Dallas Livestock Truck Accident Lawyers

Representing People Injured in Dallas Cattle Truck Accidents

Cattle are transported most frequently during late summer. Several types of trailers are used to haul cattle. The most common is the stock trailer, which can range in size from a small unit that holds two to three animals to a large semi-trailer that can haul many animals. Stock trailers are enclosed on the bottom with openings for ventilation at the eye level of the cattle.

How Can Cattle Trucks Cause Accidents?

The sheer numbers of cattle trucks on the roadways in July and August can increase the risk of a crash. Certain other factors contribute to cattle truck accidents:

• Cattle can shift the weight of the trailer, causing it veer out of the lane or overturn.
• Poor maintenance or defective parts can lead to equipment failure and accidents. Examples include faulty brakes, tire blowouts, defective trailer hitches, and faulty lighting.
• When cattle are not properly secured in the trailer, it can increase the risk of other hazards.
• Drivers transporting cattle may be fatigued after the demanding work of loading and securing cattle in the heat.
• Drug or alcohol-impaired driving, distracted driving, and reckless driving can cause serious cattle truck crashes.

When Are Cattle Truck Accidents Most Likely to Happen?

Driver fatigue is a major contributing factor to livestock truck rollover accidents. Most of these crashes occur between midnight and 9:00 a.m. The majority of cattle truck rollover accidents are caused by driver error. Cattle trucks are involved in more than half of all livestock truck accidents.

What Injuries and Damages Are Caused by Cattle Truck Accidents?

Traffic crashes involving cattle trucks can cause serious injuries to both people and livestock. The impact of a collision with a semi tractor-trailer can cause catastrophic injuries to victims, including traumatic brain injury, amputation, internal organ damage, spinal cord damage, crush injuries, and fractured bones.

Cattle can be injured or killed in a stock transportation crash, and so can human occupants of the vehicles in the collision. The priority is medical treatment for any person injured, then care of the animals. Livestock transportation accidents can be chaotic, with loose, injured, or dead animals on the roadway that can be unpredictable or dangerous. Animals released from the trailer in a crash can be hit by other vehicles and injured or killed.

Who Is Liable for a Cattle Truck Accident?

Many livestock transportation crashes are caused by driver negligence. If the truck driver was fatigued, distracted, drug or alcohol impaired, or driving aggressively, the driver and his or her employer may be liable for a resulting accident and injuries. If equipment failure caused the crash, a truck or parts manufacturer may be responsible. Our Dallas livestock truck accident lawyers can thoroughly investigate the crash to determine cause and liability and pursue all available forms of compensation.

What Compensation May Be Available for a Livestock Truck Accident?

If you have been seriously hurt in a cattle truck crash caused by someone else’s negligence, you have a right to seek compensation for your losses. Depending on the nature and extent of your injuries and other factors, damages you may be entitled to claim may include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost earnings or wages
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Permanent impairment
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Emotional trauma
• Diminished quality of life

Call (214) 295-1008 to schedule a free consultation with a Dallas truck accident lawyer at The Lenahan Law Firm. We are focused on achieving the optimal result for the people we serve, with a fair and full settlement or jury award.