A multi-vehicle crash with a tractor trailer carrying logs resulted in fatality near Tyler Texas.

Texas – May 13, 2021

The Texas Department of Public Safety reported a log truck crash near Etoile causing driver fatality.  The multi-vehicle accident occurred on State Highway 103 east of Etoile when a Kenworth tractor semi-trailer transporting timber was traveling west and a 2004 Ford turned in front of it.  The Ford was struck on the driver’s side of the vehicle, after which the log truck traveled off the roadway and struck a tree causing the 54-year-old driver to suffer fatal injury at the scene.  According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, heavy vehicles including trucks account for 4,000 fatalities and over 400,000 crashes every year. A truck accident attorney can assist victims of harmful losses with insurance claims and wrongful death lawsuits after a fatal tractor trailer accident near Tyler Texas.  

Commercial trucks.

The size and weight of a commercial truck, and the specific cargo loads they carry can result in significant property damage and bodily injury when crashes occur.  Commercial motor vehicles (CMV) have federal and state imposed restrictions based on size and weight categories, roadways that should not be accessed including some tunnels and bridges based on specific cargo loads, and stringent rules for operators carrying commercial driver’s licenses (CDL).  Because of the size and weight of commercial vehicles, safe driving can be impacted by negligent acts of other drivers reducing braking distance reaction time causing crash situations.  

Who is responsible?

Truck accident lawyers are skilled at identifying all parties to an accident claim, separate from the truck driver, including trucking companies, mechanics, or manufacturers of a truck and/or parts. They can utilize trucking industry laws to determine the best legal approach, such as mediation, arbitration or going to trial.  In a multi-vehicle accident, the other driver’s testimony may identify the need to include multiple parties in the lawsuit toward damage recovery.

Accident insurance.

Texas is a “fault state” and the responsible party will have to compensate the other party involved in the accident. Texas utilizes the 51% rule, whereby an injured person can be up to 50% responsible for an accident and still collect damages, but if an individual is more than 51% responsible for the accident, there will be no recoverable compensation.   An accident  lawyer should be able to assist with any forthcoming actions to recover compensation for medical treatment and other harmful losses after a truck hits a pedestrian.

Seek legal counsel.

Texas accident attorneys can offer families and loved one’s relief  with valuable resources to support a wrongful death legal action.  Skilled attorneys at the Cooper Law Firm can file a legal action for damages, or insurance claims to request immediate expenses to pay for funeral and burial arrangements and to address fiscal concerns of surviving family members in the long term, 

Cooper Law Firm

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2222
Longview, TX 75606

Physical Address: 501 N Third St,
Longview, TX 75601

Telephone ; (903) 297-0037
Toll-Free: 1-855-297-HURT (4878)
Facsimile: (903) 236-0035

Sources.

https://www.kltv.com/2021/05/12/center-man-dies-nacogdoches-county-log-truck-crash/

https://www.tdi.texas.gov/consumer/auto-insurance.html 

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.601.htm#601.051

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/SDocs/CIVILPRACTICEANDREMEDIESCODE.pdf

https://www.dps.texas.gov/InternetForms/Forms/MCS-9.pdf