Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident?
One of the many reasons truck wreck claims are more complex than most car accident claims is that many parties behind the scenes could be responsible for the truck wreck. After a car wreck, it is almost always one of the vehicle drivers at fault. After a truck accident, however, it may or may not be the truck driver’s fault.
Many parties can contribute to a truck accident:
- The trucking company
- The truck driver
- A maintenance provider/vendor
- A loading company/shipper
- The cargo owner
- Other service vendors
- A truck or part manufacturer
04
What You Should Do after a Dallas Truck Accident
If you've been involved in a truck accident, we recommend that you:
-
01 Call 911
If you're well enough to do so, call 911 at the scene of the accident. You want the accident to be formally reported to the police. Calling 911 also ensures emergency responders arrive as quickly as possible.
-
02 Document the Crash
If you can, take photos and video of the truck accident. Document the crash scene from different angles and distances. Also, photograph surrounding property damage, any other signs of the incident like skid marks, and your injuries.
-
03 Exchange Information
Obtain the truck driver's name, contact information, employer's information, and insurance information. Provide your own name, contact info, and insurance info.
-
04 Ask for Witness Info
If other people who witnessed the crash stayed at the scene, ask for their names and contact information. We may reach out to them for their statements.
-
05 Get Medical Care
If you're injured, don't refuse medical treatment after an accident. Not only is this detrimental to your health, but it can affect the success of your case.
-
06 Notify Your Insurer
If you were in your own vehicle at the time of the crash, you should inform your auto insurance company. This notice protects your right to obtain benefits under your own policy.
05
Truck Accident Compensation
When truck accident victims come to us, we begin by identifying the liable party and then aggressively pursue compensation for all the victim's physical, psychological, and economic injuries. More specifically, we will fight for compensation for a victim's:
- Past, current, and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Physical limitations
- Loss of earning capacity
You may wonder how much your truck accident claim is worth. Many factors influence the potential value of your claim, including the type and severity of your injuries and whether the at-fault party is guilty of ordinary negligence or egregious conduct.
The best way to determine your case value is to speak with our accident attorneys.
Additional Information About Truck Accidents
Pursuing Compensation After a Dallas Truck Accident
There are two possible avenues for obtaining compensation after a truck accident.
1. Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit
The first option we'll address is a personal injury lawsuit. Litigation provides us with tools to more thoroughly investigate the accident and identify relevant parties. We may believe it is necessary to fight for your compensation through a trial, depending on your case.
2. Insurance Settlement
Another avenue toward truck accident compensation is an insurance settlement. Our lawyers will address the insurance claim process in addition to litigation. Most truck accident claims are resolved with an insurance settlement, but this is not always easy to accomplish. Negotiating a fair truck accident settlement requires thoroughly investigating the crash, building a strong case, and trial-ready.
Fatal Truck Accidents in Dallas
Dallas families lose parents, spouses, and children in truck accidents every year. When families come to us after losing a loved one in an accident, we know that they're going through one of the hardest, lowest points in their lives. The team at Anderson Injury Lawyers has years of experience handling truck accident wrongful death claims. We'll guide you through the process and fight for full compensation.
Dallas Truck Accident FAQ
Truck accidents produce significant losses and many questions that need to be answered. We'll answer the most common questions below. Contact our office if any specific questions weren't answered.
What is a Truck's Black Box?
Most commercial trucks contain electronic control modules or black boxes. These devices record the truck's speed, how many hours and miles the truck has been on the road, whether the driver was wearing a seatbelt, and other information. This information can be used to establish fault.
For example, the driver could be at fault if the black box data indicates that they never decelerated before the collision occurred. This could mean that the driver was distracted and, therefore, negligent.
What's the Deadline for Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Texas?
You have two years to file a truck accident claim for compensation. Although this seems like plenty of time, it can come quicker than you think. Memories fade quickly after an accident, and evidence gets lost. This, along with many other factors, can weaken your claim. Getting a truck accident lawyer involved as soon as possible ensures that you have every advantage to recover full compensation.
How Common Are Truck Accidents?
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there was a total of 32,562 commercial motor vehicle crashes in 2020. Of those 32,562 crashes, 513 were fatal. This puts into perspective the need for adequate representation when you or a loved one suffers from a Texas truck accident.
How is Fault Determined in a Truck Accident?
To determine fault in a truck accident, you must determine what caused the accident. Your truck accident attorney has access to expert witnesses like an accident reconstructionist specializing in recreating accidents to determine the underlying cause.
They may uncover that a defective auto part caused your accident leading to a third-party claim against the auto manufacturer. Your attorney can also acquire trucking logs and black box data that might show driver or employer negligence. In either case, your attorney has extensive resources at their disposal to ensure all at-fault parties are held accountable.
What is Negligence?
Negligence is the failure to provide the proper care that another reasonable person would have provided in a similar circumstance. In the context of a truck accident, actions like fatigued driving, running a red light, or texting while driving are all actions that another reasonable person would not do.
Your attorney must establish the following elements to prove negligence:
- The driver had a duty of care
- The driver breached that duty of care
- The breach of duty caused the accident
- The accident resulted in your damages
Contact Our Dallas Truck Lawyers Today
At Anderson Injury Lawyers, we have decades of combined experience handling personal injury and wrongful death claims following truck accidents. We've won millions of dollars for our clients over the years and have experience handling a wide array of cases, including fatal accidents, drunk driving wrecks, catastrophic injury crashes, and more.
To talk with us about how we can help, call (214) 327-8000 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
Contact Us
If you suffered harm in an accident or any incident caused by negligence, contact Anderson Injury Lawyers right away. We offer individualized attention, over 25 years of experience, and everything you need to get everything you deserve.
- We accept calls 24/7 /
- We’ll meet you where it’s convenient /
- free consultations /
- no upfront legal fees /
- you owe us nothing unless we win