Truck accidents can be some of the most devastating motor vehicle accidents. The injuries motorists and pedestrians sustain are often extremely serious. In many cases, truck accidents are fatal for the drivers of other vehicles. The sheer weight and scale of semi trucks, 18-wheelers, and big-rig commercial vehicles does not put the odds in favor of anyone driving a regular vehicle. Truck accidents can leave victims with enormous medical expenses and a long road to recovery. In many cases, injuries sustained in a truck accident can be life-altering and leave permanent damage.
If you got in a truck accident near Garland, TX, our attorneys are ready to assist you. We are seasoned attorneys who have represented many plaintiffs involved in truck accidents. When you work with us, we tailor our services to fit your unique situation and work toward the best legal outcome for you. We can negotiate with insurance companies, speak with adverse parties to reach a settlement agreement, or file a lawsuit to fight for you in court. Our singular goal is to get you the help you need and the compensation you deserve.
Call our truck accident lawyers with The Queenan Law Firm, P.C., at (817) 476-1797 to have a free case review.
Causes of Truck Accidents in Garland, TX
Truck accidents happen for a variety of reasons. While you might think the specific cause of a truck accident is unimportant, it is actually a critical piece of information for our lawyers to build a strong case for you. In law, you can only recover damages from parties that caused your injuries. How a truck accident happened can be very important in determining who is liable for your injuries. In fact, if multiple parties played a role in causing your truck accident, you may be able to sue multiple parties in the same lawsuit.
Negligent Driving
One of the most common causes of truck accidents is driver negligence. In law, negligence is when somebody does not act as a reasonable person would, and their unreasonable conduct causes your injuries.
There are many ways that a truck driver could be negligent. First, a trucker could ignore basic traffic rules just like any other driver. A truck driver can be negligent if they are speeding, do not stop and red lights, fail to use turn signals, or drive aggressively or dangerously.
Additionally, there are special rules and laws that truckers must follow to stay safe. These rules are in place because trucks are dangerous. Many of these rules govern how long a trucker is allowed to drive at once before they must take a break. For example, a truck driver is required to take a 30-minute break after driving eight hours consecutively. Additionally, truckers cannot drive more than 11 hours in a day without ten consecutive hours of break beforehand. If you suspect that your injuries were the result of a truck driver ignoring safety regulations, you may have a claim against them.
Negligent Loading
A truck driver disregarding the rules of the road or trucking safety standards is not the only way that a truck accident can happen. Trucks carry a lot of stuff in their rear compartments or trailers. If it is not loaded correctly, it could cause the truck to become top-heavy and off-balance. This could make an otherwise safe driving maneuver result in the truck rolling over or moving in an unnatural fashion. Both of those things could seriously injure somebody.
Because improperly loaded cargo can lead to accidents, there are rules in place that dictate how it should be loaded. Everything must be tied down and properly secured in accordance with these regulations. If these standards were not followed, you could have a claim against the trucking company or the trucker in your lawsuit.
Negligent Inspection
If a truck is not properly inspected and maintained, an accident could easily result. Without timely and proper inspections, manufacturing defects can pop up in commercial trucks. A manufacturing defect is something that goes wrong in the construction or maintenance process of a truck. Examples include hairline cracks in key components and faulty airbags. These types of problems should be fixed by routine inspections, but if they are not found, and an accident results, those responsible for the inspection could be liable in a lawsuit. This often means suing the trucking company that owns the vehicle.
When Do I Need to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Garland, TX?
You should file your truck accident lawsuit as soon as possible. Each state has a law called the statute of limitations that puts a time limit on how long you have to sue another party for your injuries. In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits, which includes truck accident lawsuits, is two years per Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003. It is important to get in contact with our truck accident lawyers quickly because once the statute of limitations runs out, courts will no longer hear your case, and you will not be able to recover any damages from anyone, even if they would be liable.
The statutory period to file a lawsuit can be paused under some limited circumstances. If you have what is called a “legal disability” when you are injured, the statutory period can be paused temporarily until you are no longer legally disabled. A legal disability is not necessarily a physical or mental condition. Instead, it refers to criteria and conditions that would prevent someone from filing a lawsuit. These criteria are outlined in Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.022. For example, if you are under the age of 18 when you get in a truck accident, the statutory period would start when you turn 18 years old because minors cannot file lawsuits independently. Alternatively, serving in the armed forces (i.e., you are deployed) during a time of war also pauses the statutory period, as does having a serious mental disability that prevents you from filing.
Our Garland, TX Truck Accident Lawyers Are Ready to Help
Call (817) 476-1797 to talk about your case with The Queenan Law Firm, P.C.’s truck accident lawyers today.