Even without a trailer attached, semi-truck cabs weigh thousands of pounds more than commuter cars and take up much more space on the road, and 18-wheelers with fully loaded trailers attached can weigh up to 80,000 pounds under federal law. Suffice to say, any traffic accident involving a commercial truck almost always has devastating consequences for everyone involved.
Filing suit after a serious truck wreck can be essential to protecting your long-term financial prospects, and a seasoned personal injury attorney’s assistance could be invaluable to the success of your case. Let a Houston truck accident lawyer help ensure your lawsuit or settlement demand accounts for every past and future consequence of your injuries.
Types of Truck Accidents
Not all truck accidents happen the same way—some of the most common types include:
- Rollover accidents, in which the truck flips onto its side, skidding out of control because the trucker was driving negligently, such as speeding, distracted driving, or a defective tire blowout
- Rear-end collisions caused by negligent driving, tailgating, or inexperience
- Head-on collisions, which occur when the trucker drifts into the oncoming lane because of exhaustion, impaired driving, or loss of control
- Jackknife wrecks, which occur when the truck trailer continues to slide forward after improper braking or taking turns too quickly
- T-bone or side-impact wrecks, which usually occur at intersections when a trucker fails to yield or runs a red light or stop sign
- Sideswipe accidents, which usually occur when a trucker fails to see a motorist driving next to them during a lane merge
- Wide right turns that imperil motorists in adjacent lanes
To discuss the type of truck accident you were injured in and the compensation that you may be entitled to, call KGS Law PLLC now, and let a Houston lawyer get to work for you.
What to Do After a Truck Wreck
Immediately after you are involved in a truck wreck, contact or, if you cannot, ask a witness to contact the police and emergency medical services to stabilize your injuries. Houston police are trained to document your accident after interviewing you, the truck driver, and any witnesses. Exchange relevant information with those at the scene, and when you are able, assemble what you collect and create a file to consolidate the information for your attorney. Finally, contact KGS Law PLLC to learn how our experienced Houston attorneys focus on your health while helping you secure the maximum amount of compensation available in your 18-wheeler crash case.
Recovering Comprehensively for Truck Crash-Related Losses
Because of their extraordinary size and weight, tractor-trailers have a much greater potential to cause lasting harm when they collide with smaller commuter cars. Truck crash victims are sometimes fortunate if they only sustain painful injuries like broken bones, ligament tears, and lacerations that will ultimately heal on their own with time and proper care, whereas more serious trucking accidents can cause permanent harm in the form of brain or spinal trauma, internal organ damage, crushing injuries, and/or limb amputation.
The unique severity of injuries that 18-wheeler collisions can cause means that ensuing civil claims must typically account for both past and future losses stemming from the accident, including both economic and non-economic damages. Losses that could be recovered in a successful truck accident case include:
- Emergency medical bills
- Future medical, rehabilitative, and/or home modification costs
- Physical pain from injuries
- Permanent disfigurement
- Short-term income losses
- Lost future earning capacity
- Emotional/psychological trauma
- Lost enjoyment of life
A well-versed attorney serving the Houston area could clarify what losses might be compensable in a particular semi-truck collision case during an initial consultation.
Commercial Truck Claims
Trucking companies must carry a minimum of liability insurance, according to the United States Code of Federal Regulations § 387.9. The amount also depends on whether the truck travels inside Texas or to other states, and it can rise significantly if the cargo is hazardous. The minimum is $750,000 and up to $5 million in liability.
Although our Houston attorneys consider an insurance settlement, many big rig collision claims are of higher value because of the severity of injuries trucks can inflict, which can impact you for a lifetime. We look at claims to determine if the driver, trucking company, or manufacturer acted negligently. These can include violations of trucking safety regulations, such as a trucker who drives excessive hours and causes an accident after falling asleep at the wheel, or the company that offered a bonus for the trucker to do so. A tire manufacturer may be at fault if a defective tire blows out.
Possible Obstacles to a Successful 18-Wheeler Collision Claim
One of the most complicated elements of truck accident litigation is often figuring out who bears fault for a plaintiff’s injuries. Many commercial trucking collisions stem from a truck driver or their employer acting irresponsibly. Specifically, even if a wreck stems directly from a truck driver’s misconduct, their employer could bear vicarious liability for their employee’s negligence or even be directly liable for encouraging or forcing employees to break federal trucking laws in order to save time and money.
In cases where a semi-truck driver or their employer attempts to shift blame onto the claimant, it will be necessary to prove that the plaintiff does not bear any fault for their own injuries. Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §§33.001 and 33.012 prohibit anyone who bears over 50 percent of the total blame for their injuries from recovering compensation and otherwise allow courts to reduce the value of a partially liable claimant’s compensatory award in proportion to their assigned percentage of fault.
Finally, TX Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003 generally gives prospective plaintiffs only two years after an 18-wheeler accident to file a civil claim for damages, regardless of how severe or long-lasting their injuries may be. Support from a seasoned truck crash lawyer in Houston could make it much easier to understand and overcome these potential legal roadblocks.
What Sets KGS Law PLLC Apart
Many large law firms treat clients like numbers, shuttling you through without caring about you or what you are going through. At KGS Law PLLC, our first concern is your health and well-being. And although our second concern is to get you the compensation you need to maintain your health, we care about your experience and legal journey.
We negotiate for the best settlement possible, and if that is not fruitful, we litigate as if you are family because we want the best possible outcome for you. You can choose a Houston tractor-trailer wreck lawyer who assigns you a number, or you can choose KGS Law PLLC, where lawyers know your name and treat you with dignity and respect.
Let a Houston Truck Accident Attorney Help in Your Case
Commercial truck accidents are scary, and the event can be traumatizing. We have handled numerous 18-wheeler collisions. In each case, we made sure our client got what they deserved. These are dangerous accidents, so you should be compensated accordingly. Because semi-trucks are so heavy, they can cause a ton of destruction – your body, for one. You could fall into a medical nightmare.
Regardless, we will be by your side the whole time. Often, claimants worry about the costs of their medical bills. Although it is a cause for concern, let your capable Houston truck accident lawyer at KGS Law Group do the worrying for you. Your health comes first; let us take care of the medical bills. Our priority is your health.
Whether you suffered only minor soft tissue injuries, such as back or neck soreness, or major injuries such as broken bones or fractures, we want to make sure you get the treatment you need. Often, there are a lot of undiagnosed injuries that can affect you later in life.
We will make sure you get the treatment needed to ensure you get a full recovery, along with full compensation. Call today for a private consultation.