Truck drivers need countless hours of training and special licensing to learn the skills they need to operate 18-wheelers safely on Texas’s interstates. Even so, no amount of training can account for a driver’s in-the-moment negligence. Drivers who operate a truck while distracted, intoxicated, or otherwise negligent put everyone around them in danger.
Should you find yourself contending with the aftermath of a truck accident, you can work with an Austin 18-wheeler accident attorney to address your losses. Zinda Law has the courtroom experience to bring your case forward and advocate for your right to the damages you need to cover your losses.
You can contact our Austin personal injury lawyers today for support throughout your recovery.
How Can You Recover from an 18-Wheeler Truck Accident?
You can recover from an 18-wheeler truck accident by either pursuing a personal injury claim on your own or requesting that a personal representative do so for you. Whether you decide to represent yourself or a deceased loved one, you can request that an 18-wheeler truck collision lawyer in Austin help you file your claim and represent your best interests.
If you choose to move forward, you must submit your claim within the deadline set by the state of Texas. Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code section 16.003 allows truck accident survivors and their representatives up to two years to file a personal injury claim. If you miss that deadline, you waive your right to fight for compensation in Texas civil courts.
For a free legal consultation with a 18-wheeler truck accidents lawyer serving Austin, call 800-863-5312
What Information Should You Include in an 18-Wheeler Truck Crash Claim?
The personal injury claim you bring forward after an 18-wheeler collision needs to be comprehensive if you want to win the right to argue for compensation in civil court. You need to work with an attorney to go into detail when outlining:
- Who or what party caused your accident
- What losses you endured in that accident
- What the economic value of your accident’s losses is
- What evidence you have of liability and your losses’ values
In other words, an attorney needs to investigate your accident scene to bring forward the evidence you need to establish both negligence and your case’s value. Evidence of negligence in an 18-wheeler truck collision can include the truck’s black box data, the driver’s cell phone data, bystander input, and opinions from expert witnesses in an attorney’s professional network.
You can count on an Austin 18-wheeler truck accident attorney to gather this data on your behalf and compose an analysis to include in your formal complaint. We can then format your complaint to meet state standards before submitting it before your statute of limitations expires.
18-wheeler Truck Accident in Austin lawyers near me 800-863-5312
Your Right to Economic and Non-Economic Damages
When you fill out a truck accident claim, you have the right to go into detail regarding the losses you’ve endured due to someone else’s negligence. Not all of those losses need to be physical. You can, for example, demand financial compensation for your emotional distress, pain and suffering, and mental anguish.
You also retain the right to demand that a liable party pay for your physical losses. These losses can include your post-accident medical bills, long-term care, and the restoration or replacement of any damaged property. You can even demand compensation for wages lost while you took off work to recover.
If a loved one passes in a truck crash, you can request support for their wrongful death as well as the cost of a funeral and long-term familial care.
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Who to Charge With Your Losses
Determining who to hold responsible after an 18-wheeler accident can sometimes prove challenging. The evidence from your accident, be it the black box data or bystander statements, may make one claim about negligence and fault. However, the contracts tying a driver to a client or employer may say another.
No one wants to make you learn contract law to pursue compensation for your losses. You can instead put that responsibility on an attorney’s shoulders. Once an attorney examines the contracts between a driver and a relevant corporation, they can more effectively tell you who to hold liable for your losses.
Independent Contractors
Today, most trucking companies and private corporations prefer to hire truck drivers as independent contractors, not employees. Independent contractors consider trucking agencies and corporations to be clients. As such, those agencies and corporations don’t have to provide their drivers with legal protection or even certain benefits.
If the person who caused your 18-wheeler accident works as an independent contractor, you may hold that individual liable for the losses you endured in the face of their negligence. These cases are relatively straightforward, as you likely won’t have to interact with a corporate legal team or corporate insurance provider.
Trucking Corporations
Matters change if trucking agencies or corporations categorize an at-fault truck driver as an employee. These companies are legally obligated to provide their employees with legal support and roadway insurance if said employees operate under an employee-specific contract.
Should you get into an accident with an employee, not an independent contractor, you may name their employer liable for your losses. This means you may end up taking a corporation to civil court.
Fortunately, Zinda Law’s 18-wheeler truck crash attorneys in Austin have a record of going up against corporations and know how to make this experience as stress-free as possible for you.
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Zinda Law Represents People Injured in 18-Wheeler Truck Accidents
The drivers of an 18-wheeler need to look out for other vehicles on the road. If you get into a crash with an 18-wheeler, a negligent driver may permanently change your life. Negligent truck drivers may even, under the worst of circumstances, prove liable for the untimely death of someone you care about.
What can you do in the wake of an accident with an 18-wheeler? Call Zinda Law Group. We have 18-wheeler truck crash lawyers in Austin, TX, who can help you take action after a collision. Our team advocates for your right to compensation based on the losses an 18-wheeler accident brought into your life.
You can schedule a case consultation through Zinda Law’s online contact form or contact our office today.
Call or text 800-863-5312 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form