18 Wheeler Wrecks & Bus Accidents

18 wheeler wrecks and bus accidents are very different from passenger car accidents. If you have been involved in a commercial vehicle collision such as a truck or bus accident, it would be a huge mistake for your attorney to treat your case like a simple car accident.

One of the biggest differences between car and semi-truck accidents is the large amount of evidence available to determine exactly what happened. If the evidence is not preserved, it will likely disappear. For example, while an injured person is in the hospital fighting for their life, trucking companies will often try to quickly repair their damaged vehicle so that it cannot be inspected by experts at a later date.

Buses, trucks, and 18 wheelers often have “black boxes” and GPS devices that record important information. Usually this information comes in the form of computer data which must be downloaded and evaluated by trained professionals. This data can provide critical information such as:

• how fast the truck or bus was traveling
• what lane the truck or bus was in
• whether the truck or bus driver even applied the brakes before the accident
• how long the truck or bus driver had been at the wheel
• whether the truck or bus driver was following the rules of the road

There are special federal rules which apply to truck and bus drivers. The rules are called the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), and they regulate everything from driver qualifications to required insurance coverage. 

The most important FMCSR rules relate to hours of service rules -- the time limits for driving commercial vehicles.  We find that many 18 wheeler and bus accidents were caused by driver fatigue. And by evaluating the driver’s log books (which they are required to have), we can determine whether they were driving when they were not supposed to on the road.

Finally, you should know that as soon as a trucking company learns that one of their vehicles has been in a serious accident, they often will send investigators to the scene and an insurance adjuster right to the hospital. We believe it is very important that you speak with an attorney before giving any statements, speaking with any insurance adjuster, or signing any papers.

If you would like to speak with an attorney at the Neese Law Firm, please contact our Houston office. There is no charge for an initial consultation, and if we cannot help you with your particular matter, we will do our best to point you in the right direction and provide you the name and number of someone who can.