Fort Worth Truck Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in a collision involving an 18-wheeler or another large commercial vehicle in Fort Worth? If the crash resulted from someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to pursue a truck accident claim with a personal injury attorney to recover compensation for the losses you have suffered from a serious accident. Hire a truck accident lawyer in Fort Worth for your truck accident claims.

Why Choose Our Truck Accident Attorneys

At The Wilhite Law Firm, our legal team of experienced Fort Worth lawyers is highly skilled in truck accident cases. We know the state and federal trucking laws inside and out and what it takes to conduct a meticulous accident investigation and build a compelling claim for full compensation.

Our compassionate, committed lawyers will fight for maximum compensation and justice on your behalf. Contact our attorneys today for a free initial consultation to learn more about how our lawyers can help you build a case for the fair compensation and financial recovery you deserve.

Do You Have a Truck Accident Case?

Texas is an at-fault state, which means the party responsible for causing a crash is liable for covering an accident victim’s losses. If you can establish that the truck driver or another party who played a role in the safe operation of the truck was at fault for the accident, then you can seek compensation from them through an injury claim or a lawsuit.

Proving fault for a truck accident can be difficult since there are numerous laws and regulations that truckers must follow. A thorough accident investigation must take those into account. It’s important that you work with a knowledgeable truck accident attorney in Fort Worth when you’re pursuing this type of case.

Why Are Truck Accidents More Complex Than Other Crashes?

Truck accident claims are usually more challenging to navigate than other types of motor vehicle claims. Statistics from the Texas Department of Transportation reported that truck accidents happen much more than you think.

Reasons truck accident claims are challenging:

More Liable Parties

Unlike other kinds of auto accidents that are usually caused by a driver or drivers involved in the crash, liability for a truck accident may fall on several other parties beyond the truck driver. As a result, truck accident claims might require pursuing legal action against multiple parties and may require complicated litigation to assign shares of liability to each party.

State and Federal Regulations

The trucking industry is subject to heavy state and federal regulations, which are intended to ensure that large commercial truck drivers safely share the roads and highways with the public. A truck driver’s or trucking company’s compliance with these regulations must be ensured following an accident, as violating these regulations may lead to a crash.

Layers of Insurance

Many trucking companies have layered insurance policies, in which one insurance policy’s coverage is not triggered unless another policy’s coverage is exhausted. This can make it difficult to determine how much coverage might be available to compensate you for your expenses and losses.

Complex Investigations

The number of potentially liable parties and pieces of evidence that must be reviewed following a truck crash can quickly add up to a complex investigation, which may often require assistance from accident reconstruction or trucking industry experts to help make sense of all the evidence and identify who should be held liable for your injuries.

Costly Injuries

Finally, truck accidents tend to cause devastating, life-altering injuries for accident victims. The more serious your injuries, the greater the compensation you will likely be entitled to. This can make it difficult to reach a settlement or resolution of your claim. This is especially true when you are still undergoing treatment for your injuries when beginning settlement negotiations or proceeding to trial.

How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help with Your Case?

Due to the complexity of truck accident claims, you can help give yourself the best chance at recovering maximum compensation for your injuries and losses. Seeking out the assistance of a skilled Fort Worth truck accident attorney.

An attorney from The Wilhite Law Firm can help with your truck wreck case by:

• Thoroughly investigating the crash to secure all available evidence
• Carefully reviewing the evidence and working with expert witnesses, where necessary, to determine how the accident occurred and to identify the party or parties that can be held responsible for your injuries and losses
• Going over your legal rights and options with you and explaining what to expect at each stage of your case
• Presenting your claims for compensation to the at-fault parties and their insurers to pursue settlement negotiations that will hopefully result in securing fair and full compensation for you
• Filing a lawsuit in your case if a settlement cannot be reached and litigation represents the best option for fully pursuing your rights and options

How Much Is Your Truck Accident Case Worth?

When you have been injured in a truck crash, you may be entitled to recover compensation for losses that you suffered due to personal injury from the accident.

Our lawyers can help you recover damages and losses after a Fort Worth truck accident for:

• Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation
• Past, ongoing, and future lost wages or income and employment benefits
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment and quality of life due to disfigurement or disabilities

Who Can Be Held Responsible After a Truck Accident?

A truck accident may be caused by a party or parties other than the truck driver. You may find it difficult to know who can be held liable when filing your personal injury claim.

Examples of the parties that can be held responsible for a truck crash include:

• The truck driver, who may have driven carelessly or recklessly to cause the accident
• The trucking company, which may be subject to employer liability for the driver’s negligence or be held liable when its own negligence causes an accident
• The truck’s owner, if different from the truck driver or trucking company, who can be held liable when the owner defers critical maintenance on truck equipment
• The freight company that loads cargo onto the truck or trailer, which may be held responsible if an unsafe load causes a crash
• The truck’s manufacturer, or a manufacturer of a defective part used on the truck
• The truck’s mechanics, who may be held liable for negligent maintenance that leads to an accident

How Is Fault Determined in a Commercial Truck Crash?

Given the numerous potential causes of a commercial truck crash, a Fort Worth truck crash attorney from The Wilhite Law Firm will review all available evidence. This is done to determine what caused the accident. Our attorneys can find out who can be held responsible for the crash and the injuries you suffered as a result.

The evidence we use to determine fault for truck crashes may include:

• The truck driver’s logs, which record the hours a driver spends on duty and behind the wheel, which may reveal if the driver violated hours-of-service limitations and may have been drowsy or fatigued in the accident.
• The truck driver’s employment and driving records, which may show if the driver lacked proper training or experience to operate their vehicle or if they had a history of accidents.
• The truck’s electronic data recorder logs. Many trucks are equipped with EDRs, or “black boxes,” that record information about a truck’s operation, including GPS position, speed, hours of engine operation, driver inputs, and in-cab camera footage.
• The freight or load manifest, which may reveal if the truck was carrying an unsafe or unsecured cargo load.
• The truck’s inspection and maintenance records, which might show if maintenance was deferred or improperly performed.
• Post-accident inspection reports, which may reveal the presence of a defect in the truck that caused the accident.

We also review other types of evidence commonly used in other kinds of motor vehicle accidents. This can include police accident reports, accident scene photos and surveillance video footage. Additionally, evidence such as eyewitness statements, and expert accident reconstruction reports and testimony are important.

Time Limit for Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit

Under the statute of limitations in Texas for truck accident lawsuits, you typically have only two years from the date of a wreck to file a lawsuit seeking financial recovery for your injuries and losses. If you file a lawsuit after the statute of limitations on your claim has passed, the court will likely permanently dismiss your case, meaning you will lose the right to hold those at fault for your injuries accountable. Contact one of our Fort Worth semi-truck collision lawyers today.

Common Types of Truck Collisions

Our lawyers see many different types of truck accidents at our Fort Worth firm. Some of the most common fatal crash types that occur include:

• Head-on collisions
• Rear-end collisions
• Sideswipe collisions
• T-bone collisions
• Rollover collisions
• Underride collisions, where another vehicle gets caught underneath a truck trailer
• Jackknife accidents, where a truck trailer swings out, causing the cab and trailer to fold in on one another like a pocketknife
• Fallen or spilled cargo collisions

Common Truck Accident Injuries

The sheer size and the speed of large commercial trucks have the potential to inflict serious injuries. Often people that are involved in a collision with large trucks behind them experience serious injuries.

For instance, some of the common injuries suffered by truck accident victims include:

• Broken bones
• Dislocated joints
• Sprain, strains, and tears
• Back and neck injuries
• Whiplash
• Spinal disc injuries
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Head and facial injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Internal injuries and internal bleeding
• Burns
• Severe lacerations, contusions, and bleeding
• Traumatic amputation

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Fort Worth

Frequent causes of truck accidents include:

• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Unsafe turns or lane changes, including failing to signal or check mirrors
• Reckless and unsafe driving, such as excessive speeding or weaving in and out of traffic
• Distracted driving
• Drowsy or fatigued driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Unsafe or unsecured cargo loads
• Inadequate or deferred vehicle maintenance
• Inexperienced truck drivers
• Unfamiliarity with truck routes
• Defective truck parts
• Bad weather and low lighting
• Poor road conditions

Read more: Can You Ride in the Bed of a Truck in Texas?

Talk to a Fort Worth Truck Accident Attorney Now

If you have been involved in a big-rig crash, call the lawyers at The Wilhite Law Firm today. Our law firm offers a free, no-obligation case review with a Fort Worth truck accident attorney. Our compassionate team of Fort Worth truck accident lawyers will take the time to help you understand your legal rights and options. Consequently, an attorney can hold the trucking parties accountable and get you the compensation you deserve. Call us at (303) 466-3529 or contact us now.