Austin Delivery Truck Accident Attorneys

Delivery trucks are ubiquitous across Texas. In fact, Lone Star Overnight is headquartered right here in Austin. This means there is a strong chance you will encounter at least one delivery truck whenever you travel on Texas roadways. Unfortunately, delivery trucks are involved in a frighteningly high number of accidents annually. These may be caused by straightforward driver negligence, but the pressure to meet tight delivery deadlines and unrealistic quotas can also contribute to unsafe driving behaviors that can result in accidents.

Delivery truck accidents are often caused by:

• Reckless driving. Some drivers will speed excessively and ignore traffic rules in an effort to complete their routes faster, violating the legal duty they owe to others on the road. Additionally, if drivers are too busy concentrating on getting to their next destination as quickly as possible, they may forget simple but critical safety measures like signaling before turning or changing lanes. 
• Fatigued driving. As drivers are expected to complete more and more deliveries in a single day, their hours get consistently longer, forcing some to push their bodies to their physical limits. Though there are hours of service regulations that limit the consecutive number of hours a driver can operate a commercial vehicle without resting, these rules are sometimes ignored. A fatigued driver is far more likely to make mistakes and cause accidents.
• Distracted driving. Drivers are not permitted to use any handheld devices, including their phones, when operating their vehicles. They should also not be looking at their routes or other paperwork when their trucks are in motion. If a truck driver’s failure to give their full attention to the road causes an accident, their conduct likely constitutes negligence. 
• Poorly maintained vehicles. An accident may not always be a delivery truck driver’s fault. If their employer fails to inspect and maintain their vehicles, a truck could break down or behave unpredictably in a crucial moment, causing an otherwise avoidable collision. 

The cause of your collision may not be immediately obvious, but our Austin delivery truck accident lawyers can conduct a complete investigation of the accident and determine who is responsible. We understand how to accurately determine liability and what evidence will be needed to prevail in court. 

Whenever you get into an accident with a delivery truck, you should do all of the things you would normally do to preserve evidence and protect your rights in the minutes after a car accident. That includes calling the police, waiting for an officer to arrive and create an official accident report, documenting the scene, and getting the other driver’s name, address, phone number, insurance information, and license information. Then, reach out to our team at National Trial Law. We can walk you through your legal options after assessing the facts of your case.