\Truck accidents happen at an alarming rate in and around Fort Worth. When you suffer an injury in an accident, recovering fair compensation for your losses can be critical for rebuilding your life.
The best way to put yourself in the best position when pursuing a legal claim is by hiring a knowledgeable Fort Worth truck accident lawyer.
At The Texas Law Dog, our Fort Worth personal injury lawyers are Texas natives who fight for victims’ rights to recover damages from distracted or inexperienced truck drivers. We know the challenges you face after suffering damages in a truck accident and are committed to holding liable parties accountable.
Put Our Fort Worth Truck Accident Lawyers to Work for You
Commercial rigs are large and bulky vehicles that often carry heavy freight across state lines. Trailers can tip over, spill their freight, or simply crash into smaller vehicles and cause immense amounts of damage and severe injuries, including death. Victims include families, people going to work, and even students on school buses.
If you or a loved one were injured due to the negligence of another, speak to us today for help. An experienced Fort Worth truck accident attorney can 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 injuries alone.
Do not settle with the insurance company before you hire an attorney who has your best interests at heart. By having a skilled personal injury attorney working on your behalf, you can trust that a professional is managing your rights and interests.
How a Trucker Could be at Fault for a Collision
Numerous parties could be responsible for a truck accident. Semi–truck 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. Failure to follow these rules is a leading cause of big rig crashes in the area.
Another common cause of truck accidents is distracted driving due to eating or using a cellphone while driving. Many truckers are on the road for upwards of ten hours a day, six days a week, and may be 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, an attorney can help you pursue a claim for damages.
With our experience, we can uncover all of the evidence to build a strong case for you, proving who was at fault and what they owe you. Do not settle your case without a truck accident attorney in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (817) 775-5364
Other Parties Who May Be Responsible for a Truck Accident
While truck drivers maintain much of the responsibility for injuries due to reckless driving or distraction, other parties could also be held liable for your losses. Our team will examine all evidence available and investigate your claim thoroughly to uncover all details of the case. Other parties that could be responsible include:
- The trucking company: In situations where the driver is not meeting compliance requirements for time off or breaks, or when the trucking company does not vet the driver’s experience and credentials, they could be held responsible.
- The truck manufacturer: Defective design or manufacturing of the truck may cause an accident. In those situations, the manufacturer could be responsible.
- Cargo loading company: In situations where the accident occurred due to spilled cargo or if the truck jackknifed because of a shift in cargo, the third-party company that loaded the vehicle could be held responsible.
- The government: In situations where poor road conditions or a lack of lighting cause an accident of this magnitude, the government body responsible for road maintenance in the area could be held partially responsible for the losses.
- A maintenance company: When a truck accident occurs as a result of a maintenance company’s failure to meet requirements or ensure the vehicle is properly ready for the road, that company could be held liable for the losses suffered.
- Other drivers: In some cases, other drivers could be partially to blame for the accident as well. Their insurance may be held responsible for some of your losses.
After a truck accident in which you have suffered serious injuries and losses, you deserve compensation. With our help, you will know who is responsible for what happened to you and who should be paying for your losses.
Set up a free consultation with the legal team at The Texas Law Dog today to find out how we can help you with your truck accident claim.
Damages You Can Recover Following a Commercial Truck Accident
After a commercial truck accident in which you suffered injuries, you will likely be eligible to pursue a wide variety of damages. The specific damages available after a truck accident vary from case to case, depending on the details of the accident and the injuries incurred. Determining all the damages that apply is critical for recovering the full value of your losses.
Fortunately, an experienced truck accident attorney serving Fort Worth can help you identify all the damages you are eligible to pursue and build a case to fight for fair compensation for your losses.
Economic Damages
After a truck accident, you will likely be faced with a variety of expenses and may face challenges to earning money to cover these costs, as well as your everyday expenses. Fortunately, economic damages can compensate you for the financial impact an accident has on your life.
After a crash, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for projected future losses in addition to the losses you have already incurred. Some of the most commonly available economic damages in commercial truck accident cases include:
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Medical bills
- Future medical costs
- Necessary modifications to your home or vehicle to accommodate a disability
Non-Economic Damages
In addition to direct financial losses, you will likely be facing a variety of issues that impact your quality of life. Non-economic damages account for the intangible losses you incur after a crash.
Because the majority of these damages can have a profound impact on your life, these damages often make up the bulk of the compensation you can recover.
Some of the non-economic damages most often available after commercial truck accidents include:
- Mental anguish
- Permanent disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
Punitive Damages
In a small percentage of truck accident cases, punitive damages are also awarded. Unlike the compensatory damages resulting from your accident, punitive damages are not meant to compensate you for losses you have incurred. Instead, these damages are awarded as a means of punishing the at–fault party and discouraging similar behavior in the future.
For punitive damages to apply to your case, the liable party must have acted with the intention of causing harm or been criminally negligent.
Federal Trucking Regulations
Tractor-trailer trucks often cross state lines in the course of completing their deliveries. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) strictly regulates them. This organization sets a series of rules for the operation and maintenance of these vehicles.
The regulations in place require the following:
- Regular maintenance of trucks
- Weighing standards for transporting freight
- Properly secured freight
- Strict limitations on the number of hours of driving allowed
- Logging of various statistics
Failing to follow these federal trucking regulations 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. Know your rights before you file a claim.
Outlining the Deadline to File an 18-Wheeler Accident Claim
All compensation claims for commercial truck accidents 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 through a full trial in civil court.
If the claim is not filed before the deadline, the injured party may be ineligible to recover compensation for damages. An 18-wheeler crash attorney in Fort Worth can help ensure that all of the required paperwork for your claim is completed correctly and filed in advance of the filing deadline.
Our Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys Work on a Contingency Fee Basis
Accident victims often fail to secure legal representation to help them recover compensation after an accident due to worries that they can not afford to hire a lawyer. However, the truth is that anyone can afford legal representation when pursuing compensation after a crash.
At The Texas Law Dog, our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay us anything for our services unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
Even if we are successful in getting you money for your losses, you still won’t have to pay anything out of pocket. Our fee is taken directly from the compensation you recover at a fixed percentage.
We are dedicated to providing legal services to all accident victims, regardless of their financial situation. On average, those who hire an attorney end up recovering significantly more than those who attempt to represent themselves, even after the lawyer’s fee has been deducted.
Taking on a Large Commercial Trucking Company and Its Insurance Provider
Taking on a large trucking company can be intimidating. These companies tend to have teams of lawyers on retainer and insurance companies that are skilled at exploiting the vulnerabilities of accident victims to help them minimize the amount of money they have to pay out for claims. When interacting with the company’s insurer or legal team, it is best to proceed with caution.
You should never give a statement or accept a settlement offer until you have hired an experienced lawyer to help with your case. In fact, it is best to decline to engage with lawyers or insurers directly.
Instead, secure the services of an experienced attorney who will act as a buffer between you and the trucking company’s representatives.
Once you have a lawyer, all communication will go through them. By forcing the company’s insurers and attorneys to work through your lawyer, you will strip them of their ability to take advantage of your inexperience. With a more level playing field, you are far more likely to recover fair compensation for your losses.
Deciding Whether to Settle Your Case or Go to Court
One of the biggest questions accident victims have is whether they should accept a settlement offer or take their case to court. The truth is that most truck accident cases are resolved through settlements, as settling is usually in the best interest of everyone involved. However, this does not mean that you should accept the first settlement offer you receive.
Often, insurers will extend settlement offers that fall far below the full value of your claim. Their aim is to convince you to accept the deal before you speak with a lawyer or understand the full scope of your losses. Be sure to have your Fort Worth truck accident attorney review any offer before accepting a deal.
Furthermore, while your case is likely to settle, we prepare every case as though it is going to court. Not only does this ensure that we are ready for trial if the liable party is unwilling to agree to a fair settlement deal, but it also gives us leverage during settlement negotiations.
Common Injuries in Commercial Truck Accident Cases
The purpose of a big 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–truck 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.
And 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.
Contact Our Truck Accident Attorneys in Fort Worth Today
If you are injured in a collision with a large truck, 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.
At The Texas Law Dog, we understand the challenges you face and are ready to support you in your pursuit of compensation.
Contact us today to schedule a free, no–obligation case review with a member of our legal team and begin your journey toward the compensation you deserve. We are ready to answer any questions you may have and advise you of your legal options.
