Truck accidents can be incredibly expensive. Medical bills may be in the thousands. Serious injuries are common in truck accidents. The 2019 Truck Accident safety statistics are listed here.
Houston Truck Accidents can set people back financially, especially if they need to take unpaid time off from work. Worse, most insurance companies try to get victims to settle for way less money than they need.
That’s where a good truck accident lawyer comes in. At Molina Law Firm, we’re dedicated to helping people involved in truck wrecks get the compensation they deserve. Call Now!
A Houston Truck Accident Attorney can help you navigate the legal system and ensure that your rights are protected following a truck accident. They can help you understand the laws and regulations that apply to trucking accidents, and can help you build a case to prove negligence on the part of the truck driver or trucking company. They can also help you negotiate with insurance companies and can represent you in court if necessary. Additionally, a truck accident attorney can help you recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
How a Houston Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You
Truck accidents are generally more serious than other accidents. Truck accidents usually result in greater injury and even fatalities. Truck accident cases are also generally more complex. You need a lawyer that is able to handle all aspects of Truck Accident cases.
Do You Need A Houston Truck Accident Attorney?
A Truck Accident Attorney should be able to evaluate fault and responsibility in Truck Accident cases. Here is an instructional video on fault and responsibility.
Truck Accident Damages
In Texas, there are generally two types of damages, economic and non-economic.
Economic
These are damages that you can calculate and count, such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Funeral and burial expenses
Non-Economic
These are sometimes referred to as intangible damages. These damages are subjective to the injured person and can include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement such as scarring
Truck Accident Death Cases
Many truck accidents result in permanent injuries or even death. In the unfortunate event of a death, damages may be allocated to the beneficiaries of the deceased and also to the Estate of the deceased. The Estate recovers damages through a Survival Claim. The beneficiaries recover for their own damages through a Wrongful Death claim. For more information about Wrongful Death Claims, please visit the Wrongful Death Blog.
Truck Accident Wrongful Death claims may have the following damages:
- Funeral expenses
- Loss of care, support, maintenance, advice, and counsel
- Loss of love, companionship, comfort, and society
Truck Accident Survival Claims may have the following damages:
- medical expenses
- pain and mental anguish
Truck Accident Common Injuries
Common injuries from a truck accident may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Internal injuries
- Back and Neck Injuries
- Cuts and bruises
- Burns
- Amputations
- Crushing injuries
- Death
How To Determine Fault In Truck Accident
In Texas, comparative negligence law applies to truck accidents. This means that each driver involved in an accident is assigned a percentage of fault for the accident. If a driver is found to be more than 50% at fault for the accident, they are not able to recover damages from the other drivers involved in the accident. It is important to understand, that this determination of responsibility is done by a Texas jury when you are fighting the case in court. If you are negotiating a case outside of court, then the opposing insurance adjuster may have an opinion about fault, but the insurance adjuster’s opinion is not final or binding. Insurance adjusters are notorious for stating various and often wild theories as to why they believe someone is responsible for a vehicle accident.
Comparative negligence also affects how damages are awarded by Texas juries in truck accidents. If a driver is found to be less than 50% at fault for the accident by a Texas jury, they are able to recover damages from the other drivers involved in the accident. However, the amount of damages they receive will be reduced by their percentage of fault. For example, if a Texas Jury awards $1,000.00 in damages, but finds your 20% responsible for the accident, then your total recovery is $800.00, which takes into account a reduction for the amount of your fault in the accident.
Comparative negligence law can be complicated, especially when more than two (2) parties are involved in an accident, so it is important to speak with Molina Law Firm if you have been involved in a car accident in Texas.
Proving Negligence In A Truck Accident
The following are some of the main causes of Houston Truck Accidents caused by truck drivers and trucking companies.
- Truck Driver Fatigue
- Driving While Intoxicated in a Truck Accident
- Dangerous and Reckless Driving
- Distracted Driving
- Poor Truck Maintenance
- Poor Cargo Loading
- Road Conditions
- Truck Driver Delivery Time Pressure
