Dallas Truck Accident Lawyer

Commuting to work on I-30 in Dallas can be a nerve-racking experience when you’re driving alongside a massive semi-trailer truck. Big rigs, 18-wheelers, and other commercial vehicles can outweigh passenger vehicles by tens of thousands of pounds, and in many cases, carry toxic or flammable cargo items.

When a commercial truck causes an accident, the occupants of passenger vehicles like cars, SUVs, and vans often sustain devastating injuries. The size and weight difference between commercial and passenger vehicles makes death or serious injury a likely outcome, particularly in accidents involving factors like high speed or a head-on point of impact.

If you were hurt in a truck crash in Texas, or if you lost a loved one to a collision with a commercial truck, you and your family could be entitled to compensation for your pain, suffering, and financial losses. Get help from our experienced truck accident lawyers at The Queenan Law Firm by dialing (817) 476-1797 today.

Causes of Trucking Accidents and Injuries

Though relatively rare, some trucking accidents have nothing to do with unsafe driving, being caused instead by defective truck parts such as faulty brakes. In these types of situations, which fall under a category of personal injury law called product liability, the manufacturer of the defective product could be liable for injuries resulting from its use. In other cases, accidents are caused by negligent maintenance of a truck part. However many parties may be involved, we will carefully scrutinize your case from every angle to identify possible causes that led to your crash. When you call us for your legal consultation, we can help determine whether you might have a personal injury claim for your Dallas trucking wreck.

While equipment breakdowns and defective truck parts are occasionally responsible for accidents, most crashes are caused by driver errors. Some common mistakes and operator errors that cause avoidable commercial truck crashes in Texas include:

• Driving while distracted by text messages, smartphone apps, food, or other disturbances.
• Driving while intoxicated by drugs and/or alcohol, commonly stimulants and various “uppers” used to help truckers stay awake on long hauls.
• Exceeding federally mandated hourly driving limits, which are known as the Hours of Service (HoS).
• Failing to maintain tires, brakes, and other truck components adequately.
• Failing to perform regular safety inspections on vehicles.
• Negligently hiring drivers who have accident records.
• Speeding excessively.
• Violating traffic laws, such as running red lights.

Common Injuries Sustained in Trucking Accidents in Dallas, TX

Even when they are treatable, serious injuries can permanently alter the lives of the victims, as well as those of family members, spouses, and other loved ones. Depending on the location and severity of an injury, the victim may lose their ability to work and support themselves, destroying their career and leading to financial hardship. They may lose their mobility, requiring around-the-clock assistance from a medical caregiver. They may lose their marriage. They may substantially lose their enjoyment of daily life.

While it is impossible to ever truly “make up for” these devastating personal losses, the compensation that may be obtainable through a settlement or lawsuit can help to ease the financial burden of medical care and unemployment while providing greater stability for the victim and their loved ones. We fight hard to obtain the greatest compensation as possible for our clients, even if that means going to court.

With extensive experience handling many different practice areas and types of accidents, our personal injury lawyers have encountered all types of serious, unintentional injuries. We have a thorough understanding of how and why various injuries occur, and the complications and expenses that can result from their treatment. When necessary, we consult with medical experts to help strengthen our clients’ cases. Types of commercial trucking injury claims we handle include:

Back Injuries

• Bulging Disc
• Herniated Disc
• Vertebral Fracture (Broken Spine)

Broken Bones

• Fractured Clavicle (Broken Collarbone)
• Fractured Femur (Broken Thighbone)
• Fractured Fibula (Broken Leg)
• Fractured Humerus (Broken Arm)
• Fractured Patella (Broken Kneecap)
• Fractured Radius (Broken Forearm)
• Fractured Rib
• Fractured Tibia (Broken Shin)
• Fractured Ulna (Broken Forearm)
• Pelvic Fracture (Broken Hip)

Facial Injuries

• Ear Injuries
• Eye Injuries
• Mandibular Fracture (Broken Jaw)
• Orbital Fracture (Broken Eye Socket)
• Permanent Scarring and Disfigurement
• Tooth and Lip Injuries
• Zygomatic Fracture (Broken Cheekbone)

Hand and Wrist Injuries

• Barton’s Fracture
• Colles’ Fracture
• Joint Dislocation
• Smith’s Fracture

Other Serious Injuries and Complications

• Burn Injuries (Second Degree Burns, Third Degree Burns)
• Concussions
• Cuts and Lacerations
• Head Injuries
• Hearing Loss
• Friction/Abrasion Injuries (Road Rash)
• Neck Injuries
• Nerve Damage
• Organ Failure (Heart Failure, Lung Failure, Kidney Failure)
• Paralysis (Quadriplegia/Tetraplegia, Paraplegia)
• Soft Tissue Injuries
• Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
• Sprains (Pulled/Torn Ligaments)
• Strains (Pulled/Torn Muscles)
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Vision Loss
• Whiplash

Getting Compensated for a Truck Accident Claim in Dallas, TX

Commercial trucks are heavy, large, and difficult to stop quickly in emergency situations. As a result of these factors, catastrophic injuries and fatal injuries are tragically common outcomes when a 16-wheeler, 18-wheeler, semi-trailer, or big rig collides with a passenger vehicle. When human carelessness is added to the mix, the stage is set for disaster.

Because of the great devastation their powerful vehicles can cause, truck drivers must take great safety precautions to avoid crashes and collisions. Unfortunately, these precautions — despite being mandated by federal law — often fall by the wayside in the effort to meet deadlines and ensure a speedy turnaround. Commercial drivers who prioritize efficiency over safety are gambling with other motorists’ lives every time they get behind the wheel of their vehicle.

When commercial trucking companies permit or, in some cases, even encourage their drivers to disregard safety standards by driving excessive hours, an accident that should have been avoidable becomes all but inevitable due to fatigue. Sadly, intentional safety violations are common in the trucking industry, with even the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration noting in one safety report that “regulations that attempt to reduce fatigue are highly controversial and widely violated.”

When a truck accident in Dallas or elsewhere in Texas is caused by preventable human errors, such as a driver falling asleep at the wheel, the driver may be liable for the victim’s medical bills and other expenses. Depending on the details of the situation, liability may also extend to the trucking company that hired the driver.

Dangerous Roads for Truck Drivers Near Dallas, Texas

Most commercial trucks are carrying their cargo across state lines on long-distance journeys, which means accidents often occur on highways, interstates, and other major roads. As bustling metropolitan areas that act as hubs for energy, finance, tourism, and shopping, Dallas is heavily threaded with dense, congested highways where truck collisions with other vehicles are likely to occur.

Some common locations of truck crashes in Dallas include:

• Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway)
• I-10 (Baytown-East Freeway/Katy Freeway)
• I-20 (Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway)
• I-30 (Tom Landry Freeway)
• I-35E (Stemmons Freeway)
• I-35W (South/North Freeway)
• I-45 (Gulf Freeway)
• I-345 (North Central Expressway)
• I-610 (610 Loop)
• I-635 (Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway)
• I-820 (Jim Wright Freeway/Airport Freeway)
• US-67
• US-77
• US-80
• US-175
• US-287 (Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway)
• US-290 (Northwest Freeway)
• SH-114
• SH-121
• SH-161 (President George Bush Turnpike/PGBT)
• SH-270

Damages You Can Recover in a Dallas Truck Accident Lawsuit

There are multiple types of economic and non-economic damages that you may seek to have compensated in a truck accident lawsuit. During a free review of your potential case, our experienced truck accident lawyers can explain which of the following may be sought:

Medical Expenses

First, you may obtain payment for any medical bills that you sustain because of your truck accident injuries. This includes the cost of all prior, current, and future treatment that you require. For instance, if you were hurt because of a truck accident, then you may sue the at-fault party for the cost of your ambulance ride, hospital bills, prescription medication, surgical treatments, and post-operative care.

Usually, damages for medical expenses will be established using your medical records. Therefore, it is imperative that you visit a doctor as soon as possible after your truck accident. If you wait for your injuries to heal on their own, then you may be unable to recover the documentation needed to support your claim against another party.

Lost Wages

Many truck accident injuries restrict victims’ abilities to work during their recoveries. Thankfully, you may also acquire payment for lost wages in a truck accident lawsuit. These damages will typically be calculated using plaintiffs’ average weekly incomes.

Further, if your truck accident injuries prevent you from working in the future, then you may be awarded damages for your diminished earning capacity. Still, supporting a claim for lost future income can be a complicated ordeal. Large amounts of complex evidence may be needed to support such a claim. Accordingly, guidance from our legal team can be highly beneficial when pursuing these damages in your case.

Property Damage

Property damage is another form of compensation that may be awarded to plaintiffs in truck accident cases. As an example, if your car was damaged as a result of your truck accident, then you may sue the at-fault party for the cost of your vehicle’s replacement or repair.

It may benefit you to take photos of your damaged property immediately after your truck accident if possible. The defendant in your case may attempt to assert that your property damage is actually related to some other incident. By presenting photos from the scene of your crash, you may establish that your property damage stems from the truck accident at issue.

Pain and Suffering

In addition to recovering payment for financial losses like medical bills and lost wages, you may also obtain compensation for the non-economic harms caused by your truck accident injuries. There are multiple forms of non-economic damages that may be available in your case.

For instance, many truck accident injuries can produce high degrees of physical pain. In particular, broken bones, burns, ruptured tendons, brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries can all be excruciatingly painful. Fortunately, you may seek financial compensation for the physical pain caused by your truck accident injuries.

In addition to causing physical pain, truck accident injuries can also cause victims to incur debilitating emotional suffering. As an example, someone who incurs a spinal cord injury may be restricted from engaging in their favorite hobbies after their collision. Further, a victim with a traumatic brain injury may have difficulty participating in meaningful relationships with their family members. Accordingly, plaintiffs in truck accident lawsuits may also recover monetary damages for the emotional suffering caused by their injuries.

Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Finally, plaintiffs in truck accident lawsuits can also recover payment for a wide range of out-of-pocket expenses related to the harm they incurred. For instance, a victim may need to pay for help with transportation to their court proceedings and doctor’s appointments. Also, a parent injured as the result of a truck accident may need to pay for assistance with child care while their injuries heal. In either case, such expenses could be included in the plaintiffs’ claims against at-fault parties.

Damages for out-of-pocket expenses are usually established using receipts. Therefore, you should try to keep the receipts for any expenses that you suffer because of your truck accident injuries.

Evaluating Settlement Offers in Dallas Truck Accident Lawsuits

When you file a truck accident lawsuit, the defendant will likely attempt to settle your claim before going to trial. If you enter into a settlement agreement, then the defendant will pay you a specific sum of damages in exchange for the dismissal of your case. There are potential advantages to settling your case early. For example, by entering into a settlement agreement, you may save on some of the costs associate with going to trial such as witness fees and administrative expenses. Further, plaintiffs who reach settlement agreements may obtain payment more quickly.

Unfortunately, defendants in truck accident cases regularly attempt to settle their lawsuits for less than they are worth. If you are not presented with an acceptable settlement offer, then you must go to trial to obtain the financial compensation you deserve.

However, there is a risk. If your lawsuit is not successful at trial, then you may receive no monetary damages whatsoever. Accordingly, guidance and support from our experienced legal team can be very helpful when evaluating settlement offers in your case.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Dallas Trucking Accident Attorneys

Drivers and vehicle passengers have a right to be protected against negligent truck drivers who endanger human safety by making careless or reckless decisions on the road. Sadly, our Dallas trucking injury lawyers have seen countless claims where an innocent person was hurt or lost their life on a Texas highway because of a negligent trucker’s actions behind the wheel. Backed by decades of experience fighting for compensation on behalf of injured drivers and passengers throughout the Dallas metropolitan areas, our knowledgeable legal team knows what types of details to probe for when handling these complex cases. We will develop a negotiation or litigation strategy best suited to your family’s interests, then aggressively apply that strategy using our firm’s full resources, always keeping you up-to-date on the progress of your claim.

If you or one your family members was injured in a truck accident in Dallas or any of the surrounding communities, call the Dallas personal injury lawyers at The Queenan Law Firm immediately at (817) 476-1797 for a confidential legal consultation. Depending on what caused the crash or collision, you may be able to get compensated for current and anticipated medical bills, lost income, future earnings losses, and other expenses.