How can a truck accident lawyer help? Your Arlington truck accident lawyer can help investigate the crash, identify liability, gather evidence, utilize legal knowledge to strengthen your case, and work with experts.
They can also represent you to insurance companies, handle negotiations, and deal with unfair tactics.
A Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help Investigate What Caused the Crash
When it comes to a truck accident, determining the cause of the collision is key to securing maximum compensation for your injuries. Identifying the cause can help determine liability, ensuring that you and your Arlington personal injury lawyer pursue the correct party for damages.
Driver fatigue, distracted driving, speeding, and aggressive driving are all common reasons for truck accidents. They all point to the truck driver’s negligence as the primary cause. This also includes driving while intoxicated, unsafe lane changes, and other improper driving practices.
Trucking companies may also be at fault, particularly if improper training, overloaded trailers, mechanical failures, or hours-of-service violations are found. Even if the driver is found to be negligent, a truck accident lawyer can help determine if the trucking company also shares in that liability.
A Truck Accident Lawyer Can Identify Every Party That May Be Responsible
In addition to the driver and the trucking company, there may be other parties that could be held liable in a collision that a truck accident lawyer can help identify. This can include:
- Trucking companies
- Cargo loading companies
- Vehicle owners
- Maintenance contractors
- Truck manufacturers
- Parts manufacturers
- Third-party logistics companies
Your attorney’s understanding of how to determine liability is essential to building your case, navigating the legal system with ease, and allowing you to focus on recovery.
A Truck Accident Lawyer Can Gather Evidence to Strengthen Your Claim
Gathering evidence is a key responsibility of your lawyer in a truck accident case. Often, they are able to collect evidence that would be much more challenging for someone untrained in gathering it.
A trucking company may be reluctant to give up driver logs, GPS records, maintenance records, dashcam footage, or drug and alcohol testing records, but a truck accident lawyer can help navigate the legal system to obtain this evidence to build your case.
If it is a large trucking company, they may have their own legal department in addition to the insurance company working to protect them, so finding an attorney with experience handling truck accidents and a deep understanding of Texas law can be the difference between a small settlement and being fully compensated for what you are owed.
A Truck Accident Lawyer Can Use Federal Trucking Regulations to Strengthen a Claim
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has strict regulations for truck drivers to help mitigate accidents involving commercial trucks. These include:
- Hours-of-service limits
- Driver qualification standards
- Inspection requirements
- Maintenance obligations
- Cargo securement rules
- Weight restrictions
When strict deadlines are imposed on drivers, it is not uncommon for violations to occur as they try to meet high-pressure metrics. By working with a commercial truck accident lawyer in Arlington who understands these regulations, you can utilize any violations as evidence when building your case.
A Truck Accident Lawyer Can Handle Texas Insurance and Liability Disputes
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence system. This means that as long as you are 50% or less at fault for an accident, you may still be entitled to damages, minus the percentage that you are found to be responsible for (Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 33 Sec.33.001).
Due to this system, insurance companies often attempt to displace some or all of the blame onto other parties to reduce the amount that they owe. A truck accident lawyer can help by demonstrating that you are not at fault and helping negotiate a fair settlement based on who is truly liable.
Insurance companies may also offer lowball settlements, giving the reason that you are partially at fault. This is often a tactic used to coerce you into taking a smaller settlement than you owe. A knowledgeable lawyer understands these techniques and can guide you in making a decision that is best for your situation.
A Truck Accident Lawyer Can Work With Experts to Build a Stronger Case
A good lawyer understands when to call for help. While your attorney’s primary expertise is in the legal system, they may call in expert witnesses to help strengthen your case. They can help analyze the accident scene, provide safety insights, explain how this may affect you financially, and more. Common experts include:
- Accident reconstruction specialists
- Medical professionals
- Engineers
- Trucking safety experts
- Vocational experts
- Economists
Expert witness testimony is often favored in these settings because experts are viewed as unbiased professionals with a deep understanding of their particular area of expertise. A truck accident lawyer can work with these experts to secure you the highest possible compensation.
A Truck Accident Lawyer Can Protect You From Common Insurance Company Tactics
Insurance companies often utilize techniques that work against you to build their own cases. Since their primary job is to reduce spending, finding ways to shift blame is not uncommon. One red flag is when an insurance adjuster asks for a recorded statement, particularly before you’ve had a chance to consult with your attorney.
Insurance adjusters also often offer quick settlements. Often, they hope you will take the quick payout rather than fight for the amount you are truly owed. They may also attempt to delay claim handling to make you impatient.
Another common tactic they use is challenging whether medical treatment was really necessary. Additionally, they may attempt to surveil investigations to find ways to shift blame. A truck accident lawyer can help by serving as a buffer between you and the insurance company, ensuring you are treated fairly.
Recovery While Protecting Your Rights
After a truck accident, you deserve a lawyer who will fight for you. At The Texas Law Dog, we understand how insurance companies operate and how to fight them. Contact us today to set up your free consultation and let us fight for you. We don’t just bark; we bite.
