According to a report by the American Trucking Association (ATA) released in October 2017, there is a serious shortage of truck drivers nationwide. ATA estimated the shortage would be 50,000 by the end of 2017 with the shortage to soar to 63,000 by the end of 2018, and to increase to 174,000 by 2026. At Springer & Lyle, we are concerned about this shortage. We fear that the shortage could result in trucking companies hiring drivers who are inexperienced or otherwise unqualified and thus more likely to be involved in vehicular crashes. This shortage may have a particular influence on … [Read more...]
Six Things You Hope Truck Drivers Are Not Doing
When a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle collide, the consequences can be deadly. Although accidents happen, there are generally causes for these accidents that could have been avoided. A truck and car accident is often fatal, because the size of the commercial truck makes it a more serious threat to other vehicles on the road. Like any type of accident, each truck accident is unique. However, there are several causes of truck accidents that can often be avoided and Springer & Lyle are here to help if you get injured as a result of a negligent truck driver that fails to take proper … [Read more...]
Identifying the Parties at Fault in a Truck Accident Case
Learning how an accident occurred and who caused the wreck is the first step in deciding who to include in a personal injury lawsuit. This is a complicated process that requires an experienced attorney where a truck accident is concerned. The companies and firms involved in the transport of goods via 18-wheeler can be numerous, and often, more than one party may have been negligent in causing or contributing to an 18-wheeler accident. Potentially liable parties can include: Truck Drivers: We have handled cases in which drivers have operated 18 wheeler trucks for long hours and were … [Read more...]
Accidents Caused By Inexperienced Truck Drivers
Inexperienced truck drivers is one of the leading causes of trucking accidents in Texas. There’s a duty incumbent on every trucking company to properly screen and train their drivers. Drivers are responsible for 60 foot long tractor-trailers that weigh up to 80,000 pounds that are difficult to maneuver and require long stopping distances. If a trucking company breaches its duty to properly screen and train its drivers and a crash occurs because of that, the personal injury attorneys at Springer & Lyle want to work with you to have both the trucker and his employer held liable. Many … [Read more...]
Failure to Properly Train Truck Drivers
Springer and Lyle has represented many individuals who were injured in truck accidents across Texas. The driver of a tractor-trailer is required to have a commercial driver’s license for several reasons, with the primary reason being safety. The vehicles they drive are gigantic. They weigh in excess of 60,000 pounds and have more and larger blind spots than smaller vehicles. They require considerably more stopping distance. They aren’t easily maneuvered, and they travel at high speeds. They’re much more likely to cause severe injuries or death than other motor vehicles. When drivers are hired … [Read more...]
Are Background Checks Required to be Done to Hire A Truck Driver?
Being involved in a truck accidents or a car accident can be physically, emotionally and financially devastating. Due to the serious results of a commercial truck accident, one of the first questions many people ask is “Are background checks required to be done to hire a truck driver”? This is a popular question for several reasons, especially when the accident involved a truck driver who was hired by a trucking company, without undergoing an extensive background check. Under the federal motor carrier safety regulations, thorough background checks are required to be performed. The trucking … [Read more...]
Six Things You Hope Truck Drivers Are Not Doing
When a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle collide, the consequences can be deadly. Although accidents happen, there are generally causes for these accidents that could have been avoided. A truck and car accident is often fatal, because the size of the commercial truck makes it a more serious threat to other vehicles on the road. Like any type of accident, each truck accident is unique. However, there are several causes of truck accidents that can often be avoided and Springer & Lyle are here to help if you get injured as a result of a negligent truck driver that fails to take proper … [Read more...]