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At Dunk Law Firm, we truly care about each and every one of our clients. We know that being involved in an unexpected accident or losing a loved one in a tragic incident is overwhelming. We're here to help.
MEET THE TEAMcontact usHave You Been Hurt in an Austin Truck Accident?
A large commercial truck, such as a tractor-trailer manufactured by Freightliner, Kenworth, Mack, or Peterbilt, might be 20 times the size of a traditional passenger car when pulling a trailer. Given the extreme difference between the weight and mass of commercial trucks and standard passenger vehicles, it is not tough to imagine how dangerous it is for the occupants of a standard vehicle when they get in a collision with an eighteen-wheeler-- not to mention the effects on pedestrians, motorcyclists, or bicyclists.
Commercial Driver and Truck Regulations
Large truck accident cases are quite a bit different from other vehicle accident cases. Particularly, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated more stringently than standard automobiles and drivers.
Due to the inherent risk that these huge vehicles present to other motorists, there are several laws and regulations at both the federal and state level to make sure that truck drivers are safe.
These laws include:
There are additional regulations regarding the transport of hazardous materials. All of these policies and regulations are constantly being updated and revised to reflect the discovery of new dangers and the development of new safety equipment.
Reasons for Austin Truck Accidents
Semi-truck collisions are serious business. Because of the size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger car, it is crucial that truck drivers are safe. Nevertheless, much like any other automobile accident cause, there are some factors that have a tendency to increase the odds of a semi-truck crash.
Common causes of truck accidents involve:
Prevalent Injuries from an Austin Truck Accident
Semi-truck crashes have a tendency to cause more severe injuries than a collision involving two regular-sized vehicles. This is because the force behind a semi-truck is much greater. Semi-truck accidents have been known to cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, back and neck injuries, fractures, lacerations and scars, internal injuries, and more.
Occasionally people walk away from truck accidents unscathed or with only minor injuries. However, others will sustain serious injuries and may have pain, suffering, and disability. They often have enormous medical expenses also.
What Compensation Can I Get from a Truck Accident?
After a truck accident, you're probably going to have medical bills, lost wages, as well as pain and suffering. You might be worried concerning how you're going to handle these challenges. This is where a qualified truck accident lawyer can help. He or she can handle your injury claim thoroughly, and make sure you get maximum compensation for your injuries.
If a truck accident causes injuries, you may be eligible to recuperate both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages refer to losses with a monetary value associated with them. This consists of:
Non-economic damages refer to losses that do not have a precise monetary value associated with them. They are subjective and negotiable. These kinds of damages consist of:
The amount one can recuperate for non-economic damages varies. It depends on the extent of the injury (or injuries) and how much your life has changed because of the crash. The amount is negotiated by your attorney and the insurance company, or a judge and jury in court. Your attorney will use his or her prior experience, and previous settlements and jury verdicts when making settlement demands.
If You Have Been Hurt in a Truck Accident, the Austin Truck Accident Attorneys at Dunk Law Firm Can Help
At Dunk Law Firm, we believe commercial drivers and trucking companies must be held accountable when they are responsible for causing accidents and injuries. The unfortunate reality is that some trucking companies and drivers fail to abide by the rules and regulations that are there to maintain the roads safe.
When drivers and companies are under economic pressure to meet deadlines or to complete contracts, they can make bad choices that impact the safety of others, such as foregoing inspections, overloading trailers, operating without required safety equipment, or committing similar infractions. And generally, the outcome of these bad choices is a crash.
An expert truck accident attorney in the Austin area knows all of the unique considerations that may be relevant in truck accident claims. At Dunk Law Firm, we are familiar with both Texas and federal commercial motor carrier regulations concerning vehicles and drivers, and we are thorough in investigating the potential causes and concerns that may affect issues of liability for commercial trucks.
Even if the trucking company involved is based out of state, or the claim might involve independent drivers, leased vehicles, maintenance contracts, etc, at Dunk Law Firm, we have the resources and experience to get results. The sad reality is that large truck accidents often involve very serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and permanent disablement, or even death. If you are hurt in a wreck involving a large truck, it is important for you to partner with a law firm that has the ability to fight large companies, large insurance providers, and the law firms that defend them, and that has the resources to make thorough and timely inquiries into the facts and aspects that apply in commercial trucking cases.
