Every car accident is shocking and upsetting. Some car accident victims are left completely stunned upon realizing that not only did another driver hit them, but also that the driver fled the scene. In Texas, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury is a felony offense. Although this is a crime, it does not stop some negligent drivers from attempting to evade responsibility for a crash by speeding off. If you or a loved one were hurt in a hit and run accident, read on to learn about your legal options.

Seeking Justice and Compensation After a Hit and Run

Leaving the scene of an accident is against the law. While it is possible that witness statements, traffic cameras, vehicle debris, and other evidence may lead law enforcement to the reckless driver, some hit and run offenders are never found. One reason that a driver who committed a hit and run may leave the scene of the crime is that he or she does not have auto insurance.

Car accident victims may be left with massive medical bills, vehicle repair costs, and other financial losses. After a hit and run, some drivers fear that they will be forced to pay these costs on their own. However, there is another option: The innocent driver’s own insurer. Many drivers have insurance policies with provisions addressing this exact scenario. You may be entitled to compensation for the accident through your own uninsured motorist protection (UIM) policy.

Numerous federal and state laws regulate safety in the trucking industry. Unfortunately, this does not prevent injury-causing and fatal truck crashes from occurring. If you or a loved one were involved in a truck collision, you may be able to seek justice through a civil claim against the liable party. Financial compensation may be available for medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, lost income, and other damages. Evidence of safety violations is often a crucial piece of evidence in truck accident injury claims.

FMCSA Requires Trucking Companies to Meet Certain Standards

Large commercial trucks can cause catastrophic damage in an accident. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires trucking companies and truck drivers to abide by certain safety regulations, including:

• Hours of Service Regulations – When a driver is behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound semi-truck, fatigued driving can be deadly. Sleepiness can increase reaction time, reduce decision-making skills, and lead to unsafe driving. The FMCSA limits the number of hours that a driver can drive without taking a break to rest. However, some drivers violate these Hours of Service regulations. The driver’s electronic logbook is often an important piece of evidence in an injury case involving Hours of Service violations.

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The oil and gas industry is consistently cited as one of the most dangerous industries to work in. Between 2013 and 2017 nearly 500 workers were killed on the job. When a worker dies in a work accident, they often leave behind shocked and grief-stricken family members. If your loved one died on a drill site or an oil and gas worksite, you know first-hand the devastation a fatal work accident can bring to a family.

Nothing can make up for your tragic loss. However, there may be legal options at your disposal that can help you recover financial compensation and hold the at-fault party responsible for your loved one’s death.

Negligence Can Cause Preventable Work Accidents

The death of a family member is always heartbreaking, but when the death was preventable, the loss is even more painful. Some oil and gas industry work accidents are caused by negligence. For example, improper storage of corrosive chemicals or hazardous materials can lead to horrible chemical burns and lung damage. Negligent design or manufacture of equipment or supplies can lead to lacerations, broken bones, head injuries, electrocution, and more. Struck-by and caught-between accidents can be caused by a contractor’s oversight. These are just a few examples of how a party’s negligence can lead to a fatal work accident.

Few would argue that being a truck driver is a challenging occupation. Truck drivers must contend with unpredictable sleep patterns, long hours, loneliness, and boredom. However, these challenges do not excuse drug or alcohol use behind the wheel. Any driver who drives under the influence of alcohol or drugs puts himself and other motorists in harm’s way. However, semi-truck drivers create an even more dangerous situation when they drive under the influence.

Accidents involving large commercial trucks often result in severe and fatal injuries. If you or a loved one were hurt in a crash and you suspect that drug or alcohol use may have contributed to the wreck, contact a skilled truck accident injury attorney for help.  

How Common is Drug Use Among Commercial Truckers?

Most truck drivers are responsible, skilled workers. Unfortunately, some truck drivers make the roads more dangerous by consuming illicit substances or drunk driving. One study showed that about 50 percent of truck drivers admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol and 30 percent confessed to using amphetamines. A U.S. study showed that over 12 percent of truck drivers tested for alcohol tested positive.

Texas is full of hard workers and sometimes those workers are injured. Whether at a construction site, oil and gas drilling site, an office, or another work environment, work accidents can have devastating consequences. Individuals who are injured at work may be left facing not only a painful recovery but also significant financial implications. Between medical expenses and lost income from missed work, getting hurt on the job can represent a major financial burden.

If you or a loved one were hurt in a work accident in Texas, you may have questions about your legal rights and options. Do you have a right to workers’ compensation? Can you sue your employer? What if another party caused the accident?

Texas Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Unlike many other states, workers’ compensation insurance is not mandatory in Texas. This means that your employer may or may not carry workers’ compensation insurance to reimburse injured workers for injury-related costs. If your employer has workers’ comp insurance, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical treatment as well as temporary income benefits. Workers’ compensation is “no-fault,” meaning that you do not have to prove that your employer’s actions caused the injury to get compensation. Unfortunately, not all employers carry workers’ compensation insurance and the compensation offered by workers’ comp is often insufficient.