Due to the size, height, and weight of these vehicles, accidents involving commercial trucks could have severe physical, emotional, and financial consequences. If you were hurt due to the negligence or poor conduct of a big rig driver, an Arlington truck accident lawyer could help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
An Arlington personal injury lawyer from The Texas Law Dog, who is heavily involved in the community, could ensure that your rights are protected all the way from filing a claim to settlement negotiations. Put our team to work to protect your rights today.
The Importance of Having a Skilled Arlington Truck Accident Attorney
Truck accidents happen often, but every case is complex and often riddled with challenges for victims to overcome. There are several reasons why this is so important:
- Insurance companies need to lower the level of compensation you are owed. They are highly skilled at doing so. This is always a detriment to your right to compensation.
- Your injuries could be substantial. These truck accidents often cause catastrophic injuries and losses. The risk of not getting enough financial support in difficult situations is very high.
- More than one party is likely to be at fault. Truck drivers, along with trucking companies, vehicle owners, cargo companies, and other third parties, could all hold some responsibility for your injuries and losses.
By navigating this process with the guidance of a skilled and experienced attorney, we can help you fight back against insurance companies. You can rest assured that our legal team will remain by your side while you heal and recover. Let The Texas Law Dog go to work for you.
Compensation for Injuries Sustained in an 18-Wheeler Wreck
As experienced truck accident lawyers in Arlington, we have seen many people suffer serious injuries after these accidents. Injuries sustained by drivers involved in rig crashes are often particularly severe compared to those associated with other motor vehicle crashes since trucks are significantly larger than commuter cars and could bring far more force into a collision. Be sure to talk to an Arlington car accident lawyer.
Fortunately, injured individuals can recover compensation for such injuries if they can prove that another party is legally liable for the incident. People injured in semi-wrecks could potentially obtain compensation for physical pain, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship, medical costs, mental anguish, lost wages, and property damage.
Injured individuals should speak to a knowledgeable truck collision attorney in Arlington to learn about the exact type of damages they may be eligible to recover in their case.
Arlington Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (817) 775-5364
How Liability Is Determined in an Arlington Semi-Crash
Most trailer accidents involve such severe injuries that there is little way for an individual truck driver to cover all the costs of a verdict against them alone. In light of this, the big rig driver may not be the only liable party when an 18-wheeler collision occurs, especially if they were driving in the scope of their job.
Establishing liability on the part of both the trucker and the parent company that employed them may be the best way to recover compensation for all eligible damages. Local law recognizes that an employee’s work primarily benefits their employer, so any negligent behavior by that employee could reflect on the employer.
This policy is reflected in the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, which—in the context of commercial truck crashes—imputes a driver’s liability to the employer they are working for at the time of the incident.
Additionally, a third party, such as another driver, pedestrians, or even municipal entities responsible for maintaining the road, may also bear liability for the accident. An Arlington truck crash attorney could work to ensure that all liable parties are held accountable for their negligent actions in court or through private settlements. Doing this enables our attorneys to pursue a comprehensive and maximum claim for your losses.
Common Injuries in Truck Accidents
We have experience helping victims facing numerous financial complications recover damages for those accidents. Yet, some accidents result in serious and life-threatening injuries. The following are some of the most common accident injuries in these cases seen by our Arlington catastrophic injury lawyer.
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken and crushed bones
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue damage
- Lacerations and gaping wounds
- Amputations
- Emotional stress and mental anguish
If you are facing these injuries, we strongly recommend seeking legal guidance from an Arlington traumatic brain injury lawyer to navigate your claim. Most of these injuries require ongoing medical care and support, even a lifetime of needed healthcare.
Why Trucks Cause Serious Injury and Loss
For truck accident victims, getting accurate estimates of their losses after a serious accident is challenging. Yet, these accidents cause life-changing outcomes. Some of the key reasons for this include:
- Their heavy weight, up to 30 times more than a passenger vehicle, creates more force upon impact, resulting in higher injury claims.
- Hazardous materials pose a huge risk. If a truck causes an accident and contains hazardous chemicals or materials, the environmental risks are significant.
- Trucks need more time and room to stop. That is due to their much heavier weight and speed.
- The higher center of gravity makes it easier for a truck to roll over, often on top of another vehicle or damaging another vehicle in the process.
- Those higher trucks mean that a car can pass under the truck, which may result in more serious injuries.
We encourage you not to wait but to contact us immediately for help. No matter how serious your injuries are, we want to be sure you have fair compensation.
Common Types of Truck Accidents in Arlington
Truck accidents can happen in various ways, with each creating a different potential outcome. Understanding the type of accident you have can help you pursue fair compensation under the law. Here are some examples to consider:
- Rear-end collisions: These accidents make up one of the largest causes of whiplash and back pain.
- Underride crashes: In an underride crash, a vehicle travels under the vehicle either behind the truck or at a 90-degree angle. This causes a high rate of injury.
- Blindspot crashes: If you cannot see the truck driver’s mirrors while you are behind them or next to them, that means the driver cannot see you. You should move out of that line of sight.
- Head-on collisions: A fatigued driver can easily lose control of their vehicle, and in some cases, like head-on collisions, that leads to crossing over the centerline, creating a head-on collision.
Victims of any type of truck accident deserve fair compensation. Our legal team consistently works to protect your rights in these cases by gathering all evidence to uphold your claim and applying our proven negotiation skills. If you were hurt by a truck for any reason, even if you think you may be partially at fault, our Arlington big rig accident lawyer wants to help you.
Understanding How Common Truck Accidents Are in Texas
It is not uncommon to hear of a large truck accident on I-30 or even a rollover happening along one of the region’s truck routes along I-20. These accidents are always frightening because of the number of other drivers on the road at the same time. Add to this the number of delivery trucks on today’s residential streets, and the risk of being in an accident is incredible.
The Texas Department of Transportation provides some startling facts in its annual Texas motor vehicle crash statistics about how frequently truck accidents occur in the state. Across the state, 443 people died from truck and tractor-trailer accidents in 2023, with 318 of them being in rural areas like those outside of Arlington. When you consider how worrisome this is, you have the right to be upset if you are the victim of a preventable accident.
Truck accidents occur for many reasons, including speeding, tired drivers, a lack of maintenance and upkeep on trucks, and poor safety practices. Trucking companies, the drivers, and other parties involved in the operation of that vehicle could be at fault for the losses you have suffered. As dedicated truck accident lawyers in Arlington, it is our goal to make sure anyone who caused your losses pays for it.
Damages Auto Insurance Typically Covers
An individual’s auto policy, called a personal injury protection (PIP) liability policy, is a typical minimum-limits liability policy that covers property damage done when they cause a crash to somebody else.
It does not cover their own property damage, and then it covers bodily injury, which can cover medical expenses with minimum limits for one person, which is $30,000.00. Your injuries may be much more than this, and you could be worried about those added costs.
When you compare that to the minimum limits of the trucking policy, which is $750,000.00, the minimum car policy is not required to maintain the same limits that a trucking policy has. It is recommended that uninsured and underinsured motorists be covered. A skilled Arlington personal injury lawyer could help someone understand the details of their auto insurance in a big rig wreck case.
Filing a Claim
To file a claim, we will analyze your case thoroughly to determine any damages you may be owed. That will be due to factors such as the injuries you sustained, the level of recovery expected, and the impact on your health and quality of life. We do not settle your claim until you know what your losses may be.
Common Types of Losses Suffered by Victims After Truck Accidents
We are committed to providing you with insight into the value of your case as soon as possible, and we can often offer some insight during your initial consultation. The value of your truck accident case is dependent on how well we can substantiate the losses you have. While every case is very different, some of the factors that play a role in your expected losses include the following:
- Medical costs: Immediate, current, and long-term medical needs are some of the most significant losses associated with truck accidents. They impact many people immediately and into their future due to complicated injuries, long-term recovery, and permanent losses.
- Lost time at work: Being hurt means you may not have been able to go to work or work the same hours and earn the same amount. Some people may not be able to go back to work at all.
- Emotional suffering and pain: Pain and suffering are complex areas of loss after a truck accident, but they are also some of the most significant losses you have. Our truck accident attorney in Arlington will help you determine what these costs may be.
We can help estimate your losses by analyzing doctor statements, gathering evidence available for economic losses, and using previous cases like your own to substantiate what your losses may be. Aggressive, proven, and trusted legal representation from an Arlington motor vehicle accident lawyer is absolutely critical in maximizing your claim.
Fighting for Fair Compensation After Wrongful Death
A truck accident may cause the death of another person, and when that occurs, the immediate family may be able to seek damages for the losses. Our Arlington wrongful death lawyer may be able to offer you some peace of mind even though we cannot ease the pain. We can help you with:
- Determine all parties at fault for the losses incurred
- Factor in the financial losses your loved one had due to final medical expenses, funeral costs, and loss of wages.
- Determine if you should receive compensation if you were an established financial dependent of the person who died.
- Fight to hold those who did this accountable.
- Seek to demonstrate the impact of this loss on your future and that of your family.
Without the help of an experienced truck accident lawyer in Arlington, you may not be able to protect your rights in these complicated matters. Insurance companies do not play fair. Yet, with our experience and dedication, we can make sure they are held accountable.
How Truck Drivers Put Others at Risk
Truck drivers are highly skilled professionals, or at least the law requires them to be. When an accident happens, you may be unsure of how it could have happened. Yet, often, in our experience, it is due to factors like the following, nearly all related to preventable causes:
- Driver fatigue: Drivers working beyond the regulations set by the federal or state governments are less likely to operate their vehicles safely.
- Impairment: Unfortunately, some drivers may be operating after consuming alcohol or drugs.
- Vehicle failures: Many truck accidents occur each year due to truck breakdowns caused by tire, suspension system, technology, and brake failures. These may be the result of poor maintenance by the owner or inferior service by a technician.
- Driver distraction: It is not uncommon to see drivers eating while driving, texting, or even watching a video on their phones. Even when that phone is on the windshield, the video is a distraction that puts others at risk.
- Reckless driving: Truck drivers may break the law by speeding, making illegal lane changes, or following too closely. Reckless driving charges could carry a license implication.
When a truck driver, trucking company, or other responsible party puts other people at risk, especially other drivers, they are held accountable for the losses incurred. We strongly encourage you to turn to our Arlington truck accident attorney to learn how we can help you.
Call The Texas Law Dog Today: We Don’t Just Bark, We Bite
If you or a loved one were injured in a truck collision, a dedicated attorney could be your best chance at recovering compensation from the liable party, and with legal representation, you could focus on healing while they fight for your rights and interests in court.
Scheduling a consultation with an Arlington truck accident lawyer could be the first step towards invoking your rights and securing your financial future. Call today to start exploring your options with The Texas Law Dog.
