Trucking accidents happen in Austin for many reasons, often causing victims serious physical and emotional trauma. These events can also have long-lasting implications on a victim’s life, as well as the lives of their family members. If you’ve been the victim of one of these tragic accidents and are facing an uncertain future, turn to a truck accident lawyer in Austin with an established track record of results.
The Texas Law Dog fights for victims. Our Austin personal injury lawyer provides legal representation so you can hold trucking companies accountable for their actions. Our team also uses our prior experience in the insurance industry to help you maximize your results and minimize disputes. Set up a free consultation with us today. We don’t just bark. We bite.
Why Trust Our Attorney With Your Legal Battle
For years, as truck accident attorneys in Austin, we have represented numerous clients who sustained serious injuries and losses due to the negligence of truck companies, drivers, and cargo agencies. We have represented victims with catastrophic injuries fighting for compensation just to meet their goals. We get results.
As a former insurance company owner, our attorney, Matthew E. Aulsbrook, fully understands what victims face when seeking fair compensation for their losses. We have built a reputation for getting results for victims suffering serious injuries through no fault of their own. Our dedicated attorneys are difference makers in the lives of victims.
When you hire our Austin truck accident attorneys, you gain a legal team ready to fight for you. Take a moment to read our hundreds of positive Google reviews, learn about our previous case results, and explore the services we offer. Then, set up a free consultation. You pay us nothing out-of-pocket for our legal services.
The Dangers of 18-Wheeler Trucks and How They Contribute to Accidents in Austin
18-wheeler trucks pose many dangers to motorists on the road, especially in an accident. These large trucks are not able to move as easily as cars due to their immense size and inability to stop or maneuver quickly. They also weigh thousands of pounds, which can cause catastrophic or fatal injuries to motorists when combined with the force of impact during an accident.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), large trucks contribute to 730 deaths in Texas. Texas ranks the highest for states with the most deaths from truck accidents. Motorists are generally affected the most since they have less to shield and buffer them from the impact of a truck. As the bigger vehicle, truck drivers usually sustain less harm and damage in a collision.
Common factors that contribute to 18-wheeler and other truck accidents are distraction, fatigue, speeding, road and weather conditions, poor training or lack of experience, mechanical issues, and more. More often than not, these crashes are preventable and the result of negligence. That is why it’s beneficial to hire a truck accident lawyer in Austin who is skilled at holding negligent parties accountable.
Austin Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (817) 775-5364
Common Injuries that Result from Truck Accidents
No matter what direction a truck accident occurs from, these collisions can cause severe injuries due to the significant size difference between the vehicles. Victims may face a long road to recovery, or they may experience life-altering conditions that require more permanent care. Some common injuries in 18-wheeler accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding and/or organ damage
- Rib and chest injuries
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Nerve damage
- Burn injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Death
If you’ve suffered injuries in a commercial truck accident, you should receive immediate medical care. Deep tissue injuries, internal damage, or brain injuries are not always going to be noticeable right away, so receiving a thorough examination and prompt treatment is essential.
Truck Accidents Are Complex Legal Matters
Hire an Austin truck accident attorney if you’re involved in a crash with a tractor-trailer, delivery truck, box truck, or any other large vehicle. Seeking legal representation provides you with the legal knowledge and support you need to show that a large company is at fault and determine the value of the losses you incurred. There are several unique aspects of truck accidents that add to the complexity of the case:
- Your injuries may be severe. Large trucks traveling down Interstate 35 at 70 miles per hour can cause life-threatening injuries with catastrophic, lasting losses. You need fair compensation just to meet your ongoing needs.
- Trucking companies have a lot at stake. A truck company will do everything it can to force you to take some of the blame, mainly due to regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. If they are found at fault, the risk of serious fines is very high.
- Truck insurance companies want you to settle for less. Even when they admit fault, you can expect an insurance company to minimize the amount of compensation paid to you.
Your Austin truck accident lawyer aims to hold all those at fault accountable for your losses. We bring the resources to your fight, building a claim that comprehensively addresses each of your losses. If you were hurt, we want to make them pay.
Parties Who Can Be Held Responsible for Your Truck Accident and Injuries
Another critical service our lawyers provide is a comprehensive review of your case to pinpoint all parties at fault. You may think the truck driver is the only one who should pay for your losses, but that is rarely the full picture. This adds to the complexity of truck accident cases and requires a thorough investigation. Consider the following parties who may be at fault for truck accidents in Austin:
- Truck drivers: Truck drivers are responsible for maintaining focus on the roadway and not operating their vehicle if they are distracted or fatigued. They are also supposed to remain alert and cautious so they can react accordingly on the road.
- Trucking companies: Trucking companies are responsible for putting excess pressure on drivers, not enforcing regulations, and poorly training their drivers.
- Mechanics: Beyond the truck driver’s maintenance responsibility, negligent mechanics, truck manufacturers, or parts manufacturers can contribute to accidents when they carelessly fix mechanical issues or distribute defective trucks or parts.
- Cargo companies: Many trucks are loaded by a third-party cargo company, which must take care to minimize risks. If they didn’t follow safety procedures or balance and secure cargo properly, they could be at fault for your injuries in the event of an accident.
Other parties could also hold some responsibility. That might include third-party drivers on the road, the technician who failed to properly secure a tire, or the city for failing to maintain the streets. We seek a full understanding of your losses so we can hold all parties accountable.
Establishing Liability in Commercial Truck Accidents in Austin
Once your lawyer determines which party is at fault for your accident, they can begin building your case to establish that party’s liability. This must be completed before you can seek damages from the at-fault party. Establishing liability in truck accidents requires strong evidence that shows the other party’s involvement in the accident. Your lawyer will demonstrate their contribution by showing the following:
- Duty of care: All trucking personnel are responsible for following regulations and safe processes and procedures so they do not cause harm to other motorists.
- Breach of duty: Trucking personnel who are careless or reckless in executing their duties can put others at risk, which is in direct opposition to their responsibilities.
- Causation: The negligent trucking personnel’s actions were the cause of the accident that then directly resulted in your injuries and other losses.
- Damages: As an at-fault party, the applicable party must pay out for the damages that you sustained so you can recover your losses.
Once liability has been established, you are one step closer to recovering your losses. Truck companies may still try to offer you less than your case is worth so they can pay out as little as possible. However, your lawyer will negotiate for you and make sure that the value of your case is honored. They will fight to make sure that truck companies take full financial responsibility for the harm they caused you.
How Shared Fault Can Impact Liability in a Truck Accident Case
Some commercial truck accidents are the result of shared fault with a motorist. For example, if a car cuts a truck off while changing lanes, but the truck driver is speeding, then both drivers contribute to the resulting crash. When this happens, both parties’ contributions to the accident must be evaluated and assigned a percentage of fault.
According to the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, parties who are at fault for 50% or less of an accident can recover compensation that has been reduced by their percentage of fault. Therefore, if you were 15% at fault, you would only recover 85% of your losses. Conversely, parties who were 51% or more at fault cannot recover any of the losses they suffered and must absorb the costs themselves.
We Fight for All of the Losses You Have
Victims of truck accidents face serious injuries and losses, often so much so that they spend years of their lives trying to recover. Our lawyer will investigate your case from the ground up, speaking to medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists, and even your employer to best understand the implications of these injuries. Damages you may be owed in truck accident settlements include:
- Medical expenses: Current and future medical costs related to your injuries, including ongoing needs and future needs
- Lost wages: This includes all forms of income you did not receive because you could not work
- Loss of earning capacity: If you cannot go back to work for any reason, we aim to hold them accountable for your diminished earning capacity
- Property damage: Covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle from the damage it sustained, as well as any personal belongings that may have been in the car and damaged
- Funeral and burial expenses: If a loved one dies because of the injuries they sustain in a truck accident, we can secure compensation to cover the costs of final arrangements
- Pain and suffering: For the pain and injury you suffered at the time of the accident and into the future
- Emotional trauma: This includes all losses related to post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety, including counseling and rehabilitation
- Lost quality of life: Provides resources when your injuries keep you from having the same quality of life or enjoying the same activities that you did before the accident.
With this information, our lawyer will build a comprehensive claim on your behalf. We will then negotiate aggressively with all parties responsible to recover fair compensation. If the insurance company fails to pay you, we will file a lawsuit against them to force them to pay. Even if we don’t need to go to court, we always prepare our cases with this possibility in mind so we are equipped to pivot.
Talk to an Austin Truck Accident Lawyer About the Statute of Limitations for Recovering Damages
Truck accident claims are confined to a limited period of time. According to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, claims must be resolved within two years of the accident.
This encourages victims to resolve their cases in a timely manner. Early action is important, though, as truck accident cases can be lengthy, and having enough time is essential.
Schedule a Free Consultation with The Texas Law Dog Now
Put The Texas Law Dog to work on your case. Let us investigate, build your claim, and maximize your compensation recovery using the law to the fullest level possible.
We put your needs first and make sure that you have a strong case that secures maximum compensation for your losses. Call our truck accident attorney in Austin now to set up a free consultation. You pay us nothing out of pocket for our services.
