Truck Accidents and Personal Injury Attorneys: What They Can Do to Help

Truck Accidents and Personal Injury Attorneys: What They Can Do to Help

Most of the time, when people think of motor vehicle accidents, they think of car accidents. However, the reality, especially in Texas, is that trucks are often involved in motor vehicle accidents as well. These large vehicles can include everything from oil tankers to 18-wheelers to dump trucks and flatbeds. And as you might expect, crashes involving these heavy-duty vehicles are often life-changing. Everything from traumatic injury to permanent disability and even death is a possibility.

That is why, if you have been involved in a truck accident in Texas due to the negligence of another, you need an Abilene personal injury lawyer to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Here is what you need to know about these accidents, and how a personal injury attorney might be able to help you.

Truck Accidents Are on the Rise in Texas.

Nationwide, since 2005, fatal truck accidents are down by about 22 percent. However, in Texas, these types of crashes are actually on the rise. In fact, these accidents have risen almost every year since 2009, and in 2016, 484 people were killed in truck crashes in the state.

How does that number compare to other states? Consider California’s 2016 numbers. California ranks second below Texas in the number of fatal truck crashes, and in that year, they had 191 fewer deaths from truck crashes. That is a significant difference between the two states.

Clearly, truck accidents in Texas are a problem. And with the numbers on the rise, it is clear that more and more people may need the services of a Texas personal injury attorney to get the compensation they deserve as the victims of these types of accidents.

Truck Accidents Often Result in Serious Injuries or Death.

Thanks to the sheer size of trucks like 18-wheelers and tankers, accidents involving these vehicles tend to be much more serious much more often than are accidents involving smaller vehicles. For example, a pedestrian hit by a truck is much less likely to survive than if they are hit by a car, and a car is much less likely to withstand a crash with a tractor trailer than with a vehicle closer to its own size.

As a result, truck accidents often result in serious injuries or death. In addition to the 484 deaths reported from truck accidents in Texas in 2016, the number of serious injuries caused by these types of accidents has increased 45 percent in the last 5 years. That is a significant number of people suffering life altering and perhaps permanent injury because of a truck accident. When these types of injuries were caused by the negligence of another, the assistance of a personal injury attorney can be invaluable in helping victims pursue the compensation they deserve for their suffering.

Many Factors, Some of Them Preventable, Contribute to Truck Accidents in Texas.

In order for a personal injury lawyer to be able to successfully pursue a claim, they have to be able to prove that the negligence or actions of somebody else contributed to the accident. Circumstances outside the involved party’s control may make it harder to prove that you deserve compensation for suffering endured as the result of a motor vehicle accident.

For example, there are many factors contributing to truck accidents in Texas. Areas of heavy population, such as the Dallas/Fort Worth area, that truck drivers must navigate sometimes make it difficult for large vehicles to safely avoid crashes. Similarly, increased truck traffic from the oil industry means that there are more trucks on the road, meaning that there are more chances for accidents.

However, heavy population centers and lots of truck traffic are not always the answer to why truck accidents happen in the state. When it comes to truck accidents, about one-third of these crashes are contributable to the driver. For example, truck drivers are required by Texas law to only spend a certain amount of time driving, must keep their truck in good condition, and must follow other rules designed to ensure safety for the truck driver and those around them. If these conditions are not followed, and an accident occurs, your personal injury attorney may have an easier time lodging a personal injury claim for you.

In addition, drivers may be distracted, may be using their cell phone while driving, may be tired, may be driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or may be engaged in other activities that contribute to the crash. It is important to find out exactly what contributed to the accident so that you know if you have grounds for a personal injury claim, and so that your claim has the best possible chance of success.

A Texas Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You After a Truck Accident.

Because of the many factors that can contribute to a truck accident, because of the severity of many of these accidents, and because of the need to determine exactly what happened and who was at fault, a Texas personal injury lawyer can be an invaluable resource for individuals who have been involved in a truck accident.

This personal injury lawyer can help you to find evidence about what happened, and about who was at fault. And that means that you can build a stronger case and improve your chances of winning the compensation you deserve. At the same time, this professional can do the work for you of putting your case together, documenting your injuries, completing paperwork, negotiating with companies and so forth, so you can focus on your recovery.

If you have been involved in a truck accident, you may benefit from the services of a personal injury attorney. Here at the Law Offices of David M. White, we have many years of experience with these types of accidents. We are prepared to aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve after a truck accident in Texas. Reach out to us today and find out how we might be able to help you.