing to do.