Handling Tractor-Trailer Truck Accidents Across Texas

It is easy to understand why collisions with semi-trucks (18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, semi) can be so destructive. Fully loaded trucks can often weigh in excess of 80,000 lbs. Driving these types of machines requires a completely different skill level than driving a standard 4-door car. Unless your Texas truck accident lawyer is familiar with the numerous federal motor regulations governing operation of commercial trucks, you will not be adequately represented.

Of course, knowing what to look for is just half the battle. Knowing how to find the truth is what what makes the difference. For instance, there is a limit on how long truckers may drive without a rest break. Yet, they will often fake their log books to appear as if they complied with the rules.

Texas Trucking Accident Attorneys cannot just stop there! In fact, many trucks are equipped with GPS tracking systems which show how long the truck has been operating. Trucking companies will not just volunteer this information – your attorney has to be aware of it and go get it!

In addition to fatigue, another common problem is inattention. Truckers will often testify the collision was unavoidable. This testimony can often be undermined through download of the truck’s “blackbox” data. Many people are unaware that, much like airplanes, many commercial trucks are now equipped with a “blackbox” that records all the details of the trucks operation. This type of information can prove to a jury that the trucker never even hit his breaks before the crash.

These are a few examples of what a Personal Injury Attorney needs to look for in a trucking accident case. The truth is, these type of cases are much more complex than a general car wreck and the issues are too numerous to list. Even more so than any other case, the trucking accident case is extremely time-sensitive. Each day that passes without investigation decreases your chances of success. For instance, many of the blackbox recorders hold information for a very limited amount of time. If you wait to hire an attorney, that truck may be put back on the road, and new information will be recorded over the accident information.

Because we specialize in personal injury law, we know the various rules and regulations that truckers must follow and we know how to get that information. In fact, after any semi-truck wreck, the trucking company is required to file certain information with the federal D.O.T. These then become public records that we will request immediately. Additionally, as soon as we are retained in any trucking case, we immediately send a “preservation of evidence” letter to the trucking company. In that letter, we ask them to retain certain documents that might be relevant to the lawsuit.

If you’ve been involved in wreck with a semi-truck, you need to at least consult with an attorney immediately. Contact our law firm for a free consultation. We never charge any hourly fees and it’s always free to talk about your case.

Texas Semi-Truck Wreck Lawyer
If you need a Texas semi-truck (18-wheeler) accident lawyer, contact our law firm. We handle handle cases involving 18-wheeler accidents all throughout Texas.

Are trucking accidents common? What about in Texas?

Yes, there are over 500,000 trucking accidents each year. This amounts to at least 100,000 deaths and/or injuries related to trucking accidents every year. In Texas trucking accidents are fatal about 40% more often than the national average.

Is a truck accident more likely to cause serious injury than one with just passenger cars?

Yes. Trucks are much bigger and heavier than cars and SUVs. Passenger vehicles have safety standards that are meant to protect someone from a crash with other vehicles of generally the same weight and size. A commercial tractor-trailer can weigh over 80,000 pounds, while an average passenger car weighs around 3,000 pounds. Thus, tractor trailer accidents often result in serious or fatal injuries for the occupants of the car.

What is my truck accident case worth?

There are two main factors that determine the value of a case when another party is judged to be partially or fully at fault. The first is replacement for direct expenses, such as medical expenses and loss of income. The second, and often the higher figure, is for pain and suffering. When there is a fatality, the second will revolve around loss of companionship and other factors resulting from the death. Cases vary enough that an estimate should be made by an accident attorney familiar with the facts.

Can anyone sue after a trucking accident?

Anyone who has been injured or had property damaged as the result of the accident is entitled to make a claim. When there is a death, the estate of the deceased can sue as well as anyone directly affected by the death. This also includes children whose guardians can sue on their behalf, and even other truck drivers if someone else was at fault.

Who should I sue in my trucking accident case?

Whoever is at fault for causing the trucking accident can be sued. This includes the truck driver, the trucking company they work for, the trailer owner, the shipper, a parts manufacturer or any other entity who contributed to your accident. Because the causes of accidents vary, more than one party might be the subject of a lawsuit.

What can I do to protect my rights?

The most important thing is to not sign any legal documents without talking to an attorney who handles semi-truck accident cases. You should also avoid making statements to either the trucking company or an insurance investigator. You attorney can advise you on how to respond to any letters or offers you receive.

I am not sure how I want to proceed, is there something I should do in the meantime?

Yes. Document as much as possible. This includes information you gather at the scene or shortly after the accident (photographs are excellent!) as well as maintaining a journal of any and all medical treatment you receive. You should also keep all receipts, pay stubs and anything else associated with the case. These documents will be critical if you end up pursuing a case.

Does the government regulate trucking companies?

Yes. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates commercial motor vehicles and the companies who operate them in order to make the interstate highways safer. For instance, one regulation is that there is a limit on the amount of hours a trucker can drive in one day. Another is that any commercial vehicle is required to carry insurance for bodily injury and property damage.

Do I need an attorney early in the process?

The earlier an attorney is consulted, the more likely they will be able to prevent mistakes. They will also seek to capture key documents that Federal law requires from trucking companies before they are destroyed. Although the records must be kept, trucking and insurance companies know they do not have to preserve them past the federally mandated time limit.

Your attorney will also act as a buffer between you and the insurance company. They will recommend actions you should take to strengthen your claim as well. All in all, delaying a consultation works against you.

Are you one of the car accidents statistics in your state?

If you have recently gotten involved in a car accident in one of the more popular car accident cities such as Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Houston, Dallas, Denver, and Illinois, there are some things you should know. You’re not alone!

Though these popular cities are great places to live in, car accidents are more common in these places mainly due to the high population and heavy traffic streaming through these cities.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, most of the Personal Injury cases in the U.S. are caused by car accidents. So make sure you know what to do and how to deal with car accidents in the popular cities of the U.S.

Fort Lauderdale Car Accidents Statistics

Fort Lauderdale is a city in Florida lying just along the Atlantic Ocean. The city is known as the Venice of America and gets more than 10 million visitors every year. The area is home to a hundred boatyards and marinas, more than 4000 restaurants, and hundreds of nightclubs. As expected, the crowded area also gets several car/truck accidents in a year.

Most car accidents are caused by heavy loads or cargo shifting inside the vehicle, drugs and alcohol, over-speeding, traffic, long distance driving, and vehicle condition. If you encounter a car accident in Fort Lauderdale, find a Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer to help you out.

Orlando Car Accidents Statistics Report

Orlando is one of the major cities of Florida and is the third largest metropolitan in the state. It is also the sixth most populous city there, which means that it could get particularly crowded, especially with the Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort. This is certainly a recipe for car accidents.

In Orlando, the largest number of car accidents is caused by driver misbehavior and driver distraction. Most distractions are caused by cell phones, passengers, the radio, and driver fatigue. Orlando records also cite several car accidents resulting from over-speeding.

Houston Car Accidents Statistics Report

As the fourth largest city in the United States, Houston is a booming and densely populated area. As such, it is also prone to car accidents. The leading cause of car accident in Houston is DWI and vehicle rollovers.

Vehicle rollovers are also observed to be the most fatal type of accidents in Houston. In fact, most rollovers almost always lead to deaths. For help with car accident issues in Houston, you can seek the assistance of Houston car accident lawyers.

Dallas Car Accident Stats

With a population hitting 1.3 million this year, Dallas is no doubt an economic center with a huge population. This makes car/truck accidents quite common in the city, and most of them are caused by driver fatigue, driver impairment, rollovers, speeding, and bad weather.

In case you encounter car accidents, you can contact Dallas car accident lawyers specializing in car accidents and personal injury if injury is involved.

Denver Car Accidents Statistics Report

Denver is the most populous city of Colorado. It also gets many visitors each year. Denver car accidents are also related to high levels of personal injury, most of which are whiplash cases.

In Denver, driver negligence is cited as the most common cause of car accidents. For help with car accidents, contact a Denver car accident lawyer who can assist you in making your claims.

Illinois Car Accident Reporting Statistics

Illinois, known as the fifth most populous state in the country, is also susceptible to a lot of car accidents each year. Careless and reckless driving is the number one cause of car accidents in Illinois.

With the crowds of Illinois and drivers’ negligence, Illinois roads pose a threat to motorists. In case of car accidents, contact an Illinois car accident lawyer.

The Verdict On Car Accidents Statistics

Car accidents are part of life on the road. By knowing what causes the accidents, particularly in popular cities such as Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Houston, Dallas, Denver, and Illinois, you can try and avoid such accidents, so you don’t become a statistic, too.

But if not, you can avoid huge damages by contacting the right car accident lawyers in these cities to be sure that you get proper compensation for any loss.

You Really Need A Car Accident Lawyer These Days

The road is full of cars and the more cars are on the road, the more likely a person can get hit by a vehicle or there is always a possibility that he can get caught in an accident whether he’s crossing the street, whether he’s driving a car or whether he’s just sitting at the back of the bus. Accidents do happen and there is nothing you can do about it. Once you’ve stepped out of your house, you are prone to it. You can be lucky enough if you have reached your destination without a scratch or a dent on you.

That is why, you really need a good car accident lawyer whenever you are involved in some mishap on the road because even with an excellent constitution, justice is not an automatic thing, and more often than not you will need to fight to get it, you will need somebody to stay at your side who is well-versed with the said justice system and will always try to help you get out of the situation you’re in, whether you’re the victim or the person in-fault.

It is a reality that you have to accept and face and appreciate the fact that so many things can go wrong in your pursuit to get paid after a minor or horrific car accident that harms you in a bad way both physically and financially. A well-experienced lawyer knows that time is of the essence in collecting the right evidence from the scene of the accident before it vanishes forever. As they say, ‘Justice delayed is justice denied. A car accident lawyer will prove to the court that you are not the one who provoked or started the accident and if you really are the one, he will help you make an appeal or whatever it is that will make everything easy for you.

It is reported that every year, there are more 4 million car accident-related injuries suffered and sadly in most cases the accidents could have easily been avoided. There are many reasons why accidents do happen and they can range from using cell phones while driving, crossing the street on a non-pedestrian lane, DUI or ‘driving under influence’, not following or ignoring traffic signals and signs and generally, reckless driving.

An excellent vehicle accident lawyer will need to quickly identify the real cause of the accident and then goes to prove on a court what really happened. If the lawyer cannot do this, then your high expectations of compensation will remain but just another hopeless dream and will remain a dream.

The accident lawyer that you are about to hire should be very observant and very keen and attentive to so many things especially where serious injury has occurred that could compromise the livelihood of the victim for the rest of their lives and will depend on the kind of compensation that they will get from that accident. The lawyer has awareness that inadequate compensation will mean a life of hellish misery for the victim.

That’s why, you need to find a good car accident lawyer and so as not to make you waste a lot of time and money looking for the best one, it’s best to search for them online. Right now, lots of lawyers have their own websites so they can cater to a lot of people who needed their help

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