Commercial vehicle accidents in Texas can be devastating, often resulting in severe injuries and significant financial losses. Whether it’s a delivery truck, a semi-truck, or even a company-owned van, these accidents are more complex than standard car accidents. Here, our Houston personal injury attorneys explore why having an experienced lawyer on your side is essential when dealing with the aftermath of these often catastrophic crashes.
What Makes Commercial Vehicle Accidents Different?
Unlike regular car accidents, commercial vehicle accidents involve large companies, complex regulations, and higher insurance limits. These factors make the claims process more challenging for victims.
Here are some key differences:
Multiple Liable Parties
In a commercial vehicle accident, liability is not always limited to the driver. Responsible parties can include:
- The driver (for negligent driving or failure to follow traffic laws).
- The employer (for inadequate training or negligent hiring).
- The vehicle owner (if different from the employer).
- The manufacturer (in cases of mechanical failure or defective parts).
Determining and proving liability among multiple parties can be complicated, making legal representation crucial.
Complex Insurance Policies
Large insurance policies generally cover commercial vehicles, often exceeding $1 million in coverage. While this may seem beneficial, it usually means dealing with highly experienced insurance adjusters and legal teams whose primary goal is to minimize payouts.
These insurance companies are skilled at settling disputes, denying liability, and offering lowball settlements, which makes having a lawyer vital to protecting your rights.
Federal and State Regulations
Commercial vehicles are subject to strict regulations under Texas law and federal law, such as those enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These regulations cover driver hours, vehicle maintenance, and cargo loading.
Our attorneys are adept at handling cases involving these regulations and can determine whether any violations occurred and how they may impact your case.
Severity of Injuries
Given the size and weight of commercial vehicles, accidents often result in catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and even fatalities. These injuries frequently require long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and therapy.
Calculating the full extent of damages is complex, often involving future medical expenses, lost earning capacity, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering. Our attorneys can work with medical experts and economists to ensure you pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.
Why You Need an Attorney for a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Texas
Dealing with insurance companies after a commercial vehicle accident can be overwhelming, especially when they are vested in reducing the settlement amount. Our experienced lawyers can handle communications with the insurance adjusters, negotiate fair compensation, and prevent you from accepting an inadequate settlement offer.
Commercial vehicle accident cases require a thorough investigation, including collecting evidence like:
- Driver logs and GPS data.
- Maintenance records of the vehicle.
- Black box data that tracks the vehicle’s speed, braking, and engine performance.
- Surveillance footage from nearby cameras.
Our attorneys have the resources and experience to obtain and preserve this evidence before it’s lost or altered and establish which party—or combination of parties—was negligent by demonstrating that the responsible party failed to uphold their duty of care.
Contact Our Personal Injury Attorneys at Hollingsworth Law Firm
If you or a loved one has been injured in a commercial vehicle accident, contact our Harris County personal injury attorneys at the Hollingsworth Law Firm today for a free case evaluation. Call 713-637-4560 or contact us online.
Our skilled bilingual personal injury lawyers and support staff represent clients throughout Texas on a contingency basis, so you never pay any legal fees unless we win your case.
If you are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve, so are we. Let us take the lead.
