Dallas Truck Accident Lawyers 

Experienced Legal Representation for Truck Accident Victims in Texas

Every year, half a million truck accidents occur in the United States. That’s 500,000 reasons to call a truck accident lawyer in Dallas immediately! Regardless of whether you’ve been involved in an accident with a cargo vehicle or an 18-wheeler, the results can be the same: horrific injuries and irreparable car damage. Now, more than ever, you need professional help.

If you have been involved in a truck accident, there’s no time to waste. Hire a truck accident attorney, Dallas, to fight on your behalf. At J. Alexander Law Firm, we stand by the side of accident victims who have sustained life-altering injuries because of a truck accident. We know what it takes to hold liable parties accountable, and we have obtained a remarkable record of success in doing so. We have recovered more than $10 million on behalf of our clients, and we aren’t afraid to take whatever path we need to do the same for you, including taking your case to court if necessary. We’re proud to be an official sponsor of the Dallas Mavericks! 

Have you or a loved one been hurt in a truck accident in Dallas? Call J. Alexander Law Firm today at (214) 206-3264 or contact us online to discuss your case and find out what steps to take next. Your rights and recovery are our top priority!

Common Types of Truck Accidents 

A truck accident refers to a collision or incident involving large commercial vehicles, such as semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, or other large freight carriers. These accidents often result in severe damage due to trucks' massive size and weight compared to smaller vehicles. Truck accidents can occur for various reasons, including driver error, mechanical failure, or hazardous road conditions, and they tend to cause significant injuries or fatalities because of the force of impact.

Common types of truck accidents include:

• Rear-End Collisions: Occur when a truck hits the back of another vehicle, often because of a truck driver’s inability to stop in time due to the truck’s longer stopping distance.
• Jackknife Accidents: Happen when the trailer of a truck swings out to form a 90-degree angle with the cab, often caused by sudden braking, loss of control, or slippery road conditions.
• Rollover Accidents: These occur when a truck tips over onto its side or roof, usually due to sharp turns, high speeds, or overloading. Rollovers are particularly dangerous for other road users.
• Underride Accidents: In these accidents, a smaller vehicle slides underneath a truck, often because the truck stops abruptly or the smaller vehicle fails to stop in time. This type of accident can be fatal as the smaller vehicle's roof is often crushed.
• Blind Spot (No-Zone) Accidents: Trucks have large blind spots on all sides, especially on the right. Smaller vehicles driving in these "no-zone" areas risk being hit if the truck changes lanes or turns without seeing them.
• Tire Blowouts: When a truck's tire bursts, it can cause the driver to lose control, leading to a collision. Tire debris may also hit nearby vehicles, causing additional accidents.
• Head-On Collisions: These occur when a truck collides with another vehicle head-on, often resulting in catastrophic damage due to the truck’s size and speed.
• T-Bone Collisions: These happen when the front of a truck strikes the side of another vehicle, usually at intersections. These accidents can lead to severe injuries for the passengers in the struck vehicle.
• Lost Load Accidents: If cargo is not properly secured, it may fall off the truck, creating hazards for other drivers on the road and causing accidents.
• Wide Turn Accidents: Trucks need extra space to make turns, particularly right turns. If a truck swings wide into another lane or misjudges the space, it may collide with nearby vehicles.

Common Injuries Suffered in Truck Accidents

Because trucks are so much larger than an average vehicle, it is not uncommon for accidents involving trucks to also involve catastrophic injuries. Because trucks can weigh 30 times more than the average passenger car, the force involved in these accidents can often lead to severe injuries, particularly when highway speeds are involved. 

Given the severity and complexity of truck-related injuries, immediate medical attention can make a critical difference in outcomes. Victims are often unaware of hidden injuries that can escalate if left untreated. Therefore, swift medical evaluations are the foundation for pursuing a practical injury assessment and legal documentation of the event. This ensures your health and provides essential evidence in future proceedings.

Here are a few common types of serious injuries that are known to happen in truck accidents.

Neck & Spinal Injuries

Truck accidents can cause a wide range of back and neck problems, such as vertebrae slipping out of alignment or dislocating, nerves compressing, or your spinal cord being damaged. Such injuries can change your entire way of life and can be even more challenging to deal with when an accident isn’t your fault.

Surgical intervention and long-term rehabilitation might be necessary for spinal injuries, imposing a heavy financial and emotional burden on victims and their families. Identifying the signs early and obtaining MRI or CT scans can help give surgeons a roadmap before any procedures, increasing the chances of successful recovery. Legal representation can aid in claiming the costs associated with these extensive treatments, potentially covering surgery, hospital stays, and recovery therapies.

Brain & Head Injuries

While head injuries do occur from blunt trauma, plenty can also happen without it, such as those caused by whiplash or fast movement related to speeding up and slowing down rapidly. Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries are among the most severe truck accident injuries, but they are not always the most noticeable. Sometimes, it can take hours or days for symptoms like nausea, headaches, vision problems, cognitive issues, and confusion to present themselves.

The intricacies of brain injuries require specialized medical evaluation, often involving neurological assessments or neuroimaging techniques like MRIs. These assessments can provide critical insight into the extent of the brain damage, feeding into medical treatment plans and legal strategies. Early understanding of a brain injury's scope can significantly influence the evolution of therapy and rehabilitation approaches, potentially aiding in quicker recovery and adaptation to post-injury lifestyles.

Broken Bones

Among the most frequently reported are skull fractures, arm and leg fractures, vertebral fractures, and rib fractures. Some of these breaks can be easily fixed with casts, while others require surgery and sometimes even amputation if bones are crushed or damaged beyond repair.

A comprehensive treatment plan is crucial for the recovery of broken bone injuries, which may include orthopedic intervention, reconstructive surgery, and intensive physical therapy sessions. Understanding the severity of each fracture through proper diagnostics allows for customized rehabilitation plans that address both physical and psychological aspects, maximizing recovery success. In legal terms, prompt documentation of these injuries can strongly support calculations of damage claims, reflecting both present and future implications.

Organ Damage

Motorists involved in truck accidents frequently experience internal bleeding related to damage to the bladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, and liver. These injuries are not always evident straight away and can be complicated to treat. We recommend seeing a medical professional ASAP for a check-up—it could be crucial to ensure you’re not suffering from injuries like these that may be extremely serious.

Advanced imaging techniques, such as ultrasounds or CT scans, are paramount in facilitating the early detection of organ damage post-accident. Internal injuries often require intricate surgical procedures or continuous medical monitoring, significantly affecting the victim's daily life and personal finances. Legal advocacy can facilitate the recovery of expenses linked to these critical medical interventions, helping relieve ongoing financial strain and ensuring access to necessary healthcare resources.

Who Is Liable for My Truck Accident in Dallas?

Liability in a truck accident can be tricky to prove. In general, liability is assigned to the party whose negligence or failure directly caused the accident in which you were injured. However, this may not always be straightforward. Was the accident caused by a truck driver making a mistake? Or were they the victim of something on their truck going wrong? This is why you shouldn’t hesitate to retain an 18-wheeler accident lawyer in Dallas who can start working on this investigation as soon as possible. Attorneys can request legal stays to protect and preserve accident evidence and commence an investigation into things like maintenance records or operator logs to find evidence of negligence.

When assigning liability, the focus is often on factors such as proper adherence to federal safety regulations, driver rest periods, and vehicle maintenance histories. Investigating these elements requires expertise and access to specialized knowledge about the trucking industry. Understanding these nuances can help build a robust claim, ensuring that liability is established. Multifaceted litigation strategies may encompass depositions, expert witness testimonies, and a thorough review of the trucking company’s compliance with safety standards.

Here are a few parties who may be liable for the injuries you have suffered as a result of your accident:

• The other driver
• The truck operator
• The truck’s manufacturer
• The manufacturer of any critical parts or components on that truck that may have failed
• The entity responsible for maintaining the road the accident happened on

Television commercials show insurance adjusters as kind, caring people and businesses who want the best for you. The reality? Often quite the opposite. They are trained to make you admit fault to minimize how much money they must pay. While those insurance companies negotiate low settlement offers, your expenses pile up. Medical bills and lost wages are just the tip of the iceberg! You may not be experienced in handling a truck accident, but we are. Our Dallas truck accident lawyers work hard to get what you deserve. Often, that means filing a personal injury lawsuit and getting the insurance company to compensate you fairly.

Can I Recover Damages for My Truck Accident?

Depending on the nature of your truck accident, one of several parties could be liable for the damages you have sustained. Texas is a modified comparative fault state, meaning that each party’s liability is compared to one another to determine who is eligible to recover compensation for their losses. The state also has a 51% bar, meaning only those whose fault is determined to be under 51% may collect compensation. As a skilled personal injury attorney, we aim to protect your claim and demonstrate that you were not at fault for the incident.

Calculating damages extends beyond medical expenses and includes pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and potential loss of earnings. Applying a modified comparative fault rule in Texas can strongly influence the compensation one might receive, necessitating strategic analysis and presentation of your claims. Legal counsel plays a crucial part in navigating this complex system, ensuring all compensable areas are explored, and your rights are fully represented in the pursuit of justice.

What Makes Truck Accidents So Serious?

After a truck accident, you might feel okay. You may even think you’ve gotten off lightly. But it’s crucial to let medical professionals be the judge of that. You may look okay on the outside, but life-threatening injuries don’t always show themselves. If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, seek medical assistance immediately. An ambulance driver may even ask if you want to go to the hospital, and we recommend accepting the offer. The worst thing that can happen is that you get a clean health bill and can breathe easily. 

You may be surprised at how serious truck accident injuries can be in the short and long term. That’s why seeking assistance from a truck accident lawyer in Dallas is imperative. What starts as a small or seemingly inconsequential pain can end up as a crippling life-long health problem. Seeking counsel today could help you protect your rights for today and the future.

Truck accidents are uniquely serious compared to standard motor vehicle collisions due to the sheer size and weight of trucks and their cargo, which can amplify the severity of any crash. Additionally, the complexity of determining fault, significantly when multiple parties are involved, adds more difficulty to resolving these incidents. Prolonged physical recovery, coupled with extensive legal proceedings, often means that victims face daunting challenges that require the dedicated support of experienced legal professionals.

Dallas Trucking Regulations & Compliance

The trucking industry in Dallas operates under strict regulations designed to ensure road safety. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforce regulations that govern the hours a truck driver can operate, vehicle maintenance standards, and the qualifications needed for a commercial driver’s license. Trucking companies must adhere to these regulations to minimize the risks of accidents and liabilities. Violations can lead to severe penalties and impact the outcome of injury claims, as failing to comply with these standards often indicates negligence. For accident victims, understanding these regulations can be advantageous in identifying potential breaches when investigating an accident.

In Dallas, specific challenges such as busy commercial corridors and frequent construction can complicate compliance with these regulations. Companies that dispatch trucks must account for these factors in their safety protocols. Additionally, they must maintain up-to-date records of driver hours, vehicle inspections, and maintenance. This meticulous record-keeping can play a vital role in legal claims, as it provides documented evidence of compliance or identifies lapses that could be pivotal in determining fault.

What Should I Do Following a Truck Accident?

The moments following a truck accident can be overwhelming, yet taking prompt action is crucial to protect your health and legal rights. First, ensure your safety and that of any passengers by moving to a safe location if you're able. Call 911 immediately to report the accident and request medical assistance. Even if injuries seem minor, getting a professional evaluation is crucial, as some symptoms might not be immediately apparent.

Gather as much information as possible at the scene. This includes taking photographs of the vehicles involved, capturing license plate numbers, and noting any visible truck markings. Collect contact information from witnesses, as their accounts can be invaluable in corroborating your side of the events. Ensure you obtain the names, badge numbers, and contact details of responding law enforcement officers, along with a copy or reference number of the police report. All this information will be vital when consulting a legal professional to discuss potential claims and protection of your rights.

Don’t wait any longer to get the help you need. Reach out to our Dallas truck accident lawyers today for a free consultation and learn how we can help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions about Truck Accidents

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Truck Accident in Dallas?

In Texas, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim following a truck accident is typically two years from the accident date. This timeframe is crucial, as failing to initiate a claim within this window can forfeit your right to pursue compensation entirely. It's advisable to contact a truck accident lawyer near me as soon as possible to ensure that your claim is filed promptly and avoid any unforeseen legal delays. Seeking legal counsel early also aids in preserving evidence. It allows your attorney sufficient time to build a solid case on your behalf, mainly if negotiations with insurance companies are necessary.

How Does J. Alexander Law Firm Support Truck Accident Victims?

J. Alexander Law Firm is dedicated to supporting truck accident victims by providing personalized and comprehensive legal guidance. Our approach focuses on building strong client relationships, ensuring each client feels heard and supported through every phase of the legal journey. With a proven track record of recovering significant compensations for our clients, we thoroughly investigate each incident, employing robust legal strategies tailored to the unique circumstances of your situation. We commit to pursuing every avenue for justice and recovery, ensuring you receive the resources and compensation needed to rebuild and move forward from your accident.