Understanding the Stakes in a Texas Truck Crash
Any accident can leave you shaken, but when the other vehicle is an 80,000-pound commercial truck, the damage is often catastrophic. From I-35 pileups to FM road rollovers, 18-wheeler crashes are all too common on Texas highways.
At Angel Reyes & Associates, we’ve spent over 30 years helping clients across Dallas, Houston, Austin, and Fort Worth navigate these traumatic events. We’ve seen the toll it takes—physically, financially, and emotionally. Understanding what caused your car crash isn’t just important for safety awareness—it’s essential for building a strong legal case.
Driver Fatigue
Fatigue plays a role in roughly 13% of truck accidents across the country—and it’s even more dangerous in Texas, where long hauls and tight delivery windows push drivers to their limits.
Why It Happens
Drivers are often pressured to meet delivery deadlines, even if it means skipping required breaks.
Federal regulations limit truckers to 11 hours of drive time per shift, with mandatory 10-hour rest periods—but these are often violated.
Exhausted drivers have slower reaction times and poor decision-making skills, especially behind the wheel of a massive rig.
How Driver Fatigue Proves Negligence
Violation of Hours of Service (HOS) rules can establish liability. Our team can investigate Electronic Logging Device (ELD) records, dispatch schedules, and communications between drivers and carriers to prove negligence.
Distracted Driving
Distraction is dangerous in any vehicle—but it’s especially deadly when it involves a semi-truck.
Common Distractions Behind the Wheel
- Texting, calling, or using social media
- Adjusting GPS or dispatch systems
- Eating, drinking, or simply losing focus
The Danger
Even a 3-second distraction can prevent a driver from braking in time. On busy highways like Loop 12 or LBJ Freeway, these seconds matter. The impact force of a distracted trucker often leads to multi-vehicle crashes and life-changing injuries.
Quick Fact: Truck drivers who text are over 20 times more likely to crash than those who focus fully on the road.
Pressure to Deliver on Time
Behind many truck crashes is an invisible force: pressure to meet deadlines. When speed is rewarded over safety, accidents happen.
Risky Behaviors Tied to Delivery Pressure:
- Excessive speeding
- Skipping federally required rest breaks
- Unsafe passing or lane weaving
Driving through hazardous conditions to stay on schedule
These practices not only put truckers at risk—they endanger everyone else on the road. Employers who encourage these behaviors can be held liable for resulting crashes.
Mechanical Failures and Poor Truck Maintenance
A poorly maintained 18-wheeler is a threat to every vehicle around it. According to research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, over half of trucks involved in injury-causing crashes had at least one mechanical issue at the time.
Common Equipment Failures
- Brake system defects
- Bald or underinflated tires
- Faulty lighting or signals
- Damaged mirrors or missing safety equipment
Who’s Responsible?
Federal law requires regular inspection and maintenance. When a company skips these steps, or pushes unsafe trucks onto the road, they may be held responsible. Maintenance records, mechanic logs, and DOT audits help prove these claims.
Read how trucking companies and insurers delay and deny claims and how we hold them accountable.
Improper or Unsecured Cargo
When a load shifts—or spills—it can lead to jackknifes, rollovers, or deadly road hazards.
What Cargo Mistakes Cause Crashes?
- Overweight or unevenly balanced loads
- Inadequate securing straps or containers
- Hazardous material violations
- Shifting cargo that changes vehicle handling mid-drive
Proving Liability
We often uncover negligence by reviewing loading manifests, dashcam footage, and witness statements. If a third-party contractor improperly loaded the cargo, they could share responsibility.
Learn more about unsecured freight accidents in Texas and how we investigate cargo loading violations to strengthen injury claims.
Falsified Driver Logs
Truck drivers are required to log their hours honestly using ELDs or paper logbooks. But some falsify records to cover up violations.
Common Logbook Violations
- Logging break time while still driving
- Using dual logbooks (one for the company, one for regulators)
- Tampering with ELD software or manually overriding entries
Legal Implications
False logs are more than paperwork violations—they reveal a driver (or employer) who’s willing to put others at risk. We subpoena logs, GPS data, and driver communications to expose the truth.
Legal Tip: Logbook fraud may indicate larger safety failures within the company—and can be key to proving gross negligence.
Other Dangerous Factors
Speeding & Aggressive Driving
Truckers trying to “make up time” often speed or tailgate. These behaviors are especially dangerous in cities and construction zones.
Weather & Road Conditions
Drivers must adapt to heavy rain, wind, and poor visibility. Failure to slow down or reroute in dangerous weather can establish liability.
Why Truck Accident Causes Matter: Proving Negligence and Building a Claim
Understanding the root cause of a truck crash is the foundation of any personal injury claim. Once negligence is established, you may be able to seek compensation for:
Emergency medical bills and ongoing treatment
Lost income or reduced earning capacity
Pain, suffering, and long-term physical limitations
Property damage
Funeral costs (in wrongful death cases)
The key is acting quickly. Evidence like logbooks, inspection records, and surveillance footage can disappear within weeks.
Call our team now for a free consultation. We’ll preserve the evidence and fight for the justice you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accident Causes
What are the top causes of truck accidents in Texas?
The top causes of truck accidents in Texas include driver fatigue, distracted driving, mechanical failures, improper cargo loading, and falsified logbooks. Each of these can point to preventable safety violations and help prove negligence in a legal claim. Understanding the cause is the first step toward holding the right party accountable.
How does fatigue affect truck drivers in crash scenarios?
Fatigue affects truck drivers by slowing their reaction times and impairing decision-making, making crashes more likely—especially on long Texas routes like I-35 or I-20. Despite federal drive-time limits, some drivers skip rest to meet deadlines. When fatigue is a factor, trucking companies may share liability if they encouraged unsafe schedules.
What happens if a truck driver falsified their logbook?
If a truck driver falsified their logbook, it could reveal unsafe practices like driving beyond legal hours or skipping required rest. These records—especially when altered—can be used to demonstrate negligence by the driver or their employer. A truck accident lawyer can subpoena GPS data and audit ELDs to uncover the truth.
Can poor truck maintenance be used to support an injury claim?
Yes, poor truck maintenance—like worn brakes or bald tires—can be direct evidence of negligence. If a company failed to inspect or repair their fleet as required by federal law, they can be held liable for any crash that follows. Maintenance records and DOT inspection histories are often key in building these claims.
What risks does improperly loaded cargo create for other drivers?
Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can cause trucks to jackknife, roll over, or lose debris onto the highway. These crashes often happen when weight shifts during transport, especially at high speeds or on sharp turns. If cargo was loaded incorrectly, liability may fall on the driver, their employer, or even a third-party contractor.
How does proving the cause of a truck accident help your case?
Proving the cause of a truck accident is critical to establishing legal negligence and identifying who’s financially responsible. Whether it’s a maintenance failure or falsified driving logs, pinpointing the cause allows your attorney to gather the right evidence—before it disappears—and demand fair compensation on your behalf.
Take the First Step Toward Justice
You don’t have to figure this out alone. At Angel Reyes & Associates, we’ve helped thousands of Texans recover from devastating truck accidents. We know how to investigate causes, uncover negligence, and fight the big insurance companies that try to avoid accountability.
Call us today or visit one of our Texas offices for a free, no-risk consultation. No fees unless we win.
