A 50-year-old woman was killed earlier this month in a four-vehicle accident that also left an overturned semi-truck and a load of rocks strewn across the highway. According to an article from the Denton Record-Chronicle, the woman was driving on State Highway 114 in Denton County, Texas when an oncoming semi-truck carrying a load of rocks crossed into her lane and caused an accident.
The oncoming truck first hit another semi and then struck the woman’s Hyundai and another car. The truck then tipped over and dumped the load of rocks on the road. The woman driving the Hyundai was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the overturned semi was taken by helicopter to a Fort Worth hospital, and the other two drivers were treated at the scene for minor injuries. The highway was closed for several hours after the accident.
Semi-Truck Crashes Caused by Overloading
When semi-trucks and tractor trailers are loaded with heavy cargo, like the rocks involved in this story, they are not only more difficult to control, but they can cause more damage if they are involved in an accident. States and national regulatory agencies have weight restrictions for certain types of trucks and for routes on certain roads to minimize this danger. Often, in an effort to move more material in each load, semi-truck companies and drivers will ignore these regulations and overload their trucks and trailers, increasing the danger to other drivers on the road.
When an overloaded semi-truck is involved in a New Mexico semi-truck accident, the amount and weight of the cargo being carried by the truck can factor into determining the legal liability for the accident. If a truck is overloaded and unable to brake in time to avoid a road hazard, the driver or trucking company could be liable for the damages caused in the accident, even if the existence of the road hazard was someone else’s responsibility. Since factors like overloaded trailers and equipment issues can be so important in a lawsuit, it is essential that a detailed investigation is performed starting immediately after the accident occurs.
Although police and other agencies perform investigations after accidents involving semi-trucks, some of the relevant information to legal liability is not often reported by these investigations. For an accident victim to have the best chance of being compensated after a New Mexico semi-truck crash, a competent accident attorney should be contacted as soon as possible after an accident occurs. The insurance companies that represent trucking companies have attorneys on the case the day after an accident occurs, and injured victims need the same dedication to get what they deserve.
Do You Need an Attorney?
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in an accident involving a semi-truck, the New Mexico truck accident attorneys at The Fine Law Firm want to help you with your case. Our lawyers know what kinds of investigations to perform, and we have the experience trying semi-truck cases to know what strategies work in and out of the courtroom to get our clients what they deserve. The Fine Law Firm represents clients in a variety of personal injury lawsuits, including semi-truck crashes. Call us at (585)889-3463 or contact us through our website and schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with a qualified attorney.
More Blog Posts:
Bicyclist Hit and Seriously Injured By Garbage Truck in Albuquerque Last Month., New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, July 7, 2014.
Fallen Stop Sign Leads Woman to Drive into Intersection and Collide with Semi-Truck, Killing Her Instantly, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, July 28, 2014.