Grapevine Big Rig Accident Lawyer
Accidents involving big rigs cause victims to have big problems. The physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial fallout are overwhelming, but an experienced Grapevine truck accident lawyer can help. The team at the Texas Law Dog is dedicated to fighting for injury victims, upholding their rights, and getting them substantial compensation for their losses.
Our firm offers free case reviews, so there is no financial risk in reaching out. Once we take your case, you can trust a prominent Grapevine big rig accident lawyer to manage all legalities and details and deliver the most favorable resolution possible.
Causes of Big-Rig Accidents
Big rig accidents happen for a variety of reasons. Finding the cause of the accident is a critical step in a successful accident claim. Your personal injury lawyer in Grapevine will investigate the incident with extreme care to reveal the cause and identify the negligent party.
Driver Error
Drivers can make errors, and when they make them behind the wheel of a big rig, those errors have dire consequences. Zoning out and failing to notice brake lights activated ahead can lead to a rear-end crash. Trucks need more stopping distance, so even a split-second zone-out can cause an accident.
Truck drivers cover long distances and drive long hours. Though the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has strict rules for hours of service and mandatory rest, truckers may still drive while fatigued. Tired drivers have slower reaction times, diminished awareness of road hazards, and are generally less alert.
Truck Malfunction
Big rigs are complex vehicles made up of several complicated systems. Brake or steering system malfunctions, tire blowouts, or defects in any of the truck’s parts can have deadly consequences. Truck drivers, companies, mechanics, inspectors, and manufacturers all have roles in ensuring a truck’s proper functioning.
Loss of Control
Because of their size, weight, and tractor-trailer combination, big rigs are harder to control and maneuver. On turns or road inclines and declines, trucks can easily get off balance or pick up too much speed, causing a loss of control.
Big rigs also have larger blind spots, making it harder for drivers to see nearby vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians.
Improper Loading
A big rig’s cargo must be properly loaded and securely. Overloaded trucks can strain a truck’s braking system. Unbalanced cargo, or cargo that shifts during travel can lead to jackknife or roller accidents.
FMCSA regulations govern all aspects of truck ownership, maintenance, and operation. Your knowledgeable Grapevine big rig accident attorney has a full understanding of these regulations and will expose any violations that contributed to your accident.
The Texas Law Dog has the knowledge, experience, and resources to get to the bottom of your accident and hold the negligent party accountable.
Particular Dangers of Big Rig Accidents
While any motor-vehicle accident presents a significant danger, big rig accidents come with their own set of unique hazards. These dangers increase the potential devastation victims experience.
Data from the National Safety Council (NSC) shows that deadly truck accidents have seen a 49% increase over a recent 10-year period.
Dangerous Cargo
Big rigs often haul dangerous cargo. Trailers may be filled with toxic or flammable chemicals. Upon crashing, this cargo can ignite, causing explosions and fires, or spill, creating slick pavement and releasing toxic fumes into the air.
Massive Size
The tremendous size and weight of big rigs also add to their danger. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), trucks weigh 20 to 30 times more than the average passenger vehicle. It is easy to see how smaller vehicles and their occupants face the possibility of extreme damage when involved in a wreck with a big rig.
Pursue Maximum Damages for a Big-Rig Accident
Big rig accidents demand major compensation. To get that compensation, you need evidence, and the team at the Texas Law Dog will work tirelessly to gather it.
We will speak to witnesses, secure data from the truck’s “black box,” access traffic or security camera footage, gather physical evidence from the vehicles involved, and dig into all other possible sources of information.
After identifying the negligent party, your attorney will file your injury claim with the court. Texas follows a two-year statute of limitations for filing injury claims, so the sooner you connect with an attorney, the better. With immediate access, your lawyer can investigate and file against the appropriate party within that deadline.
Your attorney will calculate the value of your losses, accounting for every detail, and send the demand to the at-fault party’s representatives. Often, big rig accident cases are settled through negotiations. But if the other side refuses to play fair, your accident attorney will be prepared to fight for you in court.
Damages for Big Rig Accident Cases
Victims of big rig accidents can file for damages as long as they are less than 51% to blame for the accident leading to those damages, according to Chapter 33 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
Victims eligible to file can see their compensation reduced in proportion to the smaller percentage of fault they bear, if applicable. Compensation available includes coverage for or acknowledgment of:
- Economic Losses: Medical costs, future care needs, property damage, other expenses caused by the accident, lost wages during recuperation, and lost future wages for those unable to return to work.
- Non-Economic Losses: Physical pain, disfigurement, emotional trauma, and diminished enjoyment of life.
Some big rig accident cases may allow for exemplary damages as well. Exemplary damages punish the negligent party for especially appalling behavior by incurring an additional monetary payment.
If exemplary damages are a possibility in your case, your big rig accident attorney in Grapevine will fight for the maximum amount.
Our Grapevine Big Rig Accident Attorneys Get Results
As soon as possible after your big rig accident, reach out for help from the Texas Law Dog. Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional representation and to getting you results.
Financial justice can help you recover your losses and look toward a secure future, and we will fight tirelessly to get the justice you deserve.