Semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles were involved in over 30,000 auto accidents in Texas last year alone. While 18-wheelers and other commercial trucks are an essential means of transporting goods across the state, these vehicles can also do massive damage in an accident. If you were injured or your loved one was killed in a wreck involving a large commercial truck, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Medical bills, funeral expenses, lost income, lost society, and pain and suffering are just some of the damages to which truck accident victims may be entitled. However, a strong case backed by compelling evidence is needed to recover compensation. Expert witnesses are often a crucial component of a successful claim.

Accident Reconstructionists in a Texas Truck Accident Case

There are countless factors involved in a truck collision. Understanding exactly how and why a truck wreck occurred is often one of the most challenging parts of building a claim. Accident reconstructionists are often highly skilled in the fields of engineering, physics, and computer modeling. They evaluate the accident scene, vehicle damage, video footage, event data recorder information, and other evidence to understand how an accident took place. They can then use models and computer programs to explain the sequence of events in a crash.

Medical Experts Can Explain Your Injuries and Prognosis

Severe and catastrophic injuries are common in large truck accidents. Through a personal injury claim, you may be able to get compensation for your medical expenses including emergency medical care and ongoing treatment. However, many insurance companies and trucking companies try to downplay the severity of a plaintiff’s injuries in a truck accident case. Often, medical experts are used to verify the severity of a plaintiff’s injuries and the impact those injuries have on their daily life.

Statistics show that a great number of car accidents are caused by negligent driving. However, some car crashes are the result of faulty vehicle components. Defective tires can be especially dangerous because tread separation and blowouts often cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle. In 2000, Firestone recalled 6.5 million tires because the tires treads were separating from the core, causing severe auto accidents. The defect is linked to almost 300 deaths. If you or a loved one were injured in a car crash caused by a faulty tire, you may be entitled to compensation.

Liability for Tire Defects is Not Always Clear

Defective tires can lead to tire explosion, blowouts, belt separation, tread separation, and other dire consequences. These defects may be caused by a number of different factors. Sometimes, a tire contains a defect because of oversights or mistakes during the design process. Other times, manufacturing errors cause faulty tires to reach consumers. Retailers may knowingly sell tires that contain defects. When a tire company discovers a defect, it may issue a recall. Unfortunately, recalls do not always prevent serious and fatal accidents. Identifying which party or parties are legally responsible for an injury or death caused by a tire defect is often the first step toward recovering compensation.

The Driver of the Vehicle May Be Considered Partially At Fault

Tire defects can cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle. The driver may collide with other motorists, cyclists, or pedestrians. In some tire defect cases, the defendant argues that the driver of the vehicle is partially at fault for the crash. If you were in a crash caused by a defective tire, an experienced product liability lawyer can help you gather evidence to prove the at-fault party’s liability for the crash. Fortunately, in Texas, an injured person may still be entitled to partial damages as long as he or she is not considered more than 50 percent responsible for the injury-causing accident.

The area of personal injury law deals with injuries to persons and property caused by negligent or malicious actions. Many personal injury claims follow a car accident or truck accident in which someone is hurt or killed. Slip and fall accidents, amusement park accidents, work accidents, and other incidents can also lead to a personal injury claim.

Injured victims and their families often experience immediate financial upheaval after being hurt in an accident. Vehicle replacement costs, medical bills, and lost income make the process of healing even harder than it already is. A personal injury claim may help victims recover financial compensation for these and other financial losses after an accident. Working with an experienced personal injury lawyer during this process benefits injured victims in a multitude of ways.

Choosing the Course of Action That Is Best for You

Every accident is unique, and there are nearly countless ways that an accident victim can respond. Some accident victims assume that it is best to settle with the insurance company as quickly as possible in order to secure compensation. However, doing so can sometimes mean accepting a much lower settlement offer. A skilled attorney can help you determine the course of action that is best given your unique situation and needs.

Every car accident is shocking and upsetting. Some car accident victims are left completely stunned upon realizing that not only did another driver hit them, but also that the driver fled the scene. In Texas, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury is a felony offense. Although this is a crime, it does not stop some negligent drivers from attempting to evade responsibility for a crash by speeding off. If you or a loved one were hurt in a hit and run accident, read on to learn about your legal options.

Seeking Justice and Compensation After a Hit and Run

Leaving the scene of an accident is against the law. While it is possible that witness statements, traffic cameras, vehicle debris, and other evidence may lead law enforcement to the reckless driver, some hit and run offenders are never found. One reason that a driver who committed a hit and run may leave the scene of the crime is that he or she does not have auto insurance.

Car accident victims may be left with massive medical bills, vehicle repair costs, and other financial losses. After a hit and run, some drivers fear that they will be forced to pay these costs on their own. However, there is another option: The innocent driver’s own insurer. Many drivers have insurance policies with provisions addressing this exact scenario. You may be entitled to compensation for the accident through your own uninsured motorist protection (UIM) policy.

Numerous federal and state laws regulate safety in the trucking industry. Unfortunately, this does not prevent injury-causing and fatal truck crashes from occurring. If you or a loved one were involved in a truck collision, you may be able to seek justice through a civil claim against the liable party. Financial compensation may be available for medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, lost income, and other damages. Evidence of safety violations is often a crucial piece of evidence in truck accident injury claims.

FMCSA Requires Trucking Companies to Meet Certain Standards

Large commercial trucks can cause catastrophic damage in an accident. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires trucking companies and truck drivers to abide by certain safety regulations, including:

• Hours of Service Regulations – When a driver is behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound semi-truck, fatigued driving can be deadly. Sleepiness can increase reaction time, reduce decision-making skills, and lead to unsafe driving. The FMCSA limits the number of hours that a driver can drive without taking a break to rest. However, some drivers violate these Hours of Service regulations. The driver’s electronic logbook is often an important piece of evidence in an injury case involving Hours of Service violations.

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