Truck accidents are often more complicated than crashes involving only passenger vehicles. The size and weight of large commercial trucks mean they hit with greater force and cause more damage. The occupants of other vehicles struck by large trucks often suffer serious injuries that require costly medical treatment and rehabilitative care. If you were injured in a truck accident that was not your fault, you should not bear the financial consequences of someone else’s carelessness or neglect.
For more than 30 years, the team at the Law Offices of Troy A. Brookover has helped thousands of injury victims seek the compensation they need for medical bills, lost wages, damaged property, and other losses. We have obtained several six- and seven-figure awards for our clients in San Antonio and south Texas thanks to founding attorney Troy A. Brookover’s extensive legal experience. Contact our office today for a free consultation with a truck accident attorney.
When and Why To Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a truck accident in San Antonio, you should contact an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible. Under Texas law, you have two years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit. If you miss the deadline, you will lose your chance to pursue compensation in Texas civil court.
Two years may seem like plenty of time to file. But recovering from serious injuries, conducting an accident investigation, gathering evidence, filing an insurance claim, and preparing a lawsuit take months. A knowledgeable truck accident lawyer can investigate the accident, demand trucking company records, determine liability, and identify all potential sources of insurance compensation. Let an attorney at the Law Offices of Troy A. Brookover handle the investigation and keep track of the filing deadlines while you focus on regaining your health.
Reasons To Call a Truck Accident Lawyer
After a serious accident, you may have questions about what to do. You may be uncertain of your legal rights. Talking with an experienced lawyer after a truck accident can help you clarify your options. If you were injured and the truck driver or trucking company caused the accident, you may be entitled to claim compensation for your medical bills and other accident expenses.
Here are some of the ways that a truck accident lawyer can help:
Gathering Evidence of Liability
The truck driver may be partly liable for an accident. But other parties such as the trucking company or the company that loaded cargo onto the truck may share liability.
An attorney can investigate the accident to determine potentially liable parties, including the truck driver, trucking company, truck manufacturer, maintenance crew, and government agencies responsible for road maintenance. A lawyer can gather evidence to prove fault, including:
- The driver’s logbooks
- Photos and video of the accident scene, including skid marks on the road
- Witness statements
- Testimony from accident reconstruction experts
- Dash camera footage
- Surveillance camera footage from nearby businesses
- The truck’s GPS or data recorder
- The driver’s cell phone records, including calls, texts, and web data
- Driver receipts from tolls, gas stations, or restaurants to establish any hours of service violations
- Truck maintenance records
Gauging the Severity of the Trucking Accident
It is crucial to seek medical treatment immediately after an accident to ensure that your injuries are diagnosed, treated, and added to your medical record. Keep all receipts and invoices for doctor’s visits and other medical expenses. A San Antonio truck accident lawyer can assess the severity of the accident and gather your medical bills to estimate the appropriate amount of compensation to demand. If your injuries leave you with a permanent disability, an attorney can consult with your doctors and estimate the costs of future medical care and lost wages if you cannot return to work.
Negotiating with Trucking Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses. Their goal is to pay as little as possible to settle a claim. The insurance company representing the truck driver may call you soon after the accident and offer you a lowball settlement in hopes of closing the case and limiting the insurer’s liability. However, an experienced attorney will recognize these tactics and can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf for a fair settlement. A lawyer will handle all communication with the insurance company.
Determining the Cause of the Accident
Many truck accidents result from driver error. Other factors also might contribute to a collision. For instance, the driver may have disregarded federal hours of service rules that limit the number of hours a driver can operate a truck. The rules are intended to prevent truck accidents caused by driver fatigue. The trucking company may have violated federal trucking regulations, on weight limits. The company that loaded the truck may have violated rules for properly securing loads, allowing a load to shift in transit and cause a crash. An experienced truck accident attorney can determine the cause of an accident and identify all insurance policies that may be available to provide compensation.
Negotiating a Settlement
Negotiations with insurance companies can become complicated in a truck accident because multiple parties may share the blame. Texas follows a comparative fault rule when determining liability in an accident. That means an accident victim can pursue compensation only if they are no more than 50 percent at fault for the accident. An attorney can gather evidence to prove that another party or entity is entirely or mostly responsible for the crash to help you secure maximum compensation.
Have You Been Injured in a San Antonio Truck Accident?
If you have been injured in a San Antonio truck accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and much more. The Law Offices of Troy A. Brookover can advocate for your rights and help you seek the financial compensation available based on the facts of your accident. With more than 30 years of experience, the legal team at The Law Offices of Troy A. Brookover is prepared to handle every detail of your truck accident case, no matter how complicated. Contact our office today to speak to an attorney during a free
