Houston 18 Wheeler Accident Attorney: Contact One Today
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Speak With an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer
Due to the weight and size of a truck, accidents can have massive trauma and injury. Trucks often cause a huge amount of destruction anytime they collide with other vehicles. Oftentimes, the people in the passenger vehicles are the ones who suffer the brunt of the injuries.
Besides this, the medical bill and emotional damage can be quite significant. As you reel from the devastating effects of such an accident, taking up legal duties by yourself can be impossible. After all, you need to focus more on spending time with your family and loved ones as you recover.
There are lots of options available to victims and their families after a truck accident. Yet, figuring out who is actually responsible for an accident can be a fairly challenging matter, particularly when more than one individual may be legally liable for the injuries suffered in a truck accident claim in Texas.
Common Causes of 18-Wheeler Accidents in Houston
While truck accidents can occur when you least expect them, many of these collisions can be prevented. Understanding the causes of these accidents can help you achieve this:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a significant issue in all states, regardless of whether it occurs on the highways or local roads. Distracted driving occurs when a driver's attention is diverted from their basic task of driving.
It is no strange fact that driving for long distances can be quite boring. Finding signals in rural areas for entertainment can be impossible. With this boredom, truckers may be tempted to check their mobile phones to find playlists or find anything that can get them occupied.
Even a simple task of reaching over to change the playlist can divert the attention of the driver as they take their eyes off the road.
Driver Fatigue
We can all agree that driving an 80,000-pound loaded 18-wheeler can be a high-stress job. In many cases, trucking companies may require goods to be delivered by drivers to a particular destination within a short time period. As a result, the driver must drive long distances with few or no breaks or rests.
The number of kilometers to be driven may force the driver to spend many days on the road while having just a few hours of sleep. For this reason, they may lose coordination and concentration. This may even make them less responsive to situations on the road that require alertness. The dangerous possibility of falling asleep while driving is also a major threat.
Many laws and regulations govern the number of hours that a truck driver can drive in a single shift, as well as the number of hours of sleep they must get. Sadly, many truck companies often fail to follow these regulations, making driver fatigue a big issue.
Speeding and Overtaking
In some cases, drivers may not be able to meet up with delivery within the allocated time by their employer even if they tried. The pressure required to make tight deadlines may cause a truck driver to drive faster than the appropriate speed for such a heavy vehicle. They may even move faster than the speed suitable for a particular road condition.
Sometimes, the fear of losing their jobs if they are unable to deliver goods at a specific period may force them to neglect essential safety variables and precautions. They are likely to drive too fast to get there. This implies that they speed right up behind a smaller passenger car.
You can only know how fast you move out of the way when you have a look at the rearview mirror to see a heavy 18-wheeler bearing down on you. As you move out of the way to allow a big truck to overtake, you swerve off the road into another lane, which can result in an accident.
inappropriate Cargo Loading
The impact of a truck's cargo load cannot be ignored. Specific size, weight, width, height, and length limits are requirements that determine each load. Trucks transporting hazardous materials are even governed by stricter regulations for the amount of weight they can handle.
Regardless, mistakes can happen and improper loading can cause a heavy 18-wheeler to tip over. Loads that fall onto the road can cause accidents. Besides this, hazardous materials can catch fire, which can even create a more dangerous situation.
Poor Training And Maintenance
Certain regulatory requirements are in place to govern the number of hours of training that a driver must take before they can drive a commercial vehicle. Despite this, some 18-wheeler drivers still manage to get on the road without appropriate training or meeting these requirements
It is no strange news that inclement weather can occur anytime and anywhere. Yet, it only takes proper training and experience to know how to navigate bad weather. This is especially true when you are driving a heavy 18-wheeler that may be difficult to maneuver.
With this in mind, it is important for a truck driver to move even slower than usual in bad weather conditions. This can reduce the possibility of hydroplaning, skidding, or jackknifing. An untrained driver who is incapable of managing these conditions can put other motorists at risk.
It behooves the trucking company to properly inspect all the trucks before they hit the road. However, this is often not the case. Maintenance requirements and costs often take time, which these companies know can be used to make deliveries instead. For this reason, rather than making the right maintenance inspection, they allow trucks in bad conditions to get on the road without being safe for the trip.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident in Houston?
Sometimes, the truck driver is not the only party in a Houston truck accident who can be held liable. Depending on the situation, some possible parties may include the following:
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The truck driver;
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The driver of another vehicle
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An alcohol vendor (a bar) that sold alcohol to a truck driver who caused a DUI accident
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The trucking company that employed the driver of the cargo
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A government agency
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The truck company;
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Manufacturers whose defective parts contributed to the accident (e.g., tires, brakes, etc.);
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Shippers of the truck's cargo.
Each truck accident case is unique, and oftentimes, can require the help of a counsel for the best possible decisions. Our 18-wheeler accident attorneys at Take ThatTo Trial will help you determine the parties that are liable for any injuries you may have sustained.
What Not to Do After a Car Accident
Even though it is important to be aware of what to do anytime there is a truck accident, it is equally essential to know what not to do. There are certain pitfalls you must try to avoid by all means. Some of these are introduced as follows:
Not Reporting Your Accident or Fleeing the Scene: It is not uncommon to see many guilty drivers, involved in a truck accident, succumb to their fears and leave the scene without informing the police. Some injuries may even take days before they start becoming apparent. It is important to report to the police and get a report.
Admitting Blame: While apologizing is simply humane since it shows contrition, it cannot always work well for you, especially after a truck accident. Even if you are wrong, never admit fault. Words like "I'm sorry" implies that you admitted to a fault and can hurt your case.
Accepting Settlement: The insurance company will want to dismiss your personal injury claim as fast as possible by pressuring you into accepting a settlement that is far below what you are entitled to. Speak with our attorney at Take That To Trial before you sign anything.
When to Contact a Car Accident Attorney
While you may wish to handle the consequence of a car accident by yourself, hiring a competent attorney will only boost the chances of achieving desirable results. You should contact a car accident attorney:
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If your insurance company is unwilling to pay after the incident.
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If you sustain an injury - regardless of the extent - during the incident.
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If your injuries lead to a long-lasting disability
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If a fault is not clearly established
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If it involves another motorist, such as a pedestrian, other cars, trucks, or cyclist
When you reach out to attorneys at Take That To trial, you can rely on competent professionals to help you fight for the right compensation you are entitled to.
Common 18Wheeler Injuries
The injuries sustained in truck accidents are often severe, and sometimes life-threatening, thanks to the sheer weight of these vehicles. The aftermath of such a devastating collision can stick with victims for the rest of their lives. This is why receiving the right compensation is essential to handle future medical and life care expenses. Some common 18-wheeler injuries are listed as follows:
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Back and neck injuries
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Spinal cord injuries
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Head and brain injuries
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Amputation and disfigurement
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Burns
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Cuts, bruises, broken bones, and lacerations
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Internal injuries
The size and reduced maneuverability of these heavy trucks increase the possibility of these vehicles being involved in severe accidents.
What To Look For In An 18 Wheeler Accident Attorney
With the help of truck accident attorneys, you can pursue compensation from sources through a truck accident claim in Houston. We can't argue that large trucks are capable of causing many serious, catastrophic crashes every year. With the right lawyer, you can make a quick and easy financial and physical recovery. What must you look for in an 18-wheeler accident attorney? The following qualities are helpful:
Comprehensive Knowledge
An all-encompassing and down-to-the-details knowledge and expertise of the legal professional is essential. This involves understanding the history of these cases, as well as the laws and regulations that can affect the industry. An experienced attorney must also be well-versed in what to do to uncover evidence, how to establish and try cases, and how to create an effective strategy to win these cases.
Knowledge goes beyond knowing facts and figures. You must know what these facts mean, how to come up with a winning case from them, and how and when to make use of the information to your advantage. Luckily for you, our 18-wheeler accident attorneys at Take That To Trial have more than 20 years of experience in handling these cases.
Productive Action
Becoming an expert goes beyond educating yourself and honing your skills. Without strategic actions, constant training, and experience, abilities are meaningless. Yet, actions are not always enough.
Expertise helps in unleashing and activating skills and knowledge. As a client, you don't want to be interested in the intelligence and oratory skills of the lawyer. All you want is effectiveness and how successful they are in delivering desirable results.
This is what lawyers at Take That ToTrial will guarantee you. They have won millions for victims of Truck accidents in Houston.
Resources to Handle Your Case
You need the right 18-wheeler accident attorney who can handle your case effectively without the need to juggle it around. You will find some lawyers who handle multiple cases at once without having a firm, which can result in losing cases.
Only an attorney that works in a personal injury firm can boast the resources needed to handle your case. By focusing much effort and time on your case, there is greater possibility of focusing on your needs while pursuing maximum satisfaction.
For this reason, anytime you wish to hire the service of a truck accident legal adviser, it is important that you consider choosing the one with the resources to ease the workload of the case. It is worth stressing that different factors are involved when dealing with an 18-wheeler accident, including an insurance company refusing to pay for the incident.
Accessibility
This is essential when you are employing the service of an attorney. Some lawyers give their assistants their messages to reply to and they even remain inaccessible during emergencies. As a result, sending messages to an attorney and not getting a response is totally unacceptable.
After all, your attorney is working on your behalf and you need direct access to your lawyer without the need to pass through an assistant. Your lawyer must be responsive in providing updates and answering any questions you may have. Your attorney represents a partner who must be available for you during this difficult process.
Genuine Compassion
While compassion and empathy are not always attributes required in the legal profession. However, it is important for attorneys to empathize with clients while investing much effort in meeting their needs. This is critical to legal success.
On the other hand, insensitive, arrogant, and lousy attorneys tend to neglect the throes of their clients. For this reason, it is essential that you assess the contributions of your attorney to their community. True compassion is reflected in the manner an attorney supports and interacts with their community.
Victims of an 18-wheeler accident require compassion and consistent legal support, rather than an aggressive, boisterous lawyer. A good attorney must understand the essence of supporting the financial and physical recovery of victims. This approach will increase the possibility of providing clients with the best performance, service, and outcome.
Our accident attorneys at Take That To trial will help those who have been injured in a car or truck accident.
Questions to Ask When Meeting with an Attorney
If you are meeting with an attorney, you should collect as much information as possible. The following questions can help you find out all you need to know:
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How long has the lawyer been practicing law?
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How much experience do they have in truck accident cases?
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How does the fee arrangement work? Ask for information about fees, expenses, billing, and payments.
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What is the objective of the firm? Is personal injury the basic practice area, or essentially a sideline?
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How would the attorney you are meeting with handle your claim?
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What are the requirements you must meet? How often must you participate in the process?
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How accessible will the lawyer be? Will you be able to get in touch if you need to?
What You Can Recover After an Accident
Once you hire a truck accident lawyer to fight for your compensation, there are things you may recover after the accident. It is important to be aware of these to manage your expectations:
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Medical bills
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Physical pain and suffering
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Mental anguish
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Loss of wages, benefits, future earning capacity, and other income
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Scarring and disfigurement
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Emotional distress
These are compensations you are entitled to for economic and non-economic damages.
Dealing With Insurance Company After 18-Wheeler Accident In Texas
You should promptly notify your insurance company that you have been in an 18-wheeler accident. This is true even if you were not at fault. If not, you could violate your insurance contract. Despite this, you should be careful of what you tell your insurance company.
It is worth noting that these organizations are in business for profit. As a result, they try as much as possible to ensure that you get as little as you can as compensation. To ensure that you do not get less than you deserve, some tips can help you if you decide to negotiate with any insurance company on your own:
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Regardless of how huge the amount may sound to you, never be tempted to accept the first payout offer. That is often the minimum they are willing to give you. They can always do better and if you have evidence to prove you deserve more, you can get it.
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Choose the words you speak carefully. Never admit fault.
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If you find any deal unworthy of what you are entitled to, never accept such a deal.
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Your claim has a lot of value and the insurance company knows this. Do not allow them to undervalue it. Estimate any costs that relate to repair, lost wages, and medical treatment from the accident.
However, the best course of action is to seek the service of a competent attorney in Houston to fight for your compensation. Attorneys at Take That To Trial boast the required knowledge to help you negotiate and get the right compensation you are entitled to.
What Do I Need To Prove An 18-Wheeler Accident Claim?
Having the right documents is what stands between getting the compensation you deserve and getting your claims ignored. After all, evidence is all that matters to prove a point in the legal system.
For this reason, if you wish to sue the other driver in the Truck accident in court, you must provide the evidence to support your case. You need the competence of an Attorney at Take That To trial to get the best results. Some of the documents you will be required to gather include:
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Medical bills related to the accident
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Medical records that show injuries suffered in the accident
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Lost wages from employers
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Doctor's testimonies on diagnosis, causes of injuries, and the prognosis
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Testimonies from relatives showing how much of a mental impact the accident has had on you.
To know more, you can call us at (832) 770-6100.
Work with Our Attorneys At Take That To Trial For Your Traffic Accidents
While you may feel like handling a car accident issue by yourself is simply a walk in the park, it is not. You stand a better chance of achieving a good result when you employ the service of a competent attorney in Houston to simplify life and prevent insurance companies from undervaluing your claim or taking advantage of you.
Being involved in a truck accident is never a pleasant experience. You may feel the mental and physical impacts of injuries sustained in these collisions for the rest of your life. For this reason, you need the best legal assistance as soon as you are involved in an accident, regardless of the extent. You need the service of a competent truck accident attorney to start making your case as early as possible.
When you work with our lawyers at Take That To Trial, you get the effective legal representation you need. You can rely on 20 years of experience to help you fight for your compensation. We are licensed with the State Bar of Texas, U.S. Southern and Eastern District Courts, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
With Take That To Trial, rest assured that you will get the right compensation you are entitled to. To enjoy the affordable legal counsel you demand, reach out to our firm today via:
Email: info@takethattotrial.com
Ph: (832) 770-6100
Fax: (832) 426-5798
You can visit us at 1401 Cleburne St,
Houston, Texas 77004
We can't wait to hear from you!