A tractor-trailer accident can result in severe, life-threatening injuries. It can also take a physical and emotional toll on the lives of victims and their families.
If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one due to a negligent truck driver, a tractor-trailer accident lawyer serving Katy can determine if you have a case.
You May Qualify for Financial Recovery After a Tractor-Trailer Accident in Katy
The value of your damages depends on the circumstances of your case. An attorney cannot guarantee the outcome of your claim, but they can evaluate your damages. They may seek the financial recovery you deserve, though.
In tractor-trailer accident cases, you can pursue recovery for economic awards, which have a quantifiable value. These include damages like medical bills and lost wages.
If you suffered significant physical or emotional pain due to the accident, you may also seek financial awards for long-term care.
How Much is Your Case Worth?
As noted, your recovery depends on your specific circumstances. If your doctors determine that your injuries will develop into a permanent impairment, your recovery may account for ongoing medical care.
This is why it is important to see a doctor immediately after an accident. You do not want to accept an offer that does not fairly account for your future losses. Insurance adjusters often evaluate claims before knowing the full extent of claimants’ injuries.
Medical documentation can provide the link between your injuries and the accident and prove your losses. It also prevents an insurance adjuster from claiming you worsened your injuries. This can prompt them to deny a claim.
Tractor-Trailer Accidents Often Cause Severe Injuries
Due to its weight, size, and length, a tractor-trailer can easily overpower a passenger car during an accident. The latest information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that occupants of passenger vehicles accounted for 72% of truck accident fatalities.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) notes some risks that can harm passenger vehicle occupants in truck accidents:
- Large trucks weigh at least 10,000 pounds (or approximately 20 to 30 times more than passenger vehicles).
- Large trucks require 20% to 40% more room to stop than passenger vehicles, making it difficult for them to stop suddenly.
- Large trucks have higher ground clearance, so cars can slide underneath them in the event of an accident.
- Truck drivers often suffer from fatigue after spending many consecutive hours driving. Some drivers may not observe the hours of service regulations.
Tractor-trailer drivers are responsible for exercising extra caution on the road, and when they fail to do so, serious accidents can result. Retaining a lawyer could allow you to hold a negligent driver accountable for the injuries they caused you or a loved one.
Establishing Fault in a Tractor-Trailer Accident in Katy
If you suffered serious injuries or a loved one passed due to a truck collision in Katy, our tractor-trailer accident lawyers can prove fault. For one’s behavior to meet the legal definition of negligence, they must meet four specific criteria:
- The party had a responsibility to exercise reasonable care to maintain your safety.
- The party breached that duty by omission or a willful act.
- Their breach of duty caused you physical and/or emotional injuries.
- Your injuries led you to suffer financial damages.
One of several parties may hold responsibility for your accident.
Another Driver’s Choices Might Have Led to Your Injuries
In some cases, another driver can cause an accident. Whether they did so intentionally or by acting negligently, they still hold responsibility for providing you with financial recovery.
Victims typically recover funds through the driver’s insurance company or a civil lawsuit. Our team can help ensure you have properly assessed your damages and pursue fair financial awards on your behalf.
A Government Agency Might Have Failed to Perform Duties to Keep You Safe
Local and state governments must keep roadways safe for all who use them. A municipality’s failure to do so could have caused your tractor-trailer accident. If so, you might have the option to seek financial recovery from the government agency responsible for road maintenance.
While filing a claim with the government can present a challenge due to sovereign immunity, the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) allows citizens to file suit against the government under certain circumstances. Your lawyer can determine if you have a case.
A Vehicle or Parts Manufacturer Could Have Sold a Product With a Defect
The law requires that all vehicles made available on the consumer market comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and have no safety-related defects.
Sometimes, vehicles with faulty parts make it onto the road, and it takes a safety recall from the manufacturer to prevent further injuries. If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one as the result of a poorly manufactured vehicle, you may have a case against the company.
A Third-Party Driver on the Road Could Have Contributed to the Accident
In some cases, car accidents involve more than two vehicles. When multiple parties play a role in a collision, determining liability can get tricky. Some drivers may bear no responsibility while others share in the blame.
Our firm can employ the help of expert reconstructionists to figure out what caused or contributed to the accident. This way, we can identify and pursue all liable parties.
You Must File Your Katy Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawsuit Within a Certain Time Frame
To pursue legal action against the negligent party, you must file your lawsuit within a certain time frame. Texas Law allows victims of truck accidents two years to file their injury lawsuits.
Similarly, families of victims who lost their lives in truck accidents have two years from the date of their loved one’s passing to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
These limits have some exceptions. A lawyer with our firm helping Katy accident victims can help determine how much time you have to file. The sooner you get started, the better you can protect your right to legal action. If you fail to meet the deadline, you could see your tractor-trailer case dismissed in court.
A Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawyer Serving Katy, TX, Can Help You With Your Case
If someone else’s negligence left you or a loved one with serious or fatal injuries, you do not have to manage the claims process alone. Our lawyers can help you by investigating your case, establishing liability, and helping you pursue the financial recovery you deserve.
Contact D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™ today at (713) 850-8600 to discuss your case with our legal team.
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