Brownsville Truck Accident Lawyers

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

The primary distinguishing feature is a truck’s size and weight compared to a passenger vehicle. A semi hauling a fully loaded trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Compared to cars and light trucks that weigh in at 2,400-5,000 pounds, a truck is about 33 times heavier. Though equipment failure or component defects can be an issue, conduct by the operator is usually behind these incidents. Examples include:

• Inexperience;
• Violations of Texas’ rules of the road;
• Cell phone use, including talking, texting, surfing the internet, or posting on social media;
• Additional forms of distracted driving, such as eating, drinking, or operating the radio;
• Failure to properly load or secure cargo onto the trailer;
• Drunk or drugged driving;
• Speeding;
• Failure to properly maintain and inspect the truck and its systems;
• Drowsy driving or failure to comply with regulations regarding house of service; and,
• Many others.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

Due to the size differential, victims will typically sustain much more serious, life-threatening injuries. Some of the more common injuries can lead to temporary or permanent disability, such as:

• Head injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion;
• Trauma to the neck, back, and spinal cord;
• Burns, especially if the truck was hauling flammable chemicals or other hazardous substances;
• Internal organ injuries, either through penetrating objects or blunt trauma;
• Amputation of extremities;
• Broken bones;
• Ligament sprains;
• Muscle strains;
• Deep cuts, bruises, and abrasions;
• Soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash; and,
• Other bodily harm depending on the severity of the truck collision.

Compensation in Truck Accident Claims

Another reason truck crashes can be complex is that there are often multiple parties involved. In a typical motor vehicle accident, you may be dealing with the other driver and an insurance company. In a truck collision, it’s likely that you’ll be up against:

• The truck driver’s employer;
• A trucking company, if the truck operator is an independent contractor that rents the truck;
• Any other legal entity that’s in an agency or employment relationship with the truck driver;
• Educational or licensing facilities that may have failed to properly train the operator; and,
• Every insurance company that provides coverage for these individuals and entities.

After any truck accident, you and your family will also face several, unanticipated expenses. The medical bills alone can add up to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. On top of the medical expenses, you will likely be out of work for some time. Or, you may even be unable to return to work. If you lost a parent or spouse, you might now need to go on without their entire income. The financial impact of a truck accident can be incredible, which is why you need to work with a Brownsville truck accident lawyer to recover compensation.

The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers will fight for you to recover the damages caused by your:

• Medical Expenses
• Lost Wages
• Pain and Suffering
• Emotional Distress and Mental Anguish
• Disfigurement
• Physical Limitations
• Lost Earning Capacity

Dealing with an Insurance Company

There are always challenges in seeking compensation from an insurer. These hurdles are even more substantial when you’re filing a claim with an insurance company in the trucking industry. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires drivers, trucking companies, and related entities to carry sizeable insurance policies.

On the low end, trucks carrying regular cargo must be insured up to $300,000 for bodily injury. However, semis hauling hazardous materials must carry up to $5 million to cover the losses of victims injured in truck accidents. This means that the stakes are higher for these insurance companies. They could be on the hook for up to $5 million, so you can be sure the insurer will fight a truck accident claim every step of the way.

Considering all these factors, it’s important to work with an attorney that focuses on truck accident law in Texas. The trucking accident lawyers at The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers are experienced in handling these complicated issues, and we often go up against tough insurance companies. We have secured millions of dollars for thousands of previous clients, and you can be confident that we won’t consider a truck accident settlement unless it fully compensates you for your losses.

What To Do After a Truck Accident

You may be traumatized in the immediate aftermath of a crash, so some helpful information may provide guidance on what to do after being hit by a truck. If you’re injured severely, you may need to pick up some of these tasks when you’re physical able, or get assistance from a loved one. Some of these tips are practical, while others are focused on protecting your rights to a potential truck accident claim.

• Check yourself and other passengers for injuries.
• Contact police or 911, using your best judgment on what response is necessary from authorities.
• Seek medical care, depending on the nature of your injuries. If you don’t require emergency treatment, you should still head to an urgent care center. When it’s impractical or impossible to see a doctor the same day, visit a provider within 48 hours.
• Contact your own insurance company to report the accident, but only give the basics.

Before you proceed any further, reach out to a semi-truck accident attorney to set up a consultation. Your lawyer will handle the claim from there. You put your interests in jeopardy by contacting the truck driver’s insurer. The claims adjuster will likely be in a hurry to swiftly resolve the matter and get you to release all future claims. Dealing with an insurer is a job for an experienced truck accident attorney who knows the tricks these companies use to convince you to give up your rights.

Benefits of Hiring a Truck Accident Attorney

At The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers, our Brownsville truck accident attorneys provide solid legal support and assistance at all phases of an injury claim. Though the details may vary based upon your unique circumstances, we will be diligently working as you’re recovering.

From the moment that The Law Giant is on your side, we will be:

• Investigating the truck crash, to ensure we have sufficient proof to identify the at-fault parties and establish liability;
• Developing a legal strategy based on the relevant law, and applying it to the circumstances of your truck accident;
• Consulting with professionals, including physicians that examine your medical records and financial analysts that assess how your income was affected;
• Preparing claim forms and assembling essential documentation to support your claim;
• Communicating with the insurance company’s claims adjuster regarding a truck accident settlement offer, counteroffer, and ongoing negotiations;
• Filing a lawsuit in court if we’re unable to reach an appropriate settlement truck accident compensation; and,
• Anything else necessary to protect your interests in a truck crash claim.

Most Dangerous Roads in Brownsville for Truck Crashes

Truck drivers primarily use highways that allow them to move through metropolitan areas like Brownsville quickly and without traffic signals. This is true for US Interstates 169 and 69 East, which are heavily trafficked by semi-truck drivers. These roadways offer smooth routes for operators hauling to and from Harlingen, South Padre Island, and throughout Cameron County, TX.

However, there are other dangerous roadways and intersections around Brownsville where you should use extra caution while driving, including:

• The northwest area of the city, where I-69 East connects up with US Interstate 2;
• The junction of I-169 and I-69E, just west of Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park;
• Downtown Brownsville along International Boulevard; and,
• Highway 83 as it heads south and out of town.

Brownsville Trucking Accidents Statistics

One-third of all semi-trucks in the US are registered to companies or individuals in just three states, including Texas. In fact, the Texas Department of Transportation reports some notable statistics on Brownsville trucking accidents, including:

• Two people were killed in fatal crashes in 2016;
• That same year, three serious truck accidents caused severe injuries for five victims; and,
• Even minor truck crashes present a risk for Brownsville motorists, as there were 62 collisions involving trucks and 96 people were hurt as a result.

Truck Accident Resources in Brownsville, TX

There are some local resources that can help you reduce your risk of a truck accident, but others can be useful if you’ve been in a crash. They include:

• Drive Texas, which provides up-to-the-minute reports on traffic and road conditions;
• The Texas Department of Transportation website, where you can search for traffic-related issues by county, highway or route number, and type of issue that’s affecting traffic;
• The City of Brownsville’s Online Police Reporting system, if you want to provide information on an accident; and,
• The Brownsville Police Department website, which allows you to submit truck crash information and print out a copy of the report for your records.