What Is Considered a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Laredo?

The state of Texas leads in commercial vehicle accidents nationwide. In 2020 alone, 581 people were killed in 513 commercial vehicle accidents across the state. The number of people injured in these accidents is even higher; the Texas Department of Transportation reports that there were 1,245 serious injuries and 7,342 non-incapacitating injuries caused by commercial vehicle accidents last year.

These injuries and fatalities cause thousands of dollars in damages and incalculable suffering to victims and their families. With the help of a qualified Laredo commercial vehicle accident attorney, however, commercial vehicle accident victims can receive the financial justice they deserve. Texas law allows accident victims to file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for their physical, financial, and emotional losses. However, accident victims must file their lawsuit within two years of the date of their injury or forfeit their right to seek compensation.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a commercial vehicle accident, you should contact a qualified attorney as soon as possible to explore your options.

What is considered a commercial vehicle accident? While most people tend to associate the term “commercial vehicle” with 18-wheelers or semi-trucks, the definition is much wider. The state of Texas defines commercial vehicles as “a self- propelled or towed vehicle, other than a farm vehicle with a gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating under 48,000 pounds, that is used on a public highway to transport passengers or cargo.”

According to this definition, commercial vehicles could include:

• 18-wheelers
• Cement mixers
• Box trucks
• Limousines
• Ice cream trucks
• Food trucks
• Passenger buses
• Cargo vans
• Any passenger vehicles used for commercial purposes

Additionally, there are a variety of circumstances in which these vehicles injure other drivers on Texas roads. Some of the most common types of commercial vehicle collisions include:

• Rear-end
• Wide turn
• Jackknife
• Head on
• T-bone
• Under Ride

In order to file a commercial vehicle accident lawsuit, your attorney will need to prove the commercial driver’s negligence caused the accident. A driver may be found legally liable for a commercial truck accident if:

• They have consumed drugs or alcohol during their shift
• They recklessly ignore traffic laws (such as speed limits)
• They fail to check their blind spot when merging lanes
• They have driven past state-mandated limits

In some cases, the trucking company itself can be found legally liable. For example, commercial vehicle accident victims may be eligible to sue a trucking company (or other employer who utilizes commercial vehicles) if:

• They have failed to properly train their employees
• They have failed to safely upkeep their vehicles
• They have required drivers to drive past state-mandated limits

If you have been injured by any of the above vehicles, you may be eligible to file a commercial vehicle accident lawsuit. If you are unsure whether your accident is considered a commercial vehicle accident, still schedule a case review with an accident lawyer to see if you are eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit.

If you are looking for quality representation for your commercial vehicle accident claim, the truck accident lawyers at Carabin Shaw can help. Our knowledge of personal injury law, prior experience representing truck accident victims, and “client-first” approach have allowed us to reclaim millions of dollars for commercial vehicle accident victims statewide.

If you would like to schedule your no-cost, no-obligation case review with a Carabin Shaw Laredo commercial vehicle accident attorney, call 800-862-1260 to speak with our 24/7 English and Spanish-speaking staff and schedule your consultation. We would be honored to represent your commercial vehicle accident claim and help win you the compensation you deserve.