Houston Truck Accident Lawyer

Texas has the highest number of fatal truck accidents in the nation.

How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Texas?

Laws and Regulations to Know

Federal and state laws have been put into place to help keep our roads safe, but truck accidents still occur. Federal laws regulating the trucking industry can be found in Title 49 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. Title 49 is an extensive guide to rules and regulations set by the Department of Transportation. The regulations put in place are designed to keep drivers, motorists, and pedestrians safe. They establish standards for:

• Driver qualifications – This includes special licenses for commercial trucks and age requirements to operate a commercial truck.
• Vehicle repairs and maintenance – These laws are designed to serve as a preventative measure and to catch potential issues prior to an accident occurring.
• Minimum insurance coverage – Policies for trucks are usually significantly higher than those for regular vehicles.
• Weigh stations – The government has put into place weigh station laws to prevent overloaded trucks from driving. Overloaded trucks have massive potential to cause serious accidents.
• Compliance reviews – Trucking companies are subject to compliance reviews of their vehicles and facilities. These reviews occur regularly and are designed to ensure that standards for safety are being met. Companies can face fines and penalties for violations discovered during these reviews.

In addition to the federal laws regulating the trucking industry in our country, each state has its own laws, and Texas is no exception. For many commercial trucks in the state of Texas, in addition to having a commercial driver’s license, drivers must pass a drug test prior to beginning work and must also submit to random drug testing. Drivers must also be 21 years of age to operate many trucks including a semi-truck, must be able to safely load cargo, and must comply with inspection laws mandated on both the federal and state levels.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Texas

Truck drivers and trucking companies are often at fault for truck accidents through negligence, dangerous driving practices, and issues caused by unsafe vehicles. Below are some common causes of truck accidents:

• Distracted driving – This can encompass things like texting & driving, eating & driving, daydreaming & driving, and fiddling with a GPS or radio while driving. These activities pose an incredible threat to the safety of Texas roads.
• Driver fatigue – This is a leading cause of commercial truck accidents. Drivers who are overworked, overwhelmed, fatigued, or tired are at risk for missing traffic signals, exercising poor judgement, experiencing delayed reaction times, suffering from lack of concentration, and falling asleep at the wheel. While truck drivers are certainly to blame when accidents occur due to driver fatigue, trucking companies are often at fault as well due to unrealistic scheduling demands and penalties for late deliveries.
• Driving under the influence – The consequences of driving under the influence while operating a large truck can be disastrous and devastating. While under the influence, truck drivers are at increased risk for making poor decisions, swerving, driving unsafely, disregarding speed limits, experiencing delayed reaction times, missing traffic signals, etc.
• Overloaded trucks – If a truckload is too heavy, the driver may have a more difficult time driving or controlling the vehicle.
• Poor maintenance –Trucking companies and drivers are responsible for ongoing truck maintenance and put the public at danger when they neglect this responsibility.

Common Injuries

Truck accidents can cause serious injuries and immense suffering. Trucks are large, powerful vehicles and can cause multi-vehicle accidents. They are also strong enough to cause massive, devastating injuries. Below are a few of the most common injuries suffered by truck accident victims:

• Brain and spinal cord injuries – These injuries can be life-changing and traumatic. They include paralysis & cognitive issues which often require long hospital, rehabilitation, and long-term, expensive home care. Unfortunately, some victims are never the same after suffering a brain or spinal cord injury.
• Broken bones – The power and impact of a truck accident often causes broken bones and fractures which can require long recovery periods, physical therapy, and debilitating chronic pain.
• Internal bleeding – The impact of a truck accident can cause life-threatening internal bleeding and organ damage. Prompt medical care after a truck accident is of the utmost importance as internal bleeding injuries are not always immediately evident.

Texas Trucks

For Texas drivers, large trucks are a regular sight on our highways, bridges, and roads. Below are examples of the trucks that are commonly involved in accidents within our state:

• Semi-trucks – These can also be referred to as 18-wheelers and are essential to the economies of our state and country, as they transport about 68% of the goods & products within the United States. They often carry heavy loads, thus posing an immense threat even in minor accidents. Additionally, the size of these vehicles means poor visibility for their drivers and multiple blind spots.
• Tanker trucks – These are some of the most dangerous vehicles on our roads because they carry toxic, flammable liquids & gasses in their cylindrical tanks.
• Delivery trucks – While these are often smaller than the other trucks on this list, they are still dangerous especially when driving in residential areas.

Our Commitment to You

We believe that you deserve to be compensated for the suffering you have experienced at the hands of a reckless, careless, or negligent driver or trucking company. We are qualified to stand up for you and will work tirelessly to recover fair compensation on your behalf. We want to support you in building the best case possible so that you can focus on healing.

Recovering Damages

Truck accidents can lead to serious injuries and death. Our legal team is committed to fighting for the maximum compensation to which you are entitled so that you may begin to move forward. Rest assured that we will work tirelessly on your behalf so that you can focus on your recovery and health.

Below are some examples of damages that we can fight to recover:

• Medical expenses – This includes hospital bills, doctor’s visit bills, rehabilitation & physical therapy, and projected future medical costs stemming from the accident.
• Lost wages and income – We will fight to get you compensation for current lost income as well as any diminished earning capacity you may face due to your injuries.
• Property damage – This refers to any damage to your vehicle or other property.
• Funeral and burial expenses – In the case of death, we will recover expenses related to funerals and burials.
• Pain & suffering- The physical suffering endured due to injuries from a truck accident can be devastating and life-changing. We believe that you deserve to be compensated for any physical pain you face and continue to endure. Additionally, emotional pain, suffering and trauma are common following a truck accident. The PTSD, fear, anxiety, and stress you endure can be life changing.
• Loss of consortium – The worst part about losing a loved one is not the loss of financial or economic support, but rather the devastation caused by the death itself and the loss of your relationship. We believe that you deserve to recover damages for this. In Texas, we can fight for damages related to the loss of a marital relationship and the loss of a parental relationship. The damages we recover will never be able to compensate for the loss of your loved one’s affection, companionship, and being, but we believe that your suffering must be recognized.

Our Process

If you have been injured in a truck accident, we can help you. Each truck accident case is unique and presents its own set of circumstances that needs to be thoroughly understood by your legal team. The injuries you sustain can be devastating, as can the emotional and financial tolls.

When you work with us, you will get a dedicated legal team with expertise in:

• Successfully recovering maximum deserved compensation in truck accident cases.
• Knowing and understanding the intricacies specific to truck accident cases and how they differ from car accident cases.
• Gathering evidence to build the strongest possible case in truck accident suits.
• Fighting truck accident cases in court if a settlement is not feasible.
• Providing personalized service so that you can feel confident that your case is being handled with the highest level of care.

More Information

Some location-specific truck accident content can be found in the links below:

• New Mexico
• San Antonio