Accidents involving large commercial trucks often cause severe injuries and fatal wounds to car passengers and others who collide with these massive vehicles. While the companies that own 18-wheelers and the drivers who operate them should adhere to state and federal safety laws, negligence can still cause catastrophic consequences when they don’t follow them.
Unfortunately, injuries from semi-truck accidents may require long-term care, resulting in big medical bills and lost income. If you or a loved one suffered injury in a truck accident, you can work with a personal injury lawyer in Kingsville, TX, at Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC, to hold the at-fault party accountable. We can determine what legal options may be available to you. Our personal injury attorneys fight for our clients’ financial recovery. You can learn more during a free consultation with our team.
How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer in Kingsville, TX, Lead a Compensation Case?
Our firm will work diligently to ensure we hold the party responsible for your injuries accountable for your losses. You should not pay for the damages you suffered because of someone else’s carelessness in Kingsville, and there are things you can do after getting into an accident that was not your fault.
When our accident lawyers pursue financial compensation for our clients, we take several steps to build a solid case. These typically include the following:
- Conducting an independent investigation and surveying the accident scene
- Gathering important accident-related documents, such as police reports, traffic citations, and the truck driver’s logs
- Collecting digital evidence, such as photos, video, and data from the truck’s event data recorder (EDR) or black box
- Identifying all liable parties that owe you compensation, which could include the driver, the truck’s owner, a repair shop, the cargo loading crew, the truck’s manufacturer, another motorist, or a government entity, among others
- Obtaining documentation of your injuries and medical records
- Talking to witnesses and taking statements
- Consulting with professionals to get expert opinions, such as medical specialists and accident reconstructionists
- Using supporting evidence to prove the other party was negligent and liable for your losses
- Identifying and calculating your recoverable damages
- Negotiating with insurance companies to seek a fair settlement
- Filing your lawsuit and providing court representation if necessary
Depending on your case, we may complete other tasks to establish that your claim or lawsuit warrants compensation. Our truck accident attorney serving Kingsville, TX, will update you on your case’s developments and advise you throughout the legal process.
We have offices in Houston, Corpus Christi, and Victoria; and will travel to any corner of Texas if we are capable of preventing an injustice.
Recoverable Damages Our Lawyer Can Seek for a Big-Rig Accident in Kingsville
In personal injury claims, damages are compensation that represent the losses someone suffered from their accident and injuries. Some of these losses are financial, and an attorney can calculate using specific values from bills, receipts, pay stubs, and other documentation. Other losses are subjective and have no set monetary value. An attorney will know how to determine their dollar amount using standard formulas. Damages from a semi-truck accident can include the following and more:
- Medical bills, including expenses related to emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, doctor’s visits, rehabilitation, prescription medication, etc.
- Lost income from missed work time
- Diminished future earning capacity due to long-term impairments that prevent making the same income as before
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Disability
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of quality and enjoyment of life
- Property damage
- Wrongful death damages (if your loved one suffered fatal injuries in a Kingsville, TX, 18-wheeler accident)
A truck accident attorney in Kingsville, TX, can help you identify all potential damages you may include in a personal injury or wrongful death claim, ensuring you pursue fair compensation that represents your losses.
Kingsville Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me 361-884-4437
What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Trucking Accident in Kingsville, TX?
Personal injury claims are subject to a filing deadline called the statute of limitations. In Texas, this is two years from the accident date, as outlined in the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Section § 16.003.
Your Kingsville truck accident attorney will ensure we file all documentation within this time frame so you can protect your right to sue for compensation. If you miss the deadline, you likely won’t be able to seek damages from the liable party.
Representing the injured in all areas of Texas that extends back over 40 years
Commercial Trucks on Kingsville, TX, Roads Are Subject to Special Safety Regulations
Trucking companies and their drivers must adhere to state and federal regulations to ensure their vehicles are safe for operation. Failure to comply with these and other traffic laws constitutes negligence when an accident results. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), these include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Maximum height and weight of trucks, including cargo
- Hours-of-service requirements to prevent driver fatigue
- Driver drug and alcohol testing
- Mandatory safety equipment
- Regularly scheduled truck maintenance
- Transportation standards for hazardous materials
Determining Negligence in a Kingsville, TX, Trucking Accident Case
Your truck accident attorney will be able to identify all potential violations of these regulations and those related to conventional traffic laws, such as speeding, failure to yield, careless driving, etc. This is all potential evidence showing that another party was negligent and liable for your losses.
Using the truck’s driver as an example, the following four elements must be present to prove a negligence claim in a commercial truck accident:
- Duty of care: All motorists have a legal duty of care to others to drive responsibly and ensure their safety.
- Breach of duty: If a truck driver fails to uphold this standard of care and causes an accident, injuries, or a fatality, this is a breach of duty of care.
- Causation: The driver’s breach of duty must have directly caused the injured parties’ injuries.
- Damages: The accident and injuries resulted in compensatory losses, such as pain and suffering.
You need a skilled advocate to protect your legal rights and present your claim in such a way as to maximize your recovery.
Our Truck Accident Lawyer Serving Kingsville, TX, Can Lead Your Case – Call Today
At Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC, we have more than 50 years of experience in personal injury and insurance law. Stephen P. Carrigan is a civil trial lawyer practicing law for over 37 years. David M. Anderson has dedicated most of his legal career to advocating for individuals against the dubious or illegal practices insurance companies use to delay or deny valid claims.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case review. You can reach out to Steve anytime, as he responds to calls seven days a week.
At Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC we can talk to you about your options and rights.