The Texas Transportation Code covers all forms of transportation
The Code has safety rules, licensing requirements and operating laws
Texas is the largest state in the continental U.S. It also has nearly 3,360 miles of shoreline. As a result, the state’s residents and businesses use every form of transportation possible, from motor vehicles to ferry ships.
The Texas Transportation Code sets the standards and laws for these systems. It tells operators what they must do to run a compliant business. It also helps accident lawyers determine when one party may be liable for someone’s injuries.
What the Texas Transportation Code Covers
The Texas Transportation Code includes chapters covering the following infrastructure:
Railroads
Airports
Ports
Roads and bridges
These laws regulate construction and funding. Additionally, the Code covers the people and businesses using the systems. For example, the Code sets the rules for issuing commercial driver’s licenses.
How to Identify Codes Involved in an Incident
The government enforces the Code’s provisions. You will not need to identify legal violations after an incident. Instead, the government will typically investigate and issue a report listing any violations.
For example, police officers issue an accident report after a car crash. A lawyer can use the police report car accident details to prove liability.
Major Categories of Vehicle-Related Offenses
The Code contains traffic laws, including the following vehicle-related offenses:
Negotiating traffic signs and signals
Operating on roads with marked lanes
Controlling vehicle speed
The code contains dozens of laws within each of these categories.
Examples of Common Transportation Violations
According to the state, the following transportation violations are the most common causes of car accidents:
Speeding
Inattentive or distracted driving
Changing lanes unsafely
Disregarding red lights and stop signs
Tailgating
Violating these code provisions exposes a driver to a citation and may constitute evidence of negligence.
Accessing Legal Help for Code Violations
Businesses that violate the Code may face an enforcement action. A law firm that focuses on regulatory and administrative law can help fight the action.
Individuals who violate the Code may also need a lawyer. Criminal defense attorneys can represent them in court to fight citations or criminal charges. A civil litigation lawyer can help them defend against a personal injury lawsuit.
Understanding Key Sections of the Texas Transportation Code
The Code includes many provisions, including the following key sections:
ConsumerShield helps individuals and businesses find legal representation to navigate the complex transportation code. Contact us for a free case evaluation and lawyer referral.
Liability for car accidents depends on negligence. If a driver violates a safety law in the Code, a doctrine called “negligence per se” might apply. This doctrine allows victims to skip the step of proving the driver breached a legal duty, giving them a shortcut to proving the driver’s negligence.
Texas and its agencies enforce the Code. Private individuals usually do not have the right to sue unless a code violation injured them. Thus, an injured victim and their lawyer can use Code violations to prove that a carrier operated negligently under Texas personal injury law.
