Victims of truck accidents in Houston receive injuries that change their lives forever, have less money due to lost wages, and incur higher and higher expenses. These victims are normally traumatized and do not know what to do after the accident. A personal injury attorney protects the victims’ rights and obtains the justice they deserve. This pamphlet explains how the attorney represents you from the first day so that you receive what you deserve.
Understanding Truck Accidents in Houston
Truck accidents are unlike typical car collisions. The weight and size of an 18-wheeler render the truck useless. The victims can get severely hurt with broken backs, broken bones, or head injuries. There are typically multiple responsible parties involved — insurance companies, trucking companies, and drivers. A Houston truck accident lawyer knows how to handle such a case. They examine all the possibilities, gather pertinent evidence, and try to pursue all those who are responsible.
Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer After a Truck Accident
After a truck accident, the insurance firms rush to settle with low payments. Pay as little as possible is the motto. They would offer a lowball or try blaming the victim. The majority of the victims settle for unjust payments in the absence of legal consultation. An expert lawyer protects you from all such gimmicks. The lawyer contacts insurers, obtains medical reports, and calculates the total value of your damages. You stand a good opportunity to get rightful compensation if you engage the services of an attorney.
How a Lawyer Builds a Strong Truck Accident Case
Every truck wreck case begins with a thorough investigation. Lawyers receive police reports, driver logs, driver histories, and repair records. Lawyers also retain accident reconstruction specialists to reconstruct the collision.
Some of the key steps include:
Checking black box information on the truck.
- Discovering if driver tiredness or regulatory violations were at fault.
- Confirming records of neglect repairs for upkeep.
- Obtaining witness statements and camera footage.
These actions induce fault and induce the total sum of your damages.
Compensation You Can Recover After a Truck Accident
Victims of truck accidents are entitled to different types of compensation. An attorney makes sure you do not miss any.
You might be compensated for:
- Hospital stay and medical treatment.
- Rehabilitation or therapy lasting beyond the accident.
- Loss of earning capacity and loss of income.
- Pain, trauma, and emotional distress.
- Damage to property.
In wrongful death, the families can recover for loss of companionship and funeral expenses.
Causes of Houston Truck Accidents
Most truck accidents result from preventable mistakes. Some of the most common are:
- Distracted or fatigued driving.
- Overloaded or inadequately loaded cargo.
- Defective or failed brakes or failure to maintain brakes.
- Excessive speed or illegal lane change.
- Drunk driving.
These figures are used by lawyers to prove negligence and preventability of the crash.
How the Lawyer Handles Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are well-looking initially. They do have profits, not victims, to work for them nonetheless. They employ adjusters in order to keep claim amounts low or to reject them. Your lawyer has dealt with such companies previously. They fend off low settlements, provide quality case facts, and won’t settle until you get a fair amount. This cover guards your rights from unfair coercion.
Proving Negligence in a Houston Truck Accident Case
For you to succeed in your case, your attorney has to prove negligence. That is, prove that the truck driver or company did not act responsibly.
Four parts of negligence:
- Duty – The driver owed a duty to follow traffic laws and safety rules.
- Breach – They breached that duty, say, by driving drowsy or distracted.
- Causation – Their actions led to your injuries.
- Damages – You suffered personal or financial harm.
A professional attorney joins the dots with concrete evidence to win your case.
When to Use a Truck Accident Lawyer
Don’t wait after the crash. Texas law limits how long you have to wait to file a claim. Acting quickly saves evidence and witness information.
You should visit a lawyer if:
- You suffer severe injuries.
- The trucking company is blaming you.
- Insurance won’t pay reasonably.
- You lost a loved one in a trucking crash.
Acting quickly saves your case and ensures your win.
What You Can Expect From Your Attorney
When you hire a Houston personal injury lawyer, you’re hiring legal representation. You are hiring a recovery partner. They:
- Handle all forms and deadlines.
- Handle negotiations with insurance companies.
- Hire them to represent you in court, if necessary.
- Stay in touch with you step by step.
Most personal injury lawyers represent cases on a contingency fee. That is, you don’t pay if they lose your case.
What to Do If You Are Involved in a Truck Accident
It does matter what you do immediately after an accident. These things make your lawyer stronger your case:
- Call 911 and seek medical attention.
- Get pictures of the scene and the vehicles.
- Obtain witnesses’ names and contact information.
- Don’t apologize or try to negotiate with the truck driver.
- Call a lawyer before you speak with insurance adjusters.
These actions protect your claim and your right to complete recovery.
Securing Your Rights in a Houston Truck Accident Claim
Your rights matter. There are battalions of attorneys working on behalf of trucking companies and insurance companies. You want someone who fights just as hard for you.
A personal injury lawyer:
- Protects you from being treated unfairly.
- Protects your case from diminishing value.
- Pays you not to be bullied into unequal settlements.
- Ensures your healing process and emotional healing.
Their role is simple — to see that justice prevails and you are given what is rightfully yours.
Final Thoughts
Truck accident claims are scary. Agony, hospital stays, and bewilderment can overwhelm anyone. But with the right attorney, you need not go through it all alone. A Houston personal injury attorney fights your cause and fair compensation, and helps you regain your life after a disastrous collision.
FAQs
1. What is the Texas statute of limitations to bring a truck accident claim?
You generally have two years from the wreck date to file in Texas. Early filing will better serve to preserve important evidence.
2. Was I partially at fault for causing the trucking accident?
You can still recover damages under Texas’s “proportionate fault” rule if you’re less than 51% at fault.
3. How much is my trucking accident case worth?
It’s based on your injuries, lost income, and long-term impact. Your lawyer goes through all the details to set a fair value.
4. Will my case go to trial?
The majority settle before trial. But if the insurer won’t pay fairly, your lawyer will take it to trial.
5. How much does a Houston truck accident lawyer cost?
They primarily work for a contingency fee, therefore, you don’t pay even a single penny. They are paid only when you win.
