Reckless Driving Accident Lawyer in San Antonio

Committed to Quality Representation

If you or a loved one has been injured due to the careless or reckless actions of a truck driver, you need to seek legal assistance immediately. At the Law Offices of Pat Maloney, P.C., we are ready to help you secure the compensation you deserve.

Contact us today if you need a San Antonio reckless driving accident attorney.

Why Do You Need an Experienced Reckless Driving Accident Attorney for These Cases?

The aftermath of commercial vehicle accidents is often incredibly complex. Injured people are typically dealing with various parties, including aggressive insurance carriers and large companies with the money to fight against paying out a large settlement.

A reckless driving accident lawyer advocates on your behalf. We will:

• Obtain all evidence in the case, including police reports, photos and video from the scene, eyewitness accounts, and more.
• Secure all records related to the driver and trucking company, including hours of service, safety history, maintenance logs, and more.
• Negotiate with all parties involved to reach a settlement that will cover all of your expenses.

Most commercial trucking accidents are the unfortunate result of irresponsible or reckless driving habits. Speeding and reckless driving are two of the more common types of irresponsible driving habits that can potentially lead to a reckless driving accident. Truck drivers must maintain safe speeds in order to remain in control of their vehicles, some of which can have a gross weight of 80,000 pounds. Speeding can cause a driver to lose control of his or her vehicle and cause an accident.

Alcohol usage is another cause of irresponsible or reckless driving accidents. It is illegal to operate any motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Truck drivers who disregard this law jeopardize their life and the lives of those on the road. Drivers are representatives of their employers, and as such, employers are liable for any injuries that may occur due to commercial trucking accidents.

Employers have a responsibility to ensure that drivers do not drink alcohol and drive the company vehicles. Additionally, trucking companies often hire unqualified drivers, failing to properly check past driving records and past employment. This can lead to needless collisions with serious consequences.

Committed to Your Needs

If you or someone you love has been injured due to the reckless or careless actions of a driver, you need an experienced reckless driving accident attorney you can trust by your side. At the Law Offices of Pat Maloney, P.C., our knowledgeable and experienced team is ready to get to work.

• We will bring more than six decades of combined legal experience in personal injury law to your side
• We have a success rate of 99% and have secured millions of dollars in compensation for clients injured due to the actions of someone else
• Our clients face no out-of-pocket costs and will pay no legal fees until we are successful in securing the compensation they deserve for their case

Vehicle Weight

TheFMSCA regulates the maximum allowable weight of a truck and its corresponding load. The heavier a truck is, the more difficult it can be to control. If a driver has to respond quickly to something on the road, it can be nearly impossible if the truck’s weight exceeds FMSCA regulation.

In accordance with the FMSCA, the max gross vehicle weight cannot exceed 80,000 pounds. Similarly, the maximum gross weight on any one axle cannot exceed 20,000 pounds and the maximum gross weight on tandem axles cannot exceed 34,000 pounds.

Trucking companies are constantly looking for ways to transport as much material as they can at one time. As such, it is not uncommon that trucks are overloaded in an effort to save/make more money. Highways will commonly have a variety of scale checkpoints at which trucks are routinely weighed so as to determine whether or not their load falls within the regulated weight limit. If a person is injured in a commercial trucking accident due to excessive weight, then the owner of the truck may be liable for those injuries.

Weight Distribution & Improperly Secured Loads

Not only is the overall weight of a commercial truck important but also how the weight is distributed. It is important for the safe operation of a vehicle that the weight be distributed so as not to cause the vehicle to tilt or to pull one way or another. The driver’s focus should be on the road and other vehicles, not constantly correcting the changing position of his or her own vehicle due to a lopsided load.

Securing the load is also important. Pre-trip inspections are used to ensure that tow bar/saddle mount connections are properly secured to the towed and towing vehicle. A loose rig could potentially become disconnected from its truck and cause a serious commercial trucking accident. As in irresponsible driving, the owner of the truck is liable if the vehicle is loaded in such a way as to increase the probability of an accident.

What Are the Most Common Injuries in These Cases?

Due to their size and weight, commercial truck accidents often cause severe injuries. During the latest reporting year in the US, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says that around 148,000 people were injured, and 4,761 were killed due to large truck crashes.

Injuries from these incidents vary, but it is not uncommon for our personal injury lawyers to help clients suffering from the following:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Bone fractures and dislocations
• Loss of or damage to a bodily organ
• Dismemberment or amputation
• Significant disfigurement

Who Can Be Held Liable in These Commercial Vehicle Incidents?

In commercial truck accidents, your reckless driver accident attorney in San Antonio will examine all of the facts of the case to determine liability. As discussed above, commercial truck companies and drivers must adhere to strict federal regulations. If they violate their obligations on the roadway and act in negligent or careless ways, they could be held liable.

While it is commonly the truck driver or truck company that is at fault, that is not always the case. Other liable parties could include:

• The maintenance company or crew who maintained the truck The manufacturer of the truck itself if the truck was defective The manufacturer of specific parts of the truck if they are defective

Complicating matters further is the fact that the company that owns the truck may be working for another, larger company that may also have liability in the incident.

The Law Offices of Pat Maloney, P.C. is your source for experienced truck accident attorneys with 65+ years of experience. Call us 24/7 at (210) 226-8888 or fill out an online contact form.