Working to Secure Compensation Against Negligence in the Trucking Industry
Being involved in any vehicular collision can be life-changing. However, this is particularly true for accidents involving tractor-trailers and other large trucks. While the commercial trucking industry is certainly essential for our economy, these massive vehicles create dangerous risks on American roadways. If you or a loved one have been involved in a collision with one of these vehicles, a Brownsville truck accident attorney may be able to help.
At The The Castro Law Office, our team of Texas personal injury lawyers are experienced in cases involving commercial trucks. We understand the many nuances involved in these cases — ranging from driver error to defective equipment failure. More importantly, we understand what it takes to establish liability and hold responsible parties accountable for their wrongful acts. You don’t have to deal with the aftermath or with insurance companies alone. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Are You Entitled to Compensation?
There’s a prevailing belief that the blame for any accident involving commercial vehicles falls directly on the truck driver. While these drivers certainly have an increased duty of care — which we’ll discuss below — it’s not always the case that they’re liable for a commercial truck accident. There are often many other parties directly involved. To establish that any of these parties are liable, three very specific elements must first be established:
- Duty of care: Most people have a duty of care to avoid actions that could harm others. Due to the danger that large trucks create, parties in the commercial trucking industry have a high duty of care. For instance, truckers must undergo extensive training for safe driving.
- Violation of duty: Anything from the breach of federal laws to drinking and driving can result in a violation of duty. For instance, a privately owned semi-truck must undergo periodic maintenance to keep it roadworthy — otherwise, a violation of duty has occurred.
- Harm causation: A violation of duty only results in liability if actual harm occurs. For instance, lost wages often hurt injury victims economically. The same is true for hospital bills. Even emotional distress may be enough to establish liability following a trucking crash.
Clearly, these elements can have a significant effect on your case. Your Brownsville truck accident attorney may review the incident in question and find liable parties you had never considered. Particularly in cases that don’t involve an independent contractor, it’s not uncommon for multiple at-fault parties to owe compensation. Our law firm is here to help you recover damages and move on with your life.
Contact us today to discuss your case.
What Are Common Causes of Brownsville Truck Crashes?
Even the best truck accident lawyer in Brownsville would have difficulty predicting every potential circumstance involving big rig collisions. Any number of issues — individual, multiple, or intersecting — could lead to a potential collision. However, an insurance company or jury will want to understand the specifics of a case. This makes it important to recognize the most common causes of truck accident injuries on American highways. These include:
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Decreased visibility of smaller vehicles
- Lack of or improper maintenance
- Failure to yield
- Driver fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Aggressive driving
- Equipment failure
- Unbalanced loads
- Failure to check cargo
- Roadway hazards
- Violation of FMCSA regulations
Clearly, these causes can lead to incredibly complex cases. It’s possible that the trucker, their employer, cargo loaders, an equipment manufacturer, and a variety of other parties could be directly implicated in negligent or wrongful acts. This underscores the importance of working with an experienced Brownsville truck accident attorney. These professionals are knowledgeable of the inner workings of the industry, and they can help you identify all potential causes and liable parties.
Contact us today to discuss your case. Our legal team is here to help.
Why Are Trucking Accidents So Complex?
An 18-wheeler accident is complex by nature. This is due to the many factors that are often involved in these collisions. For instance, a truck accident lawsuit may uncover that a driver had no opportunity to apply the brakes because their employer didn’t properly maintain the vehicle. There are also instances where drunk driving was involved, but a trucking company is partially liable for failure to perform background checks. It’s unfortunate, but truck accident victims are often thrust into a highly complicated legal arena.
The complexity of truck accident cases can also be related to typical issues involving a personal injury case. For instance, injury victims are often entitled to more than just compensation for property damage, medical bills, and other financial losses (i.e., economic damages). In many cases, they can secure non-economic damages (e.g., pain and suffering, emotional distress) as well. There may also be times when securing punitive damages is possible, but this would require proving egregious actions on the part of liable parties.
Securing these additional damages can be an uphill battle, but with the help of a truck accident lawyer in Brownsville, TX, your chances may greatly improve. Contact The The Castro Law Office today for a free case evaluation. We’ll help you understand your rights and how to best move forward.
Contact Our Brownsville Truck Accident Attorneys Today
Truck accident claims can be incredibly complex. This is disheartening since individuals who are involved in these accidents often find themselves unable to pay growing medical expenses at a time when they’re unable to work. Fortunately, you don’t have to take on a truck accident case on your own. An experienced legal professional can prove invaluable.
At The The Castro Law Office, our Texas personal injury lawyers understand trucking safety regulations, federal and state laws, liability issues, and all other matters that you’ll encounter in these cases. Our job is to secure the best possible outcome for each of our clients. Whether you suffered minor injuries that kept you out of work — or even lost a loved one in a fatal accident — you have rights.
Our Brownsville truck accident attorneys are here to ensure these rights are properly represented. Contact us today at (956) 253-7770 to schedule your free initial consultation.