Truck Accident Lawyer

Houston Truck Accident Lawyers

Semi-Truck, Big Rig & Other Large Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Truck accidents can leave you with life-altering injuries, overwhelming medical expenses, and a mountain of other bills that you can’t afford to pay. 

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident that wasn’t your fault, you deserve financial compensation for your injuries and losses. Let the Houston truck accident lawyers of Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC help you demand justice. 

Our attorneys have decades of combined experience helping injured accident victims obtain financial compensation from deep-pocketed trucking companies and insurers.

When you choose our legal team to help you after a truck accident, you can expect a full-service approach. We don’t just help you pursue a settlement or a verdict at trial; we are committed to helping you make a complete recovery from the accident. 

This includes ensuring you have access to medical treatment for your injuries and working to mitigate the impacts of the accident on your life. We are here to guide you and answer questions throughout your whole journey.

Contact us today at (713) 609-1930 for a free case evaluation to discuss the details of your crash. Our Houston truck accident law firm will go over your legal rights, map out a strategy for pursuing compensation, and explain your next steps. Hablamos español. 

What to Do After a Truck Accident in Texas

If you or your loved one is involved in a truck accident in the Greater Houston Area or anywhere in Texas, there are certain things you can and should do as soon as possible. 

Taking the proper steps can not only protect your health and wellbeing but also your legal right to seek compensation for your accident-related injuries, medical expenses, and other damages. 

Here are some steps to help protect your legal rights after a truck accident:

  • Save copies of any police reports having to do with the accident.
  • See your doctor as soon as possible (if you did not receive treatment at the scene/were not transported to the hospital) to begin treatment for your injuries.
  • Continue to treat your injuries, as recommended by your doctors. Make sure you attend your follow-up appointments, follow your rehabilitation plan, and follow all of your doctors’ orders. Doing so will help protect your health, as well as your claim that your injuries are serious and require medical attention.
  • Save copies of your medical records and receipts for payment of any medical bills, including medications, physical therapy visits, office visits, or braces or splints required by your injuries.
  • Save any other documents that may support your claim for compensation, such as pay stubs, tax forms, and vehicle repair estimates.
  • Keep a journal that tracks the daily physical pain and emotional distress you struggle with as a result of your truck accident. Doing so will help provide evidence of your pain and suffering.
  • Stay off social media. Anything you post on social media is fair game to insurance companies and lawyers on the other side. Your posts potentially can be used to discredit your case.
  • Contact a truck accident lawyer in Houston immediately. Let your attorney handle all communication with the insurance companies. Do not give a written or recorded statement to the trucking company or its insurance provider without first speaking to a lawyer.

When you reach out to Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC, we will immediately begin gathering evidence to identify who is liable for your injuries and damages. We can also assist you in obtaining the proper medical care, if necessary. 

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Truck Accident?

In a typical car accident, liability often lies with one of the drivers. When an accident involves a commercial truck, however, there may be many more parties that bear some or all the liability for the crash. 

Potentially responsible parties in a truck accident case can include:

  • The truck driver, who can be held liable for negligent or reckless operation of the commercial motor vehicle
  • The trucking company, which can be subjected to employer liability when the truck driver’s negligence or recklessness causes an accident (if the trucking company employs the driver), or which can be held directly liable for its own negligence in retaining or supervising a truck driver who causes an accident
  • The truck’s owner (if separate from the truck driver or trucking company), when an accident is caused by deferred maintenance of the truck leading to a part or system failure
  • The freight company that loads the truck or trailer, which can be held responsible if an accident is caused by an unsafe truckload, such as for overweight, unbalanced, or unsecured load
  • The truck’s mechanic, who can be held responsible for negligent maintenance of the vehicle and/or improper truck repairs
  • The truck manufacturer, or a part manufacturer, can be held responsible if a defect in the truck causes an accident

Our firm knows how to evaluate all available evidence to determine how the accident occurred and who is responsible. 

We are aggressive when it comes to bringing claims against negligent and reckless parties and are prepared to fight tirelessly for you and your full recovery. 

Common Factors Contributing to Truck Crashes

Any number of factors can cause truck accidents, but many of them are related to negligence. 

Often, the cause of a truck crash is a negligent truck driver, but in some cases, another party’s negligence may lead to a truck crash.

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

  • Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers are often overworked and exhausted. They operate on extremely tight deadlines, and many truck drivers fear losing their jobs if they don’t make deliveries on time. That can lead truck drivers to stay on the road beyond the legally allowed hours of service limits, which are designed to prevent truckers from becoming fatigued. Driver fatigue is a massive contributor to truck accidents. When truck drivers become fatigued, they may doze off behind the wheel, causing the truck to veer off the road or into oncoming traffic. They may also experience impaired judgment and slowed reaction times, which can lead to a crash.
  • Speeding and Driving Too Fast for Conditions: Truck drivers are often rushing to get to their destination and meet their delivery deadline. As a result, they may drive recklessly, engaging in dangerous driving behaviors, such as speeding or driving too fast for current weather or traffic conditions. When they encounter inclement weather or other hazardous conditions, truck drivers must adjust their speed to account for these factors. When they don’t, accidents can easily happen.
  • Impaired DrivingTruck drivers who drive while intoxicated on alcohol or drugs can cause serious accidents. Even some prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications may cause poor judgment, an inability to focus on the task of driving, and delayed reaction times. If a vehicle in front of the truck driver suddenly stops or slows down, for example, an impaired truck driver may not react quickly enough to avoid rear-ending it.
  • Distracted DrivingDistracted driving is one of the most common causes of traffic accidents in Texas and across the United States. Truck drivers are certainly not immune from distracted driving, which can take many forms. Common driving distractions include texting, talking on the phone, adjusting the radio, adjusting a GPS, talking to passengers, reaching for items, daydreaming, eating, drinking, personal grooming, and more.
  • Following Too Closely: Because truck drivers are often in a hurry, they may tailgate other vehicles in an attempt to get them to move out of the way. Tailgating can lead to dangerous rear-end collisions if the driver in front suddenly brakes. Trucks take longer than cars do to come to a stop, and this is especially true for tractor-trailers hauling heavy loads.
  • Failure to Check Blind SpotsLarge trucks have much bigger blind spots than passenger cars and pickups. Blind spots exist directly in front of the truck, directly behind the truck, as well as alongside both sides of the truck. When truck drivers fail to check these blind spots before changing lanes or making other maneuvers, they can easily hit a passenger vehicle.
  • Poor Driver Training: In some cases, truck drivers aren’t the only negligent party in an accident. Trucking companies will sometimes provide inadequate training to new truck drivers or may put drivers on the road before they are ready to make more deliveries and increase profits. A lack of proper training can easily lead to an accident.
  • Overloaded Trucks: Trucks must fall below a certain weight limit when they are fully loaded with cargo. Trucks carrying heavier loads than the truck can handle are more prone to being involved in a jackknife, rollover, rear-ender, or other types of accidents.
  • Improperly Secured Loads: Sometimes, cargo loaders are responsible for truck accidents. Cargo that is improperly secured can shift around in a trailer, and if the trailer is a flatbed, the payload could become loose and fall from the truck. Even if the load remains on the truck, the shifting weight could cause the driver to lose control or trigger a rollover.
  • Bad Brakes: Faulty brake systems on either the truck or the trailer can result in accidents. Brake issues could be the result of poor maintenance or defective parts, in which case the manufacturer of the part could be liable for an accident.
  • Poor Maintenance: Sometimes, trucking companies neglect to adequately inspect and maintain their fleet because they know they could use that time to make deliveries. Trucking companies that fail to check their trucks properly could be liable if an accident occurs due to poor maintenance.
  • Defective Roadways: Potholes, cracked pavement, insufficient signage, a lack of proper guardrails, and other road defects could lead to a truck accident. If a truck accident occurs due to inadequate infrastructure, a government entity may be liable for an accident.

If you have been injured in a truck accident due to another party’s negligence, you could be eligible to recover compensation. Contact our truck accident attorneys at Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC today to discuss your case.

Why Houston Truck Accidents Are So Complicated

Truck accident cases tend to be more complex than other kinds of motor vehicle accident claims. 

Reasons for the complicated nature of truck accident claims include:

  • Accident victims suffer more serious injuries. The size (and often the speed) of a commercial truck impose violent forces on the vehicles and individuals the truck collides with. These forces often result in more serious injuries for truck accident victims. More serious injuries can mean an accident victim will require ongoing treatment even after his or her claim reaches settlement negotiations or trial. This means that the victim’s financial compensation must include anticipated future expenses and losses. Assessing future losses often requires expert analysis and resources.
  • Trucking companies have complicated corporate and insurance structures. Trucking companies often have complex business structures, making it difficult to identify the correct legal party that can be held responsible for an accident. Trucking companies also often have layered insurance policies that can hide the true extent of coverage available to compensate an injured accident victim. You need a truck accident attorney who has extensive experience dealing with these types of claims to identify all potential sources of compensation.
  • More parties may be involved. Multiple parties and companies may be involved in getting trucks and cargo onto the road and to their destination. Following an accident, each of these parties must be looked at to determine whether they bear some or all of the fault for the crash.
  • There is more evidence involved. The complex nature of the trucking industry also generates a lot of documents and information that must be examined following a crash. You need a truck accident lawyer who will work quickly to preserve evidence and determine how the accident occurred.

At Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC, we understand the complex nature of these claims.

 Our attorneys have extensive experience navigating challenging truck accident cases and successfully recovering fair compensation for our clients. We know how to navigate trucking industry regulations, state and federal laws, and insurance issues so that you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery. 

Evidence We May Use in a Truck Accident Claim

Given the technical complexities of commercial trucks and the significant state and federal regulation of the industry, truck accident claims often require examining a significant amount of evidence. 

Some examples of evidence that our Houston truck accident lawyers often use in truck accident claims include:

  • The truck driver’s log, in which the driver records how long he or she has been on duty and behind the wheel. Federal law limits the time commercial drivers can spend on duty and behind the wheel. The log will show if a driver has exceeded these limits and, thus, may have been drowsy or fatigued at the time of the collision.
  • The toxicology report performed on the truck driver. If a truck accident results in injury to another person, the truck driver may be required to submit to an alcohol and drug screen. This can show if the driver was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
  • The truck driver’s employment and driving records, which might show the driver had insufficient training and experience for the vehicle he or she was operating. These records may also show the driver had a history of unsafe driving or traffic violations.
  • The truck’s electronic data recorder. Many newer trucks are equipped with an electronic data recorder, which records information about the truck’s operation such as its position, speed, steering/braking/acceleration inputs, along with dashcam footage if the truck is so equipped.
  • The load manifest, which can show if the truck had been overloaded or if the load was unbalanced or improperly secured. This can cause a truck driver to lose control of the vehicle.
  • The truck’s maintenance records, which can show if the trucking companies improperly deferred recommended or required maintenance, leading to parts or systems failing while the truck was in operation.

Our attorneys also review other evidence common to all types of motor vehicle accidents, such as the police accident report, eyewitness statements, accident scene photos, surveillance videos, vehicle damage/repair reports, and medical records from the treatment of your injuries.

Types of Injuries in a Truck Accident in Houston

A report from the Texas Department of Transportation shows that in one recent year alone, 613 people died and 1,471 were suspected to have sustained severe injuries in Texas truck accidents. 

These injuries can leave accident victims in agonizing pain, as well as with lifelong effects on their ability to move, think, and live a full life.

Here are a few of the most common injuries that occur in truck accidents:

  • Spinal Cord InjuriesThe force from a truck accident can put intense pressure on the spinal cord, causing damage to the vertebrae or the discs that support them. In severe cases, an object might penetrate the spinal cord. Any damage to the spinal cord carries the risk of paralysis, including paraplegia (loss of motion from the waist down) or quadriplegia (loss of motion from the neck down, also called tetraplegia).
  • Traumatic Brain InjuriesAn object penetrating the skull or a sharp blow to the head can lead to a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Objects that penetrate the skull destroy brain tissue and blood vessels. A hard impact can jostle the brain inside the skull, leading to internal bruising and broken blood vessels. When they aren’t fatal, TBIs often cause cognitive impairment and loss of bodily function. The effects are usually permanent.
  • Traumatic Orthopedic Injuries: Traumatic orthopedic injuries refer to severe injuries to the body’s musculoskeletal system. This includes the bones and muscles, as well as the tissues that bind them together, like ligaments and tendons. Damaged or torn ligaments may require surgery to repair and extensive physical therapy.
  • Burns: Hot metal and road surfaces can lead to burn injuries, especially if someone is ejected from their vehicle in an accident.
  • Whiplash: Especially common in rear-end accidents, whiplash refers to the motion that occurs when your body is jerked forward before the seatbelt locks, and your body is jolted back into place. The force from a rear-end accident puts severe pressure on the upper neck and back, causing intense pain and affecting your ability to move your head.
  • Broken Bones: Broken legs, hips, hands, and wrists are some of the most commonly broken bones in truck accidents.
  • Internal Injuries: Internal bleeding and damage to critical organs can be fatal if not treated quickly after an accident. In non-fatal cases, damage to a major organ can have extensive health effects.
  • Head Injuries: In addition to brain injuries, truck accident victims often sustain damage to the exterior of the head and face. Causes include broken glass, impacts with an airbag, and collisions with flying debris.
  • Amputationand Disfigurement: Depending on the angle of impact and other factors, truck accident victims may have limbs severed or crushed, resulting in one or more amputations. Their faces and other parts of their bodies can also be disfigured by burns, severe lacerations, and broken bones.

Pursuing Maximum Compensation in a Truck Accident Case

A serious truck accident can leave you with catastrophic injuries and financial and personal losses. 

If you’ve been involved in a truck crash that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to pursue compensation for losses, such as:

  • Medical expenses, including hospital bills, surgeries, medical procedures, prescription pain medication, physical and occupational therapy, and even long-term care, such as home health services
  • Lost income and earning capacity if you miss time from work while recovering from injuries or if your injuries leave you unable to return to your pre-accident job or level of income
  • Loss of enjoyment or quality of life due to physical disabilities or disfigurements, difficulties with daily tasks, or inability to partake in activities
  • Physical and mental pain and suffering

Our Houston truck accident attorneys fight tirelessly to maximize their clients’ recoveries. We leave no stone unturned when it comes to pursuing every possible avenue of compensation on your behalf. 

How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Texas?

If you decide to pursue a lawsuit after being involved in a truck accident, Texas’s statute of limitations typically requires you to file your suit within two years of the date of your accident.

 If you don’t file suit before the statute of limitations expires on your claim, the court can dismiss your case. This means you will lose the right to pursue financial compensation from those responsible for your injuries and losses.

Two years may seem like a long time, but because truck accident cases require an extensive investigation and documentation, it is crucial that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible. 

Contact our team at Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC right away to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with a member of our team. 

How to Prevent Truck Accident Injuries

Follow these tips to help avoid truck accidents and the severe injuries that often come with them:

  • Stay Visible: Stay out of a truck’s blind spots to avoid crashes when a truck turns, passes, or merges.
  • Pass with Care: Ensure you have plenty of room and pass quickly to minimize the time in a truck’s blind spots.
  • Never Cut Off a Truck: It’s an easy way to get rear-ended, and trucks are much bigger and heavier than a car.
  • Don’t Tailgate: If the truck suddenly stops, you run the risk of being crushed under the truck or its trailer if you don’t have enough room to brake safely.
  • Anticipate Wide Turns: Due to their large size, trucks require additional space to make turns, and they could swerve into your lane of traffic.
  • Be Patient: The more cautious you are around trucks and the more space you give them, the less chance you have of ending up in an accident and sustaining a severe injury.

Unfortunately, even the safest driver cannot always avoid a collision. If you were involved in an accident with a semi-truck, 18-wheeler, big rig, or similar commercial vehicle, reach out to our firm today to learn more about your legal rights and options. 

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON TYPES TRUCK ACCIDENTS?

Truck accidents can come in many different forms, from small fender-benders to catastrophic collisions. This is because of the sheer size and weight of commercial trucks, which can cause a lot of damage when they are involved in an accident. The types of truck accidents that occur depend on the circumstances surrounding the crash, such as whether any other vehicles were involved or if there was hazardous weather conditions at the time. Common types of truck accidents include:

  • Rear-end Collisions: These are the most common type of truck accidents and often occur when a large truck rear-ends a smaller vehicle due to their long stopping distances and limited visibility.
  • T-Bone Accidents: This type of collision occurs when one driver runs a red light or stop sign and crashes into the side of another vehicle, forming a “T” shape.
  • Underride Crashes: These types of collisions occur when a smaller car slides under the trailer of an 18 wheeler. The resulting damage is usually severe, and the occupants of the smaller vehicle usually sustain serious injuries, if not fatal injuries, due to the size of the commercial truck.
  • Rollover Accidents: These can happen for many reasons such as hazardous road conditions, excessive speed, improper loading/unloading procedures, or mechanical failure that causes an imbalance within the truck itself. This can result in the truck tipping over onto its side, roof, or on top of another vehicle.
  • Jackknife Crashes: A jackknife accident is caused by sudden braking which forces one part of a large commercial truck (the cab) forward while pushing its back end outwards forming an angle resembling that of a pocket knife blade, hence why they are referred to as “jackknife” accidents.

All these different kinds of truck accidents have one thing in common – they all carry serious risk for injury or death due to their destructive force. A skilled Houston truck accident attorney will be able to help you determine who is liable for your injuries after a crash and work with you to obtain full compensation for your damages.

WHAT IF I AM PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MY TEXAS TRUCK ACCIDENT?

In the state of Texas, if you are partially at fault for a truck accident, then you are still eligible to receive compensation. This is because of the modified comparative negligence system that exists here in Texas.

The comparative negligence system allows individuals who have been injured in an accident to collect damages even if they were partly responsible for the incident. Under this system, each party involved in an accident will be assigned a percentage of responsibility based on their involvement or contribution to the crash. The amount of compensation awarded is then reduced by this percentage amount so that those who bear some degree of fault still can recover damages from other parties involved who may have had more liability than them. For example, if someone was found to be 20% liable for their injuries, they would only be able to get 80% of the total damages awarded as opposed to 100%.

It's important to note that Texas has a “modified comparative negligence” system. That means when one party’s share of responsibility exceeds 50%, meaning they are considered mostly at fault for an accident, that party cannot pursue any type of recovery from other parties involved in the accident.

Therefore, it is critical that you have an experienced Houston truck accident attorney on your side to build a strong case and protect you from claims that you hold more responsibility for the crash than you actually do. At Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC, our attorneys can investigate all the facts of your case and determine how much fault each party holds. This can help maximize your recoverable compensation award.

WHEN SHOULD YOU CALL A HOUSTON TRUCK ACCIDENT ATTORNEY?

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, it is important to seek the help of an experienced Houston truck accident attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can provide legal advice and guidance on how to proceed with your case and ensure that your rights are protected every step of the way. A truck accident lawyer will be able to investigate all evidence related to the accident, including eyewitness accounts, physical evidence from the scene such as skid mark analysis, and medical records that may be beneficial to your case.

Having a lawyer on your side after a truck accident can also help to ensure that the trucking company does not try to change or hide any evidence. If given time, companies have a tendency to lose evidence or destroy evidence due to arbitrary policies about retention of logs. A skilled truck accident attorney near you can send the proper notices that force these trucking companies to retain and disclose the evidence necessary for your case.

Your attorney will also be able to collect witness testimony in a timely fashion. This is critical because memories fade over time and witnesses can relocate. Preserving testimony about your case is important, and should not be neglected.

GET LEGAL HELP AFTER A TRUCK ACCIDENT IN HOUSTON

If you or someone close to you has been involved in a truck accident, it is important that you seek legal help. Truck accidents involve complicated factors like federal and state regulations, insurance policies, and medical bills. Our team at Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC can help you navigate the complexities of truck accident claims so that you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery.

Our Houston truck accident attorneys provide aggressive representation designed to get our clients maximum compensation for their losses. We fight tirelessly against insurance companies who are trying to low-ball our client’s settlement offers or deny them altogether.

Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Going up against trucking companies and their insurers is a difficult battle, but you don’t have to fight them on your own. While you focus on recovering from your ordeal, we’ll begin gathering evidence and building a case for maximum compensation. 

The team at Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC will take care of all the paperwork and various legal proceedings to make things as painless as possible for you. We’ll fight for a fair settlement, but if the liable parties don’t agree to pay what they should, we’re not afraid to bring your case to trial.

Contact us online or by calling (713) 609-1930 today to get started with a free consultation.

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