Key Takeaways: What Every Car Hauler Accident Victim Should Know
- A car hauler’s cargo can become a projectile. In a high-speed collision, improperly secured vehicles can launch off the deck or slide forward into the cab, turning a routine wreck into a multi-vehicle catastrophe.
- Multiple parties may be liable, including the truck driver, the trucking or transport company, the loading crew responsible for securing the vehicles, and even the manufacturer of defective securement equipment.
- You have two years to file a car hauler accident claim in the State of Texas. Evidence like black box data and cargo securement logs can disappear quickly, so don’t wait to speak with an attorney.
- Hiring Simmons & Fletcher gives you three partner-level attorneys — no associates — with decades of combined experience investigating commercial trucking cases just like this one.
Car carrier trucks — often called car haulers, auto transport trucks, or car carriers — are a common sight on Houston-area highways and interstates. They save dealerships time and money by transporting several vehicles at once, and they preserve resale value by keeping extra miles off the odometer. But when a car hauler is involved in a collision, its unique design can turn a routine wreck into something far more dangerous. If you were injured in a crash caused by a car hauler, call a Houston car accident attorney at Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. for a free case evaluation. Call today at (713) 932-0777.
What Makes Car Hauler Accidents Different?
Car haulers are built to move several standard-sized vehicles across the state or across the country in a single trip. Most have a fold-out ramp at the rear for loading, and the deck itself runs on a hydraulic, lever-controlled system that shifts vehicles forward and back during loading and unloading. Once in place, each vehicle is secured with wheel chocks, chains, and tie-down straps suited to its make, model, and year.
That design works fine — until the truck is involved in a wreck. In a high-speed or high-velocity impact, a car hauler’s cargo can become a projectile. Our firm has handled cases where a car hauler rear-ended another vehicle at highway speed and one of the hauled cars launched off the deck and landed on top of nearby traffic. We’ve also seen the reverse: a car hauler gets rear-ended, and the momentum sends a hauled vehicle sliding forward into the driver’s cab.
When a car hauler is loaded correctly and its cargo is properly secured, the vehicles on board should stay put even in a collision. But improperly loaded or secured cargo can turn a minor fender-bender into a catastrophic, multi-vehicle event. Whether you were the truck’s driver, a passenger, or the occupant of another vehicle struck by a shifting load, you should speak with a car hauler accident attorney for a free case evaluation.
How Can a Houston Car Hauler Accident Lawyer Help Me?
Car haulers are regulated as commercial motor vehicles and are subject to many of the same federal and state trucking rules as 18-wheelers. A car hauler accident lawyer can determine which rules applied to the truck involved in your wreck and whether the driver, the carrier, or the loading crew violated them. Regulatory violations are often key to establishing liability.
A car hauler accident attorney can also help you:
- Avoid mistakes or traps when talking to trained insurance adjusters.
- Fully investigate the cause of the collision, including inspecting the truck, the load-securement equipment, and the cargo manifest.
- Download and preserve the truck’s black box data before it is lost or overwritten.
- Obtain necessary but costly medical care by issuing letters of protection as needed.
- Depose the driver, the carrier, the loading crew, and eyewitnesses to build your case.
- Represent you in hearings, depositions, mediation, and trial to pursue a fair settlement or verdict.
Why Call Simmons and Fletcher after Your Car Hauler Accident?
Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. fights exclusively for the injured. Our law firm has fought for injured Houstonians since 1979. We have three attorneys, all experienced personal injury law partners — no associates to pawn you off on. When you hire us, you get us.
Our goal is to fight for every client with the same compassion, trustworthiness, and integrity we would want for our own family. Call us today for a 100% free consultation regarding your case at (713) 932-0777.
What Our Clients Say
Veda J.
“After the accident I was really shaken to my core. Being a senior citizen, I wasn’t sure just what to do. I saw your tv ad and I decided to call. So glad I did…
Irma G.
Simmons and Fletcher was a very nice and friendly law firm from the moment I went in for my initial consult. A big thank you to all of them for hearing me out and agreeing…
Amber R.
Simmons and fletcher law firm. Went above and beyond for me. I was in a bad wreck that requires neck surgery. They constantly called and checked on me to see how I was doing. They…
Sue M.
I guess we are all a bit hesitant to have to hire a lawyer, at least I know I was, but Simmons and Fletcher PC was highly recommended by a trusted friend so I decided…
Miriam F.
I cannot express enough what this firm has done for me and my family! From the very beginning my legal assistant, Jeannette, was there to guide me every step of the way. She kept me…
Rebecca D.
This office helped us out tremendously. Everyone we dealt with was professional and courteous. They were quick to respond to any questions regarding the process. I would definitely recommend these attorneys.
Oscar M.
I had a great experience at Simmons and Fletcher. They fought continuously in my case and always hand my best interest in me. Ruth was kind and attentive to my needs. She was always available…
Theresia R.
This firm did an excellent job in representing our family. Not only are they very knowledgeable but are also very polite and always communicated through the whole process. A special thank you to Amanda for…
Rebecca S.
I cannot recommend this firm enough. Chris Fletcher represented me and my experience was great from start to finish. Chris was honest, accessible, and easy to talk to. His paralegal, Stephanie Quinn, was also incredibly…
Sandra W.
I had a great experience with Simmons and Fletcher. Sharon Simmons Cantrell did an exceptional job on my case. She was attentive and sweet and fought hard for me. I would recommend her and the…
Christashaia J.
I would recommend Simmons and Fletcher to anyone! From start to finish my case was handled properly! Amanda Johnston handle my case so well, as well as communicated with me throughout the entire ordeal, and…
Typical Injuries Sustained in a Car Hauler Accident in Texas
Because car hauler crashes can involve airborne vehicles, crushing loads, or sudden deceleration, the injuries tend to be severe. Injuries we commonly see include:
- Traumatic Brain Injury. A hauled vehicle landing on or striking another car can subject occupants to violent, whiplash forces that injure the brain.
- Spinal Cord and Disc Injuries. The compressive force of a shifting or falling vehicle load can herniate discs or damage the spinal cord itself.
- Bone Fractures. Broken bones are common when a hauled vehicle lands on or crushes another car.
- Crush Injuries and Amputation. A vehicle that slides off a hauler’s deck can trap or crush limbs.
- Lacerations, Disfigurement, and Scarring. Shattered glass and torn metal from a falling vehicle can cause deep cuts and lasting scars.
- Internal Organ Injuries. Blunt-force trauma from a falling or shifting vehicle can rupture organs such as the spleen or liver.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Witnessing or surviving a vehicle launch into traffic is a uniquely terrifying experience that can leave lasting psychological trauma.
- Wrongful Death. Tragically, a hauled vehicle striking an occupied car at highway speed can be fatal.
The type and severity of your injuries play a major role in the compensation you may be owed. Your Houston car hauler accident attorney needs to account for all of your economic and non-economic damages — medical bills, lost income, future care needs, and pain and suffering — with the right medical and expert testimony behind it. Call us for a free case evaluation and know your legal rights today.
<h2\>How Are Car Haulers Regulated?
<p\>Car hauler regulations depend on whether the truck operates only within Texas (intrastate) or crosses state lines (interstate). Understanding which rules apply to your wreck is critical to proving negligence.
Intrastate Car Haulers operating only within Texas must follow:
- Texas Department of Transportation safety regulations;
- State commercial driver’s license requirements;
- Texas-specific hours-of-service rules;
- State vehicle inspection and maintenance standards;
- Cargo securement standards for the type, weight, and number of vehicles carried;
- Minimum liability insurance coverage requirements.
Interstate Car Haulers crossing state lines are subject to:
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations;
- Federal cargo securement rules for automobiles, light trucks, and vans;
- Federal hours-of-service requirements;
- DOT physical examination standards;
- Electronic logging device mandates;
- Federally mandated minimum liability insurance coverage.
Violations of cargo securement standards, weight limits, or hours-of-service rules can help establish negligence—or even gross negligence—in a car hauler accident lawsuit. Our Houston truck accident lawyers thoroughly investigate regulatory compliance to strengthen your case.
Why a Car Hauler’s Obscured View Causes Wrecks
Few people who haven’t sat in the cab of a loaded car hauler realize just how limited the driver’s view can be. On many car haulers, vehicles hang over the top or front of the cab, partially blocking the driver’s view down the road.
Combine that obscured view with other common trucking risks — like driver fatigue or distraction — and you have a recipe for disaster. Every truck driver has a legal duty to maintain a proper lookout so the truck can be brought to a safe stop when needed. Whether an obscured view contributed to your crash is often something only a car hauler accident lawyer can uncover through a full investigation of the vehicle, the load configuration, and the driver’s actions.
Overloading, Weight, and Stopping Distance
A typical passenger vehicle weighs between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds. Because a car hauler may carry several vehicles at once, strict weight limits and load-securement guidelines govern how many — and what type — of vehicles any one hauler can legally carry.
Excess weight dramatically increases a car hauler’s stopping distance. Unfortunately, because an overweight citation often results in nothing more than a fine, some carriers gamble with the risk to maximize profits—putting other drivers on the road at risk. Uncovering evidence of habitual overloading may support a claim for punitive damages based on gross negligence.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car hauler crash, hire a law firm you can trust to investigate these details and determine the full damages your family may be entitled to. Consultations at Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. are always free, and as a contingency-fee law firm, we do not get paid unless we recover compensation for you.
Other Resources
- What Is a Commercial Motor Vehicle? Learn what qualifies a vehicle for regulation as a commercial motor vehicle.
- How to Prove Truck Driver Negligence in a Commercial Vehicle Accident. Learn what evidence you need to win your case.
- How to Sue a Trucking Company for Negligence After a Crash. The litigation process explained.
- Overweight Truck Accidents. Learn the regulations and requirements for heavy trucks.
- Commercial Truck Event Data Recorders. Learn how electronic data recorders can prove what happened in your crash.
Call Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. If You’ve Been Hit by a Car Hauler
If you were injured after being hit by a car hauler — or by a vehicle that came loose from one — talk to a Houston personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Trucking companies and their insurers deploy accident investigators whose job is to reduce the company’s exposure. A car hauler accident lawyer can investigate the wreck and preserve critical evidence, like cargo manifests and securement logs, before it disappears. Injured victims have trusted the injury law firm of Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. to investigate and litigate commercial truck wrecks since 1979. Talk to the law firm known for speaking up for the injured by calling (713) 932-0777 right now.
FAQ's
What should I do if I'm hit by a vehicle that fell off a car hauler?
Call 911, seek medical attention, and try to document the scene, including the car hauler’s company name and license plate, if possible. Then contact a car hauler accident attorney as soon as you can so evidence like the cargo manifest and securement equipment can be preserved before it is lost.
Who can be held liable in a car hauler accident?
Depending on the facts, liability may fall on the truck driver, the trucking or transport company, the company responsible for loading and securing the vehicles, or even a parts manufacturer if defective securement equipment failed.
How much does it cost to hire a car hauler accident lawyer?
Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. handles car hauler accident cases on a contingency-fee basis. Consultations are free, and you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
How long do I have to file a car hauler accident lawsuit in Texas?
Texas generally allows two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Evidence like black box data and cargo logs can disappear quickly, so it’s best to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after your crash.
