Waller County in Texas experiences quite a lot of commercial truck traffic, with highway 90 running directly through Brookshire. This can put other drivers at risk for serious truck accidents. If you were injured in a truck accident in Waller County, you may need a personal injury attorney for your case. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the ways your attorney can help with your Waller truck accident case. We’ll also discuss some steps to take after an accident with an 18-wheeler truck.
Injured in a Truck Accident in Waller County? Here’s How Your Personal Injury Attorney can Help
Victims of truck accidents are entitled to compensation for their damages and injuries. Yet, these cases can be complicated, which is why it helps to have a truck accident lawyer on your side and defending your rights.
Truck accidents can be particularly severe. The average commercial truck weighs around 20 to 30 times what the average passenger car does. Since they weigh more and are significantly more powerful, this can create serious dangers in the event of a crash. What’s more, most commercial trucks take about 20% to 40% more distance to stop compared to passenger cars. They need even more distance to stop in slick conditions or if the truck has received poor brake maintenance. In many cases, this is a dangerous recipe for serious injuries or even death.
Because of the major damages and injuries that can come from a truck accident in Waller County, victims can face huge accident-related expenses. Unfortunately, this also means it’s often more difficult to get the compensation you deserve after a truck accident. Insurance companies and trucking companies typically do everything in their power to pay you as little as possible for your accident. However, your personal injury attorney can help you stand up to these large companies and seek the compensation you need after an accident with a truck.
Here are some ways your attorney can help you with your truck accident case:
Your Lawyer Can Help You Gather Evidence
An experienced Houston car accident attorney can help you investigate and gather evidence for your truck accident case. This can involve many different things. For instance, talking to witnesses, looking at nearby traffic or security footage, or even getting a professional accident reconstruction report. Getting evidence is important for your case. In these types of cases, the victim of the truck accident must prove the other party’s liability for the accident to receive damages.
Truck accidents may be caused by many different things. It’s important to determine the cause of your accident to show the truck driver’s negligence. Your personal injury attorney may look for evidence of some of the most common causes of truck accidents, such as:
- Drowsy driving
- Speeding
- Drug or alcohol use
- Distracted driving
Your Personal Injury Attorney can Help you Determine Who’s Liable for the Crash
What many victims of truck accidents don’t realize is that there may be more than one party who is liable for the truck accident. In many cases, you can actually go after the trucking company, rather than the driver, to get compensation for the accident. Commercial truck drivers typically work for trucking companies. Therefore, if they are driving within the scope of their employment, typically the employer is liable for the accident. Since trucking companies often have deeper pockets than the average truck driver, you may want to file a claim with the company.
However, many truckers also work as independent contractors. This means that the trucking company wouldn’t be liable for their accident because they are technically self-employed. Therefore, it’s important to discuss different options with your personal injury attorney to determine who to seek compensation from.
An Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You Properly Value your Case
Another important way that your truck accident lawyer can help with your case is determining the proper value. Many people take low settlements after a truck accident in Waller County because they aren’t sure what their case is worth. Settling early may seem like a good thing to do, but that often means you’re left paying out-of-pocket for other accident-related expenses. Understanding what your case is worth is essential for making decisions about your case. Your attorney can help you calculate case value based on all your damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
Your Personal Injury Attorney Fights for Maximum Compensation
Another way your personal injury attorney in Waller County, TX can help your case is by fighting for you in and out of court. Your lawyer can negotiate with insurance adjusters, file lawsuits, and go to court to help you get the most compensation for your case. As we mentioned, most companies want to pay you as little as possible. Your attorney is here to fight for you get the compensation you deserve after a truck accident.
Facts About Commercial Truck Accidents in Waller County, TX
According to data from the Texas Department of Transportation, there were a total of 172 commercial vehicle accidents in Waller County, Texas, in 2021. Of those, 9 were fatal and 19 had suspected serious injuries. An estimated 41 people were injured in accidents with commercial vehicles in Waller County in 2021. Therefore, truck accidents can have serious consequences for individuals and families in Brookshire and surrounding cities in Waller County. Many truck accidents happen on highways, interstates, as well as other major roads, putting other drivers at risk for serious injuries or even death.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
Many truck accident victims end up severely injured and need emergency medical care. However, if you are able to after an accident with a truck, there are a few things you can do to help your case. Here are some steps to take after a truck accident:
Call the Police
After checking for injuries, you’ll need to call the police. If anyone has serious injuries, call 911. If there are no injuries or minor injuries, then call the non-emergency line to tell them about the accident. This way, you’ll have a police report that you can use as evidence for your claim.
Get Evidence
If you’re able, try to gather evidence at the scene as you wait for the police to arrive. This might include contact information from witnesses as well as pictures from the accident. Now is the time to exchange information with the driver as well. You’ll need their name, employer, insurance info, license plate number, and the location as well as the time of the accident. All this may be necessary for your case.
Contact Your Truck Accident Lawyer
You should also call your personal injury attorney to get legal advice about your accident. Your lawyer can help you understand your options and how to move forward with your case. They can also begin their investigation early to get evidence for your case.
Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney in Texas – The Law Office of Daniel D. Horowitz, III PC
If you were in a truck accident in Waller County, Texas, contact our team at The Law Office of Daniel D. Horowitz, III PC. Mr. Horowitz is a board certified personal injury attorney in Texas offering legal services for car accidents, truck accidents, work accidents, and many other personal injury cases. As one of the top car accident lawyers in Houston, TX, Mr. Horowitz is committed to helping accident victims get maximum compensation for their case. Contact us now to schedule a free consultation with our legal team!