Commercial rigs are large and bulky vehicles that often carry heavy freight across state lines. Trailers could tip over, spill their freight, or simply crash into smaller vehicles and cause immense amounts of damage and severe injuries, including death.
If you or a loved one were injured due to the negligence of another, speak to a Fort Worth truck accident lawyer for help. An attorney could start working on your claim immediately by gathering evidence and speaking with doctors to catalog your injuries. You and your family should not have to deal with the fallout from your incident alone. By having a skilled personal injury lawyer working on your behalf, you could trust that your rights and interests are being managed by a professional. En Español.
How Could a Trucker Be At Fault For a Collision?
Semi operators must follow the same rules of the road as all other motorists, including speed limits, stopping at red lights, and yielding to other drivers when needed. A failure to follow the rules of the road is a leading cause of big rig crashes in the area.
Another common cause of tractor-trailer collision is distracted driving due to eating or texting while driving. Many truckers are on the road for upwards of ten hours a day, six days a week. Additionally, many people drive while fatigued. Drowsy driving is very dangerous and can decrease a trucker’s reaction times in case of an emergency. Whether an accident is the result of inattentiveness, or a violation of the law, a Fort Worth 18-wheeler wreck attorney could help injured claimants to pursue a claim for damages.
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Potential Sources of Compensation for Big Rig Wrecks
The purpose of a rig accident claim is to make the injured party whole again. This requires a full evaluation of how the incident has affected the lives of the injured party including their physical injuries. Common injuries in semi collisions include:
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Separated joints
- Back damage
- Spinal cord trauma
- Paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Death
These massive vehicles are also capable of inflicting catastrophic injuries that will require medical attention for the rest of an individual’s life.
In addition to physical losses, injured claimants could seek compensation for emotional trauma including mental anguish, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. At-fault truckers must also provide wage reimbursement to injured parties. This includes payments for current lost earnings and lost future work potential. An accomplished big rig collision attorney could help to pursue claims in Fort Worth for their full value.
Fort Worth Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (817) 775-5364
Defendants in Fort Worth Big Rig Crash Claims
Truck collision cases could involve multiple defendants depending on the context and severity of the collision. Often, the defendant is the driver of the rig at the time of the crash. However, sometimes the driver’s parent 18-wheeler company may bear some liability for the accident as well as the manufacturer of a faulty part.
Additionally, the Texas Tort Claims Act says that injured individuals could file a civil action the government for 18-wheeler wreck involving government-owned vehicles such as municipal dump trucks under these conditions: the driver was performing their job duties at the time and the driver would be liable for the wreck if they were driving a vehicle that was not owned by the government.
A qualified Fort Worth attorney could help identify all possible defendants in a trailer crash case and pursue justice.
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Federal Trucking Regulations
Tractor-trailer trucks often cross state lines in the course of completing their deliveries. They are strictly regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which places a series of rules on the operation and maintenance of these vehicles. Failing to follow regulations on regular maintenance, weighing standards, securing of freight, maximum hours of driving allowed, and logging of various statistics could result in hefty fines and may increase the amount of liability placed on the driver for an accident. For example, a driver who has not correctly logged their driving hours may be held liable if they were over the recommended limit.
Alternatively, improperly maintained or improperly manufactured parts may place more liability for the collision at the feet of the driver’s employing company or the vehicle’s manufacturer, respectively. A knowledgeable lawyer in Fort Worth with experience in big rig accident claims may be able to find evidence of these violations to prove negligence in court.
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When is the Deadline to File an 18-Wheeler Accident Claim?
All claims like this for compensation are subject to the State’s statute of limitations. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003 gives injured parties only two years after the date of the collision to demand payments for their losses. This applies whether a plaintiff is seeking payments through an insurance settlement or though a full trial in civil court. If the claim is not filed within the deadline, the injured party may be ineligible to recover compensation for damages. An 18-wheeler crash attorney in Fort Worth could help to ensure that Forth Worth plaintiffs meet this strict time limit.
Contact a Fort Worth Truck Accident Attorney Today
Injuries from trucking crashes could be devastating, leading to paralysis, permanent disfigurement, burns, broken bones, severe head trauma road rash, and more. Injured individuals have a right to seek compensation for damages such as pain and suffering medical bills, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and more.
If you are injured in a rig wreck, there is hope. By working with an experienced Fort Worth truck accident lawyer, you may be able to seek compensation from the parties responsible for your injuries. Speak to a seasoned lawyer today to begin your journey toward the compensation you deserve.
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