Have you or someone you love been seriously hurt in a commercial vehicle crash in Houston, Texas? Commercial vehicle accidents are notoriously complex. Several parties are often involved, and the value of these cases can be quite high. Do not trust the insurance company to protect your best interests.
The Houston commercial vehicle accident attorneys at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, will offer the sound legal representation you deserve to seek fair compensation.
We have over 45 years of combined legal experience, and our firm has recovered tens of millions for our clients. We will put this expertise to work for you. Contact our law office in Houston, Texas at (713) 500-5000 for a free consultation.
How Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Houston, TX
When a serious truck or commercial vehicle accident has left you injured, the last thing you should be worried about is a stressful battle with an insurance company that tries to shift blame to you. An experienced Houston personal injury lawyer can help you protect your rights, build a strong claim, and fight for the full compensation you need to move on.
Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers will put decades of experience to work on your case. Founding attorney Brian White is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and belongs to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He has a 10.0 Superb AVVO rating and an award-winning track record, including 18-wheeler accident settlements and awards topping $2.5 million.
When you choose our firm to represent you, we will:
- Protect your legal rights at every stage of your case
- Conduct an independent investigation into your accident to gather evidence
- Accurately value your case and your long-term damages
- Work with top experts in multiple fields for expert testimony on causation and the value of your damages
- Fight attempts by the insurance adjuster to blame you for your accident
- Negotiate for a fair settlement offer
- Present a strong case to a jury to seek full compensation when negotiations fail
Contact our Houston, Texas law office today to discuss your case with a Houston commercial vehicle accident lawyer. Your initial consultation is free, and we work on a contingency fee basis with no out-of-pocket costs for experienced legal counsel.
For a legal consultation call (713) 500-5000
How Common Are Commercial Vehicle Accidents in Houston, TX?
In 2018 alone, 4,951 people were killed in some type of large truck crash, according to the National Safety Council. Of these fatalities, 71% were occupants in other vehicles, 18% were truck occupants, and 11% were bicyclists or pedestrians. 74% of fatal truck accidents occurred on non-interstate roads, and 57% were in rural areas.
Large commercial vehicles make up just 4% of vehicles on the road, yet they are involved in 13% of all traffic fatalities. In accidents between a large commercial vehicle and a passenger vehicle, 96% of fatalities involve occupants of the car.
There were an estimated 150,000 large truck accidents in 2018 alone that caused injuries.
Texas leads the nation in fatal truck accidents. In 2017, there were 649 fatalities in crashes involving large trucks and buses in Texas. California follows Texas with 361 fatalities.
While statistics are most readily available for commercial trucks and buses, accidents involving other commercial vehicles are also common in Texas. For example, in 2008 there were 103 fatalities and 1,453 injuries to third parties involving solid waste vehicles according to the NSWMA. These accidents usually involved backing up, rear-end collisions, or intersection accidents.
Houston Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer Near Me (713) 500-5000
What Is My Commercial Vehicle Accident Case Worth?
Every truck accident case is different. To value injury claims, we will review the circumstances of your crash and how clear causation and liability are. We will take time to value the damages you have suffered.
Some damages are easy to value, such as lost wages and property damage.
To calculate the value of your non-economic damages and future medical care, we will consider factors like:
- The type and severity of injuries
- The type of medical treatment you needed
- How long it took you to recover or whether you are left permanently impaired
- Whether you can return to work
- Any disfigurement, disability, and impairment you suffered
Contact our Houston truck accident lawyers today for a free consultation to discuss how much your accident case may be worth.
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What Kind of Damages Are Available to Commercial Vehicle Accident Victims in Texas?
Commercial vehicle accident victims are entitled to seek damages for their injuries from the at-fault parties. Depending on the circumstances of your crash, you may be entitled to a range of economic (financial) and non-economic (psychological and emotional) damages.
This includes:
- Medical bills including necessary future medical care you will need
- Lost wages
- Disability or loss of future earnings and benefits
- Pre-existing conditions that might be exacerbated because of the crash
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
During your initial consultation with Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, we will help you understand the types of damages that may be available in your case.
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Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Texas?
You are still eligible for compensation even if you are blamed for your crash or found partially to blame. Texas uses a modified comparative negligence system when fault is shared. You can recover compensation as long as you are 50% or less at fault. If you are found 51% or more to blame, however, you are barred from recovering any damages.
For every share of liability that is assigned to you, your damages will be reduced proportionally. However, the insurance company will likely try to shift any blame they can to you or other parties to reduce the amount they need to pay or even avoid liability completely.
Your commercial vehicle accident injury lawyer will help you fight back against these attempts to shift blame.
We Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Commercial Vehicle Accident Injuries
Accidents involving large commercial vehicles often result in more serious injuries than car accidents.
Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers will fight for full compensation for injuries, including:
- Amputation
- Back injuries
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Catastrophic injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Eye injuries
- Nerve damage
- Organ damage
- Seatbelt injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Wrongful death
You are entitled to compensation for your medical expenses associated with these injuries, including future medical care you will need. You may also be entitled to non-economic damages for the pain and suffering and mental anguish you have suffered.
We Handle All Commercial Truck Accidents in Houston
Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers represents victims in accidents involving all types of commercial vehicles:
- Large trucks, known as tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, or semi-trucks
- Delivery vehicles, like UPS trucks and FedEx trucks
- Box trucks
- Passenger buses
- Cargo vans
- Garbage trucks and dump trucks
- Flatbed trucks
- Tanker trucks
- Heavy haulers
- Tow trucks
Accidents involving commercial vehicles may happen for many reasons, but negligence is usually to blame.
What Causes Commercial Truck Accidents and Who’s Liable for My Injuries After a Wreck?
One of the most important studies into the cause of commercial vehicle accidents is the Large Truck Crash Causation Study.
This major national study of truck and bus collisions identified several leading factors in accidents:
- Fatigued driving. Truck drivers and trucking companies are required to obey FMCSA hours-of-service rules, but many remain on the road for too long.
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving or drugged driving
- Brake problems
- Color of the vehicle
- Unfamiliarity with the road
The study found that a driver was negligent in 87% of crashes. The vehicle was the critical event that led to a crash in 10% of cases and the environment, such as road conditions, rain, or fog, caused 3% of crashes.
Many parties may ultimately be at fault for a commercial vehicle or truck crash, including:
- Truck drivers and other commercial vehicle drivers
- The trucking company or the company that employs the driver
- The company that inspects or maintains the vehicle
- The company or person who loaded the cargo
- A manufacturer of faulty parts, like brakes
- Other drivers
Because many parties may be at fault, and fault may even be shared among several parties, an investigation of your accident is crucial. Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers will work with experts to gather and analyze evidence for expert testimony.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Houston?
An accident with a commercial vehicle will require a careful investigation and potentially expert accident reconstruction to determine causation and fault. The Houston commercial vehicle accident lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers will conduct an independent investigation.
We will gather and assess many types of evidence to prove negligence, including:
- Driver logs
- Vehicle maintenance logs
- The company’s internal logs, policies, and procedures
- FMSCA-required drug and alcohol screening tests
- Dashcam footage from the truck or surveillance footage
- The vehicle’s black box recorder
- NTSB investigation results
- Police reports
- Witness statements
Depending on the complexity of your accident, it may be necessary to work with accident reconstruction specialists and other experts to build the strongest negligence claim.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Texas?
Under Texas law, you have a limited amount of time to file a personal injury lawsuit after your accident. There is a 2-year statute of limitations for truck accident cases. This same deadline applies to wrongful death claims in Houston involving traffic accidents.
Note that your deadline to file a claim may be even shorter if your accident involved a commercial vehicle owned or operated by a city or state government. This may include garbage truck and dump truck accidents, for example.
Do not delay in pursuing your claim, as crucial evidence may be lost. Contact Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, as soon as possible so we can protect your claim and begin investigating your case.
Contact Our Houston Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
An accident involving a commercial vehicle can be devastating and leave you with financial uncertainty, a long and painful recovery, and potential disability. Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers will take over the fight with the insurance company for the fair compensation you deserve.
Contact our law firm todayat (713) 500-5000 or visit our contact us page to schedule a free case review with an aggressive Houston commercial vehicle accident attorney who will seek substantial compensation on your behalf.
Call or Text (713) 500-5000 or Complete a Case Evaluation Form