truck accident attorney dallas

Brie

29 Jan, 2023

Truck accident attorney dallas - Commercial trucks are a major cause of accidents due to their high center of gravity, potentially hazardous cargo, and weight that can exceed 80,000 pounds. When a passenger vehicle is involved in a collision with a truck, the consequences can be catastrophic, with both the car and its occupants often suffering serious or even fatal injuries.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident, you may be facing a range of challenges, including:

Hospital bills and other medical expenses
Rehabilitation costs
Loss of wages and income
Lifestyle changes to cope with disability
Decreased quality of life
Pain and suffering

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

In the United States, truck accidents result in nearly 90,000 injuries and 5,000 deaths annually. While there are various factors that can lead to a truck accident, some causes are more common than others. Some of the most frequent causes of truck accidents include:

Distracted driving, such as texting or using a cell phone while behind the wheel
Fatigued driving, where the truck driver is sleep-deprived or has been on the road for too long
Improperly loaded or secured cargo, which can cause the truck to lose stability or shift unexpectedly
Inclement weather conditions, such as rain, snow, or ice, which can make it more difficult for the truck to maintain control
Reckless or aggressive driving, including speeding, tailgating, or lane changes without signaling
Defective truck components or equipment, such as faulty brakes, tires, or steering systems
Alcohol or drug impairment, which can severely impair a truck driver's ability to operate the vehicle safely
Inexperience or lack of training, particularly for new truck drivers who may not yet have the necessary skills and knowledge to handle a large commercial vehicle
Poor vehicle maintenance, where a truck has not been properly maintained and is in poor condition
Roadway hazards, such as potholes, debris, or other obstacles that can cause the truck to lose control or collide with another vehicle.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

many of the most serious truck accidents on Dallas roads and across the country are preventable. In these cases, some of the most common types of injuries we see include:

Spinal injuries
Traumatic brain injuries
Dismemberment
Burn injuries
Death

If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident and suffered any of these injuries, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. It is also important to speak with an experienced attorney who can help you understand your legal options and fight for the compensation you deserve.

What to Do After a Truck Accident

If you are involved in a truck accident, you may be unsure of what to do. If you are not severely injured, there are some steps you should take right away. These include:

Check for injuries: If you are not severely injured, check to see if anyone else involved in the accident is injured. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately.
Get to safety: If you are not injured and your vehicle is drivable, move it to a safe location away from traffic. If your vehicle is not drivable, move yourself and any passengers to a safe location away from traffic.
Call the police: It is important to involve the police in any truck accident. They can help document the accident and create a report, which can be useful in any insurance or legal proceedings that may follow.
Exchange information: Gather the contact and insurance information of all parties involved in the accident. If there were any witnesses to the accident, get their contact information as well.
Document the accident: Take photos of the accident scene, including any damage to your vehicle and the surrounding area. Write down as much detail as possible about the accident, including the date, time, and location.
Contact your insurance company: Notify your insurance company as soon as possible about the accident. They will guide you through the process of filing a claim and getting your vehicle repaired.
Seek legal counsel: If you or a loved one was injured in the accident, or if you are facing significant damage to your vehicle, it is important to speak with an experienced attorney. They can help you understand your legal options and fight for the compensation you deserve.

How Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Truck Accident in Dallas

Injury lawyers can help you in a number of ways after a truck accident in Dallas. Here are a few ways an attorney can help:

Gather evidence: An attorney can help you gather evidence to support your claim, including police reports, witness statements, and documentation of your injuries and damages.
Negotiate with insurance companies: Insurance companies are in the business of maximizing profits, which means they may try to minimize the amount of compensation they offer you. An attorney can negotiate on your behalf to ensure that you receive a fair settlement.
Represent you in court: If your case goes to court, an attorney can represent you and advocate on your behalf. They can help present your case in the most favorable light and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Help you understand your legal options: After a truck accident, you may be unsure of your legal rights and options. An attorney can help you understand your options and make informed decisions about how to proceed.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident in Dallas, it is important to speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. They can help you navigate the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve.

How Common Are Truck Accidents in Dallas, TX?

It is difficult to determine exactly how common truck accidents are in Dallas, as data on this topic is not readily available. However, truck accidents are a significant problem nationwide, with nearly 500,000 truck accidents occurring each year in the United States. These accidents can result in serious injuries and fatalities, and often cause significant damage to both the truck and any other vehicles involved.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident in Dallas, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. It is also important to speak with an experienced attorney who can help you understand your legal options and fight for the compensation you deserve.

What is My Dallas Truck Accident Case Worth?

It is difficult to determine the value of a Dallas truck accident case without knowing the specific details of the accident and the injuries and damages that were sustained. There are many factors that can affect the value of a truck accident case, including the severity of the injuries, the amount of medical expenses and lost wages, and the degree of fault of the parties involved.

To determine the value of your truck accident case, an attorney will consider a range of factors, including:

Medical expenses: This can include the cost of hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and any ongoing medical treatment that may be needed.
Lost wages: If you were unable to work as a result of the accident, you may be able to recover the wages you would have earned during that time.
Property damage: If your vehicle or other personal property was damaged in the accident, you may be able to recover the cost of repairing or replacing those items.
Pain and suffering: You may be entitled to compensation for the physical and emotional pain and suffering you have experienced as a result of the accident.
Loss of consortium: If the accident has affected your relationship with your spouse or other family members, you may be able to recover damages for the loss of companionship and support.

An experienced attorney can help you determine the value of your truck accident case and fight for the compensation you deserve.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Truck Accident Victims?

There are several types of damages that may be available to truck accident victims, depending on the circumstances of the case. These damages can be divided into two main categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are damages that compensate an accident victim for specific financial losses that they have suffered as a result of the accident. These damages may include:

Medical expenses: This includes the cost of hospitalization, surgery, medications, physical therapy, and other medical treatment that the victim has received as a result of the accident.
Lost wages: If the victim is unable to work because of their injuries, they may be able to recover damages for the wages and benefits they would have earned if they had not been injured.
Property damage: If the victim's vehicle or other property was damaged in the accident, they may be able to recover damages to repair or replace that property.
Non-economic damages are damages that compensate an accident victim for the non-financial aspects of their injuries. These damages may include:
Pain and suffering: This includes the physical pain and emotional distress that the victim has experienced as a result of the accident.
Loss of consortium: This refers to the loss of companionship, support, and intimacy that the victim's spouse or family members have suffered as a result of the victim's injuries.
Disfigurement: If the victim has suffered permanent scars or disfigurement as a result of the accident, they may be able to recover damages for the physical and emotional impact of these injuries.

It's important to note that the availability and amount of damages that a truck accident victim can recover will depend on the specific facts of their case and the laws of the state where the accident occurred. An experienced personal injury attorney can help a truck accident victim understand their legal options and pursue the damages that they are entitled to receive.

How Do I Prove Negligence After a Truck Accident in Texas?

To prove negligence after a truck accident in Texas, you will need to show that the truck driver or trucking company owed you a duty of care, that they breached this duty of care, and that their breach caused your injuries.

To establish a duty of care, you will need to show that the truck driver or trucking company had a legal obligation to act in a way that would prevent harm to others on the road. All drivers owe other drivers and pedestrians a duty of care to operate their vehicles safely and to follow traffic laws.

To prove a breach of this duty, you will need to show that the truck driver or trucking company did not act with the level of care that a reasonable person would have exercised in the same situation. This might involve demonstrating that the driver was speeding, texting while driving, or otherwise engaging in dangerous or reckless behavior.

Finally, you will need to show that the breach of the duty of care caused your injuries. This means that you will need to provide evidence that your injuries were a direct result of the truck driver's or trucking company's negligence. This may involve presenting medical records, witness testimony, or other evidence to show the extent of your injuries and how they were caused by the truck accident.

It's important to note that the specific evidence needed to prove negligence after a truck accident in Texas will depend on the specific facts of your case. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you gather and present the evidence needed to establish negligence and seek the damages you are entitled to receive.

Who is Responsible for My Damages After a Truck Accident?

After a truck accident, one or more parties may be responsible for your damages, depending on the circumstances of the accident. Some common parties that may be held responsible for your damages include:

The truck driver: If the truck driver was at fault for the accident, they may be held personally responsible for your damages.
The trucking company: If the trucking company was responsible for hiring, training, or supervising the driver, they may be held responsible for your damages under the theory of vicarious liability.
The manufacturer of the truck or truck parts: If the accident was caused by a defect in the truck or its parts, the manufacturer of the truck or the defective parts may be held responsible for your damages.
The party responsible for maintaining the truck: If the accident was caused by a failure to properly maintain the truck, the party responsible for maintaining the truck (such as the trucking company or a third-party maintenance provider) may be held responsible for your damages.
Other drivers: If the accident was caused by the actions of another driver, that driver may be held responsible for your damages.

It's important to note that the specific parties that may be held responsible for your damages will depend on the specific facts of your case. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you identify the parties that may be liable for your damages and pursue a claim against them.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Truck Accident in Texas?

In Texas, the time limit for filing a lawsuit after a truck accident is known as the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Texas is generally two years from the date of the accident. This means that you will typically have two years from the date of the truck accident to file a lawsuit seeking damages for your injuries.

It's important to note that the statute of limitations can be a complex area of the law, and there may be exceptions or other factors that can affect the deadline for filing a lawsuit. For example, the statute of limitations may be tolled (suspended) if the injured party is a minor or if the defendant is out of state. It's also worth noting that the statute of limitations for a truck accident may be different if the accident involved a government vehicle or if the claim is being brought against a government entity.

It's always a good idea to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible after a truck accident to understand your legal options and ensure that you do not miss any deadlines for filing a lawsuit. An attorney can also help you navigate the claims process and negotiate with insurance companies to try to secure a fair settlement for your damages.