Austin 18-Wheeler Passenger Injuries - Holding Liable Parties Accountable

Injuries resulting from 18-wheeler accidents always have the potential to be devastating. Countless avenues exist for holding liable parties accountable when the injured party is in another vehicle, but what about when the injured party was a passenger in the 18-wheeler? 18-wheeler passenger accident liability in Austin is anything but uncommon, and the attorneys at Carabin Shaw can help you fight for compensation after an accident.

Austin is already marked as one of the fastest growing cities throughout the country, and operates as a major thoroughfare for delivery vehicles of all kinds. However, a city does not grow apart from its roads.

Several I-35 capitol express projects are underway, or planned to begin, with the goal of expanding the I-35 to allow more vehicles to travel through the city. While these expanded roads may make the roadways safer for commercial vehicles, it also means that more and more 18-wheelers will make use of the highways.

In 2023 alone, Vision Zero TX gathered data on 90 fatal accidents in Austin. These tragedies are common, and there are many more than end in injuries for passengers as well.

Generally, a truck driver is not allowed to have a passenger in their vehicle without explicit (often written) approval from their employer. If the case in your accident was that the driver did not get permission, then the driver’s company is likely to be liable for your Austin 18-wheeler passenger injury.

However, even if your driver did get permission, their company or supervisor may still be liable. The degree of liability that these companies take can depend heavily on the details or circumstances of your accident.

Consulting a trusted attorney is the most reliable way to identify whether a driver or their company is liable for your injuries. After over 30 years of fighting for collision victims in the state of Texas, the Texas personal injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw have the resources and expertise needed to ensure that your injury claim is as strong as it can be.

In terms of who is held at-fatul for an accident, Texas operates under the legal grounds of “respondeat superior.” In short, this means that, if the following criteria are met, the drivers; employer is liable for damages and injuries:

1. The driver operating the vehicle at the time of the accident was an employee of the associated company.
2. The employee was acting within the scope of employment (in these cases, this means they were driving for their job at the time).
3. The employee’s negligence is what caused the accident.

Working alongside an experienced lawyer will help you to streamline your efforts towards winning the compensation you deserve after an 18-wheeler passenger accident. At Carabin Shaw, we offer free case review in order to help you fully understand the legal options available to you.

While most accidents involving 18-wheelers are caused by the negligence of the truck drivers, this is not always the case. In many cases, accidents can be caused by:

• Reckless drivers on the road
• Manufacturing faults in the truck
• Dangerous routing from truck routing companies
• Unsafe cargo loading

And other reckless behaviors not directly connected to the truck driver. Our team understands, however, that injuries you sustained would not have happened at all if you had not been allowed in the passenger seat of these vehicles. That, alone, can place some liability on the company.

To see how we have supported injury victims like you in the past, visit the Carabin Shaw reviews.

At Carabin Shaw, we prioritize the well-being of our clients, which is why we offer our services on a contingency-fee basis. Until your case has been won, you pay nothing for our support.

In order to ask questions about your case, or to schedule your free case review, call our English and Spanish-speaking staff, available toll-free and 24/7, at 800-862-1260.

For more information

• Austin Tx Info
• Vision Zero