Dedicated to Securing Justice for Truck Accident Victims

Misfortune has the potential to strike when you least expect it. These risks increase substantially on streets and highways. Unfortunately, accidents happen far too often while driving, sometimes through no fault of your own. One of the most common and dangerous types of accidents that occur on the open road involves being struck by a large commercial vehicle.

The trucking industry is known for the long hours it places on its drivers. Some drivers go hours without taking breaks, which can substantially increase the risk of accidents. If you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, an 18-wheeler can cause you to suffer serious injuries and cause significant damage to your vehicle.

If you have been involved in a collision with a semi-truck and sustained injuries, you may be entitled to financial compensation depending on your circumstances. Our knowledgeable San Antonio truck accident lawyer can gauge the severity of your accident and put together a case to help you recover a fair settlement for damages. Contact Barry Deacon Law today to schedule a free, secure, in-depth case evaluation.

What Makes Commercial Truck Accidents So Dangerous?

The road can be a dangerous place if not every driver obeys traffic laws. The situation becomes even more complicated when sharing the road with commercial trucks. Have you ever been driving directly next to an 18-wheeler and accelerated to quickly move away from it? You are not alone. Many drivers feel unsafe sharing the road with 18-wheelers because of their sheer size compared to other vehicles. The massive width of an 18-wheeler barely fits within a single lane, and its extended length makes lane changes especially difficult.

Driver Fatigue

Driver fatigue is a common issue that contributes to devastating truck wrecks. Trucking companies frequently push their drivers to operate their vehicles past their federally mandated Hours of Service (HOS) imposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). When this occurs, trucking companies are often found to have falsified driving logs, which is considered a federal offense.

Being overworked can cause fatigue, especially when drivers forgo sleep and drive extra hours to meet their deadlines. Even the slightest lapse of concentration can cause significant injury or even death, including rear-end collisions or jackknife accidents.

If an 18-wheeler veers into your lane and nicks you, the sheer mass of a semi-truck can make what would be a slight bump in a passenger car into a severe accident.

Additional hazards that create unsafe conditions on the highways include:

• Speeding/reckless driving
• Distracted driving, including cell phone use or paying attention to the GPS
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Improperly loaded cargo
• Driver inexperience or lack of training
• Lack of vehicle maintenance, including operating a vehicle on old, worn-out tires or faulty brakes

What Injuries Can Occur in a Truck Accident?

Injuries sustained in truck accident cases vary from mild to severe. No matter the severity of your injury, you may be entitled to try to recover compensation based on the circumstances involved in the crash. Some of the most common injuries sustained in trucking accidents include:

• Broken bones
• Muscle damage
• Ligament damage
• Internal injuries
• Burns, cuts, and scars
• Neck and shoulder injuries
• Back injuries (herniated disk)

Catastrophic Injuries

In Texas, catastrophic injuries are those that severely impair an accident victim’s quality of life and affect their ability to work and perform activities of daily living (ADLs). Many injury victims who suffer catastrophic injuries need skilled nursing care for the rest of their lives, which can quickly create a financial burden for them and their loved ones.

Common examples of catastrophic injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Loss of limb or extremity
• Spinal cord injuries
• Severe burns
• Severe organ damage, such as loss of sight or hearing

If you sustained any of these injuries, you will need adequate compensation to cover the cost of all of your medical bills and other needs. The trucking company of the driver who hit you may be liable to compensate you for your injuries. Reach out to our truck accident lawyer to begin the process of getting the compensation you need to get your life back on track.

What are the Benefits of Hiring a San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyer?

Suppose you have had the misfortune of dealing with severe pain and suffering due to an injury that resulted from a commercial vehicle crash. In that case, your first step should be to obtain a personal injury case evaluation from an experienced truck accident attorney.

Based on the specific circumstances of your case, you may need to file a lawsuit that can adequately address your financial needs and intangible losses. A skilled accident lawyer is familiar with the legal nuances involved with filing a truck accident claim and the lengths insurance companies will go to protect their profitability.

In-Depth Case Evaluation

An accident lawyer will thoroughly assess the evidence in your case to determine what legal options best suit your needs. Trucking companies and their insurers face countless lawsuits annually, and they have highly trained legal professionals whose only task is to find ways to reduce or deny accident claims. One of the most significant legal services an accident lawyer provides is determining liability and building a strong case that will withstand the insurer’s legal arguments.

Settlement Negotiations

Your lawyer will ensure that you are treated fairly by the insurance company to ensure you receive fair compensation for your damages. Studies show that individuals with legal representation in truck accident cases typically receive greater compensation than those who handle their cases independently. Allowing your lawyer to deal with the insurance provider will also allow you to focus on your recovery and alleviate stress.

How Long Does It Take to Settle a Truck Accident Case?

Your medical expenses and other bills may begin to pile up immediately following a truck accident. You may have to dig into your savings account or another fund simply to make ends meet. Additionally, you may need to miss work to recover from your injuries, further draining your finances. Therefore, it is entirely understandable to want to settle your truck accident case as soon as possible. The time it takes to settle your truck accident case depends on several factors, including liability investigations, negotiations, and the overall impact of the injuries you sustained.

Determining Liability

Liability investigations are conducted to determine who was at fault for your truck accident. Even if you were not responsible for your accident whatsoever, a determination of liability must be made to ensure a fair process.

Awaiting the Completion of Your Medical Recovery

Even once the investigation has been completed, your health can also factor into how long your case takes to settle. If you are hospitalized or decommissioned for quite some time, it may affect the time it takes to settle your case. Nevertheless, it is more likely that you receive higher compensation the longer it takes you to recover, so patience is vital to securing the maximum compensation.

Negotiations With the Insurance Carrier

Negotiations may take place once you have fully recovered. Trucking companies may want to settle for far less than they would be willing to give you in court. At this point in a claim, having an experienced truck accident lawyer is ideal. A truck accident attorney can negotiate on your behalf, advise you on the settlements being offered, and let you know if a lawsuit is ultimately needed. The stakes are too high to handle the aftermath of a truck accident without proper legal assistance. Given these circumstances, it is in your best interest to seek out a qualified truck accident attorney as soon as possible.

What Compensation Am I Entitled To After Being Injured in a Truck Accident?

Being in a truck accident can permanently alter your life. You may suffer severe injuries that impair your ability to work and enjoy your life as you did previously.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are awarded to reimburse you for your out-of-pocket expenses incurred by being involved in an accident, and many include:

• Medical expenses: Even if your injuries are less severe, medical expenses can complicate your life and lead to a financial crisis. It can be even more frustrating knowing that you are paying the consequences, both physically and financially, for an accident that you did not cause.
• Lost wages: On top of medical expenses, you may not be able to perform your job at an optimal level, leading to a loss of wages or even termination. In instances where your income is affected by your injuries, you may get compensation to cover any wages and benefits you lost and possibly more compensation to cover future lost income.
• Property damage: In most trucking accidents, drivers of smaller passenger vehicles sustain extensive damage to their vehicles. You could be entitled to recover compensation that pays for repairs or the cost of vehicle replacement.

Trucking accidents can be deadly, and being the victim of one means potentially expensive medical bills and other living expenses that can get costly. You deserve the opportunity to regain a sense of control in your life by getting compensation from the trucking companies that may be responsible for compromising your health.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are subjective and based on the unique circumstances involved in your truck accident case and often include:

• Pain and suffering: Your pain and suffering may also be grounds for compensation. With severe injuries come copious amounts of recovery time. Re-learning how to utilize specific muscles and parts of your body following a devastating commercial vehicle accident can be agonizing. It may take tremendous time and effort to recover fully, and a court may rule that you are deserving of compensation from the trucking company.
• Emotional distress: Accident victims often are left to deal with emotional distress as they try to return to a sense of normalcy. If dealing with the pain wasn’t enough, losing the ability to do daily tasks can take a toll not only on you but also on your family. You may need your spouse’s help with even simple tasks, such as taking a shower, depending on the severity of your injury. Although your spouse may be willing to aid you, your injury may ultimately affect your relationship with your significant other and other family members.

While the prospects of your family life being affected by your injury may seem scary, seeking compensation for your trucking accident may go a long way in saving your relationships. Being awarded compensation from the trucking company liable for your injury may allow you to hire someone to take care of your needs around the house and allow your family to continue living a relatively normal life.

Barry Deacon Law is highly experienced in handling 18-wheeler accidents and knows how to develop case strategies to try to recover maximum compensation for your damages. Scheduling a case evaluation with our truck accident lawyer can make the difference between getting just enough compensation and getting the compensation you deserve.

Why is it Best for me to have an Attorney Communicate With the Insurance Company?

Personal injury accidents, especially those involving large trucks, can present significant legal challenges. Because truck accidents typically result in injury victims being left with extensive medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress, they are more prone to resulting in significant payouts.

Insurance companies are dedicated to protecting their shareholders’ interests and look for every opportunity to deny or minimize claims. Insurance companies utilize various tactics to keep insurance payouts as low as possible.

Fast Payouts

One of the most common methods insurance providers use to avoid paying substantial compensation is offering fast payouts. Insurance companies know that most truck accident victims are unable to return to work for an extended period and may already be facing financial difficulties. Although it can be tempting to accept a fast payout, it most likely does not account for any future medical bills or care you may need, or compensation for pain and suffering.

The best choice is to never agree to any proposed financial compensation for a personal injury claim without allowing your attorney to review the offer. Once you sign a release, your case is closed, and you will have no legal recourse to try to recover additional compensation.

Recorded Statements

Another common tactic used by insurance companies is to pressure truck accident victims into providing recorded statements. An insurance adjuster may request that you give a recorded statement and provide details of how the accident occurred. Insurance companies have the legal right to try to use your statements against you to deny or reduce your claim. Because Texas subscribes to a modified comparative negligence doctrine, insurance providers try to use these statements to assign fault to truck accident victims and protect their profits.

No matter how big or small your truck accident claim may be, it is always best to hire a personal injury lawyer who prioritizes your interests, and not those of the insurance company.

What Can Our Family Do if Our Loved One Has Died in a Truck Accident?

If you have tragically lost a loved one in a semi truck accident, you have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit to try to recover compensation for financial and non-financial losses. Under Texas law, families of wrongful death victims have up to two years from the deceased’s date of death to file a compensation claim.

A claim may be filed by eligible family members, including a surviving spouse, children, and parents. Some of the most commonly awarded damages in wrongful death claims related to truck accidents include compensation for medical bills incurred by the deceased due to their fatal injuries, lost income, and inheritance. Your family may also be awarded compensation for emotional distress and loss of companionship.

Wrongful death claims can be challenging to navigate without legal assistance. Contact our law firm today so that our legal team can guide you through the complexities of obtaining compensation for the loss of your loved one.

Contact Our San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyer Today to Get Started on Your Claim

Truck accidents can happen, even if other drivers are taking precautions. A motor vehicle accident involving large trucks can lead to severe injuries or fatal crashes. Even if you evade death, significant injuries sustained from a truck accident could put your quality of life into serious jeopardy.

Our personal injury law firm is dedicated to helping truck accident victims when they need it most. Unlike other personal injury attorneys who often pass clients off to other law firms, our attorney, Barry Deacon, will personally handle your claim from start to finish.

Barry Deacon Law will work diligently to make sure you and your family are compensated fairly for your debilitating injuries. Our goal is to ensure that our clients are treated fairly by the insurance carrier and receive compensation that enables them to face the future confidently. Barry Deacon Law recognizes that truck accidents happen and is ready to defend you, your family, and your right to maintain a stable quality of life.

Contact our San Antonio truck accident lawyer today by calling (210) 985-8398 for English-speaking clients and (210) 796-4933 for Spanish-speaking clients.