Were you injured in a commercial truck accident on a Houston, Texas, roadway? If so, a violation of state or federal trucking regulations may have played a direct role in your crash. Williams Hart & Boundas, LLP can help you pursue all available compensation under Texas law. Contact us today at (713) 230-2200 for a free consultation with a Houston truck accident lawyer.
Our legal team helps injured clients navigate complex truck accident claims involving state and federal trucking regulations. We understand the challenges of pursuing compensation from trucking companies and their insurers and can help you protect your rights throughout the legal process.
How Can Williams Hart & Boundas, LLP Help After a Truck Accident in Houston, TX?
At Williams Hart & Boundas, LLP, our award-winning Houston personal injury attorneys have decades of experience going head-to-head with major trucking companies and winning big. We understand the regulatory framework that governs the industry and know how to use violations of those rules to build the strongest case possible on your behalf.
When you bring your case to us, our Houston, TX, legal team can:
- Investigate the accident and identify each party that may share liability
- Obtain the truck driver’s logbooks and electronic data to check for violations
- Work with accident reconstruction specialists and medical professionals
- Calculate the full extent of your economic and non-economic damages
- Handle every communication with the trucking company’s insurance carrier
- Aggressively negotiate for a full settlement on your behalf
- File a lawsuit and take your case to trial if that is what it takes
Contact our Houston truck accident lawyers today to schedule your free case evaluation. We work on contingency, meaning we only collect attorney’s fees if we recover money for you.
What Federal Regulations Govern Commercial Trucks on Texas Roads?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets safety standards for commercial trucks operating in interstate commerce. Texas also applies many federal trucking regulations to intrastate operations, with certain exceptions under Texas Transportation Code § 644.051 and related rules.
Driver fatigue is a major safety concern. Under the FMCSA’s hours-of-service rules, most property-carrying truck drivers must follow these limits:
- No more than 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty
- A 14-hour driving window after coming on duty
- A 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without a qualifying break
- A limit of 60 on-duty hours over 7 days or 70 hours over 8 days
These rules have exceptions, and many drivers must use electronic logging devices (ELDs) to record their driving hours and help demonstrate compliance.
How Does Texas Enforce Its Own Trucking Safety Standards?
In addition to adopting federal rules, Texas has its own enforcement infrastructure for commercial vehicles. The Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) conducts roadside inspections and oversees compliance with both state and federal standards.
Trucks operating on Texas highways must meet specific requirements in several areas, including:
- Maximum weight limits for the vehicle and its load
- Properly functioning brake systems on both the truck and trailer
- Tires that meet minimum tread depth and inflation standards
- Adequate lighting and reflective markings for visibility
- Secure cargo that will not shift or fall during transit
- Valid operating authority and up-to-date registration
Houston’s position as one of the busiest freight corridors in the nation means commercial trucks travel through the metro area in enormous volume every day. A trucking company that allows a poorly maintained vehicle onto I-10 or I-45 may be held directly liable if a mechanical failure causes a wreck.
Can a Regulatory Violation Strengthen My Truck Accident Claim?
In many trucking accident cases, the answer is yes. If your attorney can show that the driver or company violated a specific federal or state regulation, it creates compelling evidence of negligence.
Some of the most common violations that surface during these investigations include:
- A driver operating more than the legal hours-of-service limits
- A trucking company skipping or falsifying required vehicle inspections
- A truck carrying cargo that exceeded permitted weight restrictions
- Failure to conduct mandated drug or alcohol testing for drivers
- Hiring a driver who did not hold a valid commercial driver’s license
Any one of these violations can dramatically shift the strength of your case. When multiple violations are present, the evidence against the trucking company becomes even harder to dispute.
Contact Our Houston Truck Accident Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation
Do not let a trucking company and its insurer dictate the outcome of your case. If you were injured in a commercial truck crash in Houston, Texas, you deserve a legal team with the experience and the firepower to go the distance on your behalf.
Our Houston truck accident lawyers at Williams Hart & Boundas, LLP have recovered more than $24 billion for our clients over the course of four decades. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and learn more about how we can help you.