Commercial vehicle accidents are significantly more dangerous than the average car accident. They also cost more and can be more difficult to navigate. A commercial vehicle accident attorney in Austin from our law firm can help you after you’ve suffered injuries in a crash.
Our law firm has 15 years of experience helping truck accident victims recover their losses from the liable parties. From the moment you get in touch with us, we’ll get you the help you need.
What Causes Commercial Vehicle Accidents?
Since commercial vehicles are large and heavy, their weight and size often play a significant role in crashes. However, there are several additional causes of commercial vehicle accidents, such as:
- Distracted driving
- Drivers who lack experience
- Reckless driving
- Improperly loaded cargo
- Trucking companies forcing truck drivers to work excessive hours on duty
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Blind spots
- Bad weather
- Driver fatigue
- Lack of regular maintenance
- Defective truck
If you believe your commercial trucking collision resulted from any of the abovementioned causes, you may have a case and be eligible for compensation. Our Austin personal injury attorney can review your case in a free case evaluation. In the evaluation, we’ll review evidence, potentially liable parties, and the damages you could recover.
John (Jack) Zinda
Founder / CEO
Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationWhat Is a Commercial Vehicle?
A commercial vehicle is any kind of vehicle that is used for business or work purposes. It can be one that is used to haul freight, commercial goods, or even people. City buses, for example, are commercial vehicles, as are passenger and cargo vans. The size and weight of a commercial vehicle, exacerbated by any cargo it might carry, are a real cause for concern.
The most common type of commercial vehicle is a truck. There are many types of commercial trucks, including:
- 18-wheeler trucks
- Tractor-trailers
- Semi-trucks
- Tanker trucks
Neil Solomon
Partner
Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationCommon Types of Commercial Vehicle Collisions
Commercial vehicles are dangerous in several ways, which means there are multiple different accident types you could experience. Common commercial vehicle accidents that can occur include:
Underride Accidents
When a car hits the back or side of a commercial vehicle and slides underneath it, it’s called an underride accident. This is one of the most dangerous types of accidents to be involved in because you are at risk of being crushed by the larger vehicle’s weight.
Underride crashes often occur when either a driver in a car or a commercial vehicle merges without paying attention. It’s more dangerous for the commercial truck to merge because the initial impact will be higher and lead to significant injuries.
Head-On Collision
Another accident common among commercial vehicles is a head-on collision. This type of crash occurs when another car and a commercial vehicle hit the front ends (or head-on).
While this accident could occur for a few reasons, the most common is a commercial vehicle’s blind spots. Commercial vehicles have a large blind spot on the front of their vehicle, making it difficult for drivers to see anything in front of them beyond their dashboard. So if there is a car in the left turn lane, they may not see it if there isn’t enough space between the two vehicles, and a head-on collision could occur.
T-Bone Accidents
When two vehicles collide and one crashes into the side of another, it’s called a T-bone collision because of the “T’ shape the vehicles make. When a commercial truck hits another car on the road, your injuries could be much more severe than in a car accident.
T-bone crashes most often occur at intersections. Most commonly, when cars turn, and a vehicle going straight doesn’t stop in time.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
Standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ready to answer in your time of need.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationWhat Injuries Can You Suffer in a Commercial Truck Accident?
Just as commercial trucks’ size and weight contribute to wrecks, these same characteristics can cause catastrophic injuries. Severe injuries you could sustain in an Austin commercial vehicle accident include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Fatal injuries
After you’re injured, you should seek medical help immediately before contacting us. You should have a medical professional diagnose your injuries so you’re aware of any injuries that may not be showing symptoms yet.
Cole Gumm
Attorney
We are here to ensure you won’t have to face this difficult time alone.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationHow does a Commercial Vehicle Crash Lawyer Prove Negligence?
To be eligible for compensation, your Austin commercial vehicle accident attorney must prove that the parties were negligent. The following elements must be present in your crash for the party to be negligent:
- Duty of care: The party that caused your crash and injuries must have had a responsibility to avoid causing you harm.
- Breach of duty: They must have performed or failed to perform actions that would’ve prevented you from suffering injuries.
- Injuries suffered: There must be evidence to prove that the injuries you sustained resulted from the breach of duty.
- Damages suffered: Your injuries must have caused you financial and non-financial losses that affect your daily life.
Our team of attorneys can help you identify these elements in your commercial truck accident case. We’re ready to help you recover the compensation you qualify for and get justice for you.
What Parties Could Be Liable for Your Injuries?
When you’re injured in a commercial vehicle accident, there are multiple parties that you could hold accountable. The most common parties you can file a claim against for compensation are:
Trucking Company
Trucking companies have an overall duty of care to make sure their drivers drive safely while still meeting their company objectives. But sometimes, it’s hard to accomplish both of these. Due to this, the trucking company may force the driver to violate federal trucking regulations by speeding or skipping breaks.
Both skipping rest periods and speeding significantly increase the chances of an accident. And if the truck driver causes an accident after doing these things, you could hold them liable for your injuries and losses.
Negligent Vehicle Driver
As the person in control of the vehicle, the driver could be liable if they cause a crash. There are many ways a commercial vehicle driver could contribute to an accident. If they fail to follow road rules, drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or engage in reckless driving to meet company goals, they could be accountable for the accident.
Remember that there can be multiple liable parties in a commercial truck accident. For example, if the trucking company forces a driver to break the rules to meet company goals and the driver drives recklessly and causes an accident, both parties could be liable.
Cargo Loading Company
The company that loads the cargo into the commercial vehicle is another party you could recover damages from. Cargo-loading company employees are professionals that know how to properly load various trucks.
But mistakes happen, which means that if the cargo load caused the truck to tip over, the cargo company would be liable for your injuries. Also, if your lawyer can prove that they intentionally loaded the truck wrong, you could be eligible to recover punitive damages.
Vehicle Manufacturer
The vehicle manufacturer could be liable if a defect in the vehicle caused the accident. Manufacturers put their products through several rounds of testing to make sure it’s safe for the public. And if the vehicle manufacturer failed to do so and it resulted in an accident, you and your attorney could hold them accountable.
A manufacturer may have overlooked multiple issues during the manufacturing process, which could lead to defects. These issues could include:
- Defective breaks
- Steering wheel issues
- Door lock defects
- Improperly placed glass
Another scenario where you could hold the manufacturer accountable is if there was a known defect and the company failed to issue a recall.
State or Federal Government Agency
State or federal government agencies may be liable for poor road conditions that led to your accident. The most common road defects that cause commercial vehicle crashes include:
- Potholes
- No guard rails
- Lack of safety signs
- Faulty traffic lights
If any of the following poor road conditions caused your commercial truck accident, our team of attorneys can help you hold the proper government agencies and officials accountable.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Commercial Vehicle Crash in Texas?
In Texas, you have a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit after a commercial truck accident. According to Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, after a commercial vehicle accident, you only have two years from the accident date to file a claim. However, there are exceptions to this deadline depending on your case, but it isn’t always for the best.
You could have more or less time to file your personal injury claim. You can find out how long you have to file by meeting with one of our Austin commercial vehicle accident attorneys.
What Evidence do You Need to Submit a Commercial Truck Accident Claim?
To have the highest chance of success with your claim and recover compensation, you need strong evidence to support your claim. Common evidence you should submit along with your claim includes:
- Police report
- Black box data
- Fuel receipts
- Witness testimony
- Photos and videos of your injuries and the accident
- Commercial driver’s log book
- Traffic cam footage
What Makes Our Law Firm the Right Fit for Your Case?
Our law firm’s team shows our clients compassion and demonstrates to our defendants that we’ll do whatever is necessary to defend our clients. We’ll be ready with a legal strategy when you come to us.
We operate differently as a smaller law firm. Due to our size, we can often assign two attorneys to each case. By doing so, we have double the resources and effort to put into your case, which results in you getting the compensation you qualify for quicker.
Our firm has a long track record of negotiating big settlements with the biggest insurance company names in the industry. We’ve secured sufficient settlements for our clients from insurance companies like Geico, Liberty, and State Farm.
What Damages Can You Recover After a Commercial Vehicle Crash?
The costs you face after a commercial vehicle accident can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to face them alone. Our commercial truck accident attorneys in Austin can help you recover compensation for the following types of damages:
Economic Damages
Also known as monetary compensation, economic damages are losses you’ve suffered that negatively impact your financial situation. These damages have a value that you can attach a dollar amount to. Common examples of economic damages include:
- Medical bills
- Loss of income
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Loss of household services
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are losses that don’t have a dollar value and are subjective losses. Despite that they don’t have a dollar value, you can still recover financial compensation for the following damages:
- Loss of consortium
- Mental anguish
- Loss of quality of life
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of society
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
Contact Us to Start Building Your Truck Accident Case
If you have been injured in any kind of accident involving a commercial vehicle, you need the help of a lawyer who is experienced and knowledgeable and will fight to win a settlement or judgment that covers all your injuries and resulting expenses.
Texas law limits the amount of time you have to take action, so contact Zinda Law Group and speak to one of our commercial vehicle accident attorneys today for a free case evaluation.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
We have successfully represented clients in a wide variety of cases across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
