Truck Accident Lawyers Dallas-Fort Worth

in Dallas-Fort Worth

Proven Results

$13 Million

Total Recovered

Car Accident

Fatality

$6.5 Million

Total Recovered

18-Wheeler Wreck

Fatality

$1.8 Million

Total Recovered

Truck Accident

Spinal Injury

$864,000

Total Recovered

Truck Accident

Back Injury

$650,000

Total Recovered

Commercial Vehicle

Fatality

$950,000

Total Recovered

18-Wheeler Wreck

Neck, Back & Head Injuries

$1.5 Million

Total Recovered

Pedestrian Accident

Leg Injury

$1.1 Million

Total Recovered

18-Wheeler Wreck

Neck & Back Injury

$750,000

Total Recovered

Commercial Vehicle

Brain Injury

We handle cases of all sizes. View our results...

Texas Truck Accident Lawyers in Dallas-Fort Worth

Commercial trucks are disproportionately larger and heavier than standard passenger vehicles. This means that a collision involving an 18-wheeler or tractor trailer can result in even more severe injuries and long-term consequences than a crash involving two cars. The Lone Star State is particularly dangerous for drivers, with 5,222 Texas vehicles involved in fatal truck accidents during one recent year alone, accounting for more than 13 percent of the national total.

If you or a family member has been hurt in an accident with a large truck, you know how devastating these crashes can be. The experienced Dallas truck accident lawyers at Tate Law Offices, P.C., are here to help. We have the skills, resources, and experience required to handle any big rig accident case in Dallas.

When you contact us with the details of your situation, we can get to work for you right away. Our attorneys know that to protect your rights and maximize your recovery after an 18-wheeler accident, it’s in your best interest to take prompt action. That’s why we will send a team to your accident scene immediately to document and preserve crucial evidence before it is lost or destroyed. Don’t hesitate to contact us for your truck accident case as soon as possible.

Call us or fill out our convenient online contact form now to get started with a free case evaluation. We charge no legal fees unless we win compensation for your case.

Compensation After Your Truck Accident Injuries

Obtaining the compensation you deserve for your truck accident injuries will likely be challenging. Insurance settlements in big rig accident cases are frequently complicated, and insurers work tirelessly to keep payouts low.

One reason many truck accident claims tend to be more complicated is that collisions involving large trucks, semis, and tractor-trailers can cause significantly more severe injuries and property damage. As such, the average large truck accident insurance claim is particularly expensive. This means insurance adjusters will do everything in their power to deny claims and minimize the value of cases.

Another complicating factor in 18-wheeler accident settlements in the presence of multiple parties that may be held responsible for the accident. A truck driver, his or her employer, the company that owned the truck, the company that manufactured any freight being hauled, or the loading company that packed cargo into the truck could all potentially bear some fault. Each of these parties has an interest in denying responsibility, and all of them have their own insurance providers and attorneys working against you to protect their bottom lines.

If you have medical expenses and other bills piling up, you may be eager to accept a truck accident settlement. Insurance companies know that many 18-wheeler accident victims are desperate. They use this to their advantage, presenting lowball offers in the hopes of ending negotiations quickly.

However, this kind of settlement will rarely account for all of your losses and may leave you with few options if you end up facing long-term consequences. Whether you end up accepting an insurance settlement or taking your case to trial, the help of an experienced Dallas big rig accident lawyer can help you pursue rightful compensation for losses such as:

Current and future medical bills related to your injuries
Past and future physical impairment
Costs of rehabilitation, prescriptions, medical equipment, and in-home services
Other treatment-related expenses, such as transportation to appointments
Loss of current income and future earning potential
Pain and suffering from your injuries
Mental anguish, PTSD, and emotional trauma
Loss of enjoyment of life or consortium with loved ones

Contact Our Dallas-Fort Worth Truck Accident Lawyers Today

The truck accident attorneys at Tate Law Offices, P.C., have litigated against several deep-pocketed national trucking companies, including Swift Transportation, JB Hunt, Knight Transportation, and many others. We also have access to state and national databases with a wealth of information about the trucking industry, which gives us an advantage as we help you pursue full compensation in your claim.

Our Dallas accident lawyers will review your case for free and pay for all of the upfront costs in your claim. We only accept legal fees and reimbursement for these costs if we are successful in obtaining compensation for you. Our goal is simple: We want you to receive the maximum amount of compensation you deserve without worrying about whether you can afford legal help.

For decades, our firm has held a success rate exceeding 99 percent for big rig accident injury cases, with more than 3,000 cases won for people just like you. Not only will we aggressively pursue compensation for your injuries, we can also provide doctor’s referrals, help get damaged vehicles repaired, and provide assistance in obtaining rental cars, all for free. To get started with your no-cost, no-obligation case review, give our truck accident lawyers a call or contact us online now.

How Our Dallas Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help You

The results-driven attorneys of Tate Law Offices, P.C., are passionate about helping crash victims and making highways in Dallas and across the country safer. That passion drives everything we will do on your behalf. You can count on us to:

Help you understand all aspects of your case
Thoroughly investigate the causes of your crash
Identify all possible sources of compensation
Consult with experts like accident reconstruction specialists
Assist you with managing and organizing important documents
Collect and preserve supporting evidence for your case
Communicate with other parties on your behalf
Negotiate aggressively for a full insurance settlement
Argue for your best interests in court, if a settlement can’t be reached

To learn more about how our personal injury attorneys can help you, contact us today. We provide a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal rights and options.

What Makes Truck Accident Claims More Complicated?

It’s impossible to exaggerate the need for a lawyer after a truck accident. The trucking industry is heavily regulated and includes many stakeholders, so truck accident cases are often complex. Here are some of the more complicated aspects of handling a truck accident claim:

MULTIPLE PARTIES ARE INVOLVED

The trucking company consists of many moving parts. When an accident occurs, more than one party may bear responsibility for the resulting damages. Any number of parties may have contributed to the accident, including the:

The trucking company that hired the driver
Truck driver
Owner of the truck
A company that manufactured any freight being hauled
Loading company that packed cargo into the truck
The truck manufacturer that built the truck
Auto parts manufacturers that built the parts installed in the truck

Dealing with one party is often difficult enough. Dealing with several at the same time can be frustrating and confusing.

AGGRESSIVE DEFENSES WILL BE MOUNTED

Don’t expect any of the insurance companies that cover the parties involved to offer you a quick and fair settlement. All of these parties and their insurance carriers have an interest in denying responsibility to minimize the financial fallout following a truck accident. You can expect the trucking companies to quickly deploy representatives from their insurance company and aggressive attorneys to the scene of the accident and to mount various defenses as to why they shouldn’t have to pay you what’s fair.

COMPLEX REGULATIONS MAY BE INVOLVED

Even if you think you bear some responsibility for the accident, it is important that you do not say this. Commercial trucks are complex machines that are regulated by even more complex rules on the state and federal level. Commercial trucking companies and their drivers must obey these rules, which include everything from how many hours a trucker can drive in a day to what types of materials must be used to secure cargo.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is responsible for establishing the rules that apply to interstate drivers. These regulations are extensive and include topics such as:

Driver qualifications
Truck operations
Vehicle maintenance requirements
Insurance coverage requirements
Inspections
Accident investigations
Vehicle repairs\
Weight distribution
Drug and alcohol prohibition

Additionally, Title 7 of the Texas Transportation Code regulates the operation of trucks within the state of Texas.

It will often take an in-depth investigation to determine all the factors that contributed to the accident. An experienced attorney can investigate the accident and compel the production of evidence to determine the factors that contributed to it.

How to Prove Liability in a Truck Accident

Proving that the trucking company or other defendant is responsible for the accident is no easy feat. Proving liability in a truck accident case often comes down to two major factors:
Investigation
An investigation can help reveal the issues that contributed to an accident. However, the trucking company’s own internal investigation is unlikely to result in favorable information for your claim. After all, their insurance company is only interested in minimizing the value of your claim. While some trucking accidents are investigated by state or federal authorities, the purpose of these investigations is usually to determine whether a traffic violation was committed, not to properly compensate you for your losses.
For these reasons, it is important that you have someone on your side who is investigating the accident to protect your rights. Also, evidence may be removed from the scene or lost. An experienced attorney will be able to take the necessary steps to preserve evidence but only if you act quickly.

EVIDENCE

Trucking companies often maintain massive amounts of data that may help explain the factors that contributed to the accident. Your attorney can take steps to obtain this evidence, which may include:

Inspection and maintenance records
Employee personnel information
Complaints or records of violations
Black box data from the truck
Trucker’s logbook
Police accident reports
Internal accident reports
Results of drug and alcohol testing

Additionally, your personal injury lawyer can interview witnesses who observed the moments leading up to the accident. In some cases, they may hire expert witnesses to explain how the accident happened or describe the damages you have suffered.

Physical evidence like skid marks, debris on the roadway, or damage to the vehicles can further illuminate the cause of the accident. You may have photos or videos of the accident that can also help paint a picture of how the accident happened and how severe it was. Your lawyer can also look if there are any nearby traffic cameras or surveillance cameras that may have captured the accident.
An experienced truck accident attorney will know what evidence to look for and how to best use it to your advantage.

Time Limit for Filing an 18-Wheeler Accident Claim

Each state in the U.S. has legal guidelines outlining how long victims have to file specific types of lawsuits. These guidelines are called statutes of limitations. In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is two years. This means that if you were injured in a Dallas 18-wheeler accident and cannot reach an appropriate settlement, you have two years from the date of your wreck to file a personal injury claim in court. However, in some situations, the time limit can be less than two years so you should consult an attorney immediately to understand the required deadlines.

Two years may sound like a long time at first. But consider how long it will take to recover from your injuries, build a solid case, and go through one or more rounds of insurance settlement negotiations. Also note that you will need to act quickly to ensure that evidence is both available and viable, and that you have access to as many legal options as possible.

A knowledgeable Dallas truck accident lawyer from our firm can begin work on your case immediately. Contact us now to get started with a free case review.

What Are Some Common Causes of Truck Accidents?

Commercial vehicles can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. If they are not driven in a safe manner, they can cause catastrophic consequences. Far too often, the negligence of truck drivers and trucking companies permanently alters the life of innocent victims.

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents in Texas include:

Negligent hiring or supervision
Inadequate training
Speeding
Distractions
Driver fatigue or exhaustion
Poor maintenance or inadequate inspections
Following too closely
Not making turns correctly or safely
Drug or alcohol impairment
Not following traffic regulations
Improperly loaded cargo

Who Is Liable for Truck Accidents?

Any number of parties whose negligence contributed to a collision involving a commercial vehicle may be legally responsible for the accident. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your case, one or more of the following parties may be responsible for your accident:

In our experience, there are many reasons collisions can occur between large commercial trucks and passenger vehicles in Dallas. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

Truckers who engage in distracted, reckless, or intoxicated driving
Truckers who violate traffic laws or commercial safety regulations
Trucking companies that hire unfit or improperly licensed drivers
Trucking companies that fail to properly train or supervise drivers
Trucking companies or service shops that improperly maintain or repair trucks
Cargo manufacturers that neglect to warn of hazardous materials
Loading companies that pack cargo in a precarious or unsafe manner
Truck parts manufacturers that sell defective components

Get Your Free Case Review

Let one of our personal injury lawyers review your case, explain your legal options, and answer all your questions in a free case evaluation.

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Featured FAQ

18-Wheeler Accident

Can I work with Tate Law Offices on behalf of an injured friend, loved one, or family member?

Yes. Many times when someone is seriously injured or incapacitated a family member or friend steps in and represents the injured person.

How can I help make my personal injury case a strong case?

Follow the recommendations of your lawyer and your doctor.
Don’t talk to any insurance company or insurance adjuster.
Let your lawyers do all of your communication for you to outside parties and insurance companies. You can talk to your doctor and the police when appropriate, but not to anyone else.

If I lost a loved one in an 18-wheeler accident, can I file a wrongful death lawsuit?

In the unfortunate event that you lose a close relative in an 18-wheeler accident, you and your family may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim. We know you and your family are hurting, and the compassionate attorneys of Tate Law Offices, P.C., can guide you through this process.

What steps can I take after an 18-wheeler accident?

After an 18-wheeler accident, your health should be your top priority. First and most importantly, get a medical evaluation. Adrenaline after an 18-wheeler accident can mask early signs of injury. If you’re able, take photos at the scene. Keep all relevant medical and other records to build evidence for your case. Then, as soon as you’re able, contact the experienced Dallas personal injury attorneys of Tate Law Offices, P.C., to get started on your claim.

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Dallas?

The statute of limitations, or the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit, is two years from the date of the accident in Dallas. Even though you have two years, it is in your best interest to start the process as soon as possible while you have the most evidence available to you.

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Legally Reviewed By

Tim Tate, of Tate Law Offices, PC, has represented victims of injuries day-in and day-out throughout the state of Texas as well as in numerous other states throughout America over the last two decades. In addition to being licensed as an Attorney at Law by the Supreme Court of Texas, Tim is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice, both of which advocate and advance the rights of injured victims against insurance companies.

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