Out of Control Car and Big Rig Collide

No one knew why the car was being driven so erratically. The consequences were death by 18-wheeler.

This particular accident was not only tragic, but hard to explain. The driver of the car involved was swerving erratically all over the highway, lost control and went into a spin that swept the car across the center line right into the path of a big rig.

The impact was so catastrophic that the truck and car went careening into a bank of trees, trapping the car between the truck and the trees. Responding EMS crews arrived at the scene quickly, but unfortunately, the driver of the car, 36-year-old Eren Dalwall (names have been changed to protect the identity of the victim and their family) was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

The trucker was taken to a medical facility for treatment and was fortunate enough to not have serious injuries. The truck wasn’t in great shape though.

Why did this happen? Police reports indicate that Dalwall may have been speeding and playing chicken while on the highway, which may account for the rapid swerving in and out of the lanes and the eventual loss of control.

It’s not clear yet if there were other factors at play in this accident, such as alcohol, texting while driving, driving while distracted, DUI or driving under the influence of drugs – either prescription or street drugs. And no one seemed to notice if there was another vehicle that was racing with the Dalwall car in some sort of drag race scenario. The police have their work cut out for them in this investigation.

Even though the trucker was not seriously injured, he lost time off work, lost wages, incurred medical expenses and a significant amount of property damage. It may well be that the trucker and/or trucking company will elect to file a personal injury lawsuit against the Dalwall estate to recover compensation.

Car accidents that involve big rigs very rarely have a good outcome. This case is no different. Generally speaking, when a semi and car crash, it is often the fault of the trucker. This isn’t a hard and fast rule by any means, but it is what the accident statistics reveal. It is also what Austin personal injury lawyers tend to see in their practices.

If you have been involved in an 18-wheeler accident and were gravely injured, you need to speak to an Austin personal injury lawyer who has experience dealing with trucking crashes. You need to know your rights and the lawyer needs to know all the relevant details to start collecting necessary evidence. Don’t delay, as timing in cases like this is critical.

Brooks Schuelke is an Austin personal injury attorney with Perlmutter & Schuelke PLLC. Contact an Austin injury lawyer at Civtrial.com or (512) 476-4944.