At any given moment, there are millions of trucks on the road in the United States. The trucking business is booming – currently worth $700 billion – and shows no signs of slowing down.
And neither do the hectic lives and schedules of the drivers themselves, who often work gruesome hours.
When combined with the responsibility of operating a 40-ton commercial vehicle, it is not hard to imagine the severity of damage that a truck driver is capable of committing, either through negligence or by accident. Because of the serious and life-threatening dangers of getting involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler, it is crucial to become educated on the forms of recklessness often exhibited by truckers and the compensation that you or your loved ones are entitled to should you become involved in a truck accident.
The dependable and trustworthy team of Lapeze & Johns are here to provide you the support you need to find the justice and financial recovery you deserve if you have been injured in a truck accident.
In order to protect yourself and your loved ones, you should be aware of the various forms of reckless driving that truck drivers may engage in. Some of the most common examples of reckless driving include:
1. Driving while HALT.
HALT is an acronym for “hungry, angry, lonely, or tired” that can be used to monitor behavior in various situations, including on the road. In the context of truck drivers, these states are often induced by the heavy workload that truckers face at the hands of their employers. Although unfortunate, each truck driver is ultimately responsible for their own mental and physical wellbeing in order to keep everybody else on the road safe. When driving while HALT, there are numerous possibilities of them:
2. Improper Truck Maintenance
18-wheelers require intensive maintenance. These machines are composed of many intricate parts that all depend on one another, so it absolutely unacceptable for a driver – or the owner of the 18-wheeler (i.e. the driver’s employer) to note and correct any issues. Even the slightest maintenance mishaps can have fatal repercussions on the road.
3. Driving Under the Influence
Driving while drunk or under the influence of an illicit substance can have countless legal, financial, professional, and social consequences. Truck drivers caught in this situation can have their CDL suspended for up to three years, face a fine up to $10,000, and serve up to 10 years in jail.
With the guidance of our experienced Houston truck accident attorneys at Lapeze & Johns, you or a loved one can get the justice and financial recovery you deserve. Our team of experts can help you navigate Texas personal injury laws so that you can secure damages for but not limited to:
Truck accidents are undoubtedly tragic, but our Houston based attorneys have enough expertise to make the process as painless as possible.
If you or a loved one has recently suffered at the hands of a negligent truck driver, the truck accident lawyers of Lapeze & Johns are dedicated to your physical, financial, and mental recovery.