Collateral Damage in Texas Truck Accidents
Big-rig trucks are designed to carry large amounts of heavy cargo over long distances, and this understandably means that they must be large and sturdy themselves. However, it also means that when a truck loses control, it can cause substantial damage to the surrounding area. Other occupants of nearby vehicles may be at risk of injury not only in a direct collision with a semi-truck, but also due to the collateral damage that a truck leaves in its wake. Whatever the specific source of their injuries, an accident victim may have a case for compensation if a truck driver’s negligence was the inciting cause.
Common Side Effects of Truck Wrecks
A recent accident on I-35 illustrates the variety and extent of the damages that a big-rig truck can cause. In this case, a hydraulic truck bed activated while the vehicle was in motion, causing the trailer to rise and impact power lines and fiber optic cables above the road. As a result, the truck overturned and a multi-vehicle accident ensued, stalling traffic for several hours. The downed power lines also started a fire and caused major power outages in the area.
Similar truck accidents are not uncommon, and they can result in extensive property damage and economic losses. They can also lead to serious injuries in a variety of ways. For example:
- Downed or damaged power lines can start fires or create electrical hazards.
- Impacted road signs and light and utility poles may collapse and fall onto nearby vehicles.
- Spilled cargo in a rollover accident can make the roadway more treacherous.
- In high-traffic areas, the sudden overturning of a truck can start a chain reaction accident affecting drivers well beyond the initial collision.
Making Your Case for Compensation
If you were injured due to one of these side effects of a truck accident, it may be more challenging to make the case that your injuries are the result of the truck driver’s negligence. Negligence claims require evidence that the negligent party’s breach of a duty of care was the proximate cause of the damages suffered, so it is important to have strong evidence of unsafe behavior on the part of the driver, as well as the entire chain of events that ended in your injury. Video footage of the events and photographs of the scene will likely be important, as will eyewitness testimony. It may also be important to resolve disputes involving potential contributory negligence, whether from other drivers involved in the collision or the injury victim themself.
Contact a New Braunfels Truck Crash Lawyer
Every accident has its own set of complications, but at The Bettersworth Law Firm, we have the experience to help you navigate the challenges you may face in your pursuit of full and fair compensation. Contact us at 830-443-9193 for a free consultation with a knowledgeable New Braunfels personal injury attorney.
Sources:
https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/traffic-alert-i-35-northbound-closed-after-major-accident-power-lines-down
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/03/30/18-wheeler-flips-takes-down-highway-sign-power-lines-on-i-35-on-san-antonios-northeast-side/
