Truck accidents can cause a lot of suffering. If you or one of your loved ones was injured because of a truck driver’s negligence, a Grand Prairie personal injury lawyer can help you seek damages.
The Texas Law Dog has been fighting for accident victims in Texas since 2018. If you were hit by a negligent truck driver, a truck accident lawyer in Grand Prairie can help you build a strong claim and obtain a fair settlement.
What You Can Expect from a Grand Prairie Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accident cases involve large insurance companies that do not want to pay you for your losses. A Grand Prairie truck accident lawyer can help by:
- Determining who is at fault: This is the first step we take. We will verify the accuracy of the police report, pull all available evidence, and identify the parties who are responsible for your accident.
- Calculating the value of your claim: To do this, we analyze how the accident has impacted every aspect of your life, including how it has changed your relationships, your ability to work, and even your lifespan.
- Negotiating with the insurance company: Our skilled negotiators know how to get insurance companies to pay out the compensation they owe you.
- Filing a lawsuit: In some situations, we may file a lawsuit against the trucking company or another responsible party to force them to take your claim seriously.
- Fighting for you at trial: In the rare situation where your case goes to trial, our experienced trial attorneys will remain by your side and fight for you before a judge or jury.
How Much Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Cost in Grand Prairie?
The personal injury lawyers at The Texas Law Dog work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay anything up front. Instead, your lawyer takes a percentage of your settlement or verdict if your case is successful.
If you don’t recover compensation, you won’t owe any attorney fees.
Grand Prairie Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (817) 775-5364
How Much Are Most Truck Accident Settlements in Texas?
Since every case is different, there is no average truck accident settlement in Texas. Payouts can range from thousands to millions of dollars, depending on variables like:
- The cost of your current and future medical treatment
- The extent of your lost wages and lost earning capacity
- The degree of pain and suffering you experienced
- The level of negligence by the at-fault party
- Available insurance coverage
What Types of Damages Can You Recover?
Truck accident victims in Texas may be entitled to several types of compensation, depending on the circumstances of the crash. Common types of economic and non-economic damages include:
- Medical expenses: You can recover compensation for emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and other medical bills related to the accident.
- Lost wages: You can recover income you lost while you were unable to work due to your injuries.
- Loss of earning capacity: You can recover compensation if your ability to earn a living is permanently compromised.
- Pain and suffering: You can recover damages for physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident.
- Property damage: You can recover the cost to repair or replace your vehicle and other damaged property.
- Punitive damages: You can recover additional compensation in cases involving gross negligence or reckless behavior from the at-fault party.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Truck Accident Lawsuits in Texas?
When you initiate a claim, our team assesses your options based on how much time is remaining in Texas’s two-year statute of limitations period, as set by Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003.
Waiting too long to file your claim can hurt your ability to recover the compensation you are entitled to. Though there are some exceptions to the statute of limitations, depending on the circumstances of your case, you may end up paying for your expenses yourself if the deadline expires.
Reach out to our personal injury attorneys as soon as possible to make sure you can recover the maximum compensation possible for your case.
Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident in Grand Prairie?
Truck drivers are generally responsible for causing truck accidents. However, there are other parties that may hold some responsibility for your losses. Potentially liable parties include:
- The truck driver: The driver may be liable if they were speeding, fatigued, distracted, or under the influence at the time of the crash.
- The trucking company: The company may be vicariously liable if it failed to train the driver properly, enforced unrealistic schedules, or violated safety regulations.
- A repair company: Vehicle maintenance providers may be liable if faulty brakes, worn tires, or mechanical failures contributed to the accident.
- The cargo loading company: Third-party loading companies may be responsible if improperly secured or overloaded cargo caused the truck to become unstable.
- Parts manufacturers: Manufacturers may be liable if defective parts (such as brakes or steering systems) played a role in the crash.
- Third-party drivers: Another motorist may share liability if their actions contributed to the accident.
A truck accident attorney in Grand Prairie can handle your liability investigation and identify who is responsible for paying your damages.
How Do You Establish Liability?
To hold the negligent party accountable and resolve your claim, you must prove that they were at fault for your accident. This typically requires establishing four legal elements:
- The at-fault party owed you a duty of care to ensure your safety.
- The at-fault party breached its duty to you by acting carelessly or recklessly.
- The at-fault party’s actions contributed to the collision, which resulted in your losses and pain and suffering.
- The at-fault party is obligated to pay for the damages they caused you.
Strong evidence is crucial to proving negligence. Our lawyers can gather accident reports, medical reports, vehicle maintenance records, driver qualification files, black box data, and, if necessary, expert testimony to establish who is at fault for your crash.
What If I’m Partially At Fault?
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means you can recover compensation for a truck crash as long as you are no more than 50% at fault for it. If you are found to be at least 51% at fault, you will be barred from recovering damages.
In addition, if you share fault, your total compensation will be reduced based on your percentage of fault. For example, if your total compensation is $100,000 and you are found to be 20% at fault, your net recovery would be $80,000.
Tips for Dealing With Insurance Companies
One of the most important things to remember as an accident victim is that the insurance company is not on your side and will do anything it can to minimize your compensation.
To accomplish this, the company may invite you to provide a recorded statement about the accident or encourage you to take their first settlement offer. If you do either, you could walk away with much less than you deserve.
After an accident, insurance companies don’t want you to get a lawyer. Avoid speaking to insurance adjusters and let our Grand Prairie truck accident lawyers handle those conversations for you. This minimizes the risk of them eliciting damaging statements or persuading you to agree to a settlement before you reach maximum medical improvement.
How Long Does It Take to Settle a Truck Accident Claim?
Truck accident claims don’t get resolved overnight. While some cases settle within a few months, others can take a year or more, especially if they go to trial.
Several factors will affect your case’s timeline, including:
- The severity of your injuries and how long your treatment takes
- Whether liability is disputed
- The complexity of available evidence
- The willingness of the insurance company to negotiate
- Whether the case goes to trial
Rushing a settlement is usually a mistake. If you settle too early, you risk accepting less than your case is worth, which is why it’s important to consult a personal injury lawyer before signing anything.
How Are Truck Accidents Different from Car Accidents?
Truck accident cases often present legal challenges that most car accident cases don’t. These may include:
- Multiple liable parties: Truck accidents often involve employers, contractors, and third-party companies.
- Federal regulations: The trucking industry is governed by strict federal rules known as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, which can play a role in your case.
- Higher insurance coverage: Commercial trucks carry larger policies, which raises the stakes of personal injury cases.
- More severe injuries: Due to the size and weight of trucks, the injuries accident victims suffer are typically more serious.
- More evidence to analyze: Data from electronic logging devices, maintenance records, and inspection reports must be reviewed.
Because of these differences, handling a truck accident claim requires a more strategic approach.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Grand Prairie
Some of the most common causes of preventable truck accidents in Grand Prairie include:
- Drowsy driving: Truckers who violate the hours of service regulations enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) can cause accidents.
- Distracted driving: Truck drivers who are texting, watching podcasts, eating, or engaging with other distractions may crash into passenger vehicles.
- Intoxication: No level of drug or alcohol intoxication is acceptable for truck drivers, and any history of such abuse is something trucking companies can be held accountable for.
- Vehicle breakdowns: Braking failures, tire blowouts, and other mechanical failures often lead to truckers losing control.
- Cargo mishaps: Cargo that shifts or becomes loose can cause the truck to shift or become difficult to control.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Truck crashes often cause catastrophic injuries. Some of the most common truck accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries: These can lead to long-term cognitive and neurological issues.
- Spinal cord injuries: These may result in partial or complete paralysis.
- Broken bones: High-impact collisions frequently cause fractures that require surgery and physical therapy.
- Internal injuries: Damage to internal organs can be life-threatening.
- Burn injuries: Fires or explosions can occur in severe crashes.
- Soft tissue injuries: While sometimes less visible, these injuries can still cause chronic pain and mobility issues.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Grand Prairie
What you do after a truck accident can impact both your health and your legal claim. It’s important to:
- Call 911 immediately: Report the accident and request medical assistance right away. A police report will be important for your claim.
- Document the scene: If you are able, take photos of the vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
- Collect information: Trade contact and insurance details with the truck driver and anyone else involved in the crash. If any witnesses are present, ask for their contact information too.
- Seek medical attention: Get evaluated by a doctor to rule out hidden injuries and create a record of your condition.
- Avoid admitting fault: Don’t discuss fault with anyone at the scene or any insurance adjusters. Any statements you make could be used against you later.
- Consult a lawyer: Reach out to our personal injury attorneys to get help with your claim.
Get in Touch with a Grand Prairie Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you or a member of your family was injured in a truck wreck, there is no time to waste. After you seek treatment for your injuries, a Grand Prairie truck accident attorney from The Texas Law Dog can explain your options, help you file a claim, and pursue the compensation you are entitled to.
Call our offices today to schedule a free case review with our experienced team.
