Houston Truck Accident Lawyers

Legal Counsel for the Seriously Injured

Being in a truck accident will take you off balance. Even if you were not seriously injured, you will still have so much to deal with in the aftermath. You should be paid compensation for your losses if you did not cause the crash, but the truck driver, their employer, and their insurance company will not want to cooperate much. What can you do to get everything under control and in order?

Pick up the phone and dial (800) 691-2363 to connect with the Houston truck accident attorneys of Robins Cloud LLP right now. Our entire team is here to support you during this difficult time. We would be honored to build your case and seek compensation on your behalf. For more than 30 years, we have been fighting trucking companies and insurance corporations for injured clients—and winning. Let’s see if we can continue this successful tradition with your truck accident case!

We can put in the hard work for your truck accident claim. Contact us online to learn more.

Truck Driver Negligence

If you were hit by a negligent truck driver, we need to be able to prove it. No matter how confident you are that you did nothing wrong, backing your statements with tangible evidence of truck driver negligence will be helpful. Let our team investigate the details of your truck accident, so we can see what the truck driver did wrong to cause the wreck.

Truck accidents can be caused by various forms of negligence and hazards, such as:

• Exhaustion: Many truck drivers succumb to exhaustion in the middle of a shift because they can be given 14-hour shifts without violating labor laws. We can check how long the truck driver was working before they hit you, which could indicate that exhaustion was a significant contributing factor.
• Impairment: Some truck drivers make the mistake of using drugs like off-the-shelf daytime medicine to stay awake and fight exhaustion. The problem is that even commonplace medicines can cause various side effects like fogginess or a lack of focus. This impairment could be all it takes to cause a truck accident.
• Inexperience: New truck drivers should be given ample training sessions from their employers, especially before they start taking long routes by themselves. An inexperienced truck driver can have trouble controlling their vehicle due to its massive size, which puts everyone else on the road in danger.
• Speeding: Excessive speed reduces a driver's ability to react to changing road conditions and increases the severity of accidents. Speeding is a common cause of truck accidents.
• Aggressive Driving: Aggressive behaviors like tailgating, road rage, and aggressive passing can lead to dangerous situations and accidents. Aggressive driving is especially concerning given the size and weight of commercial trucks.
• Failure to Adhere to Hours of Service Regulations: Federal regulations, known as hours of service (HOS) rules, restrict the number of hours a truck driver can spend behind the wheel within a specific time period. Violating these regulations can lead to driver fatigue and increased accident risk.
• Inadequate Training: Truck drivers must undergo proper training to operate large commercial vehicles safely. Inexperienced or inadequately trained drivers may not have the skills necessary to handle complex road situations.
• Maintenance Neglect: Truck drivers are responsible for conducting pre-trip inspections and reporting any issues. Neglecting vehicle maintenance or failing to address mechanical problems can lead to equipment failures and accidents.
• Overloaded or Improperly Loaded Cargo: Incorrectly loaded or unbalanced cargo can affect the stability and handling of the truck, leading to accidents. Overloaded trucks can also have longer stopping distances.
• Failure to Obey Traffic Laws: Ignoring traffic signals, stop signs, and other road rules can lead to accidents. Running red lights or stop signs and failing to yield the right-of-way are examples of traffic law violations.
• Unsafe Lane Changes and Merging: Inadequate signaling and checking blind spots when changing lanes or merging onto highways can result in accidents, especially given the limited visibility from a truck's high vantage point.
• Tailgating: Following too closely to other vehicles reduces reaction time and increases the risk of rear-end collisions, which are common in truck accidents.
• Inadequate Rest and Breaks: Truck drivers are required to take rest breaks and sleep according to the hours of service regulations. Failure to do so can lead to driver fatigue and impaired performance.

Figuring Out Liability

In addition to the truck driver, there are several parties that can potentially be held liable in a truck accident, as these accidents often involve multiple factors and entities.

Liability in a truck accident may extend to:

• Trucking Company: The trucking company that employs the truck driver can be held liable if it can be demonstrated that the company's negligence or policies contributed to the accident. This could include factors like inadequate driver training, scheduling demands that encourage speeding or fatigue, or improper vehicle maintenance.
• Truck Owner: If the truck involved in the accident is owned by a party different from the driver or the trucking company, the owner may share liability, especially if they were responsible for maintenance and safety checks.
• Maintenance and Repair Companies: Companies or individuals responsible for maintaining and repairing the truck can be liable if inadequate maintenance or subpar repairs were factors in the accident. This includes issues like brake failure or tire blowouts.
• Truck Manufacturer: If a defective vehicle component, such as faulty brakes or tires, contributes to the accident, the manufacturer of that component may be held liable. In some cases, the truck manufacturer itself may be liable if the accident was caused by a design or manufacturing defect in the entire vehicle.
• Cargo Loaders and Shippers: If the accident is linked to improperly loaded or secured cargo, the companies or individuals responsible for loading and securing the cargo may be held liable. Overloaded or unbalanced cargo can lead to instability and accidents.
• Parts Manufacturers: Manufacturers of specific truck parts, like tires or brakes, could be held liable if a defect in their product contributed to the accident.
• Government Entities: In some cases, accidents may be caused by poorly maintained or designed roadways. If government entities fail to address hazardous road conditions, they could be held liable for accidents that occur as a result.
• Third-Party Drivers: Other drivers on the road who act negligently and contribute to the accident can also be held liable. For example, a passenger vehicle driver who cuts off a truck and causes a collision could share liability.

The party that owes you compensation for your damages is the “liable” one. In a truck accident case, the liable party is usually the insurance company that covers the truck driver and/or the trucking company that employed them.

In Texas, there is a modified comparative negligence rule for truck accident cases and injury claims. This rule allows you to seek a financial recovery from another party as long as your liability for the accident does not exceed 50%. Also, any compensation you can seek will be reduced by your liability percentage, so it is important to keep your liability as low as possible.

Severe Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents

The massive size of a commercial truck creates literal tons of force in an impact. It is not surprising that this force can cause catastrophic injuries in an instant. We are here to help you seek compensation and get the medical treatments you require, no matter what type of injury or injuries you have suffered.

Some of the worst injuries caused by truck accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Back or spine injury
• Bone fracture
• Internal organ damage

Truck accident survivors can also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms caused by the crash. For example, an affected driver might feel stress and anxiety whenever driving near a big rig. Or the driver might be unwilling to drive on the highway out of fear of encountering a semi-truck. When working on your case, we will want to consider all your injuries, both physical and emotional or mental. Everything adds to the value of your case.

Compensation for Truck Accident Claimants

The value of a truck accident claim can be significant. It depends on how badly you were injured and how that injury has affected your daily life. We have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients throughout the years, so you know you can trust your case to our team.

The damages that add to your truck accident claim’s value could include:

• Past and future medical care
• Lost wages
• Reduced income capacity
• Permanent disability benefits
• Lowered enjoyment of life
• Pain and suffering

Our Houston truck accident attorneys can help if you lost a loved one in a wreck caused by a negligent or reckless truck driver. Instead of a personal injury claim, you would file a wrongful death claim in the name of the late loved one, which pursues many of the same damages.

Strong Representation for Every Client – Call Now

Our Houston truck accident lawyers are here to support you when it seems like everything is stacking up against you. With our experience, talents, and resources, we are prepared to take any truck accident case and see it through to the end. If you’ve been harmed, choose the team that won’t back down. Choose Robins Cloud LLP.

Get a free consultation. Start by dialing (800) 691-2363.

Truck Accident FAQ

• What insurance policies do truck drivers carry?
  Most truck drivers and trucking companies are covered by commercial liability insurance policies. In the event of an accident, this insurance policy will be used to protect both the truck driver and the trucking company from direct financial liability. As such, your case will most likely pit you against an insurance company and its legal representatives.
• How are truck accidents different from car accidents?
  Truck accidents are mostly different from car accidents because semi-trucks are so much bigger and heavier than passenger vehicles. The massive size and weight differences make the outcome of a truck accident much more severe. The risk of catastrophic injuries will be much higher.
• Will I get a good settlement offer after a truck accident?
  If it seems clear that the truck accident was not your fault, then you might receive a settlement offer sooner than you expect. However, the first settlement offer is rarely a good one. An insurance company typically lowballs the amount to see if the claimant will accept it, saving the insurer money. Before you accept an offer, you should always let a truck accident attorney review it.