PRACTICE AREAS
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 a Houston Truck Accident?
A large commercial truck, such as a tractor-trailer manufactured by Freightliner, Kenworth, Mack, or Peterbilt, may be 20 times the size of a conventional passenger vehicle when pulling a trailer. Given the extreme difference between the weight and mass of commercial trucks and standard passenger cars, it is not difficult to imagine how dangerous it is for the passengers of a standard car when they get in an accident with a big rig-- not to mention the impacts on pedestrians, motorcyclists, or bicyclists.
Commercial Driver and Truck Regulations
Large truck accident cases are quite a bit different from other automobile accident cases. Particularly, commercial vehicles and drivers are regulated more rigorously than regular cars and drivers.
Because of the inherent danger that these big vehicles pose to other drivers, there are numerous laws and regulations at both the federal and state level to ensure that truck drivers are safe.
These laws include:
Texas commercial truck regulations include:
There are additional regulations regarding the transportation of dangerous materials. All of these rules and regulations are regularly being updated and revised to reflect the discovery of new risks and the development of new safety equipment.
Reasons for Houston Truck Accidents
Semi-truck collisions are serious business. Due to the size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle, it is crucial that truck drivers are safe. Nevertheless, just like any other automobile crash reason, there are some things that tend to increase the odds of a semi-truck collision.
Common reasons for truck accidents include:
Common Injuries from a Houston Truck Accident
Semi-truck crashes have a tendency to result in more severe injuries than a collision involving two regular-sized cars. This is because the force behind a semi-truck is much greater. Semi-truck accidents have been known to result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, back and neck injuries, fractures, lacerations and scars, internal injuries, and much more.
In some cases individuals leave truck accidents uninjured or with only minor injuries. However, others will suffer severe injuries and may have pain, suffering, and disability. They often have enormous medical expenses as well.
What Compensation Can I Receive from a Truck Accident?
After a truck accident, you're likely going to have medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering. You might be worried regarding how you're going to handle these challenges. This is where an experienced truck accident attorney can help. He or she can handle your injury case thoroughly, and make sure you get maximum compensation for your injuries.
If a truck accident causes injuries, you might be qualified to recuperate both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages refer to losses with a monetary value associated with them. This includes:
Non-economic damages refer to losses that do not have an exact monetary value associated with them. They are subjective and negotiable. These types of damages include:
The amount one can recuperate for non-economic damages differs. It depends on the severity of the injury (or injuries) and how much your life has changed due to the accident. The amount is negotiated by your lawyer and the insurance company, or a judge and jury in court. Your attorney will use their previous experience, and past settlements and jury verdicts when making settlement demands.
If You Have Been Injured in a Truck Accident, the Houston Truck Accident Lawyers 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 collisions and injuries. The unfortunate reality is that some trucking companies and drivers fail to comply with the guidelines and regulations that exist to keep the roadways safe.
When drivers and companies are under economic pressure to meet deadlines or to complete contracts, they can make poor choices that affect the safety of others, such as foregoing inspections, overloading trailers, operating without required safety equipment, or committing similar infractions. And more often than not, the outcome of these bad choices is a crash.
A qualified truck accident lawyer in the Houston area knows all of the unique factors 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 motorists, and we are thorough in assessing the possible causes and concerns that might affect issues of liability for commercial trucks.
Even if the trucking company involved is based out of state, or the case may involve independent drivers, rented vehicles, maintenance contracts, and so on, at Dunk Law Firm, we have the resources and expertise to get results. The unfortunate fact is that large truck accidents often involve very serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and long-term disability, and even death. If you are hurt in a crash 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 comprehensive and timely inquiries into the facts and elements that apply in commercial trucking claims.
