Getting into an accident with a large commercial truck can cause disabling injuries and significant emotional trauma. While a truck driver might walk away from the crash, a collision with heavy trucks and big rigs rarely ends well for passenger car occupants.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 4,951 people died in large truck crashes in 2018. Of those who died, over 82 percent of fatalities either were occupants of a passenger vehicle or nonoccupants, such as pedestrians and bicyclists.
If your loved one died or you suffered serious injuries in a commercial truck collision that was not your fault, you might want to speak to an Austin truck accident lawyer. You could recover compensation for your medical bills and other damages.
Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today at (844) 430-1030 for a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our team members.
Reasons for Truck Accidents
The average 18-wheeler truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. When you compare this with the weight of an average car (around 5,000 pounds), it becomes clear that car occupants are at much greater risk in an accident with a truck.
A variety of reasons could lead to a truck accident, including:
- Lack of vehicle maintenance and servicing
- Loading cargo incorrectly or overloading a truck
- Failure of a truck part
- Malfunctioning brakes
- Threadbare tires
- Lack of driver training
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Driving recklessly
For a free legal consultation with a truck accidents lawyer serving Austin, call (844) 430-1030
Determining Liability for a Truck Accident
Truck accident cases can quickly become complicated. While our first instinct is to blame the driver, other parties might also have liability for your injuries and damages, including:
- Trucking companies
- Truck manufacturers
- Truck owners
- Cargo-loading companies
- The company servicing and fixing the trucks
To receive any compensation for your damages, you will need to identify the negligent parties for your accident and prove their negligence. To accomplish these two objectives, the help of an Austin truck accident lawyer could be crucial. An attorney can investigate the accident and circumstances thoroughly to determine all negligent parties.
While a driver may have caused the crash, the trucking company typically has overall responsibility for their acts under the doctrine of vicarious liability. This doctrine allows you to hold the company liable for your injuries and losses. You can also demonstrate the company’s negligence if it did the following:
- Failed to check a driver’s record
- Encouraged drivers to skip rest periods
- Did not adequately maintain and service trucks
An Austin truck accident attorney can review company records and other documentation to help you make a final determination of which parties to hold liable for your damages. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today to get started.
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Types of Truck Accidents
Almost all truck accidents can cause catastrophic and deadly injuries to car occupants. This list includes some of the more common types of truck accidents.
Rollover Accidents
A truck rolling onto its side during an accident can lead to terrible consequences, potentially trapping vehicles and injured car occupants underneath the truck.
Rear-End Collisions
You cannot compare getting rear-ended by a truck to a rear-end collision with another car. The sheer weight and size of a truck have the potential to do significant damage to a car and its occupants.
Tire Blowout
Trucks regularly experience tire blowouts. Losing a tire can result in a driver having difficulty maneuvering and controlling the truck. If this happens at high speed (e.g., on a highway), it can result in fatal accidents.
Spilled Cargo
During a truck accident, cargo could fall onto the roadway, especially if somebody improperly loaded it. Losing cargo can result in further accidents. Hazardous cargo spills also cause adverse health effects to those involved in the accident.
Underride Accidents
Underride truck accidents, when a car slides underneath a truck, are particularly horrific. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), half of all deaths in fatal large truck crashes resulted from underride. Car occupants who survive the accident will likely suffer permanent and disabling injuries.
If you suffered the emotional and physical consequences of getting into a crash with a large commercial truck, you might want to contact your Austin truck accident lawyer for help recovering compensation for your injuries.
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Compensation You Could Recover
If you suffered injuries and property damage in a truck accident that you did not cause, you could recover compensation. While proving fault in a truck accident could require extensive research and detective work, this should not put you off fighting for your due. An Austin truck accident attorney can handle your entire case. If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries and other damages, they should pay and not you. Compensation could include awards for:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
You might have other damages due to you, depending on your injuries and the circumstances of your accident.
Wrongful Death
If your loved one died in an accident with a truck, you could ask your lawyer whether you could file a wrongful death lawsuit. Receiving compensation for a loved one’s death can help a family immensely with their financial obligations, primarily if they relied on the deceased’s income and benefits.
In a wrongful death lawsuit, you could receive various types of compensation, including:
- Burial and funeral expenses
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of companionship
Keep in mind that under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003, you have two years to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. An attorney can help you file your suit before the deadline hits.
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Ben Crump Law, PLLC, Can Fight for You
Getting stuck with damages after a truck accident that you didn’t cause is unfair. Ben Crump Law, PLLC, can potentially help you hold the responsible parties to account and recover what you deserve.
Truck accident cases can become convoluted and technical. Moreover, trucks must comply with various state and federal regulations that the driver or trucking company might have violated in your case. An Austin truck accident lawyer knows the applicable laws and how to compile the relevant evidence necessary to prove your case.
We do not charge any upfront attorney’s fees and only get paid if you recover an award. Contact us today at (844) 430-1030 for a free case review where we can address your concerns and questions comprehensively.
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