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A man from Lake Charles was killed in an accident involving his pickup truck and an 18-wheeler. The crash happened in the early morning hours of Thursday on westbound I-10 near Beaumont.
According to police, the crash occurred when the driver of a pickup truck rear-ended the back of a big rig. The pickup driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Texas Department of Public Safety issued a news release about the incident and the lanes were shut down during accident investigation and clean-up. The exact cause of the crash is under investigation. The crash happened near the Goodyear plant in Beaumont. It is not clear yet whether drugs, alcohol or fatigue were involved in the crash.
There are often a variety of factors that contribute to a fatal truck accident.
We do not know the cause in this case; however, some fatal accidents are attributed to driver impairment, fatigue, and inattention.
Although it is illegal to drive while intoxicated, it still occurs. The use of alcohol was a factor in at least a quarter of all fatal accidents in Texas in 2017, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
Inattention is another problem that can lead to highway accidents and deaths. Inattention can occur for a number of reasons.
Driving while distracted includes the use of cell phones and other electronic devices. Distracted driving is any activity that causes you to take your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel or your attention away from driving. In the case of cell phone use, for example for texting, the activity causes distraction in all three areas.
This means that you are extremely distracted when you text while behind the wheel.
What to do After a Crash with a Big Rig
If you were hurt in an accident with a big rig, it is important to follow some basic steps. Call the police to report the crash. Allow the police to investigate the crash and gather information from drivers and witnesses. They may also reconstruct the accident if they need to do so in order to obtain certain details.
Seek medical attention immediately following the crash. It is best to get checked out by a doctor, even if you do not immediately feel hurt. You could suffer severe injuries and not notice them for some time after the crash. Your injuries need to be treated immediately because the failure to treat some injuries quickly can cause them to worsen. This is particularly true of head trauma.
Contact an experienced truck accident attorney as soon after the accident as possible. Do not speak to the insurance representative until you first talk to your lawyer. All too often, the insurance company will try to rush through a settlement which may prove to be inadequate to cover your injuries and damages. Your lawyer will negotiate a fair settlement based on your injuries and will take the matter to court if a settlement cannot be reached.
Contact our experienced big rig accident lawyers – today for a free case consultation.
281-893-0760
Resources
https://www.txdot.gov/government/enforcement/annual-summary.html
