Dallas Truck Accident Attorney

Large trucks and 18-wheelers play a vital role in our nation’s economy and ability to transport the goods we use every single day. From our food to gasoline to that package you just ordered online, it is a trucker who makes sure the things we need arrive when we need them.

However, truck drivers are responsible for more than just transporting goods – they are responsible for keeping themselves and others safe out on our Texas roads. Driving an 80,000-pound vehicle takes training, skill, and an ability to use solid judgment. That means avoiding negligent behaviors like speeding, drinking and driving, driving recklessly in poor weather conditions, and keeping eyes on the road and hands off the cell phone.

When a truck driver fails to uphold their duty to drive responsibly, the consequences can be catastrophic. Numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that in 2017, 72 percent of all people killed in collisions with large trucks were the occupants of the other vehicles, and, unfortunately, Texas has the highest number of fatal large truck accidents in the nation.

Large trucks cause massive damage to anything they collide with. After an accident, you may be left dealing with the aftermath of serious injuries that could alter your life. While you struggle to recover and pay for the mounting medical bills, the trucking company and their team of expensive lawyers and insurers are working to undercut your claim. You are simply the cost of doing business – they want to pay you off for pennies and force you to sign away all your legal rights.

That’s where the experienced team at The Benton Law Firm comes in. We fight to protect people just like you from the ruthless tactics of insurers. We fight to make sure people like you get the money they deserve. If you have questions after an accident with a large truck, call our office at (214) 777-7777 to schedule a free consultation.

Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle

There are several different types of accidents that a truck can cause. Each one is unique and carries its own set of circumstances. The one factor that remains consistent through all types of truck accidents is the devastation that is left in its wake. Any type of collision with a large truck can cause serious injuries and massive damage to property.

At The Benton Law Firm, we have experience working with all different types of serious truck accident cases. Here are a few of the common types of accidents we work with:

• Jackknife
• Rollover
• No-Zone Accidents
• Head-On Collisions
• Tire Blowouts
• Rear-End Crashes
• T-Bone Crashes
• Lost Load or Improperly Secured Cargo Accidents
• Under/Override Accidents

While this list is extensive, there are also several other types of accidents that could occur with an 18-wheeler. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, reach out to the team at The Benton Law Firm for a free initial consultation. We want to listen to your case and give you the legal advice you need, no matter the circumstances.

Types of Commercial and Large Vehicles that Can Cause Accidents

While there are many different types of truck accident cases, there happen to be just as many types of trucks that can cause serious accidents. Why does this matter? Different types of vehicles may have different types of liabilities. While a commercial truck may have lawyers and insurers to go through, a garbage truck owned by the city will have a completely different set of bureaucratic red tape to contend with after an accident.

These are just a few of the types of commercial and large vehicle accidents that we handle at The Benton Law Firm:

• Dump/Garbage Trucks
• Construction Vehicles
• Tractor Trailers
• Tanker Trucks
• Flatbed Trucks
• Tow Trucks
• Busses
• Delivery Vehicles

After an accident, your immediate concern should be your own health and safety, but while you struggle to pay bills and recover, the trucking companies and their insurers are working to keep your payout to the bare minimum. It is daunting to try to figure out where to start and who to contact. Many companies are hoping that confusion and frustration will keep you from pursuing what is rightfully yours, fair compensation after an accident.

Common Cause of Truck Accidents

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that, in 2017, Texas had the highest number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes. The study shows that 621 people lost their lives in a large truck accident, and thousands more have been injured. A wide variety of factors can come into play when it comes to why and how truckers cause serious accidents.

Some of the more common causes of truck accidents we see include:

• Drunk or Drug-Using Drivers
• Fatigued Drivers
• Distracted Driving
• Negligent Drivers and/or Employers
• Unsafe Passing
• Speeding
• Mechanical Malfunctions or Failures
• Weather Conditions
• Road construction/Road Defect
• Improperly loaded cargo
• Blindspot
• Wide turns

Driving a truck is a profession. When we go to work either in an office or out on the road, we are responsible for adhering to a set of rules and regulations for our own safety and the safety of others. Nowhere should this be truer than when you are in control of an 80,000-pound vehicle, traveling at a speed of 65 mph or higher. Not only is it a moral responsibility, but it is also the law.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration explicitly lays out how truckers and the companies they work for are supposed to account for the safety and security of themselves and everyone out on the road. That’s because one mistake behind the wheel of a large vehicle can lead to disastrous consequences.

What Damages Could You Be Entitled To?

When a negligent truck driver causes an accident, they have failed in their duty. It is their responsibility to drive with care. By causing an accident, they have created a chain reaction of events that can leave you severely injured and struggling to recover.

Large truck accidents are devastating. Chances are if you’ve been seriously hurt, you aren’t just facing medical bills today, you could be staring them down months and even years into the future. Medical bills, recovery costs, rehabilitation, property damage, time away from work, they all add up and add up fast.

Depending on the situation, you may be entitled to recover financial compensation. Examples of the compensation you may be entitled to include:

• Medical expenses – You may be reimbursed for the cost of your past and current medical expenses such as the ambulance ride, emergency room visit, hospital bills, doctors’ bills, and medications.
• Future medical expenses – If your accident has left you suffering from injuries that require long-term care or therapy, you may be entitled to compensation to cover your recovery treatment. That could include physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy, and even assistive devices, for example, like a wheelchair.
• Loss of income – For many people involved in serious accidents, they needed to take time away from work in order to recover. You may be able to be reimbursed for those lost wages.
• Loss of future earning capacity – If you have suffered injuries from the accident that make it impossible to continue working to your full capacity, you may also be entitled to compensation for a loss of future income.
• Pain and suffering – An experienced attorney can also help you recover compensation for your pain and suffering following a serious accident.
• Wrongful Death – If unfortunately, you have lost a loved one as a result of a truck accident, you may be able to recover compensation for their final expenses, medical costs, and loss of your support. It is heartbreaking to lose a loved one, and we can’t make that pain go away, but we can help to make sure that you are left with some financial stability.

While all truck accidents have their own unique set of circumstances, there is one universal truth, insurers and trucking companies don’t want you to take their money. They are a for-profit business, and, to them, it’s their bottom line that matters, not your health and wellbeing.

Their offer will typically be low and not nearly enough to cover all the expenses that may arise following your accident. A knowledgeable lawyer knows how they play their game and can make sure that you aren’t being taken advantage of. Let a skilled attorney help investigate your case and hold all responsible parties accountable for their actions.

Why Choose The Benton Law Firm To Handle Your Case?

Truck accident cases are notoriously complicated, that is because, in addition to the driver, other parties may also be at fault. The driver, the trucking company, the manufacturer of the parts in the truck, even the cargo loading company may have all contributed in some way to the accident.

There is also another factor that makes truck accident cases more complicated than other types of accidents. It is a brutal truth; trucking companies and their teams of lawyers and insurers don’t care about you. They don’t care about your health, your career, or your family. Their number one priority is their bottom-line, and making and keeping profit margins high while keeping their reputation intact. At The Benton Law Firm, our number one priority is you. Our team of experienced lawyers understands how to aggressively counter their undermining tactics.

The Benton Law Firm is passionate about helping you recover from a serious trucking accident. You shouldn’t be saddled with crippling medical debt because of someone else’s negligence. Let the legal team at The Benton Law Firm help you get the compensation you deserve. Call our Dallas office at (214) 777-7777 for a free initial consultation.