Home > Truck Accidents Written by: TY Gibson and Brett Hill Last Updated : March 7, 2023

Texas Truck Accident Lawyers

If you were the victim of a truck accident, you should contact Gibson Hill Personal Injury immediately. We understand the complicated process of securing compensation from the truck driver, the trucking company, and the other parties that may be held liable for your injuries and losses. You shouldn’t pay for your medical expenses, suffer lost wages, or pay for the consequences of someone else’s negligent actions.

Our Texas truck accident lawyers will protect your rights and ensure opposing parties treat you fairly. We’ll fight hard for the justice you deserve and resolve your case efficiently. You can depend on us to help you recover from your injuries. We know you’re suffering and will work hard to fulfill your needs.

We’ve worked hard to earn the trust and respect of our clients and peers, and we’ll dedicate ourselves to your case. For help getting back on your feet after a truck accident in Texas, call us at (713) 659-4000 and schedule a free consultation.

Types of Commercial Trucks

Such a wide variety of commercial vehicles serve the nation’s needs, and for the most part, the drivers of passenger vehicles don’t particularly take notice of them, other than to note their size. Here’s a list of some of the types of commercial trucks you might see on the road:

18-Wheelers
Box Trucks
Garbage Trucks
Dump Trucks
Buses
Emergency Vehicles
Construction Vehicles
Delivery Vans
Moving Trucks/Vans
Tanker Trucks
Tow Trucks

Any of these trucks could collide with your vehicle or cause an accident on the road.

Truck Accidents Come in Many Forms

Commercial vehicles can do a lot of damage when they collide with a car. Rear, side, or front impacts can occur. Many factors, such as driver inattention or poor road conditions, could lead to a crash. Multiple types of truck accidents can happen on the road, such as:

Jackknife: This occurs when the front and back of the vehicle move towards each other. It’s typically the result of the driver braking too hard or improper maneuvering.
Blindspot: Since cars can be difficult for truck drivers to see in their blind spots, they might not notice someone near them when they try to change lanes or turn.
Tire blowout: An overinflated, underinflated, or defective tire could explode and cause the truck driver to lose control of their vehicle.
T-bone: A T-bone accident happens when a truck driver crashes into the side of a car, usually because they ran a red light or stop sign.
Rollover: A driver who loses control of their commercial truck could slide across the pavement or crash into an object that flips the vehicle onto its side.
Lost load: If the driver doesn’t load their cargo correctly, it could shift during transport and fall off the truck. Debris on the road is dangerous to other motorists and can cause a crash.
Head-on: This type of truck accident causes the most fatalities. It usually occurs because the trucker isn’t paying attention and drifts into oncoming traffic.

Most people drive past commercial vehicles every day. Whether you’re on your way to work or school or running errands, you’ll probably see an 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer whizzing by. As long as consumers require goods, large trucks will continue to transport them to retailers. It’s essential to keep up with the growth of our economy.

Despite the need for commercial trucks, they pose a danger to other drivers. They can create hazards on the roadways and cause debilitating injuries to people driving smaller passenger vehicles. If you stay alert behind the wheel and keep your distance from these trucks, you might be able to prevent a crash.

What Should I Do If I Get Hurt in a Truck Accident?

Becoming the victim of a truck accident is traumatic. You might experience shock initially and not know how to handle the situation. It’s important to try to follow the steps below to help support your right to compensation from the liable party.

Call 911 to report the accident. Wait at the crash scene for an officer to arrive and perform an investigation into the cause.
Request a copy of the police report when it becomes available. It should include the reason the accident happened and can help you prove the truck driver was at fault.
Get the truck driver’s auto insurance information so you can file a liability claim. You should also write down their employer’s name and contact information. The trucking company might also be to blame for the crash.
Go to the hospital once you leave the accident scene. No one likes spending hours in an emergency room or hospital bed, but seeking treatment for your injuries is important. Follow the doctor’s instructions and continue to treat until you recover.
Keep all copies of your medical records, prescriptions, receipts, vehicle repair estimates, and documents related to your case.
Hire a Texas truck accident lawyer to build a strong case on your behalf.

How Much Money Do I Deserve?

Proving fault is one of the most critical factors in any truck accident case. If we can show the truck driver was at fault, we’ll file a claim with their liability auto insurance. Texas is a fault state, which means the person who causes a motor vehicle accident automatically becomes financially responsible for the resulting injuries and expenses.

Commercial truck drivers typically carry liability insurance with extensive coverage because these types of accidents tend to cause more significant physical harm and property damage. Gibson Hill Personal Injury will help you file an insurance claim and request a copy of the policy to determine the maximum settlement you could receive.

Your compensation will depend on the damages you incurred. Damages are the losses an injured party suffers as the result of an accident. They may include the following:

Car repair or replacement
Medical expenses
Rental car
Pain and suffering
Lost wages
Mental anguish
Disability or disfigurement
Loss of companionship or consortium

Damages, such as medical bills, are easy to calculate; however, pain and suffering aren’t quantifiable. To determine the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering, an insurance company will review all of the factors below. Usually, the more severe the injury, the higher the settlement will be. If you only suffered a minor injury, you’ll receive a low settlement or nothing at all.

Type and extent of the injury
Length of treatment needed to recover
Mental or physical limitations due to the injury
Total expenses incurred
Impact on the quality of life
Insurance coverage available
Wages unable to earn because of the injury
Crash scene evidence
Statements from witnesses
Details listed on the police report

Can I Sue the Truck Driver If My Loved One Died in the Accident?

Yes. You could file a lawsuit if your loved one suffered a fatal injury from the truck accident. The type of case you would pursue is known as wrongful death. The legal definition of wrongful death in Texas is the wrongful act, carelessness, unskillfulness, neglect, or default of one party that causes another party’s death.

There are only a few people who are entitled to compensation from a wrongful death lawsuit. The first person in line is the surviving spouse. If there’s no spouse, a surviving child may sue the truck driver for compensation of damages. If there isn’t a surviving spouse or child, the surviving parents can seek compensation.

If there are no surviving family members or they choose not to pursue a lawsuit within three months of their loved one’s death, the personal representative of the estate can move forward with a wrongful death case.

The available damages are supposed to compensate the estate and surviving family members for their losses due to the unexpected death.

Emotional or mental anguish, pain, and suffering
Lost earning capacity
Lost love, companionship, society, and comfort
Lost services, advice, care, support, counsel, or maintenance the deceased would have provided if they survived the crash
Lost inheritance the victim would have saved over their lifetime if they didn’t die from their injuries

In Texas, there’s a two-year statute of limitations if you want to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. That means you only have two years from the date your loved one passed away to hold the liable party responsible for their actions and recover compensation from them.

FAQs

We’ve provided answers to some of the most commonly asked questions we receive about truck accidents, but a truck accident attorney can tell you everything you need to know about your own truck accident case.

What are the most common causes of truck accidents?

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

Why are truck accidents more dangerous than car accidents?

Commercial trucks typically weigh around 80,000 pounds. That’s significantly heavier than most passenger vehicles, which weigh approximately 3,000 pounds. When a truck collides with a small car, the force of the impact is much greater than if you were hit by another car.

Who can I hold liable for my truck accident injuries?

There are multiple parties you could seek compensation from if you sustained an injury in a truck accident. They include:

Truck driver
Owner of the truck
Owner of the trailer
Trucking company
Maintenance company
Truck parts manufacturer
Cargo loading company

How much does a Texas truck accident lawyer cost?

Gibson Hill Personal Injury takes all truck accident cases on contingency. That means there are no upfront legal fees you’ll have to pay for us to work on your case. We won’t expect payment unless we recover compensation. If we lose, you won’t owe us any money.

Why Choose Gibson Hill Personal Injury

Our legal team has experience fighting for the compensation our clients deserve. We’re passionate about helping accident victims seek justice against the careless person who caused their injuries. We know you’re going through a challenging time in your life, and we will be there to help you through it.

When you hire Gibson Hill Personal Injury, our Texas truck accident lawyers will work diligently on your case to reach a favorable outcome as quickly as possible. You don’t want this situation to drag out longer than it should, and neither do we. You can depend on us to remain by your side throughout your case.

If you were the victim of a truck accident in Texas and need help with your insurance claim or lawsuit, call us at (713) 659-4000 for a free consultation.