When driving down a Texas highway, one of a motorist’s biggest fears is being involved in an accident with a large truck.

Due to the severity of these accidents, the results can be devastating for victims. Unfortunately, accidents of this nature happen daily, often with tragic consequences. To learn more about how these accidents happen and why a Houston trucking lawyer at the Sandoval Law Firm can be of great assistance to you, here are the three most common causes for truck accidents:

Unsafe and Negligent Driving

In the majority of these accidents, the cause is unsafe and negligent driving on the part of the truck driver. Since drivers often have time constraints placed on them by their companies, many drivers are on the road when they are very tired. As a result, they often fall asleep at the wheel, become distracted while driving, or drive far beyond the speed limit to meet deadlines.

Overloaded or Unbalanced Loads

According to industry statistics, 25% of these accidents are due to cargo that is improperly secured on a truck. When this is the case, the result can be a rollover or jackknifing accident, which often leads to chain-reaction accidents. In most accidents, logging trucks and those carrying wide loads are involved.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs

In many tragic accidents, it is discovered a truck driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the accident occurred. For some drivers, using amphetamines to stay awake is common, while others may have been guilty of using alcohol, marijuana, or opiates to cope with stress and other issues.

If you have been injured in a trucking accident or had a loved one injured or killed due to these or other causes, contact a Houston trucking lawyer at the Sandoval Law Firm to discuss gaining the compensation you and your family deserve.