Accidents involving large trucks or 18 wheelers can be an extremely painful and agonizing experience. ThAccidents involving large trucks or 18 wheelers can be an extremely painful and agonizing experience. The severity of accidents involving large vehicles are usually vastly different from your commoo everyday life. In car accident. It is imperative to have an experienced 18 wheeler or truck accident lawyer on your side when you’re involved in an accident with a large commercial vehicle. The 18 wheeler accident lawyers at The Hadi Law Firm are ready to fight for you and will help you get back
According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 110,000 Americans were involved in auto accidents with commercial vehicles like 18 wheelers.
18-wheeler trucks are heavy and can cause an immense amount of damage. As a result, truck crashes involving light passenger vehicles are often deadly, with more than 4,000-people losing their lives in a truck accident each year.
The stats show that while trucks only account for 3% of all vehicles on the roads across the country, they’re responsible for 12% of all fatal auto wrecks.
Why Do I Need to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?
On many occasions, the victims involved in the crash have a legal claim against the truck driver and the company that owns the vehicle. However, the trauma involved with a truck accident is extensive. Many people fail to get the truck company or driver to cover the costs involved with the accident.
A truck crash is an unfortunate situation to deal with, and it could leave you with plenty of unwanted bills.
- Medical costs for treatment and physiotherapy
- Loss of income from your work
- Damage to your vehicle
- Diminished quality of life
Unfortunately, truck companies have teams of lawyers on standby ready to pounce to limit the company’s liability in your case. These attorneys may use unethical tactics to get you to settle early, often for a small amount that might not cover your expenses.
When investigating your case, the truck accident lawyer looks into other factors that could influence the accident, such as a lack of sleep or other reasons why the driver may have been negligently operating the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Some of the more common reasons for truck accidents involve the following.
- The use of alcohol or drugs while driving
- Driving over the speed limit
- Driver fatigue
- Aggressive driver behavior
- Improperly secured loads
- Poor driver training
- Forged logbooks
Our professional truck accident lawyers in Houston have the training and experience you need to find out the facts about your case.
Your lawyer will leave no stone unturned in their investigation. There may be other contributing circumstances to your accident, and your truck accident lawyer will find them. Some of these circumstances include the following.
- Missing road signage
- Vehicle defects and failures
- Dangerous roads and driving surfaces
- Poor road design and maintenance
All trucking companies must comply with strict federal and state guidelines for the safe operation of 18-wheelers and other trucks. If injured in a truck accident, you have the right to claim your medical expenses, long-term care costs, and additional attributing costs from the trucking company.
These truck accident lawsuits can be extensive and expensive, and you need to work with a truck accident attorney in Houston with plenty of experience to achieve maximum and fair compensation.
Do I Need to File a Police Report After an Accident?
If you’re involved in a minor accident and can drive away from the scene, then report the accident to the local police department within 24-hours. The best practice is always to make the police report and contact a seasoned truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.
If there is an accident where someone is grievously injured or killed, you either need to give a statement on the scene or at the police station within 24-hours after the accident occurred. Filing a police report is critical to your insurance claim.
Filing Claims Against Negligent Drivers and Trucking Companies
It might surprise you to learn that the majority of truck accidents occur due to driver negligence. Many people don’t take the correct steps to file a claim due to the shock and adrenaline involved with the accident trauma.
Contact our offices today, and our Houston truck accident attorney will walk you through everything you need to know about hiring us to represent you in your case.
Truck Accident Statistics in Houston
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that over 110,000 Americans were involved in auto accidents with large commercial vehicles.
Due to the large size of 18 wheeler trucks, even small slow-speed crashes can cause an immense amount of damage. Truck accidents involving light passenger vehicles are responsible for over 4000 fatalities each year. Trucks only account for 3% of all vehicles on the roads in the United States, but they’re unfortunately accountable for 12% of all fatal crashes.
Types of 18 wheeler Accidents
The average weight and size of an 18 wheeler in the United States are about 80,000 pounds, 80 feet long and 13 feet tall. The size of these 18 wheelers is what makes them so dangerous. Your truck accident attorney can review your accident in detail. Listed below are some of the common types of 18 wheeler accidents.
Rollover Accidents: This can occur when a large truck takes a sharp turn, or an external force knocks the vehicle on its side or roof.
Jackknife Accidents: This can occur when a trailer swings out, causing the driver to lose control of the truck and the cab forms a folded angle that sweeps vehicles and even wedges cars under the trailer.
Underride Accidents: This can occur when a vehicle crashes into a large truck and becomes trapped underneath the truck. It often leads to severe injuries or death.
Unsecured Load Accidents: This can occur when the trailer is improperly loaded, causing the cargo to fall off the trailer. The severity of the damage or accident depends on what the cargo is.
Tire blowout Accidents: This can happen when a tire blows out, causing the driver to lose control of the truck. Pieces of the tire may impact other vehicles, which may cause drivers to lose control or swerve to avoid the flying fragments of rubber. Some tire blowouts are accidental, but others are due to negligence, such as low or high air pressure, lack of general tire maintenance, and unbalanced excessive cargo loads.
How to avoid getting into a truck accident.
Any seasoned truck accident attorney will tell you that some accidents are unavoidable, but taking some small precautionary measures can save your life.
Maintain a safe distance: Don’t tailgate any vehicle and maintain a reasonable distance from large trucks.
Avoid blind spots: These trucks have large blind spots. Stay hypervigilant and try to stay out of the truck driver’s blind spot.
Use your indicators: Always use your indicators so other drivers can anticipate your next action.
Pay attention: Don’t text, drink, eat, or get distracted while driving. It only takes a second for an accident to happen.
Obey the speed limit: Don’t drive too fast or too slow.
Anticipate weather conditions: Be prepared for all types of weather and drive accordingly.
Driver fatigue: Don’t drive when you are tired. If you start to feel a little sluggish, pull over and take a break.
Truck Accident Laws in Houston
Laws involving large commercial vehicles trucks are usually not common knowledge. Our 18 wheeler accident lawyers are experienced and know the intricacies of truck accident laws in Texas. The 18 wheeler accident lawyers at the Hadi Law Firm are familiar with the practices of standards that companies are required to follow.
When investigating and building your case your 18 wheeler accident attorney will go through driving logs, maintenance logs, trucking logs, video or photographic evidence, and a wide range of different material. After a careful review of all available information, your attorney will determine what laws were broken by the trucking company. Your 18 wheeler accident lawyers’ extensive knowledge of the trucking laws in Texas and the evidence collected will be integral to building an aggressive case for you.
How are truck accident claims different from your common car accident?
The legal procedures involving truck or 18-wheeler accidents are quite different from your common car or motorcycle accident. Due to the severity of most large trucking accidents, the claim is almost always higher. Large trucking corporations are responsible for ensuring the safety of those on the road where their vehicles are present. These claims and cases are very closely scrutinized because of the nature of the accidents and the parties involved. This is the reason why an 18 wheeler accident attorney is necessary for these types of cases. Trucking companies will always try to claim you were at fault or try to pay the least amount of compensation.
What Damages Can I Claim in an 18-Wheeler Accident?
When you’re involved in a car accident with a big rig there is a slew of damages that can occur. Some of these damages are more evident than others. The perfect example of overlooked damages could be diminished value. When you’re involved in an 18 wheeler accident and even after your car has been fully repaired your vehicle’s value will have diminished. These types of damages all need to be accounted for. Your 18 wheeler accident lawyers will need to systemically and carefully go through your case to help calculate the proper amount of damages. In addition to your truck accident attorney, we can also enlist the expertise of other medical professionals such as doctors, psychologists, and other specialists to evaluate your incurred damages.
- Medical bills (Both Present and Future)
- Lost income and wages due to being incapacitated
- Property damage
- Diminished value of your vehicle
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing Care
- Transportation
- Emotional and Mental Trauma
- Disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
- Death
The Inspection and Condition of 18-Wheelers.
Besides your more obvious reasons for big rig accidents, the condition of the 18 wheeler may play a part in your accident. Truck drivers are required to inspect not only their vehicles but also make sure that their loads are secured before setting out on any trips. Truck drivers will need to check everything from brakes, lights, steering, coupling devices, wheels, tires, to numerous other big rig equipment. 18-Wheelers spend thousands of hours on the road and deteriorating or faulty equipment is bound to happen at some point. It is the trucking company’s obligation to constantly inspect and maintain all parts of their 18 wheelers.
Work with a Trusted Houston Truck Accident Lawyer
Don’t leave any aspect of your truck accident case to chance. You need honest representation from the skilled and experienced legal team at the Hadi Law firm. The 18 wheeler accident lawyers at the Hadi Law Firm are second to none. Our truck accident attorneys have extensive knowledge of the standards of trucking companies, Texas trucking laws, and a solid record of getting the compensation our clients deserve. When dealing with large trucking companies that have millions at their disposal, an army of lawyers, and years of dealing with big rig accidents you’ll need a firm that will take them to the task. Contact our practice today and arrange a consultation with one of our qualified truck accident lawyers.
Every truck accident and claim is different. Claims can range from hundreds of thousands to millions. To calculate the full amount of your settlement, your truck accident attorney will need to review a multitude of factors. Some of these include the following.
- Future medical expenses.
- Lost wages.
- Future capacity to earn.
- Punitive charges for extreme negligence.
- Death or loss of a loved one.
- Property Damage.
- Mental and Physical Anguish.
The statute of limitations to file a claim for a truck or 18-wheeler accident is two years from the day of the accident. Although you have two years to file your claim, it is imperative to file a claim as soon as possible. Your 18 wheeler accident lawyer will help and guide you through this process.
According to Texas law, you may hire an attorney to represent you if you are at a “modified comparative fault” for your crash. This term means that your legal representative can recover money from the trucking company if you are equally liable for the collision.
In most personal injury claims involving a truck accident, the truck company will settle out of court. The truck company wants to avoid a court settlement, and you’ll need an seasoned truck accident lawyer to negotiate on your behalf.
We represent you in all negotiations, and we never accept a settlement until you are 100% happy with the offer.
- If possible you need to move your vehicle out of the way of traffic and to a safe place. Try to stay as close to the accident scene as you can. If your car is no longer functioning check your surroundings, leave your vehicle and move to a safer area.
- Call emergency services as soon as you can. Medical personnel may be needed at the scene and you will need an officer to record the accident.
- Make sure you and others are ok and receive medical attention if needed.
- Do not accept blame or assign blame.
- If you are able, try to record the accident. This can be in the form of photos and videos.
- Contact an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as you can after the accident. The Hadi Law Firm is well versed in all commercial trucking laws in Texas and can provide you with the support that will help secure a just settlement.
In most cases, it is necessary to have a seasoned truck accident attorney in your corner. There are many pitfalls to pursuing a settlement without full knowledge of commercial trucking laws in Texas. The trucking company’s insurance may try to deny your claim and remove blame from the other party. A truck accident is a very traumatic and harrowing experience. You may have life-altering injuries, had a fatality of other persons such as passengers, and your car may have been totaled. These compounding factors will have a detrimental impact on your life, and you will need compensation to the full extent of the law. Our truck accident attorneys will aggressively fight for the full settlement you deserve. Some benefits to hiring a seasoned 18 wheeler accident attorneys are
- They are knowledgeable in Texas commercial motor vehicle laws.
- They can conduct a proper investigation to prove you are not at fault.
- Truck accident lawyers will get you the fair settlement you deserve.
- Truck accident attorneys can significantly increase the odds of winning your case.
- They know how to deal with unfair insurance companies.
Thorough investigations are one of our specialties. Our truck accident attorneys will review multiple sources of information in order to prove your case. This can be in the form of but not included to witness accounts, detailed review of police reports, review of trucking logbooks, examinations of video and photo footage either taken at the accident or dashcams and also using the many accident reconstruction experts at our disposal. It is our job to prove your case and our truck accident attorneys will vigorously pursue all avenues to get you the settlement you deserve.
Every case varies and depends on many factors. Some cases may take months while others may take years. Our truck accident attorneys understand that any major truck accident can be life-altering and are constantly working to wrap up cases as soon as they can while also getting you the full compensation you deserve.